Meet Snow Bee..

I had a sudden realisation yesterday that I hadn't designed my now annual Christmas bee bauble! For Since 2012, I've been coming up with a seasonal bee design...and I almost forgot!!

A quick doodle and the Snow Bee was born....

Isn't it cute?? 

Can't decide if its the carrot nose or the little coal buttons (antique glass beads) I love more. I even found a use for my white Swarovski crystals, which I hadn't got round to using.

Snow Bee baubles are made to order and come with its own calico pouch to keep out the dust when in storage. The are priced at £15 + Postage.

Past Christmas Bee bauble designs include:

Merry Santa Bee - 2012

Royal Bee - 2013

Merry Bee - 2014

I still have a few of last year's design available to purchase (originally £15 each, now £7.50 plus free postage within the UK).

Studio Visit - Joumana Medlej

The internet is a bit of a strange beast, but through it I have come to make some very good friends, link up with oodles of creative souls and share their work and my own. Sometimes I have actually met some of the folks and continue to do so. Recently I had the opportunity to meet someone whose work I've followed for sometime now, years if not a decade via Deviant Art...she was the reason I ended up on Etsy too. 

That person being the super multi-talented Joumana Medlej, doing anything from illustration to digital games. The work that I have been especially drawn to is her calligraphy especially being a bit of a fan of all things typography based. Not that you would ever know.

I popped along to her open studio day last Sunday, 28th June, in London. It really was an honour to get the chance to meet her and to see her work in the flesh, honestly photographs don't always do it justice. 

Part of her London studio, lovely amount of space and light

Just some of the equipment she uses...like looking into a apothecary (you know, a word that I have always had issues with saying aloud)

Also, gave me the chance to pick up a few pieces for the flat, which was fantastic. Can't wait to get these framed and up on the wall, they will be going pride of place in my bedroom...well once I've finished decorating it (so close).

I have to admit, I am not sure how I missed it, as I do have a tendency to get distracted, but I missed the fact she was in London and had been for sometime. So I have Instagram to thanks for helping me to see she had the open studio day! Gawd love social media.

It was a lovely opportunity and I'll certainly pop along to another one of her open days, and maybe I'll get the time to do one of her calligraphy classes, that would be amazing!

You can follow Joumana's work, and travels too (she does take some cracking photographs):

• Twitter - @joumajnouna
• Instagram - joumajnouna
• DeviantArt - majnouna
• Website - http://majnouna.com/

A for Alphabet, B for Birthday....

C for Certainly been a full on fortnight between birthday, now Easter and projects. So here is a little round up of what I've been up too. 

• You know my sneaky shots from my last blog post, well heck I finished it! I am so super happy with how this Alphabet display piece turned out. 26 individually stitched letters. Yes, in my favourite trailing stitch, think I need treatment for this addiction. Loved making it so much so that I want to do another one, and I will because I've already purchased another display rack. Thinking a different colour way and different stitch. Interested in purchasing, head over to Etsy. 

Q for...uhm...Queue? Qwerty...

Now you know your A, B, C's...next time...

• Who knew about laminating fabric could be so much fun...now have a fab new mousemat! Go on, crack out that laminator.

• What did I do for my birthday? Lots of hanging out with my family, yay! And double yay, as I went to the freakin' Harry Potter Studio. Cue feeling like a massive kid, and I was, so many small people...still it was so much fun. And totally worth the ticket price. Totally rode a broom, wore a Slytherin cloak, and bought a chocolate frog.

Sort of loving the pink ombre tiles...

Squee, Dumbledore's Office...

• Enjoying the Easter break! Not one to like keep still or anything, I've been flicking between decorating my bathroom, which I can now say is finally complete! Huzzah. I do not want to see a paintbrush for a while. Eating chocolate has been the order of the day, as has drinking copious amounts of tea (duh), and stitching. Just flitting about playing about with things half finished. Like rather large 1 1/2 inch hexie's I had the fabric cut out for an age, and I really couldn't remember what the plan was, but heck I thought do something or put it away. So out came the lovely rainbow coloured threads again. When it's spring time, you just need to bust out the colours even when it's a grey, April day. Tomorrow there will be more working on this random project, and if it looks good I'll give you more of a heads up on how you can make a totally random hexi thing too! 

