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. 

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 

Ode to the Sun and the Winner is..

An ode to the sun....

Your lovely and cheerful,

And put us all in a good mood,

Mostly.

Except I get all cranky,

Itchy,

and its far too hot to sew.

Yes, I'll admit I'll never make a poet.

Yes, me and the heat/sun don't get along all that well but this isn't a moan about the weather, lord no, I've just never coped well in the baking sun. I'm more of a shade worshiper. So yesterday I didn't get a massive amount done on the stitching side of things, wee bit annoying as I really wanted to crack on with my friends' birthday present and start my next embroidered quote. The quote that will be the one I eventually turn into a kit/ or a new pattern. I was just too hot and kept getting headaches, which eventually saw me go to bed at 9:30.

What I did manage to do though, before the early bedtime, was get my haircut, and also went to see my soon to be new home. Yes, we are nearly there readers. Only a few more weeks to go. Completion/exchange date selected! By god, I'm sure you will all be happy that I stop saying 'nearly moving' in a blog post.

I don't have any pretty pictures of work in progress to show you this morning, so instead this morning's blog post I shall select my winner of the competition that ended yesterday, to win a couple of my mini embroidery patterns. 

I had 15 entries, with some very sweet comments about what they would want on their little home planet. Comfy chair was one the most requested item. Might well have to do another design soon with a chair on it.

Using the power of random.org. I assigned all the comments a number 1-15 and selected the following:

And that means..*drumroll* 

The winner is Xenia!

Who said they wanted on their little planet: 

"My planet would have a comfy chair and a lot of books."

See what did I tell you about chairs ;) 

Well done Xenia, I think I saw on your blog an email address, let me know if that's a valid email by posting a reply I'll get the patterns emailed to you soon after.

Time for me to disappear and actually get some stitching done!

Competition Time: Win Embroidery Patterns

Yes, folks its been a while since I did a little giveaway and I thought, why not give away something for you to do. So how would you like to win a set of two, full embroidery patterns (digital copies) from the Little Planet series; Little Home Planet and Planet of the Trees. 

Each pattern includes:

• Full colour image
• Pattern
• Stitch and thread guide
• Hints & Tips

How to enter? 

Well, nice and simple just leave a comment below (please no anonymous comments), perhaps telling me what would be on your little planet?

Competition is open to UK and International folks, as long as you have a valid email address.

Deadline for entry 13th July, the winner will be announced on the blog on the 14th July*.

*As long as I haven't been attacked by wasps or fallen down a well.

More Lettering: Life & Tana Lawn

It appears, in addition to my love for tea, bees and Liberty Tana Lawn, I have a growing fondness for stitching lettering. It's all I appear to be doodling these days, either random quotes I like or things I've come up with. Where or how far this takes me I don't rightly know, but I am liking this momentary diversion. Because, I am still not any further to completing the purchase on my first home. It's turning into a comedy at how long it's taking. That grumble aside, at least this limbo time is affording me a change in pace.

So what bunch of words have I chosen to work on at the moment, well it's something that's been muddling about in my noggin, 'Life is a Big Puddle, Jump In'. Words, that I don't often follow but one that I am paying a bit more attention too.

I've drawn out the design, chosen to use an assortment of different font styles, and colours. Really into the whole using the entire rainbow at the moment. Hey, the grey days have to be banished somehow!

Design, scaled up a smidgeon. My hedgehog pin cushion doesn't look impressed.

Currently working on the top row of letters 'LIFE', chosen to do balloon type letters in fruity colours. The string from each of the letters will link down to the second row. I will point out that working this in long and short stitch, has reminded me how rusty I am at doing it, taken me to 'f' to get back into the swing of it, and to get a smooth finish. 

Ah,....Lif...sweet...Lif.

I shall keep you all in the loop on it's progress, the aim of the coming week is to get the the first two rows complete, and to start the third row, which spells out 'BIG'. And when I am not working on that I will be planning what to do with my new stash of Liberty fabrics. I've gone on a bit of a spree to liven up the stash of Tana Lawn I already have. Some of my funky coloured ones are starting to run out so it was high time and a good excuse to buy more. It's been a combination of Ebay purchases and taking advantage of the summer sale at Liberty's in London. 2 metres for just under £25, I'll have some of that thank you very much. It will take me a long time, years even, to get through it all. 

Look at them, they are just so darn cheerful and lush! 

Before I dive off to make a cuppa and to take a break form the computer, you can see my entries for the 'Survival Arts - Bee Competition. Head over to their pinterest account to see the wonderful entries thus far, and my own (look out for Laura Mason) http://pinterest.com/survivalarts/brave-bees-art-competition/

And the winner is...

And the winner of my little competition is number 11...

The Sewing Croft

Who'd call her pet Bumble Bee...Buzby.

Congratulations!

If you ping me a message via Etsy, with your details and I'll pop it into the post to you.

Don't worry if you missed out this time, there will be more mini competitions in the future!

Also, this week, don't forget to get the issue 3 of & Stitches magazine... someone you know might be in it, undertaking a challenge *coughmecough*

Competition Time! Busy Bee Bundle

Time for a little competition.

To celebrate the launch of my 'Hi Honey' hand embroidery pattern, I would like one lucky person to win a rather rare printed copy of it and not only that one of my equally rare mini button needlecases. So you have somewhere to store your needles whilst you stitch the pattern. The winner will also get some other little goodies too.

If you would like to enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post and when you do why not answer the following silly question, if you had a pet Bumble Bee, what would you call it?

I'd either call it Fuzzy or Bob.

Deadline for entries is the 1st October 2012, so don't delay enter today!

