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/

Paradise Bird Reversible Peter Pan Colour Series 1

Sometimes you have to suffer for your art...

In this case I had to bite the bullet and take a photograph or two of myself.

This is the first in the series of Peter Pan Collars I will be creating, they are hand embroidered and not only that reversible. Delicate embroidery for night time gatherings or special events, and bright bold liberty tana lawn print for the day.

As I am yet to decide what I want for a fabric label I have reverted to simply stitching my initials. Simple and effective.

I'm checking out the view from my bedroom window.

You can purchase this very first collar from my Etsy store for £35.00

Click me.

Paradise Bird Peter Pan Collar

Paradise Bird Peter Pan Collar, a photo by themasonbee on Flickr.

Via Flickr:



Okay, its got one small thing that hasn't been added yet and that\'s a hook and eye attachment, I have apparently run out or perhaps I haven\'t used them in so long I never had any to begin with..

Anyway, I am rather pleased with the outcome, and I have requests to make these to say as this little beauty was my \'experiment\' piece, mainly to see if I can make it. Sure it\'s not the most technically complex thing to make without a pattern but to get the finish right, the size of the embroidery working and to mirror was a bit of a challenge as was working with the fabric, I forgot how darn stiff it was.

I'll be interested what comments you have about it? I've had a couple of requests about making ones to sell, so I am thinking either making them as one of the kind versions (using different combinations of fabrics) or try and stick to a couple of different fabric combo's. And even offering pick your own embroidery thread colour.