Summer Time - Embroidery Pattern

The second of the seasonal designs is now ready for you lovely lot to download and stitch to your hearts content. 

It's a bright design to bring in summer, the third in the series will be available late August, newsletter subscribers get first dibs to download it. Once all the four designs have been released they will be turned into a mini art quilt. Of course, you don't have to wait till then to do something with the designs when you've stitched them.

Click to download the summer embroidered pattern.

The pattern includes how to transfer the design and stitch diagrams too boot. I hope you enjoy stitching it, and feel free to make your own mark by using the threads you have to hand and even add a few more stitches if you fancy it!

Please be mindful of the fact that this pattern isn't for commercial use, and if you do wish to share it on your blog, please can you make reference to me. 

Though please note and respect that this is pattern isn't for commercial use, and if you share it on your blog, please reference me or I may be forced to set Hamish on you. 

Grey Clouds, Spring Colours and Press

I've not been quite as active this week as I would have liked too but unfortunately I finally sucummoned to the dreaded office plague. I think I might have tempted fate by saying the other week, that it's been a rather long time since I had picked up anything...

So when I wasn't hiding on the sofa shivering, face suckered to a pillow, or sneezing my head off I did do a bit of stitching, actually a bit more today as I was starting to feel a bit more human. I started on the table mats for the flat, as the fabric and threads arrived earlier this week.

Nice and squishy. Loving the Koi collection quilting fabrics. I picked two out of the range to make the placements.

Then today I moved onto the finishing details to the Silver Linings project. As you can see pretty much on the homeward straight. I just finished off a couple of chain stitch lines, plunged threads and added more bead detailing.

Just got the lettering to do which I decided to do couching to keep the fluidity of the letters and it's also super quick, should get that finished in the next couple of days. Exciting!

The rest of the today I pottered about the flat, drank copious amounts of tea, joined an ATC swap and started working on the sample for a new free pattern. Which I can at least share the colours with you...

Faithful newsletter subscribers will get the first sneaky look at the pattern, in the next week or so. Along with hopefully the sneak preview of another pattern that I have been doodling. Yes, the newsletters start back this month after a winter break. 

Before I head off to take a break from the computer, I just have a few shares with you. As you know I have been doing a few projects for magazines lately, and I've just realised this weekend that they are out this coming week. Like buses they all come at once. I've done four little projects for Crafty Magazine and I also worked on a little project for a soon to be new publication called Hoop-la, which you can see a sneak preview of, both publications will be out this week. 

Ta-ta for now!

Minions and Craftshow

It's about to insanely busy for me this month, for both my stitch business and my day-to-day work. And you know what I don't mind, sure I am probably going to end up crashing in late December but until then I'am happy if not a little prone to the odd tendency to rock back and forth...

So reason for this sudden change?

I am doing a craft market in December. I don't often do them but I try to around Christmas just a natural time to hawk your wares, so to speak, and for me even if I don't sell a whole lot it's all part of the process of getting people to know you and what you do. You know what, I feel more ready for this than I have ever done in the past. I've got some really clear lines and they look bloody good. There I blew my own trumpet for a change.

So when and where will I be?

I'll be at the We Make craft market taking place at Battersea Arts Centre, London on the 1st December. I've just paid for the stall so as and when I get a bit more details on times extra I'll be posting that up and hopefully some of you that follow my blog will pop along. 

On the run up to the market I'll be sorting out a bit more stock to take along with what I already I have, working out stall layout (I already have a sparkly Christmas Tree to take...) and then about the week before I will be closing my Etsy store. Mainly so that I don't have to panic, though it would be a lovely one, that I'd be sold out of an item that I want to take with me.

Along side working on that the commission continues, starting to breath a small sigh of relief that I have actually started to make some noticeable progress, I will show you a picture some time in the near future. I also have a couple of smaller commissions to work on too but thankfully I can delay working on those till December. 

So plenty of stitching to be getting on with.

On a silly note, I will also be trying to stop myself from stroking my lovely Filofax, aptly named Guildford (was meant to be), I can't distract myself with it just yet. Soon, soon I can. Then dammit I'll never forget another birthday again.

Fingers crossed....

