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project & book review // mollie makes woodland friends

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends


Mollie Makes is probably my favorite magazine ever. Despite the super fantastic name, it's not my creation, although from time to time I get to have something published in their pages. And just as exciting is the series of books that they've been making! This is the third title that I've been honored to be a part of (with another coming next year!), and let me tell you...this is my favorite title so far!

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends has just been released, and I'm glad that I get to share it during a Month of Giving. Why? Because it's filled with things you can make for friends and family, plus the book itself would be a perfect gift for any of your crafty friends.

You can find the UK edition here (pictured above), or the US version here.

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends

These acorn shapes show up throughout the book, and here they give you a sneak peek at what's inside. Can you already feel the cute?

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends

The amazing Laura of Bugs & Fishes (Lupin on Etsy) made these sweet animal napkin rings. This might be the first time I've wanted to hug a napkin ring!

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends

And how about this hedgie with leaves? On their own, I love them...as sewing accessories, I could squeal!

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends

I can't wait to make a leaf garland like this. It's so sophisticated and smart.

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends

And I'm extra super happy to see these mug rugs on the back cover...they're one of the projects that I made! In fact, if you look closely, you can see two others that I contributed on the cover. It was so much fun to design all of the things I made, and Collins & Brown (the publisher) has a great group of people that I got to work with.

Mollie Makes Woodland Friends

When I was preparing these book bands, I was asked to send along some notebooks that they would work with. After a trip to the office supply store, I was disheartened because nothing was quite right. Then I had an epiphany! I bought some basic composition books, brought them home, and covered them with the woodgrain Con-Tact paper I have! When I bought this roll awhile ago, I thought I was paying too much for something that I only needed a small amount of, but I find all kinds of good uses...and this time it saved me and made for some cute photos!

Woodgrain Notebook


If you'd like to make your own woodgrain notebooks, it's really easy. Ready? Let's go!

Woodgrain Notebook

Here's what you need:

Composition book
Woodgrain Con-Tact paper
Scissors

Woodgrain Notebook

Here's what you do:

Cut a piece of Con-Tact paper that's a little larger than your book. You'll cut it down later, but it's better to have too much than too little. Also, be sure to take into account which direction you want the grain to be.

Woodgrain Notebook

If the edge of the roll is nice and smooth, you're set. Mine has been wrinkled a bit, so in this case, cut a straight edge, following one of the markings on the back. Or, use a ruler to mark a straight edge for trimming.

Woodgrain Notebook

Be sure that the book cover is clean and that there aren't any little bits or crumbs on there. Peel back the paper backing on the Con-Tact paper along the long straight edge. Lay the edge right up against the binding tape on the book.

Woodgrain Notebook

Slowly peel back the paper with one hand as you smooth out the Con-Tact paper with your other hand. Work from the center toward the edges to remove any air bubbles. For tips on this, follow the instructions on the paper roll.

Woodgrain Notebook

After the paper is completely smoothed onto the book, trim away the excess paper. I find that you can start cutting with a standard scissors, then slide it along the edge instead of using a cutting motion. Mind the corners so they are nice and neat!

Woodgrain Notebook

Repeat this for the back cover and you've got a new woodland notebook! All you need now are some sweetly stitched book bands.

Woodland Friends

Oh, but are you ready for this? Collins & Brown would like to give away a copy of Mollie Makes Woodland Friends to one lucky reader! Anyone can enter using Rafflecopter (below), and I can't wait to see who wins this and what they make!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

121 comments:

  1. I really like this book review. I have always liked looking at Mollie Makes magazine when I use to go to B&N in the States. All the designs in this book are really cute especially your book ribbons. :) My favorite woodland creature is a raven/crow. Up in Northern California, I always remember if I woke up early enough I can hear the pair of crows calling to each other as the sun started to rise. Great book review.

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  2. This book looks just awesome!

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  3. Aaah I love this! I'm completely in love with the all the woodland creature craft books I've seen recently!

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  4. Absolutely adorable!

    My favorite woodland friend would have to be a little squirrel. I love 'em!

