Pre Break Ramblings

Days are really starting to fly by at a rate of knots, which whilst a little daunting when you still have so much to get done before Christmas, there is a flip side because it means it's nearly here! And that also means it's closer to my rather overdue holiday. Having moved house and dealt with so much this year it's rather needed. 

At the weekend I wrote and sent out my last newsletter for 2013, it was a brief little nugget of news informing that I am winding down for the impending break, my store on Etsy will be closing for the holidays this coming Sunday evening. 

Which on a side note if you do wish to grab a quick present then do nip along. If your in the UK I'll even throw in free shipping, 2nd class, if you use the following code UKLUVXMAS.

I also mentioned my desire to do an early spring clean of the website, start tinkering with designs I want to work on, and in some instances start them. 

I did mention last week that I was going to talk about these plans, and having spent some of yesterday in the company of a very good friend, Laura Howard of Bugsandfishes, it made me think that for me personally that I am better of remaining flexible with my 'goals', have them but not to become too fixated by them, accept that sometimes things don't work out the way you want them too. I admit it nearly crushed me over the summer that I wasn't doing half of what I had planned, and that it was likely I wasn't going to do any fairs this year either...eventually I got over that and the lack of stress was a relief. 

So back to what I have already began to plan to do:

1. Working on the website and getting that tidy is likely to be one that I achieve before I head back to work mid-January. I'll be condensing the gallery, press section, updating about me and making the site a little more user friendly, and I'll be looking closely at making more use of the shop function on the site. 
2. Getting out and meeting/networking with the folks that I have come to talk to rather regularly on Twitter etc, crafty folks. And it's something I am working on with Laura Howard, and hopefully dragging along other waifs and strays we know to pull ourselves out of our little comfort zones. It also gives a great excuse for eating cake.
3. Typography is really going to feature in my designs, and they will be intricate designs that I love to do, think Paradise Bird but lettering instead of feathers. I have the design already in progress for the first piece and will be starting before the year is out. I hope that I will be able to start doing a WIP blog posts about this very, very soon!

For a start of a plan that's not all that bad, what about you guys are you thinking about what you want to do, achieve next year? Or are you going with the flow? 

I promised you also what I thought of Bust Craftacular, where I met up with Laura. Out of the three fairs I've been to over the past couple of months it was the more promising. Quite tiny in comparison to the others but at least I felt like I want to buy, and I did. Admittedly I had gone with the attention to buy the remaining christmas gifts for family and whilst I did buy one gift...I also brought a picture for the flat. In my defense it had a hamster on it and it's for the Hallway which I am going to be decorating in the New Year. 

 

Isn't he smashing?! He's by Jimbob Art, Christmas Fox. I'm going to get him framed professionally, thinking a double mount, one crisp white the other rich red, framed by ebony/black wood. I know the exact spot to put it in too. Can't wait! 

I suppose I should add that goal number 5 should be to get out to more shows, I really would love to go to one of the Cockpit Art open studio days, and Renegade by all accounts was brilliant. I also want to go back to the Knitting & Stitching show in London to find some new suppliers and catch up with folks I know that either exhibit there or attend.

Cor I hadn't really set out to write such a long blog post, I hoped to have pictures to show you of pieces I've been up too...but I didn't actually get up to much stitching this weekend, just lots of tidying up loose ends and doodling. I have a crafting day with my best friend on Saturday so that means there will be more pictures on Sunday!

Christmas Time at Chez Mason Bee

I couldn't quite resist bringing the festive cheer to my wee abode a little earlier this year. Normally I wait until today, 1st December, popping Elf or Muppets Christmas Carol on in the background and getting thoroughly stuck into the decorating. This year, however I think I was just itching to get the twinkling lights up, because I had not one, not two but three Christmas tree's to decorate. Sure I could have easily put my two tiny tree's away but what the heck I put all three up....and I don't regret it.

Giant Red Robin on the top of the tree

Bee and Toadstools...

I didn't need to make any new tree decorations to furnish all three, though I did buy four new ones to add to the stash. This year it was a large red robin, a tiny glass robin, green sparkly star and a glass green and clear bauble. I'm aiming to have a tree one year where no one decoration is a like. Admittedly it might have to be a fifteen foot tree to accommodate them all.

