Au revoir Harrogate...

We (Craft Guerrilla) are just back from the last leg of the Knitting & Stitching shows. As much hard work as it's been it's also been inspiring and an eye opener.
It's been a fantastic experience and we've made many a new friends on the way as well as met some old ones...OK not old as in age but people we've known for a while from the craft circuit.

My personal high light were the two days I spent in Harrogate. It's a beautiful spa town with the most amazing architecture and mood. It was pretty much how I envisaged the North of France to be. Before actually ever going to France I had this "Hollywood" vision but when I finally made it over I found out that France is nothing like what I imagined. But Harrogate has this elegance and charm that I had thought would fit the French landscape though it's truly English. Stone clad buildings, gentleman's apparel boutiques and hand made brogues, iron work canapes over pretty tea shops on neat hilly streets.
I guess I compared it to France but an idyllic one. I'm sure there are many places in France like this but personally I have never seen it. In fact I'm sure it has some sort of French influence or connection as the neighbourhood we were in was called Montepellier.

Harrogate is a great little treasure and somewhere I could see myself living for a while. It's very attractive with it's romantic aspect and history which transpires through every street and monument dotted amongst the gorgeous lanes that form the high street. I shall return but hopefully on a warmer day as climbing a steep road with a heavy wheelie suitcase in the snow is not the best way to see Harrogate!

In the Tate MODERN...

MUNANO is in the TATE MODERN LONDON.
OK in a book, in the TATE MODERN shop but...still in the TATE MODERN!!!

embroidery project for up coming book...

Two years ago when launching Craft Guerrilla getting a book deal was something we had thought would be a million years away. Getting a deal with Black Dog has proven to be the sign I was waiting for. I've pretty much believed all along that what I was doing was right and that the people I am working with are absolutely spot on. It's so important to find the right people...we're all different personality wise but we work together pretty well. After many years of searching for the "right mix" of people this has come as a welcome light in a very long tunnel. So the hard work is about to begin and honestly...I'm excited!!! Looking through my portfolio of craft projects to find suitable proposals has been quite fun and a little bit scary. Having to come up with so many tutorials is daunting but it's also inspired me to create a few new ones and to revisit disciplines I had left or put to one side for a while. This brought me back to embroidery. I remember both grannies and mum being kick ass embroiders so I was a bit nervous about picking up the hoop but...I've grabbed it and I have to say that
I'm pretty much in love with embroidery again! It's like painting with a needle and thread. It's quite a good vehicle for my illustrations and drawings and I'm pleased with my first "Come Back" piece! A nice,cute and slightly dark tea tray cloth would be a great project for the book so "Squirrilla" and "Cup Kate" have jumped on the tray cloth and they're looking pretty good even if I say so myself. It's not perfect but I'm very much of the "Kaffe Fassett" school of embroidery and believe that OK, there are a few ground rules but stitch away and don't stick too much to them! I know the traditionalists will be disgusted but as long as you get the desired effect and you are enjoying it...go for it...I am!

cut click creature edition

I've submitted hunny bunny in one of his escapades...let's see if he makes it onto the pages of the magazine!
NOTE: He'd be intolerable...he can be quite a diva!!!

munano.co.uk is back in business!

that's right,I've decided to keep the web site up and running. besides now that munano is being featured in a book it would be silly not to! we do after all want people to find us...the forest creatures would be very upset otherwise!Keep your peepers pealed as I'll be adding some new bad boys to the forest!

www.munano.co.uk

mori mori

mori mori is a sweet little creature. escaped from the ancient japanese forests this little sapling clings on and lays down roots in every available crack in the urban jungle. he comes bearing a very important message: "be kind to trees".
Try pulling him out of the ground and his little furry leaves will give you a nasty little rash. be nice and he'll be nicer back to you by producing some lovely fresh oxygen for you to breath!

the rest of the gang...

