Summer On Route

At least I like to think it's on route, sure we've been having a lot of the customary spring showers but still June is only a week away so I thought I would bring at a little closer. How? Well, I've been stitching the sample for the next free seasonal pattern, summer. 

In fact the sample is very much complete, just needs me to rustle up the pattern and then, bingo it will be ready for you lovely lot. As ever my newsletter subscribers will get first dibs on downloading it, which I am aiming to send out next Saturday, 31st May. Then it will be available on the blog as a download. 

I've kept it bright and cheery, as with the spring design and the stitches are simple but very effective, so that you can perfect the stitches and whip it up in no time at all. Speaking of the spring design, I would love to know if anyone has stitched it yet?

With this stitched has now meant I can start working on the Pretty Little San Francisco pattern by Jody Rice (Satsuma Street Designs). I did have to unpick some of it as I was stitched some of the top bar of the cross-stitch in the wrong direction to the rest of it, that's what you get for watching stand-up comedy on the tele whilst stitching! Oops.

I'm going to try and keep it as my evening/chill out stitching go to project, as I hope to get back to embroidering something a little more complex:

It's been sat, lurking on the table behind me with a load of threads and materials, but as of yet I haven't been in the right frame of mind to stitch it. That was until the other night when I felt that its about time I do something with it. It's going to take a bit of playing and experimenting at each stage, so very much a kin to the other two stumpwork pieces I've done, Paradise Bird and Peacock Paradise. I hope to get some of the prep work under-way on Monday, or least jot down how I want to start it. Then I'll just jump on in and get on with it. Bit like the rest of my ever growing to do list, which is finally seeing that I stop dilly-dallying about the postcard / greeting card idea that I know I've mentioned countless times. I procrastinate something rotten. So I'll get an order sorted on Monday, and keep you posted when they are listed. It will be a small batch to see how they go down, and then go from there, I should add thanks to Laura Howard for the advice/suggestions on this one! 

What else has been happening, well I've finally got my Frida Kahlo cushion cover back from the now sadly gone, Crafty Magazine. Which means folks I'll be turning it into a downloadable pattern, aiming to get that complete sometime in early June. Again, I'll keep you posted on this one.

I shall end this week's post with a naughty little purchase, picked up during a lovely day spent with an old friend's from Canada and Malasia (online buddies, never met face to face till Friday just gone!). I didn't need to buy any more notebooks but dammit I had to go and spot that Moleskine have opened up a store in Covent Garden! I was like a moth to a flame....

What do you always buying, even though you know you have a lot in you stash? 

Bees, Pictures and Tea

The secret squirrel project has been posted off, and I've decided to treat myself this weekend to a bit of me time, and wrapping up a few loose ends. So I can start a fresh next weekend and finally crack on with new projects and start work on the Honeycomb tutorial I've been promising.

So this weekend I've cleaned my abode, pampered myself and Hamish, hung pictures and tarted up a new mega sized notice board, cooked and finished off another overdue project. Oh, I also wrote a mini newsletter. 

Before I talk about the newsletter I thought I'd show you a few shots from the room, I've been able to keep the room tidy...lets see how long that lasts. ;) 

Just a few shelves...

Yes, that is Mary Poppin's on the screen. A few pictures on the wall.

New uber big notice board, time to fill it!

The newsletter that went out today was just a smaller than normal one mainly because of the sheer lack of doing anything other than sorting out the flat and focusing on the secret squirrel project. But I promised a free pattern to download so, the 50+ folks who kindly subscribe to the newsletter were the first to get it.

So the new pattern is a wee little planet to join the series and it's theme is bees...

To view this month's newsletter click here, or if you just want to skip to the new pattern then click this link. I'll have a stitched version of this soon, as well as an advanced purchasable pattern.

Now time to start sorting out some dinner and I have this vague feeling that I've forgotten to do something....

Oh, there was something a date for your diaries if your in Surrey, I nipped over to Farnham Maltings yesterday and picked up their events diary and on the Saturday 19th & 20th October is the Festival of Crafts. I'm going to nip along on one of the days to check out the wares.

Bye for now!

Going back and going forward in time

So on Friday I had the opportunity to go to Goodwood Revival thanks to the kindness of some very dear friends of mine. I was utterly stoked, like a kid in a sweetie store or on the eve of Christmas. I was so looking forward to going and going dressed up! I totally loved my RAF outfit perhaps a little too much, and was rather sad sending it back yesterday. It was so great being surrounded by lovely vintage cars, people dressed up from all manner of eras and generally just having a bit of a hoot.

Here are just a few images from the day:

Hehehe, I loved the hat way too much. Even though I had to keep tilting my head up to see where I was going...

This group were rather amusing, there to roleplay and interact with folks passing by, heading into one of the sponsors guest areas.

Do I want to go again? Hell yes. Do I know what I want to wear? Already planned it, uniform again but this time American. I highly recommend it to anyone, and if you go, dress up!

What else has been happening? Well I've framed up my private commission piece, though typically I've run out of webbing so have to wait till next weekend to get some. I've also finally gotten round to stitching, and finishing, another free pattern sample the second in the little planet designs.

In progress, lots of French Knots

There done!

I should have the pattern done by next weekend, and I'll be re-doing the other Little Planet pattern too, tidying up the layout and the branding of it. I am also going to be offering a deluxe version of the patterns which will be purchasable for around £3.00 which will include a stitch and colour chart, and tips on transferring the design onto fabric. Again I hope to have it completed by next weekend, so keep your eyes peeled.

I also hope to have started another luxe version of the Paradise Bird Peter Pan collars as I have some other lush silk to work with.

Hi Honey Pattern Launched - Support the Bees!

£6.50

Help support the bees!

With each purchase of my hand embroidery pattern ‘Hi Honey’, 50p will go to the British Bee Keepers Association (BBKA).

I am a huge supporter of bees, they are utterly crucial to the eco-system of our planet, and well frankly I do find Bumble Bees rather cute. So if you love them as much as I do, then why not purchase the pattern.

Simply head over to my Etsy store www.etsy.com/themasonbee or go to my website www.masonbee.co.uk and look at the patterns page.

Little Home Planet - First Free Embroidery Design

This is the first, in what will become a series of free embroidery designs for anyone to use (personal only - no commercial use!). I will be releasing one design each month. You can stitch it in anyway you design, and for those who are a dab hand with a pair of scissors could also do a very mini appliqué. The designs are small so they will fit nicely in a 3" hoop.

Little Home Planet

Fancy having ago yourself? Then why not download the pattern.

Backstitch features heavily in this wee design, I've used it for stitching the ground, and details on the house, with freestyle stitching for the grass. A bright yellow chain stitch path leads up to a padded satin door, with a French knot handle. The roof is also padded satin with backstitch detailing, the eves a form of lazy daisy stitch. The world is your oyster, when it comes to stitches that could be used! 

I would love to see your versions, so why not join my Flickr group and show them off. Join the group by clicking here.

Please play fairly and remember to credit me and link back to my blog or website if you feature this design on your own site or blog. Otherwise I may be forced to release the hamsters on you.