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.

Fairs and a Christmas Bee

So last week I mentioned last week that I had an opportunity to go to the Handmade Fair at Hampton Court, courtesy of the lovely gang over at We Make. I am hope wining tickets to the fair might mean I would win the lottery. But you know to do that you have to first buy tickets....

It was surprisingly, and perhaps a somewhat unfair comment to make, that the fair was rather good. Now I did only go for just over an hour and half which might not seem a long time but it was a bit of an early start on a Sunday to make sure I got there early enough. I like to get to show's early, not a big fan of crowds, and when you have tents...the heat. Now a lot of it was geared towards classes, and talks which I wasn't there for as my ticket didn't allow me to do any, and honestly not sure I would have wanted to. There was, however, a nice mix of craft folk and suppliers. Though it would be nicer to see if they do it again next year they could attract more independent suppliers, the niche stuff that you nine times out of ten have to order on line to see it. And it was some what of a surprise that the RSN didn't take a stand, would have been worth the outlay which I know was fairly substantial, or even have the workrooms open for the day. 

Fabric a gift from my best mate, she knows me so well, some uber cute Christmas Decorations and yes might have picked up some more papercraft stuff. It's an addiction...

Anyway, I picked up a few bits, was being good given I had just come back from the States with a bucket load of supplies, and I knew that the following week I would be off to Threads....

Which like the Handmade fair is still in its infancy. 

For those crazy long term followers of the blog, god love you all, I talked about it's inaugural show last year. Which was a little bit...well I wasn't sure what to make of it, and I am still not sure it's got the mix right. Like with the Handmade fair, I would have loved to have seen more niche suppliers of kits and materials. Not sure it's the fair for purchasing finished products. Especially in a few weeks time is the Malting's big Festival of Crafts. It was also I think a little smaller than last year, or that could have been my imagination. Still it was a good couple of hours of wandering around with the lovely Laura Howard aka Bugs and Fishes wandering about and talking to the stall holders. 

Of course I did buy a few bits...

So much pink...

Such as more wonderful threads from Zoe Acketts, who I have spoken about before, and now has the most delicious range of silk threads to compliment her cotton threads. All hand dyed and produced by her. In due course she'll have a website to sell the threads from which I can't wait for. Really was great to see her again. 

I also got the chance to meet Sophie Simpson of What Delilah Did, so great to put a name to a face. And seeing her new book, which I have to say you have to get because it's so darn cute, Stitch the Halls. Prompted me to purchase the skein of hot pink cotton thread from Zoe, so I can stitch the bunting design featured in the book, which is of winter animals, polar bears and so forth. Sure I have enough to be doing at the moment but a little project for the train can't hurt...

Well, I'll squeeze in around all the other oodles of sewing I've started to get into doing. In particular I mentioned as well last week that I was designing this year's Christmas bee bauble design....well here it is. Well, in it's near finished state:

Bzzzz

Yes, the little Merry Bee is back, in miniature size sporting a Swarovski crystal nose. Bling for bees. I have to admit it did take a couple of attempts to get back into how to stitch the bees, nothing like brain freeze but having just stitched another one think I am getting back into the zone. Just have one more to stitch up and then I can get them turned into baubles, so hopefully by next week I can start looking at getting them listed. Might try out having them just on my website. I'll keep you posted. 

My tea has now been drunk, and so that means time to step away from the computer. Hope you lovely lot are well, and that you have had a nice weekend.

Stitching Sundays

Howd'y folks, yes I am back up and running in my temporary digs. And finally, finally stitching again. Gawd blimey, feels like an age since I picked up a needle, and I've wasted no time this weekend in getting through several things on my to do list whilst at the same time finding time to unwind.

SO what did I get up to, well after writing my list (gotta love writing lists), I cracked on with progressing my design for a competition by Survival Arts. I've been doodling over the past couple of weeks but hadn't got round to turning it into anything. This is a bit of a shot of what I've been doing, I am still a little iffy on it I think once I've finished the sample that I'll get a better feeling for it. I'm also mulling over another design which I'll work over the next weekend.

I've also started work on the second hive tutorial, as recently announced in my first newsletter the next tutorial focuses on 'Stem Stitch'. Not my utter favourite stitch to do but it is a useful one. Snazzy Stem will be uploaded over the Bank Holiday weekend.

I've also been inspired to work on a new piece just for me, something to adorn my soon to be wonderful craft room (yep, the purchase is still going through). I came cross a few back a site that had some rather great computer wallpapers on a site called Design Love Fest (scroll down for one called Today is a Good Day) and I was so taken by it that I found myself thinking that I could probably turn it into an embroidery. Now, I could have easily taken the design, worked it and hung it up and no one would any the wiser...but that frankly doesn't sit well with me. 

So I contacted the designer Hannah Dollery this very afternoon, and got a very speedy response back granting me permission to do it. I can't wait to work on it, it's the process  and the challenge of translating a design/drawing/illustration which hadn't intended to be stitched into an embroidered piece that I adore so much. I also love selecting the stitches, picking the colour palette, working out the order of stitching etc. So thank you so much Hannah, for making my day!

And now folks, time to get back to some more stitching!

Ring of Bees Pocket Mirror

Whilst temporarily sofa/bed bound owing to picking up some rotten cold I've at least been able to work on the next round of projects. One of which is progressing the 'Ring of Bees' pocket mirrors and pouches, from a sample to actual product. 

