Craft Focus - Aug/Sep (Issue 68)

50 craft focus deck the shelves Festive felt Hawthorn Handmade has three festive designs out this year, including this penguin mini needle felting kit. Ideal for inexperienced felters, the set includes step-by-step instructions, British wool and materials. It takes between two and four hours for a beginner to complete and retails at £10. A reindeer version is also available. The company’s penguin embroidery kit is set to be another seasonal winner, and comes with colourful DMC threads, a hoop and an easy-to-follow guide. It has a retail price of £17.50. +44 (0)1258 880 691 hawthornhandmade.com Simply dotty Featuring pre-sorted faceted tiles placed onto a sticky canvas, Father Snow is the latest festive kit from Diamond Dotz. The tiny tiles are easy to pick up, and the finished effect sparkles like real snow. It measures 50cm x 62cm and retails at £63.99. There’s a handy stylus tool, wax and a craft tray included, making this a useful project to stock in the run-up to the festive season. +44 (0)161 464 7313 solocrafts.com Fairy dust Following on from the success of its 8cm bauble, Lavinia Stamps has introduced two larger sizes in 10cm and 15cm. The decorations are fun to make and can be finished in any number of ways. There’s also a range of supporting products, including empty baubles, inkjet printable acetate and a selection of inserts. The outside can also be adorned with stars, snowflakes and crystals and hung from a co-ordinating ribbon. +44 (0)1824 710 691 laviniastamps.com