• Think also get the Wonderland piece back out to see about getting that a little closer to finishing.  
• Oh! I managed to give my website a little bit of love. Updated pictures, and tweaked the little store that's on that site too.

For now my dearies, I need tea and some more chocolate! Happy Easter xx

Trailing, Trailing, Trailing...

...Rawhide!

It's been in my head all week that line, as I crack on with yet another craft project, Wonderland is on hold at the moment as the sudden urge to stitch on the commute to work has overtaken it for the time being. Will be back on it very soon!

So what's up this week...

• The closest I got to the eclipse was via the computer. I have to say, that the coverage was pretty good on the BBC website. 

• Taken to stitching on the train once more as I've got a project, yes I've started another one, that I can carry about with me. I am not going to go into too much detail on it but you can see a few sneaky shots, and I am sure you can at least gather that the alphabet is involved. Or it's a name with an interesting spelling...Oh, and yes it's trailing. Okay, can't help it! Threads, in case you were interested are DMC white for the core thread, and over the top I am presently using cotton hand-dyed threads by Zoe Acketts, and also one colour is using vintage silk floss, brand unknown.

• Got a little fidgety the other week, Sunday night wobbles, and so I found myself knocking up a little floating cloud with crystal raindrops, just to keep my hands busy. For once, the inspiration /mood board in my study/guest room came in handy. Wish I could tell you who to credit, but all I can say the instructions were in issue #32 of Mollie Makes, on page 62. That's it, as I ripped it out when I was having a clear out of old magazines. In those instructions they make it into a super cute mobile, but for me I just went for the one solitary cloud in uber wicked liberty print. Finally starting to cut into the Tana Lawn stash again.

• It's my birthday next week, and whilst I run about the Harry Potter Studios, like a loon, I've decided to offer 31% off everything in my Etsy store. Simply use the following discount code: 31ROCKS.

Hope everyone is having a fab March. 

New Year Sale

In case you missed the news, I have a 40% off sale over on my Etsy store! 

To help me start a fresh this coming year, I wanted to clear the decks of everything I've made over the last couple of years. Sale goes on till the 16th January.

Take me to the sale

Summer Bugs and New Product

I've retreated to the comfortable surrounds of my livingroom this weekend, as I've picked up a rotten summer cold. Not quite the way I wanted to spend my free time. Ah, well the slow down time isn't necessarily bad, though I could do without the sore nose, the fever but you know, my little camp I've set up in the livingroom is rather snug, I won't share as it's a little messy...

What I had planned on doing was starting my medieval illuminated text stumpwork idea, i.e. the Dragon. I've played a bit with what fabrics I want to use this afternoon but I can't focus too long on any one thing as my eyes are getting sore (hayfever too, yay!) but fingers crossed I really will get on with that next weekend. 

I did manage one thing yesterday which I was pleased with which was taking photographs of my new note cards. I mentioned a while ago that I was planning on starting to release some of my embroidery designs as cards and I finally got round to ordering a small selection and these were listed yesterday.

With six packs I've got on sale, each will receive an additional postcard of my selection from my prototypes. If you would like to grab a set head to my Etsy store, £3.50 (plus P&P). I hope next week that the new pocket mirror designs will be arriving next week for me to list.

Now it's time to go and rest up again on the sofa and watch a silly film and perhaps work a bit more of the cross stitch.

London Trip and Sale Time

Today is the last day of my holiday, two and a half weeks of bliss have near enough come to an end. The time was spent relaxing, hibernating in my flat and getting covered in fabric. Many a cup of tea was drunk and I ate my weight in sugar. 

In order to prepare myself for the return to work tomorrow, the last few days of the holiday have seen me venture out into the beautiful weather (yeah right) on Monday I spent several hours in London with my Mum, mainly at the Victoria and Albert Museum and I have to say like most museums doesn't matter how many times you go, there is always something new to see. Or a new little nook you haven't been in. In this case it was the whole Medieval area and the mezzanine level that holds the ironwork/ironmongery. 

Sensing a return to the VAM to check out the Ironmongery again, as it's got me thinking about potential future project ideas...

One of my favourite pictures I took, rather impressed with the camera on the iPod Touch

Yesterday and today as well I've been getting myself prepared for going to back to work  (admittedly don't think I am ever fully ready for that) hair cut and digging out the work wear that's been banished to the far reaches of draws and cupboards. I envisage that the weekend will mostly be about recovering from the shock of being at work. 