But whilst I've not made for the tree that's not stopped me from making other decorations for the house. I've actually got a door wreath, which is fab and it's one I've decorated myself. I had been utterly swamped with inspiration from Pinterest on what I could do with a wreath form but Friday night I suddenly came to me what I could do with just the fabrics and bits and pieces I had to hand. I had been tempted to cover it in pom-poms or googly eyes, maybe next year!

I'm really, rather pleased with it. I especially like the fact I can also use the form again as none of it, bar the crystals is glued on. it's either pinned or hand-sewn. I don't have any progress shots as it was rather late at night and was too much in the zone to stop and grab the camera. But if you want to have a go...

You will need a wreath form, strips of muslin, red felt, needle and thread, pins and Swarovski crystals (or similar). 

I wrapped the form in a couple of long strips of muslin, to keep it in place I used pins and a few holding stitches at the back. I then cut ruler width strips of red felt and pinned them, temporarily, at certain points around the form, I judged this by eye. Once I was happy with the placing I sewed just the end of the strips to the muslin, the felt you see doesn't wrap all the way to back. To finish it off, I made a nice fat bow, again using pins to hold it in place whilst I stitched it to the wreath. To give it some glitz, and just because I could, I covered the bow with crystals. Then add a felt tab at the back to make it easy to hang.

This is only the beginning of my crafting for Christmas, I've got a table mat to make up, a few gifts and some other bits and pieces to do as well. I would have cracked on over this weekend but I had to finish off a commission (a very one of a kind button clock) and make and write project for a magazine...which as you guessed it I can't tell you about at the moment.

I'll be putting together a wee newsletter during the week, so keep your eyes peeled for that. And then next weekend I will be back to talking about things I really want to make over Christmas and in 2014, hopefully some photographs of bits I am making at present. Also will talk about my wee trip to Bust Craftacular. I am hoping that this craft fair will make up for the two I've been to over the last couple of months. Looks like a fab line up and gives me a chance to meet up with another fellow Laura, Laura Howard of Lupin and hopefully another Laura too, Laura Howard of Laura Fallulah. I think this means that some cosmic event will happen...hopefully it will involve cake.

Hope everyone has had enjoyable 1st day of advent!

New Achievement...and Competition Winners

Yes! I finally tackled making my very first pair of interlined curtains. Is it sad that I am utterly thrilled at having achieved this? Probably, a little. I can't tell you how many free instructions/tutorials, hints and tips I looked at over the past couple of days before I finally just went sod it..wing it.

You can, or rather I can, get really hung up (no pun intended) on the small details, wanting to make sure I do it properly so not to waste an awful lot of money on materials and time making something, only to find I've mucked it up. But I got to the point midway through yesterday when I went, well the worst that can happen is that I have a lot of fabric for my quilt...

A very simple tab top curtains, the tabs have poppers on them so I can take down the curtains, as the pole is fixed in place and can't be removed not without a spot of brute strength and some determination. 

The fabric I've used, you might recognise as being Petite Street, the same fabric as I am using for the quilt I am making over Christmas. 

Not bad huh? Oh, and the curtains weren't the only new thing made for the workroom/guest room. At long last my sofa bed from Made.com arrived this week. And it needed something on it, so I decided to put my collection of Nikki McWilliams biscuit cushions on it. Which reminds me I really want to get the custard cream next...

So pleased to have this room sorted before Christmas, there are a little bits and pieces still left to do such as more artwork up and cable tacking the wires to the skirting but other than that it's done. Ready for me to then move onto the hallway. Going to put together a moodboard for that project, I'll post about that over Christmas. I am plotting and musing on it the moment.

Aside from the curtain making this weekend, I've been working on a custom order for a clock, something I've not made in a little while. Making a clock is like an old friend coming to visit. After this project, I'll be working out my plan for next year, and I've been in dialogue with someone about submitting a project for a magazine. Time is short on that one so, after I've drawn the winners of the competition from three weeks ago, I'll be wracking my brain on that little challenge. 

