Christmas Fair Stock Making

Hi everyone!

I've been awfully quiet of late on the old blog, but it's mainly down to stitching, lots of it and losing track of the time. The days are flying away at a rate of knots and I have so much I need to make before the Farnham Christmas fair, it's scary how that's just over 5 weeks away. Eeek!

Having one of those, what did I sign myself up to moments. 

*rocks back and forth*

That being said, I am plugging my way through and surprising myself that I've not driven myself nutty by stitching the same designs over and over...perhaps that will happen in a week or two. I'll keep you posted. I've managed to list a couple of new things this week including two new greeting's cards (see above image) one for Christmas 'Bee Merry' and the other a general greetings or notecard 'Bee Happy'. So pleased with the finish I always get a bit worried when relying on my photography skills when getting things printed sometimes the finish has been a bit poor owing to images being darker than I realised etc. But with these not a problem at all. 

I do have one question which i wonder if you could help me with, I was thinking of selling them not just as single cards but in packs of 3 or 5? What do you think rough cost I think would be around £6.50? At present for UK peeps, you can get one card for £2.75 including free postage. 

Before I get stuck back into stitching and generally not panicking, I just wanted to show a few items that I have been making for the show, if there is any of these left from the 2 day event will be listed. Perfect little stocking fillers and tree gifts. I must admit I've rather missed using my hot-fix crystal wand...

Heading to Farnham Xmas Fair

Christmas has properly arrived at Mason Bee HQ...as the new Christmas bee bauble has been designed, stitched and made up, well the first very batch at least. More will be made over the coming weeks, all the way on the run up to Christmas, reason being because I'll be at Christmas fair this year, not done one in...well a few years now.

I've just paid for my stall and with that bit of admin sorted, I can now announce (for sure) that I will be at the Farnham Malting's Christmas Fair this coming December. Which will be exciting and a touch nerve wracking as I do now need to start upping the anti with the making of stock, without getting too worked up over it. So...no pressure then. Thankfully, as mentioned previously I've been doing a little bit of planning over the last couple of months, and will be mainly concentrating on small items. Which was the reason I forked out for this little bundle of fabric. Can't beat the plain colours of Kona fabric. It's enough to make you smile.

So it's a short post today, mainly because I must crack on with the day, not only to get on with stock making but with the change in season, god I love autumn, I feel more in the mood for cooking. So lots of large vat sized portions of stew, soups, pies are on the horizon. Good, simple, tasty fare. So I hope everyone is snug as a bug this weekend. Do let me know what your up too! Also if your on instagram let me know, and I will be sure to follow you.

Time to Mention Christmas...

I know, I know! 

It's the middle of September and here I am talking about the one word that even makes me twitch. But I have to do it, I have to break it to you that alas I really do need to start to think about it. Like others in craft land its time to think about Christmas. Those who are better at working out that schedule have already started, and are well into their preparations.

Me?

I've dipped my toe in over the past couple of weeks and now it's time to cannonball into the pool of Christmas making. There is a good reason for this, I've got a fair in December, more on this soon, my first in over three years. I think? Memory fails me. Anyway, so whilst I am doing my utmost to remain calm and collected I do have to pull my finger out now. Now whilst I was in the States, I took the opportunity to purchase a few items (coughalotcough)...

Not only for playing about with, but to use for the fair in terms of decorating the stall to using to make stock with. I had a great time purchasing lots of lovely new quilting fabric (I will seek out a fabric store where ever I am), And I came to visit a couple of times, Flash Sew and Quilt store in Naples, Florida. It was lovely and holy crap there was a lot of fabric I wish I could have purchased. Next time, I'll bring and even bigger case...

I made a few notes about what I thought was realistic to make in the time and what I wanted to take. A few new ideas were jotted down, including a design for a Christmas card. It had to be stitched now so that I had time to get it photographed and printed in to cards. It was nice to do a spot of stripy trailing again. 

And it didn't take me that long either, which was nice. Was a bit worried I had gotten a bit rusty...

Anyway with it stitched I can now start working on the other bits and pieces on my list. I have two test pieces to try out one is the new Christmas bauble bee design. Last year it was a Queen Bee and this year? Well you'll have to wait and see. The other is just small little keyring idea, there will be bees...again.

Didn't start this weekend as it's been a bit busy as for most of today for instance I attended The Handmade Fair, with massive thanks to We Make London for my ticket. I entered a little comp they were running to win a ticket. And low and behold I only gone and won. Now, I'll talk about that adventure with the one I will be undertaking next weekend when I pop along to Threads, with Laura Howard aka Bugs and Fishes.

I hope everyone had a lovely fun, and crafty weekend.

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!

Finished Commission

Whilst I come too from a cold and wet day at the More London Christmas Market yesterday, I wanted to take a moment to drink a cuppa and show off one my latest commission pieces. You might remember my post the other day of the piece in progress, but I wanted to show you it complete. I am so utterly thrilled with the finish, that next year commissioned decorations will be offered. It is a little too late to be able to do more this year, but they will be back. Opportunity to order will be available over the year, because whilst this one is for Christmas it can easily be adapted for other occasions. 

Its been stitched in Trailing, which as you know is my favourite stitch and on the back it has been stitched in Back stitch (rather apt). Swarovski crystals were used to adorn it, and to embellish the 'i'. 

Very tactile and yummy.

Christmas fair's have come to an end for me this year, I am now starting to look to 2013, and where I go from here. New designs are a foot and actually approaching people to stock my work. Big step for me, but I am up for a challenge, think getting my foot on the property ladder has certainly spurred me on!

Change in Plans and Commissions

So another week comes to a conclusion and with it has brought more exciting things. Now originally I had thought that now till Christmas it was going to be a lot quieter for me, I could sit and work on the few commissions I had and start researching new ideas for 2013...And whilst I have been working on the commissions, such as this lovely personalised Christmas gift.

I do love a bit of trailing, actually I love it a lot which is why the whole thing ended up in the stitch. 

I've got myself involved with another fair, this is what happens when you go and see some dear friends. Have a chat and get roped in. So this Thursday and Friday you will get another opportunity to purchase my items before Christmas in person. Sure it's going to be a little bit on the chilly side but there is going to be mulled cider! What more can you want? Actually the Thursday I won't be there in person, my dear friend Anna  Stassen (http://sakurajewellery.com) will be holding the fort whilst I am at work. Then on Friday I will be coming up to man my stall. So come along and say hello!

I shall be taking majority of my clocks, collars and all my cute little pieces like my very last button needlecases, baubles and mirrors as well. Ideal stocking fillers! After this event my store will be going into hibernation mode for the winter, tucked up in a cozy bed, so that I can get myself ready for Christmas, and yes you guessed it working on the commissions. 

Nice and quiet....yeah.

See me at the Christmas Art and Craft Show

That's right folks you can come and purchase my wares in person on the 1st December at the Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill in London. Come a long for some festive fun and shopping. There is no entry fee this year, so there is no excuse for not coming along. 

For more details about the event, whose there and what else you can do on the day, click this link. Go on you know you want to!