Niggly Bits

I am sorry I can't accept anonymous comments as entries

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It's open to anyone, where ever you are in the World

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I will be randomly selecting a winner using the random.org generator when the competition ends, winners will be announced here and on my Facebook page, so make sure your following them both :)

Jubilee Spirit

Yesterday I shouted out on Facebook that I really wanted bunting, and I wanted it then. So, I got myself sorted and went out into the beautiful sunshine on a mission to get bunting, flags and napkins. The latter might seem odd but I am planning a bit of a tea party/jubilee picnic next Sunday with a few lovely friends. Fingers crossed the weather is good. Or have I tempted fate?

Anyway, as you can see it was a success, bunting was found as was flags and yes I got jubilee inspired napkins.  It didn't take long for everything to go up, bar the napkins and now I am feeling suitably in the spirit of the Jubilee. Yes I am a bit of  Royalist, not a fair weather sort but more that I think the Queen is the best female role model out there. And well she reminds me of my nan who passed away when I was a little girl. And Prince Philip just makes me roar with laughter, he's awesome.

Need to find calico some British inspired ribbon, anyone got a slither?

My little travel shelf, New York, Washington, Venice and London.

Is anyone else getting into the spirit of things? 

If you are then you might like my latest free pattern:

Available to download, for personal use only, from my website. Click here.

Don't forget to show it off! Either link me to your version in a comment or upload it to the Flickr group and participate in my latest competition!

And the winner is....

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who entered both on here and via my Facebook page, and commiserations to those who didn't win this time round, fear not another competition will be happening in due course so watch this space!

However, of course the draw took place a short moment ago, and as promised there was a hat. 

Hat filled with lots of paper slips

After a couple of shakes, I pull out a slip

And the winner is.....OLIVIA280177

Congratulations, you entered via my blog so if that's you Olivia can you leave a little comment and then we can work out posting the little pouch to you. 

Now its time I got my groove on and got stitching!

Seeing Double & Look a Head

For the last three or so hours I have been re-photographing some of my products, it was in some instances rather overdue. Spurned on by the fact that I'd recently taking some good product photographs which showed up my other products. So whilst it was a bit of a pain, my back is now aching, I feel rather pleased with the results.


For instance, here is a couple of before and after shots:

Before - Very dark!!

After you can actually see the colours better, and a nice shot of the clock with the packaging it will come in.

So yes, taken most of the day, but totally worth it and sometimes you do just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. The rest of the weekend will be ordering new fabric labels, getting a frame ready to start a new clock, plan next Wednesdays showcase blog and selecting the images for my new product line. 

This new line will be a range of pocket mirrors, images taken from previously stitched embroidery pieces, and each will have a little handmade pouch to go with it. Hence the urgency to get new fabric labels made. Rather looking forward to this and how they will turn out (well hopefully! Otherwise my friends are getting the rejects.) I like the idea of my main shop item being my clocks, then a select range of smaller items such as tissue holders and these new pocket mirrors. I'll be posting up the images I think I will be choosing over the course of the weekend, comments would be appreciated!

In the meantime don't forget I have a competition on at the moment! Ends next week.

Floating on a Cloud

So over the past couple of days I've been getting back on target with the second design, in the on going collaboration with Heidi Burton (Making Strangers). I am relieved that the need to redo it, has gone better than I had hoped. There is nothing worse than starting again only find that the second attempt is no better than the first. Thankfully this isn't the case.


Here is the progress so far...well that I've taken a photograph of....

Actually on the little cloud on the right at the moment and about a third of a way through it, pictures tomorrow!

And in case you missed it my competition - click here

Competition - Win a piece of my original work

Everyone loves a little competition right?

Over the years I have made many items, and like many crafty people have built up a vast collection of items made with the intention to sell but for some reason never doing so. 

This year I am planning on moving and as such I would love to send a few of these pieces to a good home.

First up is a very stunning silk purse, hand embroidered with a peacock feather design and embellished Swarovski crystals. 

Its open to anyone (anywhere), and to enter you can leave a comment here, like my Facebook page or leave a comment on there (i'll be putting a post up there on this competition shortly). Its starts today and runs to the 24th March, which is my birthday....(subtle hint). I will put all your names into a hat (a real one) and select a name at random. 

Good Luck!

Who won!

Ladies & Gents we have ourselves a winner!

Congratulations to Jenny! If you would like to either send me a direct message on my Etsy shop or leave me a little message. 

Well done! 

Thanks to everyone who participated there will be another competition in the future!

How about a Little competition?

In celebration of my branching out and joining Wow Thank You and opening another shop, I have decided that it was high time for a little competition. Once again I have a little button needlecase up for grabs and to go along with it a small set of Liberty Tana Lawn buttons. 

How does that sound?

To enter simply leave a little comment in this blog post! 

You have until Midnight on 3rd July!

Please note I won't be giving away my super sharp scissors or my fave thimble as shown in the image. As I sort of need them to make things.

Drum Roll please......

Hopefully you can read that tiny little box on the right! 


The number drawn was 11, I was going to do a number out of the hat, but I can't find my hat!! Congratulations Vicki Brown! I shall track you down and sort out getting your address =D


I rather enjoyed doing this little competition, so I will most certainly do another one soon!

Competition Time!

I don't often do competitions, but every now and then I have an urge to run one. My reason for wanting to run one was because as you know in my earlier post today (I know two posts in one day...shocking!) that I've recently made a batch of very pretty needlecases. Whilst making those nine I made another one, and what you see below is the fella in question. It has a very special button on it one that I purchased whilst I was in New York quite a few years back.

So would you like to be the owner of this little guy?

For a chance to win, leave a comment below, you have until Sunday, 13th June to do so!

I will select a winner at random on Monday. How exciting!

GOOD LUCK

Please note I won't be giving away my super sharp scissors or my fave thimble as shown in the image. As I sort of need them to make things.