So without further ado...

Congratulations to Jen Valukas - who won the little prize bundle of a copy of issue 8, a needle case and a pdf pattern

Emma Law - 3 month subscription to Crafty Magazine

I'll be in contact a little later today to get your details! Many congratulations again. 

Christmas Tutorial: Merry Bee Picture

Merry Bee Tutorial

Before you begin this project before sure to read through all the instructions first, and then there will be no stopping you. If you have any questions at all feel free to leave me a comment. You'll also learn a couple of new ways of doing things, such as transferring the design using tissue paper.

For this very Merry Bee you will need:

• Print out of the pattern
• 6” Embroidery Wooden Hoop (or a size that suits your preference – feel free to blow the design up or scale it down)
• Background fabric of your choice, if your using the 6" hoop you'll need a piece 11" square
• Scraps of Wool felt: yellow, white, red and black
• Stranded Cottons: Black, brown and burgundy (I've used DMC 310, 300 and 815)
• White machine thread or white stranded cotton will also work
• Needles
• Pins
• Tissue Paper / light box / transfer crayon
• Pencil
• Sharp scissors

1.       If your background fabric is fairly see-through then you can use a light box or your window to transfer the design onto the fabric. Then place the fabric into your frame making sure it’s taut, then skip step 2.

2.       If your fabric is too thick or dark for the methods listed in step 1, then you could use transfer paper or you can use the method I use, which is using tissue paper. Place your fabric into your frame, making sure the fabric is taut and trace the design onto your tissue paper, and pin it onto your hoop.

3.       Whatever transfer method you used we are going to start at the same place which is the dashed lines. Thread up your needle with two strands of black cotton. The dashes are stitched in multiple back stitches, a dash line roughly equates to three tiny back stitches.

4.       Time to move onto ‘Merry’ is also stitched in back stitch but using two strands of burgundy coloured thread instead. Keep your stitch sizes regular, this will make sure the finish is nice and neat.  Skip step 5 and 6 if you've not used the tissue paper method to transfer the design. 

5.       Using your white thread, running stitch around the main bee body, and the wings.

6.       Now the fun bit you can start to tear off the tissue paper, be careful around the stitches, if any tissue paper gets trapped under a stitch, you can either tease it out with a sharp needle or use tweezers. Whatever you have to hand.

7.       Stitching the padding on the bee body: The body is made up of several layers of yellow felt. Using the template cut out the three sizes marked as bee body. Starting with the smallest piece, pin it loosely in the middle of the shape (as shown). As this is a padding layer, it doesn’t matter if you use yellow cotton or white to stab stitch around the shape. When you’ve stitched the first layer on, stitch the next size up over the top of the first.

8.       Wings: As with the body of the bee, the wings have padding. Cut from the white felt the two wing shapes. Stitch the smallest layer down first, and then the larger piece over the top. I used the guidelines on the background fabric to help the felt piece keep its shape, these guideline stitches will become hidden by your stitching and the felt.

9.   Time to stitch the line that separates the wings. Thread up your needle with your white cotton thread, and using your print out as a guide, back stitch a curve as shown below. If you’re not sure where the line should go, use the tissue paper technique.

10.   Return to the main bee body. Before we stitch the top layer on, you need to cut out the three thin stripes from the black felt, and stitch them onto the largest yellow shape. I used a single strand of the black thread and running stitch up the middle of the black strip to attach it to the yellow. As with the padded layers, you will stab stitching the layer all the way round the edge, this time make sure you’re using a matching yellow thread, and keep the stitches small and neat.

11.   Finishing Details: The eye is a French Knot, in a single thread of black cotton and three wraps of the needle. And the smile is also in a single thread of black, and is in back stitch. 

12.   Nose: Cut out a small circle of red felt, owing to how tiny it is a template isn’t necessary, think a size of a sequin. Stab stitch it down with matching red thread. Don’t fancy cutting out a piece of felt that small? Then you can use a small red pompom.

13.   Antlers: I’ve used two strands of brown cotton and back stitch. You can use your tissue method to transfer the antlers lines or free style. 

