Me plus embroidery equals patience?

Tea, blogging and freshly baked biscuits

For a change I felt like I wanted to write a blog post that wasn't about a WIP, or something pretty too look at thought that will come during the week. I wanted to write about something that's been on my mind for a little while, the perception of embroiderers. Though I am sure there are many folks out there, including you lovely lot who regularly follow my blog (god bless you).

One thing I've heard countless times over the past six years and during my apprenticeship, is the following line 'you must be so patient'. Actually, I am really not. My friends have borne witness to this. One memory that sticks out to me, no wait two, occurred during my apprenticeship days, one where I threw my 3d embroidered box across the room having grown frustrated with it and the second was when I was equally frustrated with my coronation goldwork, I slammed it down...now I can't remember if that was onto the trestles or onto the floor but either way I was less than gentle with it. I should state in both instances neither pieces were damaged and in fact my goldwork went onto win a prize. So perhaps it was a good luck gesture?

What I would say I have oddles off is perseverance, I simply have to see something through to the end. Be that courses, classes, reading a book and especially when I am working on something. I'll admit there will be a lot of swearing and throwing of items along the way. I have a bit of a short fuse at times...

Perseverance and also determination does come at a bit of a price, you don't always see that you should have quit or taken a step back. Of course, there are moments of clarity and I do quit. A good example of this is the growing number of 'projects' that have been hidden.

I wondered then if anyone else had come across this with their own work? When I tell people I really don't have the patience of a saint, they don't quite believe it to be the case. Something's are easy for me to stitch that others might find hard so the need for patience isn't required, that gets replaced with the love of actually doing it.

I suppose this is a bit of a muddled post, I was never very good at structuring things out beyond my embroidery, but I think you get the jist. Although I hope I haven't ruined your perception of me.

Another question to ask you is would you say your easily frustrated, patient, determined....

Its a bit of a curious Sunday post.

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.

A Proper Blog Post

For a change. Not that I consider any previous posts I've made anything less than a proper post, but sometimes I do ramble, or make them short. Today's is going to be fairly large so I might break it up into two. I know aren't I nice.


Hello by the way to the new followers! I am I see now up to 62, so cooie you nutters that chose to follow me, and also a hello to those poor folks who follow me on twitter. If your crazy enough you can follow me too just head over to twitter I would love to say I am sane on twitter but that's just not me. Anyway....

Firstly I have my first customer photo of my work in use, so massive thanks Gabrielle (especially for allowing me to use her photo) do also take the time to check out her lovely blog. I must say I do rather like her mug too. She will also be set to open the doors on her very own Etsy store. So keep an eye out for that by following her blog (just click her name above).


I've also been working on new lines, and as I type just behind my on my desk is a little pile of things to do, I have two new tissue holders which I will be making entirely by hand no sewing machine for the seams (mainly because I can't get to it owing to my knee being out of action), and some more lovely lavender teabag sachets, and hopefully i'll be receiving some bias binding and felt in the post. Which will mean baby quilt being finished and new pastel shades needlecases! I think when I get a load of those made I'll do a little competition or do a free shipping week on them. You know it's funny I started out writing this post and now for the life of me I can't remember what the hell I was going to write about that was potentially going to make this a massive post....So perhaps it will be part 1 of 2, part two post lunch.


Bye for now!