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  5. my favorite woodland friend.... SHOULD be an owl... but i'm all about fawns right now!

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  6. i love badgers. :)

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  7. Looks like a lovely book! Love the hedgehog pin cushion. Great bookmarks, Mollie!

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  8. I have this book on my Amazon wishlist - so much cuteness! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

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  9. I love Mollie Makes and I love your creations, so I would be over the moon if I won a copy of this book! Thanks so much for the opportunity! :)

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  10. So cute! I love the woodland theme.

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  11. Oh and my favorite woodland animals are owls!! :)

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  12. This book looks so cute! My favorite woodland animal is the owl!

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  13. Fairy's are my favorite woodland friend,,,love this book!!

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  14. Love the woodland theme--Mollie Makes is my favorite magazine!

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    1. Oh, and I think hedgehogs are pretty cute!

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  15. This book looks so cute! Especially if it has any fox projects...they are my favorite!

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  16. I am in LOVE with that hedgehog and the composition books! Crossing my fingers that I win, since I have a bunch of wool herringbone in the attic begging to become hedgies!

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  17. My favorite woodland creature is a bluebird. fun stuff.

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  18. Anonymous9:01 AM

    I love raccoons! Thanks for the chance. margaretannegibb at yahoo dot com

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  19. Anonymous9:22 AM

    I like chipmunks, although I do not like it when they eat my crocus bulbs :(

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  20. Foxes an hedgehogs are my favorite. And birch trees...who am I kidding I love all things woodland! This looks like a great book!

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  21. I love owls! :) And I'd love to win this book - there are so many great projects I'd love to make! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  22. Another great Mollie Makes book, I'm sure!

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  23. Anonymous10:26 AM

    My favorite woodland animal is the fox and that is way before they became popular. When I was a little girl (I'm 45) my grandma made me and my sister a stuffed fox to go with stories my grandpa made up about an adventurous fox named Freddie the fox. Long comment for a short question! Dawn F.

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  24. I feel like I could die with cuteness overload!! I'm not sure I could pick just one, but I love hedgies, foxes, deer, and mushrooms of all shapes and sizes!!

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  25. Deer are my favorite to eat....

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  26. This book looks so adorable! When it comes to woodland friends, I have a hard time choosing my favorite. I loved your little book bands--so cute! I am also dying to have those woolen sewing aids--the hedgehog and leaves. So clever, functional and darling!

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  27. I love trees the most! I think I would make everything in this book! thanks!

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  28. I have so many favourite woodland friends!!! Okay, I will go with the owl because I'm a bit obsessed with them!!!

    The book looks amazing! So many great designs! I love your designs!!

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  29. I'm obsessed with hedgehogs :)

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  30. I'm throwing my sister a Woodland themed Baby Shower. I love it!

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  31. Anonymous11:56 AM

    This book looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Aileen Bell

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  32. I adore the hedgehogs!

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  33. My favourite has to be a fox, no wait a fawn, or is it a badger. I love them all!! I would love to win this book - it looks amazing! Sue x susan.vaughan4@hotmail.co.uk

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  34. Favorite for me is a hedgehog and second a fox!! Book looks fantastic!

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  35. I am so glad you have brought this book to my attention. I already have the Christmas book but was intrigued by this one. My favourite woodland animal is a red squirrel.

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  36. This looks such a great book!
    I love the nuthatch!

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  37. I like foxes and hobbits :) Asian woodland friend would be the red panda

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  38. I really like chipmunks. They are so adorable!

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  39. Jennie2:08 PM

    I like hedgehogs and foxes. :)

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  40. The fox is my favorite. I love their magazine and books also!

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  41. I have never seen this magazine where I live (near Vancouver,BC), but I'd like to! Congratulations on being in the book. Favourite woodland animal? I don't really have a favourite. I do love all the birds, especially the chickadee, though.

    Heather M.

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  42. I think I have to go with hedgehogs!

