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 

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!

So long cold and hello stitching

Finally I feel slightly more human, well as much as I am normally, had a head cold for most of the week. This morning however, I've found that I can focus on things for longer than a second and whilst I don't want to over do it....I've managed to do quite a few things this morning. This afternoon I'll ease back off again and simply make some soup. 

I've retaken some photographs of old stock, I hadn't realised just how dark they looked in the photographs I had taken. So my Paradise Bird Christmas baubles have been re-shot, and as I've been making calico bags, these decorations will also now come with one, to help keep them protected when not in use. 

Talking of Paradise Bird, which I have once again revisited, when I've not been feeling poorly this week I've managed to make more of the new brooches in an array of colours:

What do you think? They are £14.50 each, and again come with a little calico bag. I'm really loving how simple, yet effective they look. Which makes me love the design even more. I wasn't sure how further I would develop the Paradise Bird design but this has reinvigorated me to use it some more. I am thinking a small batch of Tissue Holders next. 

Speaking of that, I'm going to make more of the wordy Tissue Holders soon, so keep eyes peeled for more Snotty, Drippy and Achoo designs. Which will be stitched on rather lush linen and lined with bright Liberty print.

I will also be making more Queen Bee Tree decorations, I was awaiting delivery of some materials and for my eyes to be focus able to stitch, before making more. I know several folks have asked about having it as a design. I would really love to offer it as a design but at the moment I am really behind on Christmas stock making and need to focus on that. If I feel I am making some headway on the stock then I may well do so.

Though I have to ask would you want it as a kit? Full materials etc, and making instructions, the embroidery design on it's own, or a complete patten (no materials). I would really be interested to know.

I know I've yet to progress with making a stitched example of my last free Little Planet design, and the long overdue Honeycomb Tutorial. I may well push those back to the new year. I do so hate to promise things and not deliver, but I'd rather not keep offering up dates and not reaching the target. I hope you don't hate me too much for that. 

I will be writing a new e-newsletter later this month, as next month the Crafty issue with my project that I still can't tell you about is in it, and I promised a competition to go with it (this I will deliver on!). 

Now time for me to toddle off, I want to sort out my to do list for the week, and rest for a bit. Before I do, I was having a mini clear out and came across these rather forlorn buttons. I made them a long time ago and have yet to either use.

If you would like any of them, either leave me a comment or email info (at) masonbee.co.uk. If you want more than one lot then I'll sort you out a special rate. 

Little Sewing Buttons £3 + P&P

Petite Flowers (Liberty Tana Lawn) £3 + P&P

Sunburst (Liberty Tana Lawn) £2.50 + P&P

Red Berry (Liberty Tana Lawn) £3.00 + P&P