Minions and Packaging

Okay last week I was somewhat relaxed about what I had to do for the upcoming craftshow. But today I feel a sense of panic in everything that I have planned to do this weekend. Silly really as I actually also know I'll be okay. Nothing like unnecessary stress to get you going. All though I am sitting here drinking tea, writing this blog post and shopping for a Secret Santa gift for a work colleague. 

Anyho...

I received the last of the bits I needed to order for my packaging, additional business cards (which look and feel better than the gloss ones I got the first time round) and oodles of stickers (750) at the bargain price of £15. I'll certainly be using printed.com again for my marketing needs. They will be used on my boxes for the pictures and clocks, as well as sealing up my stripy paper bags and the white tissue paper. You can also see below that I am also making a felt version of my logo and I also whipped up some price labels ready for me to write on and then laminate. I was trying to think out a way of stiffening the paper I printed the labels on as I didn't have any card and then remembered stuffed away in a cupboard I have a laminator  Might as well put it to good use, glad I didn't get rid of it. So what remains for me to do is make oodles of baubles, and other bits and pieces....back to my list I go.

Now a couple of weeks ago you might recall I posted about the progress of one my stitching minions Laura. She contacted me recently to say that she's completed it and doesn't it look fab. So thrilled to see the design finished and in different colour way. Her assistance and my other Minion Jenny has been fantastic and already I have been tweeked the pattern, to get it to a stage I think I am really happy with. So thank you ladies. 

And now it's time to break away from the computer to crack on.

Mini Update - Work in Progress

Just a wee update on things in progress.

Above the Peter Pan collar experimental piece is complete and I must say it looks rather snifty, even with me modelling it, can't quite work out what expression that was but I think it was my 'I hate taking my own photo' photo. but anyway, even with the weird facial pose and tank top it still looks fab. And as requested I will be making these to sell, I am in the process of making another one which will help me determine the final cost etc. It will be in a soft sand/natural coloured linen and I am thinking either a hot pink for the thread or maybe a blue...can't decide.

And whilst that's being worked on I am in the process of finishing off the honeycomb stitch piece. As I come towards the end (which this image is a little behind where I am at) I can't quite decide whether or not to make it a clock or the picture first. Perhaps when I come to stitch the bee on it all will be clearer. I know if I do it again, which I will be I think there will be more of the dark coloured umber or I will do the light in the middle and work out to the dark. 

What do you think of it so far?

The Switch

So I've been a little bit busy today, making the most of my Sunday to start switching things over to 'Mason Bee'. Some of you may already be aware of the changes, as I mentioned on Facebook that it was part of my list of things to do today.

It’s surprising, but not at the same time, just how many things I have to change:

• -       Blog
• -       Etsy
• -       Flickr
• -       Tumblr
• -       Facebook
• -       Twitter

To name but a few, and I swear I will probably have forgotten something.

The biggest change I’ve done is the new website, the old domain www.lamdesigns.co.uk is still active but now redirects to the new site www.masonbee.co.uk. I hope you take a moment to look at it, and if you’re one of the lovely people that have me listed on your site, can kindly change it to the new domain I would be eternally grateful.

The other changes, so far, are as follows:

Twitter: @themasonbee

Blog: www.themasonbee.blogspot.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themasonbee

Flickr: At the moment stays as lamdesigns, as I am unable to change it, in time I will consider creating a new account, but as I need to transfer photographs I probably won’t at this point in time. My subscription for the current account ends in July.

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/themasonbee

I have a list of other bits to work through, DeviantArt, tumblr and so forth. You will note where I cannot obtain the exact name I have simply added ‘the’ at the beginning. Simple but does the job nicely.  

Going back to the website you will find that this is where you will find my free patterns, and rather excitingly I have a new pattern on there for you to download too. And perhaps now is a good reminder about the competition, I hope you’re going to enter!

What else to do, well aside from the above bits and pieces?

Branding – is in hand, searching around getting quotes from people to do it for me.

Patterns – I need to change the name on the pdf’s, annoyingly can’t do that on my computer at present, so I will sort that out during the week.

So many other bits to do that I need to spend some time sitting down and checking, once all those bits are sorted then I can look to getting on with the bigger picture stuff, I have a book to read and chapters to work through.

But I knew it wasn’t going to be quick or easy, moving things over to a completely new name/brand. I always did love a challenge.

Stumpwork Progress

Just a wee postie today to show off the progress of the peacock stumpwork and I have to say now that I have the tail feathers completed and I know where I want them; I utterly love it! I am so pleased that the tana lawn has behaved and I haven't had to much of a headache, it's such a light weight fabric that I wanted to get out of having to back it in any way and it's worked a treat. If your wondering how I got them like that, its wire that's been very tightly/neatly couched over,  the wire that's been used is the ones florists and cake makers use, its wire that's been wrapped in paper. I normally like to stab the wire down first which you can see in the very top picture before going back round with the closer stitching. 

Once it's stitched onto the fabric you carefully cut it out, and with very sharp scissors and a steady hand you cut very close to your stitching, use the blade to get as close as you can, and brush you nail back and forth (gently) over the loose fabric to bring the fibres to stand up (makes it easier to trim). 

To make them stand up I've pushed the excess wire in through the fabric and on the otherside I will tack them down, and securely fasten them before trimming the wire back.