Photograph by Jessica (Needle & Thread)

What else? The other day you might recall that I did a shout out for some Stitching Minions, and several of you stepped forward to lend a hand to help me test out on of my recent patterns 'Hi Honey'. Gawd love you all for willingly helping out, even though I can't give you much in return. One of my lovely minions has already started to blog about her progress, Needle & Cloth.

I will keep everyone in the loop of how everyone is doing, and how the pattern is shaping up, I've already received some very useful feedback. 

That's it my lovelies. 

Time to use the C word....Christmas

I love it when I wake up and find myself uber excited to get on with the day. Getting errands done and then settling down to get on with the weekend of doing things I want to do. Granted, I was meant to be working on my commission but the darn threads didn't arrive. But never mind, always room to work on some other bits and by Merlin's fuzzy pants did I! Whilst out running errands I stumbled across something that made me get my brain ticking to the point where I got home and whipped it up, and it worked.

It's so darn cute I almost want to squee....so let me introduce to you the Merry Bee Tree Decoration. I will be making more of these baubles over the next couple of weeks, so I'll keep you posted when they are available to purchase.

The Merry Bee will be joined by it's sophisticated friend, Paradise Bird Tree Decoration, for those who like a bit of glamour...Silk with Crystals. Couldn't get any more classier than that.

With the excitement of these baubles, I almost forgot that I wanted to upload the deluxe versions of my Little Planet hand embroidery patterns. Almost, but not quite forgotten. I am rather pleased with them, it took a bit of drawing to get them all sorted and tweeking but I've now got four page pdf patterns done and listed for Little Home Planet and the second in the series Little Planet of Trees. The basic patterns are available for free on my website along with the purchasable versions. I wanted to offer the chance to those who like to be able to exactly follow the sample, so the paid for patterns include stitch and thread guides, hints and types as well as a full colour picture of the original sample. The upgrade patterns are £3 each. I will be aiming to offer the two options for future Little Planet patterns. 

And now its time for a cup of tea and more stitching. 

Oh, and a reminder don't forget to take part in my competition.

Click here and tell me if you had a pet bumble bee what you would call it. Loving the name suggestions so far.

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.

Helping Bees - BBKA

Since making the decision to change my name over to Mason Bee, I've always had it at the back of my mind that I would like to do something to help bees. Strange perhaps, to some that I would want to do this, but its not really. I see it as doing my bit for still overlooked and misunderstood creature, bug...the humble bee. Bees are so vitally important to our ecosystem but we are doing so much damage to their natural habitats. I know I am only one person and I am never going to make my millions but I would like to do what I can. 

So, I did some research and a few days I contacted the British Bee Keepers Association (BBKA), firstly to ask if they a button that I can add to my site and secondly to state that my aim is to create some products that will allow me to give a donation to their cause. In the short run I would like to use the money raised to 'Adopt a Hive'. I just had a wonderful idea, this very second, that when I do raise enough to adopt a hive (through sales of certain items I produce), I will put everyone who has put money towards it into a raffle to win what you get for adopting a hive.....okay, I need to really work out the details for that but I am loving it the rough idea.

Anyway, I got my response today, and they are really grateful for the support and I will soon be sending me a button so I can add it to my website.

I am already working on the ideas of products that I will be producing, and in time I'll let you know what I have in mind.

A mini update for you there.

Before I sign off, hello to the new followers of the blog I had quite a lot of hits from http://craftgossip.com/ after I sent them a link to the patterns, which in turn has brought a lot of people to the site. So hello!

Want it Wednesday - Stitching Goodness

Since I dipped my toe into the world of embroidery patterns, makes it sound very grand but what I've done is produced free little embroidery designs for people to stitch (personal use only...of course). I can't help but admire those who have been doing it for some time. So here are a selection of lovely patterns that people can purchase and a few links to other lovely blogs where you can download some patterns. 

This little lot are just bloody adorable...

Welcome Flower Spirals Spring Design - sewjenaissance

Laundry Day - alittlesweetness

Scandistitches - SeptemberHouse

Sweet Otter - wildolive

Not a pattern but a rather lovely kit by a very uber talented lady friend of mine,:

Basic Goldwork Purple Flower - Jen Goodwin Embroidery

Links:

Feeling Stitchy

&Stitches