Actually not entirely true I'll be in theory working on a project for Crafty magazine if the fabric ever turns up. My Etsy store will be reopened on Saturday and I will be having a sale, mainly on the clocks, as I have made the decision not to make any more for the foreseeable future. Time for a break..no pun intended. Sort of.

I need to move on from them, likewise I'll be taking a step back from hoop framed embroidery. Whilst I find it a very effective way of hanging work, and no doubt I will be doing that with a few pieces of my own for the flat, I find myself going back to the traditional way of framing. With the typography work and other such pieces they can be a bit too delicate for being open to elements. 

Oh on Sunday I'll be nipping over to the Farnham Maltings as there is a Quilting Exhibition and supplies sale, and my favourite thread supplier will be there, Mulberry Silks. Patricia who runs it has very kindly agreed to take some particular coloured thread packs I want to match to fabric to the show for me to look at.

Stitching to Christmas

I have to say I am one of those folks who loves the run up to Christmas, the cooling weather (not the rain so much!), the fact you can stay snuggled up in doors and cooking seems less of a chore and more of a pleasure. 

So whilst I am ever so slightly freaking out at the list of things I really want to get done on the run up to Christmas, I am actually okay with it all. I am starting to realise, and I've been told it many a time lately, I can't do everything no matter how much I want or feel I need to. I am trying to build up stock should the opportunity to do a craft fair crops up, but this year I am not beating myself up over it if I don't get the level that I wanted. If it comes to it I'll simply pass on it. I've had a busy couple of months and as my spare time is limited I need to ease up otherwise I'll simply not have the energy to do anything. 

Weirdly since instigating this I've found myself more inspired and energised to get things done. Whatever the reason I am quite happy with this, because whilst I am making pieces of stock (slowly), I've been caught up in a quilting bug. You might have seen/read that I've fallen in love with a fabric bundle called Petite Street. I've been drooling over it for ages and finally felt I could buy it and did so last night, and since then I've been drooling some more over quilt designs/patterns. Then just like that I found myself suckered into buying more quilting fabric...such as this rather lovely Christmas design I found over on Eclectic Maker. The big panel is for a cushion but I am going to alter it to become a table mat, going to back it with cherry red cotton, just mulling over the binding. 

Winter`s Lane Quilt Panel in Grey by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

....I'm not entirely sure how my bank account is going to cope with this sudden passion for quilting (reawakened love affair - I've always had a soft spot for it), especially as it's coping with being a home owner with a picky interior style. 

If your interested to know what quilt design I am going to do with the Petite Street fabrics I think I am settled on this one called Ruby, Pearl and Opal design over on Moda Bake Shop. I think I can just about manage that one, but I feel I might need to invest in a proper rotary cutter, mat and rulers to do it all properly. 

As we are hurtling towards November, it's time to remind you all again, that my project for Crafty magazine is out next month. Exciting! I really, really hope you love it, and likewise as mentioned before there will be a giveaway to go with it on the blog/newsletter I've only just this week been in dialogue with the Editor to get that settled. Work sadly has gotten a little in the way these past couple of weeks, I had a trip to Stirling Castle for a Heritage conference which has thrown me out a little. I don't regret the trip though, it was fascinating and has only cemented the idea that I've had of going to Scotland for my *cough30thcough* birthday next year. I also got the chance to see the newly installed tapestries in the castle. Apologies the photo's aren't the best as I was meant to be concentrating on the tour guide... 

They feature a story of the Unicorn, and are copied from the ones that are in MET in New York. They really are very stunning in person and the appliqué work above the Queen's chair is also lush, and I wish I asked who stitched the reproductions as they were rather good. I do like it when I get a spot of day release from the office to go on trips like this!

I thought I would round off this rather long blog post with a little look at a few bits I rustled up today:

A new batch of tissue holders, perfect for a stocking filler, loving my little handmade fabric labels, using my custom made stamp. Which was also used on a stack of drawstring bags which are used as part of the packaging for Christmas decorations and jewellery, so much quicker to make them up with a sewing machine than by hand. Although its a slow process if you forget half way through doing one how you sewed the one before...there was a fair bit of unpicking. Happens to the best of us!