I've only made one pouch thus far, but have at nine in the works in various stages of completion and hopefully I will get them all completed over the coming weeks. There are two colours for the linings that people will be able to choose from, five in this rather lovely pink flowery pattern, and the other five in navy, both are new Liberty cotton fabric prints.

These pocket mirrors are once again to support the British Bee Keepers Association (BBKA), £1 will be given for each one sold. The first of these lovely beauties is already for sale. 

I'll hopefully be able to work on the next thing on my list of projects (which will see the return of the paradise bird pattern) to try out at the weekend, when I am up and about.

Hopefully you are all germ free and snuggly warm.

Return of the Bees

Nice to get back to stitching my bees once more. 

I stitched the ring in the centre of the clock last week, as its going to be used for my next mirror design, but it's kind of two for the price of one as it's also for my next clock. 

Actually this clock...

Ring of Bees Hand Embroidered Wall Clock

Size: 13 (w) x 13 (h) x 2.5 (d) cm - 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 1 inches (approx)

Materials: Cotton threads, linen, card, wooden hoop, and a quartz clock mechanism.

More bees on the horizon though, I need to work on the pouches for the mirrors, well once I have ordered the actually mirrors. I also got a bit sidetracked this afternoon I made a tiny bee brooch, whether or not I'll actually make more of them I am not entirely sure but I might gauge your opinions on it...

It's a tiny gold bee, which was stitched in gold check purl, over stitched with stranded cotton, on the back of the brooch it's backed with Liberty Tana Lawn fabric. It's just under 2.5cm in diameter.

What do you think?

Preparation & T-Rex

Bit of an odd week thus far, evenings have been busy but I don't feel as though I have even scratched the surface of my to do list, and that's not even touching the goals for July list. But, I think I am at least starting to make a bit of a headway so by the end of the week I can at least start to cross things off. Hopefully!

I do also seem to be loving the side projects and I have two more this week, along with the cross-stitch piece, I am currently mending the poor Mr T-Rex that was played with by my sisters dog, so attempting mouth, neck and head surgery over the course of the week.

Poor Mr T-Rex

Then, those who follow me on Facebook have heard me utter, I want to make a Peter Pan collar. And byjove I've only gone and started one. I've made the pattern pieces, tacked the fabric, and now I just need to transfer the embroidery design onto the fabric (mini Paradise Birds - got to keep the theme going!)

Will eventually look like something.

For the non-side project I am working on the prep for the first Bee related piece, just need to pick up the threads this weekend and then I can get cracking. I've already done the experimenting with the Black work stitches, so I sort of know what to expect. Sort of...

Tell what it is yet?

And that ladies, gents and dinos, sums up my week so far!

Oh, and I am now down to 12 Mini Button Needlecases, grab them whilst you can!

Proud to Support the BBKA

Now I've been going on about bees for sometime, and many of you might recall I mentioned I had gotten in contact with the British Bee Keepers Association, as I wanted to do my bit to help the bees. Well this week I was sent the supporters badge, and I am proud to have it on my blog, and website.

The next step for me is to work on products that will mean I can start sending donations to BBKA, I really would like to work with you all to be able to adopt a hive!

Helping Bees - BBKA

Since making the decision to change my name over to Mason Bee, I've always had it at the back of my mind that I would like to do something to help bees. Strange perhaps, to some that I would want to do this, but its not really. I see it as doing my bit for still overlooked and misunderstood creature, bug...the humble bee. Bees are so vitally important to our ecosystem but we are doing so much damage to their natural habitats. I know I am only one person and I am never going to make my millions but I would like to do what I can. 

So, I did some research and a few days I contacted the British Bee Keepers Association (BBKA), firstly to ask if they a button that I can add to my site and secondly to state that my aim is to create some products that will allow me to give a donation to their cause. In the short run I would like to use the money raised to 'Adopt a Hive'. I just had a wonderful idea, this very second, that when I do raise enough to adopt a hive (through sales of certain items I produce), I will put everyone who has put money towards it into a raffle to win what you get for adopting a hive.....okay, I need to really work out the details for that but I am loving it the rough idea.

Anyway, I got my response today, and they are really grateful for the support and I will soon be sending me a button so I can add it to my website.

I am already working on the ideas of products that I will be producing, and in time I'll let you know what I have in mind.

A mini update for you there.

Before I sign off, hello to the new followers of the blog I had quite a lot of hits from http://craftgossip.com/ after I sent them a link to the patterns, which in turn has brought a lot of people to the site. So hello!

Want it Wednesday: Buzzy Times

Following on from my announcement on Sunday, exciting times are ahead, I feel the need to share a lot of very lovely bee related products. I love and adore bees, and where possible I like to support them (I have even been known to do International Bee Rescue, style missions). Wasps on the other hand, I run a mile.

Update: Funny thing happened on the way home from work I ended up rescuing a rather large bumble bee from the path, can't stand to see it squished. So scooped it up on my credit card (weirdly seemed happy to be saved) and popped it on a nearby bush. I hope it's okay.

Bee Bookplates - Printable PDF - AliceCantrell

Bee Rubber Stamp - norajane

Embroidered Bee Hive on Linen Brooch - mariadownunder

Hive Honey Set - biodidactic

Lavender Dryer Sachets - gardenmis

Mason Bee House - beeandbees

Bee's World Crewel Embroidery Kit - Theflossbox

That's it for this buzzing round of Want it Wednesday, don't forget I have a competition running so take a look and take part Competition Time.

Sunday I will be blogging about my adventures in the next chapter, and of the slow steady change to Mason Bee.