14.   With the stitching complete you can use the design to adorn anything such as a cushion or part of a Christmas quilt. Or for a temporary solution, so that you use a hoop again, follow these simple instructions:

a.       Using the hoop that the picture will be framed in, cut back your fabric so that you have a seam allowance of about 2 inches all the way round. Then thread up your needle with thread and do a gathering stitch around the edge, once you've gone all the way round pull the threads in to gather around the inner hoop. Once your happy that the gathering is neat and the gathering thread is secure, you can then cut off any remaining thread. Add a ribbon to the tightening fitting on the hoop and hang up! 

Viola your done!

Threads, Bee and Success

Nothing like a productive weekend, to make you feel that whatever the next week brings that at least you started it with a few things crossed off your list. I had two things that I was rather pleased to get done.

The first is that I finally got a solution for my windows at my abode that works. I've had a bugger of a time with the plaster board. The new buildings owners worst nightmare when it comes to fixing anything heavier than a picture on it. So you can imagine that hanging anything like a blind was a nightmare. However, using components that are actually for wardrobe, small dabs of no more nails to add the screws, and the aid of my mum. I've fitted up a mini pole in the study ready for me to hang the curtains...that I've yet to make but still it's a start!

Taking a picture of it at the moment is a bit dull, but once I've made the curtain I'll show it off. Hopefully, by then I'll have my sofa bed installed too so the room will be pretty much complete and ready for guests to use too.

What's the second thing I am pleased about? Well I have made the sample and pretty much got instructions sorted out for a fab little Christmas project for you all. Here is a sneaky peek of a bit of it to wet your appetite. 

The project will be ready for next week, and I'll be aiming for the 7th November, to coincide with the project in Crafty magazine which will be out the same day. Which I can show you what it looks like, as they have put up on their site this week the template for the design. Sneaky peek and download the template ahead of the game!

This is a prefect opportunity to remind you about the competition I have running, which has some fab prizes up for grabs. Click here for more details.

As well as the Christmas project and the window solution, I popped along to the first Threads festival at Farnham Maltings. It was in the neighbourhood and I wanted to go along to see if it was something I wanted to take part in next year, but I have to be honest I wasn't utterly sold on it. The premise was good, but in reality to me it fell short, I can't fully explain it. I think it largely came down to not knowing what it was meant to be. I personally felt that the set up at the Maltings might have also not fully helped it was a little too bitty, perhaps that was the reason I couldn't quite figure it out. If you've not been to the Maltings, its a collection of buildings linked together, with studio areas, halls and various other side rooms. Which for this festival made me feel as I left that I might have missed something. 

I might have felt even more disappointed had I not come across a rather lovely and local hand-weaver who also sold her hand dyed cotton threads. Naturally I fell in love with the threads couldn't resist purchasing a pack of mercerised cottons and one of her silk dying experiments. I highly recommend checking out Zoe Acketts by going to her site http://www.zoeacketts.co.uk/.  

Perhaps my thoughts on the show were a little hard, given it was the first one, next year I heard its going to be in September rather than November. Perhaps not to compete with the Christmas fairs. Which might work better...I'll leave my opinion as undecided. Did you go, what did you think? 

Now I must toddle off the evening has well and truly settled in and it's time to snuggle down on the sofa with a cuppa. 

Countdown to Crafty Competition

Today I finally managed to put together and send out the long overdue newsletter/special announcement (I slightly feel it should have been accompanied by a fanfare...kidding) because it was all to do with my secret squirrel project with Crafty Magazine. 

No, it wasn't showing off what it is I've done, you'll have to wait till the 7th November to find that out (11 days and counting!) but rather it was the kick off to a mini competition I am doing along side it, a thank you if you will, for your patience over the past couple of months.

 

The folks over at Crafty HQ are giving UK readers a chance to win a 3 months subscription to the magazine.

Never fear if your one of my overseas supporters, for you I am putting together a prize bundle which will include a copy of Issue 8, one of my rare button needle cases and a PDF pattern of your choice.

How to enter!

Nice and simple, you can either enter via my recent newsletter or email me directly at info(@)masonbee.co.uk (remove the brackets), just don't forget to tell me where in the world you are! 