I hope everyone is doing well, and do tell me what your up to project wise!

Mini Update from the Temp Hive

Phew, first step in my moving house has successfully completed. The second step, which will see me move into my soon to be very first home (not rented!!) will hopefully happen next month. In the meantime I have made a little hive/nest in my temporary stop gap (parent's house) to allow me a chance to get back to do some stitching. My fingers are itching to get going again, and I'll be doing just that this coming weekend.

I'll also be reopening my shop on Saturday 27th April, so do swing by, I'll also be making my patterns listed in the Etsy store, as immediately downloadable, signed up for a Beta testing to allow this to happen. 

My first newsletter went out last night, to those who are not on my mailing list to receive it, you can view it by clicking this link http://t.co/zZ5xuWiPfD. If you would like to get this monthly update then head here http://eepurl.com/yqmGT. 

That's it for now, there will be a full blog post this Sunday xx

All Scream for Ice Cream

Ice Cream Bow Embroidered Collar

Made the full most of the weekend to not only wizz up another collar, the second design in the Ice Cream collection but I also made a clock in the third out of the three designs! Can't say that's not productive. Also fit in breakfast out with my mum, let's hear it for french toast, bacon and syrup, and got my haircut. Still have time left over.

I am making the most of having a weekend like this, as I am predicting in April they are going to be pretty non-existent. Reason being I've given notice on my flat, and I have until the 25th April to get move out, hopefully into the new place, if not it will be stowing my worldly possessions away and moving back home. Scary notion.

Till that point I am trying not to get too stressed out and enjoying my time embroidering and thinking about the future. And thinking about this has prompted me to book a ticket for The Startup Showcase at Somset House next Saturday. It was a spare of the moment booking and I also pinged off emails to Farnham Maltings to find out more about their creative fairs and shows. And byjove there is a lot to get involved with. I can't wait to knuckle down, but I have to be patient and concentrate on one thing at at time. But yep, I have itchy feet and fingers to get going.

In the meantime, let me show off some pictures of the latest items:

Ice Cream Bow Collar - Ickle bows in silk thread

Ice Cream Bunting - Silk embroidered wall clock

All items can be purchased in my Etsy store. If your in the UK, you can enjoy free shipping until the end of March, just use the following code during check out FREEMARCH13. 

Gold Bees

Following my post yesterday about the little bee brooch that I made on a spur of the moment I've gained positive and useful feedback by folks over on Facebook. So much so I made another one day. The suggestion by a lovely lady called Jessica was to make the bee a little bigger and so I did just that; this afternoon in fact.

And you know what she was right it looks so much better, I also managed to give it a bit more height in the process.

Playing with the gold metal thread - It's been an age since I last worked with gold thread and I have a surprising amount of goldwork thread in my stash so it's been good to get it out again.

Stitching in progress...

Back of the brooch, which has a little sliver of Liberty Tana Lawn fabric

And finished!

I've just listed this example over on Etsy and are given people the chance to choose the print for the back of the brooch, five different Liberty Tana Lawn prints in fact. And of course, the donation to the BBKA for each one sold is 50p. 

What else have I been working on today, I was knocking up the sample for the bee mirror pouch. I did get the dimensions a little wrong, maths went a little to pot this morning. But you know the overall look of it I am happy with, and my little custom stamp made by Memi the Rainbow, also got its first outing. Isn't it fab! I think I need to get myself some black fabric ink, but for the time being the brown ink will suffice.

I'll be looking to get the bee mirrors ordered next week, so I'll keep you posted as to when they are available to purchase. 

Hope everyone else is either having a productive crafting day, or snuggled up on the couch and relaxing. xx

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?

Want it Wednesday: Animal Obsession

I think we can safely assume that I am somewhat obsessed with anything animal related, in regards to artwork. I just keep finding the most wonderful things that I want to adorn my new flat with. The hallway is going to be adorned with animal pictures, taxidermy (real - ethically sourced, of course and faux versions), prints, etchings, and I even hope to stitch something special for the hall too.

Yeah, I know I am not in it yet! But it's nice to be dreaming about what the place is going to look like.

Grey walls, white detailing and second hand wooden furniture.

Bring it on!