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  43. Anonymous2:34 PM

    My is an owl or a fox, thanks for the giveaway.
    smjohns63 at yahoo dot com

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  44. It's hard to choose a favorite woodland friend--I like them best all together! But if forced to choose, I'd say gnomes and hedgies. :)
    bennetthp at gmail dot com

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  45. Favorite woodland animal ... hmmm ...fox, owl or maybe hedgehog. They are all cute. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  46. LOVE this! I am currently obsessing over foxes and hedgehogs so this would be divine to own!

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  47. Adorable! I really like foxes, but my daughter has been going crazy for owls.

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  48. I love Mollie Makes. I would love to have a copy of this one. I want to do my tree this year in forest animals.

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  50. I just love that hedgehog pincushion! What a great book!

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  51. Marcie3:39 PM

    Rabbits and raccoons!

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  52. Debbie Chouinard4:05 PM

    My favorite woodland friends are squirrels. (Actually, I'm nuts about them)

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  53. Alisa4:05 PM

    My favorite woodland critters are hedgehogs, foxes and Badgers!

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  54. Well - first thank you for the chances to win! My fave woodland creature? Sasquatch!

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  55. My favourite woodland creatures are owls and foxes and squirrels and hedgehogs and badgers and the list goes on - they all seem so exotic compared to what we have in Australia.

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  56. I love owls and foxes and squirrels the best. :)

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  57. My favorite woodland friend are the fox. I just think the little ones are darling. Love to see them run with that fluffy tail sticking straight out as they go.

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  58. These little guys are just adorable and I really like the idea of covering a composition book with contact paper and adding the bookmarks. Great gift idea.

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  59. My favorite woodland friend is a gnome! Even though I know they're not real, I wish they were! Thanks so much for the chance to win such an awesome book!

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  60. Besides the actual trees (can trees count as woodland friends?), I love the birds singing and chirping in the trees, with their flashes of bright colors. And, I love the owls- their haunting hoots and their ability to blend (which makes it especially thrilling when I spy one!).

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    1. This looks like an awesome book. I love molly makes.

      Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com

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  61. My favorite is the fox.

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  62. Harmonie M.7:57 PM

    My favorite woodland critters are squirrels. They're just so cute especially when swishing their tails while chattering at you. :) Book looks awesome with some great project ideas.

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  63. I've covered composition books before, but I never thought about using contact paper. Thanks for the tip! :)

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  64. Looks like so much fun!

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  65. Julie P.8:57 PM

    This looks like a lovely, fun book! I love your creations.

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  66. Mollie Makes is full of great crafty ideas, and my favorite Woodland creatures are deer. Using the wood patterned contact paper to cover notebooks is really a great idea, thanks for sharing!

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  67. I always love these books!

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  68. My favourite woodland animal is the squirrel - just so cute. All these projects look amazing!

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  69. Craft books like this have always been a favorite of mine and I really love the woodland creatures featured! Love the idea of the notebook as well, I can see myself making lots of it and giving it to my friends. Just in time for the holiday season! :)

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  70. Covering composition books was something I did every year at Grammar School and we would all try and out do eachother with crazy loud wallpaper coverings - classic 1960s oranges, rusts and beige rings a bell, but your stylish woodgrain looks far smarter! - and neater than mine ever did lol
    My favourite woodland animal is the hare - he always seems to be the wild spirit of the British countryside, now you see him, now you dont!
    Many congrats on being in another cracking looking book!
    I was struck by the page minders, ideal for using in my hardback books to mark the page I was on before I got disturbed for whatever reason..........they are what we yorkshire folks would call, a 'natty' idea - thats a good and useful idea!

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  71. Anonymous5:26 AM

    Do I have to chose just one?? Hmmmm....I guess I'll go with the hedgehog.

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  72. Lovely book. I really love hedgehogs, they are so cute.

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  73. Foxes are my favorite woodland critters. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  74. I love foxes! In fact I just finished the 'fantastic mittster fox' mittens from Petitepurls.com (winter 2012 issue), they turned out really cute!

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  75. My favorite woodland creature is the owl. I blame JK Rowling. :)

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  76. Crazy me...I love birds in the forest...especially woodpeckers!