Please note I am having comment gremlins on the blog at the moment, so best to email me, rather than leaving a comment.


Time for the T&C’s:

• By entering you’re agreeing for your email address to be shared with Crafty Magazine.
• If you’re a winner of the magazine subscription you will need to provide a valid UK address which I will be sending to Crafty Magazine.
• Winners will be announced on my blog on Sunday 17th November.

You can view the newsletter by clicking the following - http://eepurl.com/HHpmT 

Stitching to Christmas

I have to say I am one of those folks who loves the run up to Christmas, the cooling weather (not the rain so much!), the fact you can stay snuggled up in doors and cooking seems less of a chore and more of a pleasure. 

So whilst I am ever so slightly freaking out at the list of things I really want to get done on the run up to Christmas, I am actually okay with it all. I am starting to realise, and I've been told it many a time lately, I can't do everything no matter how much I want or feel I need to. I am trying to build up stock should the opportunity to do a craft fair crops up, but this year I am not beating myself up over it if I don't get the level that I wanted. If it comes to it I'll simply pass on it. I've had a busy couple of months and as my spare time is limited I need to ease up otherwise I'll simply not have the energy to do anything. 

Weirdly since instigating this I've found myself more inspired and energised to get things done. Whatever the reason I am quite happy with this, because whilst I am making pieces of stock (slowly), I've been caught up in a quilting bug. You might have seen/read that I've fallen in love with a fabric bundle called Petite Street. I've been drooling over it for ages and finally felt I could buy it and did so last night, and since then I've been drooling some more over quilt designs/patterns. Then just like that I found myself suckered into buying more quilting fabric...such as this rather lovely Christmas design I found over on Eclectic Maker. The big panel is for a cushion but I am going to alter it to become a table mat, going to back it with cherry red cotton, just mulling over the binding. 

Winter`s Lane Quilt Panel in Grey by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

....I'm not entirely sure how my bank account is going to cope with this sudden passion for quilting (reawakened love affair - I've always had a soft spot for it), especially as it's coping with being a home owner with a picky interior style. 

If your interested to know what quilt design I am going to do with the Petite Street fabrics I think I am settled on this one called Ruby, Pearl and Opal design over on Moda Bake Shop. I think I can just about manage that one, but I feel I might need to invest in a proper rotary cutter, mat and rulers to do it all properly. 

As we are hurtling towards November, it's time to remind you all again, that my project for Crafty magazine is out next month. Exciting! I really, really hope you love it, and likewise as mentioned before there will be a giveaway to go with it on the blog/newsletter I've only just this week been in dialogue with the Editor to get that settled. Work sadly has gotten a little in the way these past couple of weeks, I had a trip to Stirling Castle for a Heritage conference which has thrown me out a little. I don't regret the trip though, it was fascinating and has only cemented the idea that I've had of going to Scotland for my *cough30thcough* birthday next year. I also got the chance to see the newly installed tapestries in the castle. Apologies the photo's aren't the best as I was meant to be concentrating on the tour guide... 

They feature a story of the Unicorn, and are copied from the ones that are in MET in New York. They really are very stunning in person and the appliqué work above the Queen's chair is also lush, and I wish I asked who stitched the reproductions as they were rather good. I do like it when I get a spot of day release from the office to go on trips like this!

I thought I would round off this rather long blog post with a little look at a few bits I rustled up today:

A new batch of tissue holders, perfect for a stocking filler, loving my little handmade fabric labels, using my custom made stamp. Which was also used on a stack of drawstring bags which are used as part of the packaging for Christmas decorations and jewellery, so much quicker to make them up with a sewing machine than by hand. Although its a slow process if you forget half way through doing one how you sewed the one before...there was a fair bit of unpicking. Happens to the best of us!

I hope everyone is doing well, and do tell me what your up to project wise!

So long cold and hello stitching

Finally I feel slightly more human, well as much as I am normally, had a head cold for most of the week. This morning however, I've found that I can focus on things for longer than a second and whilst I don't want to over do it....I've managed to do quite a few things this morning. This afternoon I'll ease back off again and simply make some soup. 

