Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

I'm a dutch woman that has been making soft toys for 11 years.
10 years ago I started my own company called DIY Fluffies.
With DIY Fluffies I sell soft toy sewing patterns and Amigurumi crochet patterns. I'm also a mom of two boys of 7 and 9 years. That is probably why I have a lot of patterns that are very suitable for boys as well.
My boys and animals are a big inspiration for me.
We are a very creative family, my boys enjoy crafting to and my husband is a very talented artist.

Tell us a bit about the book?

Sew Cute Creatures is a book with many adorable and easy to make toy patterns.
This book has been made for beginners. There are many cute projects that you can easily make that don't require difficult techniques. You could even sew them all by hand if you do not have a sewing machine.

What was the inspiration behind it?

I was asked by the publisher to make a book with beginner sewers in mind.
The idea to make a pattern book for beginners inspired me so much that I immediatly started to design the characters when I got home.
There are a lot of animals in there, because I love animals! I find it hard to say where my inspiration comes from. The designs often just pop into my mind.

Which is your favourite project?

That is a difficult question, I love many of them!
I think the dog is probably my favorite, it is a fun and fast project to make. It was quite hard to get it right, it took me about 6 prototypes before I was happy with the design.
I like the design in this book a lot, because they are such easy projects with an adorable result.

What is your craft space like?

I have a small room that is my craft space, it is full of crafting stuff and some posters and toys that inspire me. I have a big Totoro poster on the wall and many momiji dolls. The room is quit cold in the winter, that is why I work a lot in my living room/kitchen as well. Which can be done very well when I'm crocheting Amigurumi's or working out patterns on the computer. I will probably start sewing again when it gets a bit warmer.

Have you always been creative?

Yes, I can not remember a moment not being creative. When I was a kid I was drawing, crafting with paper and played with clay a lot. I threw the dolls out of the stroller so I could use it to move my coloring pencils and paper around.

When did you first start crafting?

I don't remember because I was so young. I do remember the first time I made a soft toy. When I bought a sewing machine with the idea to make things for my home, the first thing I made was a sea star plushie.
My job before creating soft toy pattern was making 3d models for video games, I consider that crafty as well :)

Who are your crafty heroes?

There are many designers that I admire. One of them is Lydia Tresselt, her Lalalya designs are so adorable. I also enjoy the work Dick Bruna, the creator of Miffy.

Where do you find inspiration?

The first thing I do when I want to make a new plushie, is think of which animal to make. This can be any animal, maybe one I noticed in the zoo, or one that my kids are crazy about at the moment.
Then I start sketching in my sketchbook untill I draw something that I think will work well as a toy.

What's next for you?

At the moment I'm expanding my collection of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns on my website. I already made so many sewing patterns, it is nice to do something else like crochet.

Sew 12 cute and cuddly characters using this fun, colourful book. Choose from Pippa Puppy, Sally Seahorse and Patty Piglet to Miranda Mermaid and Peter Pirate - or make the whole set. Created in an adorable amigurumi style in a gorgeous range of colourful fabrics, these toys would make perfect collectibles as well as cuddly playmates.All the full-size templates are provided in the book, and the instructions are clearly illustrated and easy to follow. The projects are ideal for beginners and can be sewn by machine or by hand.