I'm sure you've seen "West side story" and this gray squirrel was named after Anton "Tony" from the Jets gang, the main character who falls in love with the sister of a rival gang member. Isn't love grand?
He's a wild boy who "once knew a girl named Maria"but he just wants to love and be loved. The rival red squirrel gang (the sharks) are just trying to live in the promised land too. Will they ever see eye to eye? Take him home and share his bagde...join the gang and spread the love!
Please note that due to small parts this is not suitable for children under the age of 3 yrs old.
Approximate size:
H: 15cm
W: 20cm
£29.00
(+ postage: £3.00)


Let me introduce you to the "not so wild wild cats". They're a very shy feline tribe living in the deepest part of the forest and would like you to beleive that they are in fact WILD and shouldn't be approached! And so their plan started to keep all away.
Taking on martial arts to "kick arse" and keep away the curious they practice all day... and because they are lazy and love socializing they get a little bit side tracked and yes, you've guessed it they waste all day trying to get those judo lessons started! They do try but their just too tame!

Approximate size:
H: 10cm
W: 12cm
*Limited edition
£21.00
(+ postage: £3.00)


Mini Murou is one of the mini minions Murou Murou releases into the deep, dark night.
This little felt creature is in it's infancy stage.Treat him well
before he turns into a bad boy and you never know...he might make all your dreams come true!

Approximate size:
H: 10 cm
W: 8cm

£21.00
(+ postage: £3.00)


"Butter wouldn't melt in their mouth bunny"... a bit of a mouthfull but they've got a mouth on them!
They look sweet but first impressions can be deceptive!
Walking around in packs these little bad bunnies really know how to
create havock!
Hug a hoodie?! Nah, Hug a bunny!
100% cotton. Vintage and one off fabrics. Design is only a guide.Due to small parts not suitable for children under 3yrs old.
Approximate size:
H:15cm
W:10cm
£21.00
(+ postage: £3.00)

to order please visit www.munano.bigcartel.com
or email: munano@yahoo.com

new munano boutique...

From the 8th of May munano.co.uk will close but I have a brand spanking new boutique on big cartel!
Drop by and take a look and if you fancy making a purchase...well, please do!
Please not not all the creatures are featured on Bigcartel.

www.munano.bigcartel.com

good bye www.munano.co.uk...

Unfortunately after much deliberation I've decided to close the munano web site. However I will keep making and selling my little soft sculptures but through a free provider and as usual in a few choice outlets (www.pennyfielding.com). As much fun as it was having my very own web site I have so many other things to do like Craft Guerrilla which has proven to be a huge but satisfying job in itself so giving my full attention to munano has been quite difficult.
Lets just say munano has taken a little bit of a back seat for now but fret not my fun loving chums it still lives on and hopefully when the rest starts managing itself then I can go back to giving the right attention needed to make munano a successful venture once more!
From the 8th of May www.munano.co.uk will cease to be on the web but I will still be selling through etsy and other designer maker sites.
It's the end of an era but the beginning of a new age!
Keep well and thank you to all who helped, supported and befriended munano.
X
Deborah

paper cranes...

cut-click mail art exhibition

I was invited by the good people of Cut-Click magazine to exhibit in their fab show in Grimsby. The theme was "Mail Art" a subject very close to my heart as I've always decorated every single letter I've sent.
I enjoyed embroidering the envelope though given more time I would have filled the whole thing with lovely embroidered forest creatures and more.
It's enjoyable and I'm hooked.I hadn't embroidered in ages.Since I was a young child actually. Even if it is a bit freestyle...I know the ladies at embroiders guild would scream at me but like Kaffe Fassett I too am a rebel when it comes to rules of needle stitching!
Though I was nervous about it ever getting there...and everybody said :
"NO, you must stick it in an envelope!".
"But doesn't that defeat the object?" I replied.
My philosophy was and remains the following: if it gets there in one piece fine. If it doesn't then that's the process it went through to get there...and you know what...it did!
Thanks Caroline for organizing such a great exhibition!