I've retaken some photographs of old stock, I hadn't realised just how dark they looked in the photographs I had taken. So my Paradise Bird Christmas baubles have been re-shot, and as I've been making calico bags, these decorations will also now come with one, to help keep them protected when not in use. 

Talking of Paradise Bird, which I have once again revisited, when I've not been feeling poorly this week I've managed to make more of the new brooches in an array of colours:

What do you think? They are £14.50 each, and again come with a little calico bag. I'm really loving how simple, yet effective they look. Which makes me love the design even more. I wasn't sure how further I would develop the Paradise Bird design but this has reinvigorated me to use it some more. I am thinking a small batch of Tissue Holders next. 

Speaking of that, I'm going to make more of the wordy Tissue Holders soon, so keep eyes peeled for more Snotty, Drippy and Achoo designs. Which will be stitched on rather lush linen and lined with bright Liberty print.

I will also be making more Queen Bee Tree decorations, I was awaiting delivery of some materials and for my eyes to be focus able to stitch, before making more. I know several folks have asked about having it as a design. I would really love to offer it as a design but at the moment I am really behind on Christmas stock making and need to focus on that. If I feel I am making some headway on the stock then I may well do so.

Though I have to ask would you want it as a kit? Full materials etc, and making instructions, the embroidery design on it's own, or a complete patten (no materials). I would really be interested to know.

I know I've yet to progress with making a stitched example of my last free Little Planet design, and the long overdue Honeycomb Tutorial. I may well push those back to the new year. I do so hate to promise things and not deliver, but I'd rather not keep offering up dates and not reaching the target. I hope you don't hate me too much for that. 

I will be writing a new e-newsletter later this month, as next month the Crafty issue with my project that I still can't tell you about is in it, and I promised a competition to go with it (this I will deliver on!). 

Now time for me to toddle off, I want to sort out my to do list for the week, and rest for a bit. Before I do, I was having a mini clear out and came across these rather forlorn buttons. I made them a long time ago and have yet to either use.

If you would like any of them, either leave me a comment or email info (at) masonbee.co.uk. If you want more than one lot then I'll sort you out a special rate. 

Little Sewing Buttons £3 + P&P

Petite Flowers (Liberty Tana Lawn) £3 + P&P

Sunburst (Liberty Tana Lawn) £2.50 + P&P

Red Berry (Liberty Tana Lawn) £3.00 + P&P

Christmas, New Stock and a Vow to Buy Quality

It feels nice to be working on a blog post during the day and not at night as with my previous weekly musings. The sun is still shining and the sky is blue. Thus far it's been a rather productive week and a bit of a rallying one too. I'll get to the latter bit a little bit later because first I really, really want to show you what I've been working on this week. 

I'm utterly stoked with the way my new Christmas bee design has turned out. I made the decision quite early on that I wasn't going to do the same design as last year and I was prompted to get drawing again when I sold the very last Merry Bee. I had actually tweeted the design I came up with the other day and so this weekend I set about making the sample. Well, the sample turned out to be beyond my expectations and as such its' up for sale already, complete with a little pouch to store it in. I've been mulling over packaging lately and I thought about buying in a load of already made calico pouches and perhaps in due time I'll do that but till I've sourced ones I'm happy to pair with my own work I've opted to make my own. Now the one shown below is completely made by hand, and yes you can imagine it took a wee while to sew it which isn't practical but with a sewing machine I'll get the time way down. It also meant I could also use my massive stash of bakers twine and my wee custom made stamp. So all in all it's rather perfect.

Queen Bee Tree Decoration £15.00

The bee wasn't the only thing I've been working on. Last week you'll recall my mentioning playing about with the Paradise bird design again, this time making some rather swanky looking brooches. Well I think I can safely say I've cracked it. It took some attempts and alterations but I've finally got it to fit neatly and securely into the brooch setting. It will be made in other colours, peach, pale pink, lilac, turquoise, hot pink and mint...actually I might still play with the combo's but at least you get the idea. I've not listed this one for sale as of yet, but will be in due course. So keep an eye on the store!

