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 

All and Sundry

Golly, it's another Bank Holiday over here in Blighty, and finally there is even a bit of sunshine to go with it. Who else is keeping their appendages crossed that it might last till Tuesday? I am in spirit but not actually as it would make typing this blog post rather tricky.

I've actually had a longer break than most, as I had decided that on Monday (just gone) that I need a bit longer than 3 days, so I took Friday off too. Just as well I did, the heavens well and truly opened on that day, and there is nothing worse than walking about London in the pissing rain. Granted that is the same for anywhere really. Anyway, I was nice and wrapped up in the warm working on a sample. Now for those who follow me on Facebook, you will have seen said sample already, as I was gauging people's opinions.

And for those who have yet to see it, here it is. Yep, it's a cushion. It's not an area of home-wares I've ever delved into, which is why I was seeking people's thoughts. I am fairly happy with the overall finish. There are couple of things I want to change, such as I don't think I will go down the route of purchasing cushion blanks, unless I can find a UK handmade supply. The quality of the blank I used for the sample is fine, but part of me feels guilty. Why? Well if your buying handmade then the whole thing needs to be handmade. 

Anyway, I would still like to get people's opinions on the design which is the same as the wall clock (just with a different Liberty print), size (sample was 16"), with a filler or without (the latter reduces postage costs). If you can spare a moment to drop a comment that would be fantastic.

What else have I been doing, well I've finally finished my entries for the Survival Arts - Bee Competition, now all I need to do is get them posted and once I've done that I'll show them off to you all. 

Oh, I almost forgot to say, that one of my clocks, Ring of Bees was featured in a fab article called 'A to Z of Time Keeping' in the latest issue of Pretty Nostalgic. Which is rather swell, I had been contacted for images a while ago, so I almost forgot about it! It's a nice magazine if you've not picked it up before, very little in the way of advertising so you get a decent read.

For now, it's time to finish off the next e-newsletter (goes out tomorrow, and you get a sneaky peek at the next tutorial with this one) and then carry on with my 'Today is a Good Day' piece. 

Crafting Limbo and Ramblings about Craft Magazines

Because I'm in a bit of a limbo at the moment. Can't start any new embroidery projects (everything is boxed up), can do some designing but yes, you've guessed it majority of my drawing materials are also packed away. So I'm trying to find other ways to pass the time, before I temporarily move back home, and hopefully there, I will be able to get back to doing some embroidering again. Fingers crossed.

So, what to do, well I could learn to a new language or juggle, but instead I am still working on the paper piecing project and the rest of the time I'm reading blogs, websites, magazines and books.

It's a forced reflection period.

I don't mind it, I get to have a proper look and a catch up of what everyone else is up to. Don't often get the time to do that, and perhaps I should make myself do it more often. As long as it doesn't distract me from sleeping.

Anyway, so what have I been reading.

Today, I managed to get a copy of Crafty Mag. It's been out for a couple of weeks now (not sure of the exact publication date for the first issue) but I found out about it online. Then it was just a matter of remembering to keep an eye out for it. Which, as this is me took a good couple of weeks to remember...mainly what it was called. Weirdly could picture the cover but not the name, hey I am visual person.

Now, I know what thinking (you want a cuppa, I know I do), cause I thought it too, great yet another craft magazine...and, yes, your right it is. The name somewhat gives it away, if it was about cars then I might consider citing the trade descriptions act.

I think British craft magazines are finally getting a revival. Because lets face it most our publications, whilst nice, are somewhat lacking a modern look and don't reflect the changes and trends as quickly as they should. I've always been envious of magazines available in France, Japan and the States. I've purchased many in my time, much to the chagrin of my bank balance.

We are now, hopefully haven't tempted fate, finally starting to catch up, been a long time in the making and there is a long way left to go. But there are some really good ones out there now.

We Brits, are ravenous for them. I know I am, it's only really been in the last year that I've actually made a concious decision to nip into a stationers and have a pog at their craft magazines. It's easier now to zone out the wheat from the chaff. The section in a big Whsmiths used to be tiny, now you get a whole section. It's great, long over due.

