Party is over lets get back to crafting..

Hello! 

Yes, I have returned from nearly a fortnight's worth of birthday celebrations, nothing like making it last. Feeling thoroughly spoilt not just with the very thoughtful and amazing gifts I received but mostly because I got to spend it with all my family and friends. From afternoon teas to a weekend away to Edinburgh. 

Arthur's Seat - Didn't quite make it to the top..damn you vertigo!

Edinburgh Castle - Total must

Lots of fab views.

National Museum of Scotland - totally awesome set up, displays, general layout and exhibits

Had to bring back my very own Highland Cooo - Papercraft kit by Robin & Finch tempted to get a few more of their kits.

Absolute must! God I love Tunnock's caramels

All that fresh Scottish air makes me feel more refreshed (though I am pretty tired at the moment) and keen to get back to stitching and generally just pottering about playing with fabrics, pens and generally creating a mess. So this means that the next purchasable pattern is under way and is on track for its release in April. If all goes to plan it will be within the fortnight. I've been doodling a custom order design that's got me thinking about monograms again, and in turn I hope will inspire me to return to the more intricate embroidery design that's sitting on the desk behind me. Not that the design isn't inspiring just don't feel ready to tackle it.

Tiny golden bee at the top...naturally.

I do have a bit of an urge to make some more hexies...though until I know what the heck I am going to do with them (edit: have an idea for a sketchbook cover) I might just have to push that to one side. Though I do have a voucher for Village Haberdashery to spend and part of one of the gifts from a best mate and her mum was a pack of pre-cut hexie templates, along with fabric glue, a massive box of Earl Grey (that will keep me quiet for a couple of weeks), Party Rings (all gone :() and this most gorgeous, handmade bag to store my projects in:

So the excuse could be the bag made me do it....

Happy Bee and Milestone Beacons

It has been awfully quiet on the stitching front for me at the moment, mind has been wandering to other things and life has gotten a little bit busier. Especially since I decided that it was about time that I learned to drive, have started the process of decorating the hallway and have been planning multiple celebrations for my pending 30th birthday. 

So today was probably my first full afternoon of doing nothing but stitching in over a fortnight. Last weekend was a bit of a wash out as I was still getting over a cold and my mind just wasn't willing to crack on with the projects I wanted to do, so spent most of last Sunday filling in holes in the hallway. 

The weekend before that I was down in Kent helping my Aunt, who was working on some costumes for a film. On the Sunday, I got to meet Michele Carragher, if your not familiar with the name you might know her work, especially if your a Game of Thrones fan. She's the very talented lady who does the embroidery for the costumes. She came to my Aunts to work on the dresses my aunt was making, it was so fascinating watching her work and to talk to her. She's really lovely!

Back to the present, today I've been stitching the sample for the Happy Bee embroidery pattern. In fact I've actually done all the stitching so what remains for me to do is to write the instructions and put the pattern together. 

Which needless to say isn't my favourite thing to do mainly because sometimes writing how to stitch a detail, makes my brain implode but thankfully with this design it shouldn't present too much of a headache. The pattern, if your interested, will be available to purchase in April.

It would have been sooner than that but I have two weekends of birthday celebrations coming up. Starting with next weekend, which will see and my family in bonnie Scotland, Edinburgh to be specific, somewhere I've been wanting to go for a long time. Then the week after that I'll be having a long weekend with my old school chums. 

Oh and slotting in the odd driving lesson around that too....

I hope everyone is enjoying the springtime sunshine, depending where you are in the world!

Spring Time Cheer - Embroidery Pattern

Released on my March newsletter last week, I am pleased to now be able to share the latest free embroidery pattern to you lovely blog readers.

It's a simple and cheery design to welcome spring, even if it has been a little reluctant to show it's face. This is the first in four designs that I will be sharing with you this year. The four designs will be put together in winter to make a seasonal mini art quilt. Of course, you don't have to wait till then to do something with it when it's done, it's a handy square design that can be used as a design on a cushion cover, or your own quilt design and so forth.

Click here to download the pattern; which includes instructions on 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 changing the colours used and instead of French Knots (if your not a fan) use tiny seed beads.

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 release the hamsters....