So yes, it's been a rather busy weekend, amongst all that lot I also managed to fit in a trip to Farnham's Food Festival (spent a small fortune on yummy produce), finally settled on how I am going to make a blind for the study, massive clothes clear out and made a concious decision in regards to clothes buying habits. 

Now I know that's a weird thing to do, the latter that is, but this week I finally had enough of buying cheap clothing. What did it for me? A pair of boots, which I had ordered from New Look and realised you really do get what you pay for. Now, yes I know if you buy cheap you get cheap. I've know that, occasionally though you buy cheap and you can get good quality too but like many you get pulled into the need it now situation and forgo buying into investment pieces because it involves searching, saving up and waiting. Not to say I am not patient (mostly) but well it's easy just to find something that vaguely does the job, that might last the season and get rid. But I am feeling really uneasy about that lately. More so now I have my own place, and the whole buying bits for it, be it a lamp or the paint. Now part of me wants to rush out and fill the place completely with everything I need but that's both unrealistic financially but more importantly where's the fun in that? I've been on the hunt for a console table pretty much since I moved in but I'm not rushing to IKEA to get one. I'll wait till I find the right piece that could be several more months down the line but that's fine by me. 

So going back to the clothing I've decided that not only a small wardrobe (not talking about the furniture) made up of pieces that are really well made and fit properly is the way to go. The first thing I'm saving up for is a pair of Grenson Chelsea Boots 'Jessie', aren't they just lush! I've just popped some bits on Ebay that I don't want any more and the money from that is going in the pot. Hopefully be able to afford by the next pay cheque. 

Then saving up for a new leather handbag....

So here is to saving and buying quality. 

Sunday Night Pondering

This is the second time I've written this blog post today. I had started off with stating that this weekend has been less than productive. But weirdly writing the first blog post attempt seemingly spurred me on. Perhaps I'll try that next time I feel like I've done nothing with my time.

So what have I done....

The image above shows that I've attempted making things. It's an attempt pretty, but not quite right. It doesn't fit flush to the brooch fitting and whilst I was trying to be clever and time saving by using self cover buttons to give the dome effect and to make it easier to adhere to the brooch back, it's a bit gappy around the edge (can't really see it in the above photo). So I chucked it to one side, attempted to write a blog post, then had a sudden thought. Went back to it and found a better way to do it. Wrote my making knots, doodled the two designs...and well that's that project on its way.

Re-took some photographs of products, realising that some of the pocket mirrors weren't listed in the Etsy store. Rectified that, and if your one of those that likes to get the Christmas shopping done early, then they make a nifty little stocking filler...*hint*.

Played around with more photographs, in my attempt to take sharper photographs of 'Tea Solves Everything' and 'Life is a Big Puddle Jump In'. So that I can progress the idea of turning them into post or greeting cards. I was asking over on Facebook

Oh, and I finished the second sample and instructions for Crafty Magazine yesterday....and whizzed up a batch of jam tarts.

So really, in conclusion I was perhaps more productive than I thought. Which also makes me realise that I need to relax a little more, and be less harsh on myself. After all I do fit this round working full-time.

Ending the night on a bit of a ponder.

Hamish says hello and other things

Anyone else find writing a title for a blog post really difficult? There are times when I just haven't a clue what to call a post. But at least this one is pretty much spot on, Hamish has popped by to say hello, in a rare moment of opportunity I managed to get this shot of him and it pretty much sums him up...

If he can get behind anything, squeeze through cracks he's your man. You know the more I look at that shot the more I notice the look of 'put the camera down'. 

So aside from trying to take photographs of my elusive hamster, baking and cooking (I'm a real autumn/winter cook) I've been working on the project that cannot be named... That's pretty much all I've been doing this weekend. Granted I've been squeezing in a bit of time for my own things. I've purchased a couple of small bundles of felt this week which arrived rather speedily, thank you Paper & String. The felt is to be used for two things, one a new batch of snazzy brooches (more on this next week) and secondly to make a couple of gifts. Naturally like everything else I am working on lately I can't really go into too much detail as it's for some ladies that I know swing by the blog. But you might just make out an owl...the actual design comes from a freebie from Issue 5 of Crafty magazine 'Woodland Storage Boxes', I'm going to adapt the cute little owls and trees to turn them into little felt wonders. Well that's the plan...