It's funny really, in any other industry their print magazines are falling. But weirdly, or not, the craft magazines are somewhat bucking the trend. This isn't always the case, and a new publication isn't destined to survive, this only really happens if there is an effort on the editorial team to make use of all social media, such as having a dedicated blog, website and Twitter feeds etc, being updated on a regular bases during the times we wait for the next issue.

When it comes to the crafts, you need something physical and something to flick through. I like making notes on them, doodling, highlight websites, dog earring pages and ripping out the templates. I might be an avid Kindle user, but I will always buy craft literature in print and it's the same for magazines. About the only exception for me, and I am biased because I like the guys behind the magazine, and that's the UK Handmade quarterly magazine, but if and when that goes to print then I'd buy it.

Crafty Magazine by Practical Publishing International

So, what did I think of Craft Mag, I like it. Okay, I'll admit that's probably not very useful for a review. But it is only the first issue and I know it takes time to bed things down and no doubt they may well change their format. But I do like the look of it and the actual feel of the paper (smoothy/rough). Was a bit of a sucker for the packaging for the calico fabric, I like the fact it's for you to play with rather than it's for one specific project.

And speaking of which there are a lot of projects within it. Many of which I really want to do, like the Geometric flowering arranging, and making fabric bugs. So the pages are marked up ready for me to look at when I get settled again. 

There are, however, some quibbles with the projects, one there is a lack of photographs/drawn instructions to go alongside the written. That's not to say what's written isn't hard to follow, on the contrary but I find it useful to have some additional process/progress shots. Purely for referral. The templates for the insect project where printed to close to the binding of the magazine which makes it trick to photocopy cleanly or rip out. And for some of the projects a list of stockists would be beneficial. But these are minor quibbles.

As for the copy, the interviews etc, I will be happily reading through the articles especially the interview with Laura Clempson (yep, a fellow Laura), and will certainly be looking to get the next issue when it's out later this month.

So, what about you lovely lot. 

Do you buy craft magazines, what draws you to buying them. Cause they aren't the cheapest of purchases. What's your favourite?

Featured in &Stitches e-zine

You might recall sometime ago that I was working on a secret project, and that one day I'd be able to tell you about it. Well...I can finally tell you about it. I was one of the Stitch Challengers for the latest edition of & Stitches e-Zine, this edition focused on Scandinavia and the stitch I had to use was raised herringbone stitch (very pretty). 

A behind the scenes shot of me working my stitch challenge piece

A sneaky little close up

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and was rather pleased with the outcome. Now I won't spoil the finished piece as I'd encourage you to check out the magazine. It's a great stitching online publication, click here to buy your copy and if you enter the following code LILLEHAVFRUE you can get 10% off the regular price (though note it ends in 2 days time...the discount not the magazine.)

The actual finished piece is going to be available to purchase in the future as I am actually going to turn it into a box, rather than the framed piece it currently is. I'll keep you in the loop on that!

How to Help a Crafty Person

I've had my fair share of creativity blocks over the years, it can last a mere day or it can take weeks if not longer to get over that hurdle. Sometimes it can come out of the blue and the answer to it also can appear out of no where. 

I've pushed projects to one side simply because I don't know what to do it with it because I simply don't think it looks right, its missing something. So on..

One thing I often found useful to get over this was bouncing ideas off other people, even better if its in a place that isn't your home, workroom of where ever it is you get your craft on.

So I was musing therefore this morning of perhaps doing a little session like this. Quite relaxed, perhaps in a coffee shop of even the pub, where people can bring their projects or just themselves and a willingless to share and help others. Hopefully in return you will get over your hurdle, or creativity block whilst helping out someone else in the process. A nice bit of karma.

This is something that can easily be slotted into existing networking sessions, coffee mornings etc, but taking it to a slightly different level. 

I don't know about you, but I love helping people and I like coming up with creative solutions, giving ideas and suggestions to others. 

Not sure, if by the end of this musing, it makes sense and how I would move it to the next stage, especially given my limited time, but I am feeling somewhat more inspired to pull my finger out since seeing the lovely Anna in the Daily Mail. 

Magazine...

For those wanting to know...sorry not had a chance to do the photo's like I hoped, may tomorrow night!


Here is the magazine I mentioned - Making

The Girls do it Again!

Another smashing addition of the UK Handmade Magazine and whilst you read it and drool over the recipes, and read the super articles, see if you can spot my work. x


Read me!