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  77. This looks like a fun book! I'd like to make that hedgehog pincushion. I think hedgehogs might be my favourite woodland character - or a fox.

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  78. That book looks SO cute! I'd love to win :)

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  79. Such an easy to make those boring comp notebooks cuter! Why don't I do that more??

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  80. My favorite woodland friends are gnomes and bears! Cute cuddly bears, of course. :)
    This book looks so cute, I would love to dive into a copy.

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  81. Favorite woodland creature would have to be a fox, although that darn song is trying to get in my head even as I type the word...

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  82. This is a book I would love to add to my library, so many cute projects!

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  83. Lovely book!! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  84. Thanks for opening another giveaway! Always so much fun even though I never win...^^;;

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  85. Cute book! My favorite woodland animal would be a bunny!

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  86. I used to have a pet hedgehog so they are my favorite woodland animals. They make great pets!

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  87. love the mug rugs and book bands!

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  88. I just picked up this book two days ago and can't wait to get started!!!! Great review, thanks !!

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  89. I love the chipmunk closely followed by the woodpecker!!!!

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  90. Hedgehogs. Definitely hedgehogs.

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  91. Would love to win!
    Thank you.

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  92. Anonymous10:02 AM

    Thank you for the opportunity! Favorite woodland creature? Must we choose? Love all the birds -- owls, woodpeckers/flickers/, wrens, etc. -- and hedgies and bears ... oh, my. Fall is my favorite time of year. I could imagine making 99.9 percent of the projects in the book year 'round. And the notebook project is too stinking cute. --ldp

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  93. Anonymous11:27 AM

    Chipmunks! thriftstorecrafter at yahoo.com

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  94. I love hedgehogs in crafts. We don't have any around here, but I think they are cute.

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  95. So many cute things in the book!

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  96. My favorite creature is the little elves/gnomes that are always hiding in the foliage! This cute book gives such inspiration!

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  97. Carla P3:53 PM

    How can I choose just one woodland friend as a favorite? I love them all, from the smallest Hedgie to the biggest bear. I can't wait to check out the newest Mollie Makes book! I want to stitch up those mug rugs :)

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  98. How can you pick just one? I guess the fox....maybe the owl....maybe a hedgehog. See what I mean????? :)

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  99. I just love hedgehogs.

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  100. I love little mushrooms, but foxes are growing on me.

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  101. Kirstin Hitchins1:31 AM

    I always love the faces you put on items you have made!!!

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  102. I love woodland animals and so does my son. We like foxes and rabbits!

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  103. My favourite woodland friends would definitely be owls and foxes

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  104. Although I do love woodland animals, my most favourite woodland friend is the little mushroom. I love the little red tops with white dots, fairies live there!!

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  105. Love the book and all the woodland animals have a special place there. Love owls
    MaryD
    www.stitchesonmyneedle.blogspot.com

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  106. I love badgers! We have loads in the UK and they're brilliant! :)

    www.peachtea.co.uk

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  107. Rabbits, for sure! I love rabbits of any sort and even used to raise and show them.

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  108. hedgehogs! i have a stuffed hedgie from my childhood that i still love. his name is humphrey

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  109. Carol Sandretto-Unsinger10:55 PM

    I LOVE wood grain contact paper!! Those book bands are so sweet… I have to say the mushrooms & acorns are my favorites, but ALL of woodland creatures are awfully sweet!!

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  110. I saw your mug rugs in the magazine and was so thrilled to see you there, but this book is outstanding! Congrats!

    I love that hedgie. Like you, I would squeal for Woodland-themed sewing accessories. Awesome!

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  111. Such a sweet magazine!! My favorite woodland animal would be the owl. Woo did you say??? I said, "The Owl"!! Be blessed...

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  112. I love most woodland animals; foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, moles & owls. (crochet addictuk)

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  113. This would totally inspire me to get back into crafting!

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  114. Right now I love watching the little pine squirrels in our backyard. And how they taunt our Basset (hey, it keeps him busy)

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  115. I love hedgehogs!

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  116. Absolutely adorable!
    My favorite woodland friend would have to be a little hedgehog :)

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