January 2013 Photo A Day Challenge

Whilst I am battling with the effects of a post Christmas near sugar induced coma, and working the old nogging to get those creative ideas down onto paper, and fabric. I am making myself do a little challenge for the month. This will be some undertaking. Mainly because I have enough trouble remembering to take my vitamin tablets each day let alone trying to remember to take a photograph. 

What am I wittering on about I hear you cry. Probably, actual tears, perhaps of slight boredom as I am slightly going about the houses writing this particular paragraph and not actually telling you....

So, what is it I've signed up too? Some of you might have actually seen my status update on Facebook and the subsequent tweets and thus will already know that I've decided to do the Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day Challenge for January. 

Each day has a theme/challenge call it what you will. And all you need to do is take a photograph that fits it. Easy you think? Well, not really. Most of the time I am going to be at work and whilst most of my colleagues know I am an utter nutter taking photographs at random points during the day might raise a few eyebrows. Okay, more than usual. Still I think that because I am actually just going to use my mobile phone, which whilst the lens ain't great, I might stand a chance of completing it. What the hell, right?

Here are the themes:

I have successfully managed to get to day 2 and already I am racking my brains for something interesting out of the box for tomorrow. 

So how have I faired in the photographing taking stakes thus far....

Day 1 - Today

Me looking at the calender and cringing

Day 2 - Something New

This was a pure stroke of luck in the timing. I ordered over Christmas from Lynn Bailey (Print Maker) a picture that will be for my new place (hopefully). Originally I had my eye on her bumble bee print but I was encouraged to get this little Dormouse. Basically it's me in a nutshell. The Bee Print though, will be mine.....

Who else is taking part? Do let me know, as I'd love to see what you take snaps wise. I know the very sweet Kitty Pink Stars certainly is. Because she was the one that got me onto it. If your not, then do follow the #fmsphotoaday

Commission Time Makes for Dull Posting

There was me thinking that this month was going to be, following the craftshow, rather quiet. Ha, perhaps not. I have several commissions to work on and another agreed on today. All of which I am rather looking forward to working on, although technically I am working on one at the moment and I am loving it. I have a collar, various buttons to embroidered and monogram, decoration and a wedding gift to sort out. Just as well I have a long weekend coming up and I have eased back on the making stock.

I shall hopefully have some progress shots to show this weekend. Lord knows it would be good to show you lot what I am talking about, being a secret squirrel certainly can make for dull reading!

So following that I thought I would end on one of my recent faves on Etsy:

Red White Blue Airmail Stripes Gift Wrap Kit / Address Labels / Washi Tape / Eiffel Tower Postmark Kraft Round Stickers / Baker's Twine - Once Upon Supplies

I am a sucker for stationery...

Success & Exciting Times

Normal service is finally starting to resume. Yesterday I was showing my lovely stash at the We Make London Arts & Crafts fair at Battersea Arts Centre, and it went rather well! Whilst I didn't sell a huge amount, what I did sell I felt extremely pleased with as it included the new items the peter pan collars, one of which was the Buzzing Bee's design which means I can start to donate to the BBKA. The only thing I think I should have done was to leave the pattern at home and instead brought more of the clocks, especially the earlier pieces. But you live and you learn. 

After getting over the initial nerves of talking to people, I thoroughly enjoyed talking to other sellers and potential buyers and it was helped along with a bit of a giggle from my dear friend Angela who very kindly modelled one of my collar designs, which helped show them off to people who were looking at them on the table. 

I am however, glad to have a bit of a break from thinking about the fair, though it has sparked several billion ideas for 2013. Great things are coming. I have other things to think on, I am moving soon. Bit of a relief I can't tell you and this is a big step, on the property ladder which has seen me look like a startled rabbit these past few days, only because I didn't think that would ever happen let alone now. 

So I will  be moving at some point to a beautiful two bedroom flat, yes two bedrooms. 

You know what this means....

A STUDIO

Oh and somewhere friends can crash...but...

I WILL HAVE MY VERY OWN STUDIO!!

Yep, totally over the top excited about this. My own space to spread and have everything in one place. A place I can shut the door on. I already have a colour in mind for the room. I know jumping a head but its hard not to think about how you want to decorate, and this is the first time I have been able to do it properly. 

So there might be a bit of a disruption in the near future with blog, website and shop but I'll keep you lovely folks updated. In the meantime, my store is back up and running and there is a few new bits of stock just added.

For now I crash.