I'll keep you posted!

Before I dart off go and check out Feeling Stitchy's latest competition.

Finished!

Another weekend of a bit of me time, things to do, people to see and projects to finish, whilst also whipping up batches of soup and moving furniture around.

Has anyone else noticed the change in the weather this weekend? Yes, I know a Brit talking about the weather, well nothing like sticking to a stereotype. I really noticed it this weekend, with the warm sun but a noticeable nip in the air with with the wind. Thus making you wish when your out that you brought a scarf with you. I have always loved the snuggly jumper, soup making, blanket days, more than any other time of year. Sure I was born in the spring but autumn and winter will always be my fave. Bring on the crispy leaves to tread on!

Anyway, enough of the weather...I've got something to show you!

I've finished my 'Tea Solves Everything' embroidery at long last! Yay, we all cry...well okay, perhaps just me. So pleased its finally complete. I need to get it framed but it's done, it's finished...its sitting in the hoop frame next to me. Okay, I need to get it mounted onto card but it's done!

Just starting the very last letter, I had to actually do this letter again, so this is attempt number two. I just couldn't get the flick under the 'v' right. So I unpicked, stitched 'e' and 's' and went back to it. Sometimes you have to give something a break before you come back to it.

Using a pin I was able to keep the core thread where I wanted it whilst I stitched up to it. 

And here it is complete! So, utterly thrilled with it.

I'm so pleased with the outcome, I just need to sort out some really high resolution shots and then I can play around with the idea of greeting cards. I'm mind is already onto stitching the next one, which I will start but in a few weeks time.

I've had to put my own projects on hold again, some of you might have seen some of my tweets lately, I've had a bit of an issue with post. My secret squirrel project finished pieces went missing in the post....and yes, to say I was distraught would be an understatement. I have, however, gotten over it. Someday it may show up, and in the meantime I am stitching it again, with a slight adaptation. Needless to say, posting it will cause me a bit of a stress but I am seriously contemplating DHL or Feedex. It's frustrating but at the end of the day it's really not the worst thing in the world, at the time it was but you have to move on. Tea and chocolate also helped, and wisdom from my best friend and mum.

I was about to sign off, but I must draw your attention to a competition being run by &Stitches blog rather aptly named for the time of year, 'Back to School'. It sounds like a really fantastic competition idea and there are some fab prizes up for grabs. Go and check it out.

Bees, Pictures and Tea

The secret squirrel project has been posted off, and I've decided to treat myself this weekend to a bit of me time, and wrapping up a few loose ends. So I can start a fresh next weekend and finally crack on with new projects and start work on the Honeycomb tutorial I've been promising.

So this weekend I've cleaned my abode, pampered myself and Hamish, hung pictures and tarted up a new mega sized notice board, cooked and finished off another overdue project. Oh, I also wrote a mini newsletter. 

Before I talk about the newsletter I thought I'd show you a few shots from the room, I've been able to keep the room tidy...lets see how long that lasts. ;) 

Just a few shelves...

Yes, that is Mary Poppin's on the screen. A few pictures on the wall.

New uber big notice board, time to fill it!

The newsletter that went out today was just a smaller than normal one mainly because of the sheer lack of doing anything other than sorting out the flat and focusing on the secret squirrel project. But I promised a free pattern to download so, the 50+ folks who kindly subscribe to the newsletter were the first to get it.

So the new pattern is a wee little planet to join the series and it's theme is bees...

To view this month's newsletter click here, or if you just want to skip to the new pattern then click this link. I'll have a stitched version of this soon, as well as an advanced purchasable pattern.

Now time to start sorting out some dinner and I have this vague feeling that I've forgotten to do something....

Oh, there was something a date for your diaries if your in Surrey, I nipped over to Farnham Maltings yesterday and picked up their events diary and on the Saturday 19th & 20th October is the Festival of Crafts. I'm going to nip along on one of the days to check out the wares.

Bye for now!