As the autumn leaves continue to fall and the days grow a little crisper, I wanted to sit down with a warm cup of tea and share a heartfelt update with all of you. So much has happened over the past few weeks, and as we look ahead to November and the festive season, there are a few changes in pace on the horizon for me that I want to bring you along for.

Looking Back at a Wonderful Season: The VIEX and Autumn Makes
First, I am still smiling when I think back to our time at the Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX). Having the booth set up and getting the chance to chat with so many wonderful people in our community about upcycling and creative reuse was truly a highlight of my year. Coming away with four ribbons from the craft competition was the icing on the cake, and I am so grateful for everyone who stopped by to say hello, explore the website, and share in the joy of handmade crafting.

Right on the heels of the exhibition, I dived straight into our autumn makes. Putting together my recent videos on deconstructing old T-shirts and button-up shirts was so much fun, especially because those reclaimed materials went right into bringing our cheerful scarecrow duo to life! Introducing Patch (our dapper fellow) and Pumpkin (his sweet companion) to the community has been an absolute joy. Seeing how recycled bits and pieces can be transformed into characters full of personality is exactly why I love what I do.

Keeping Christmas Alive
Even while the autumn decorations are out, many of you know I have been steadily working away on our Keeping Christmas Alive series. Creativity is all about sharing inspiration, and after connecting with a lovely local crafter named Wendy, I was inspired to try my hand at cosy fabric bowl holders alongside my reusable fabric Christmas crackers. Making sustainable, heartfelt items that families can bring out year after year is right at the core of Fran’s Friends, and I cannot wait to share more of these festive makes with you.

A Gentle Shift in Pace for November
As we head into November, I also want to share a personal update. I have an upcoming surgery scheduled for next month, which means I will need to take a step back from the heavy lifting and my usual busy routine at the sewing machine while I focus on resting and healing.

Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot keep my hands still for very long! Instead of putting crafting on pause, I am preparing to shift toward a gentler, more mindful pace. Over the coming weeks, I am planning a transition into smaller, portable hand-sewing projects that I can work on comfortably while I recover. There is something deeply soothing about slow stitching by hand, and I am actually looking forward to exploring what we can create with just a needle, thread, and a basket of treasured fabric scraps from the comfort of my armchair.

Thank You for Being Here
Whether you have been following along since the very beginning or you just found our little corner of the crafting world at the exhibition, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your encouragement, your stories, and your shared love for turning the old into something new mean the world to me.
Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming November updates and the next instalments of our Christmas series. Until next time, keep saving those scraps, enjoy the cosy season, and happy crafting!