Straying from the line...

I am venturing onto pastures new in the form of a new blog. Now it's early days, well hours to be more precise as I've only got it set up this afternoon and there isn't a lot on it at the moment.

You'll be able to find me now over on Wordpress at www.strayfromtheline.wordpress.com.

In time I'll be looking to bring over some of my old content from here to the new blog, obviously updated and more in keeping with the new format. This isn't a return to me stitching and selling, that chapter has closed. I just actually have found myself missing blogging and I wanted to give it another go. I did consider revamping this blog but its time for a fresh start. In time I'll likely delete this one.

Hopefully catch you over on Wordpress!

Calling Time...

Yesterday I finally made a decision.

Rather than feeling sad, disappointed or anxious about having made it and publically declaring it to friends, loved ones and on Facebook (ah, the joys of social media outings) I am actually feeling a sense of relief and just a smidge of proudness that I finally made the leap.

So, in a nutshell I am calling time on Mason Bee, well the side that I attempt to make something that someone else might want to buy side of Mason Bee. I can't exactly cut out that part of me that makes or designs that is, after all, a rather big chunk of who I am. I am just done with dealing with the stress of not having made anything for an age, that my social media platforms (aside from Instagram) are gathering virtual dust because I have zero motivation or inspiration to post. I am tired of beating myself up over something that....I just don't think I am ever going to push to the next level. Not out of fear, but more that the passion for making is diminishing.

That's not right, not for me.

I don't appear to be doodling like I used to, excited about being surrounded by wonderful things in my study, even being in my cozy study doesn't interest me any more. Because every time I am in it, I sense of guilt would set in as my desire to make along with my interest has gone.

I want the interest to come back, and I know it will, but I have really got to cut out the side of things that no longer feel me with joy.

So, here goes it...

• Facebook 'company' page will be closing by the end of the month
• All my remaining made items will go back on sale, again, in my Etsy store till either they sell or the listings expire (whatever comes first) and then the store will close.
• My Twitter and Instagram accounts will remain but the focus will switch to my lifestyle, and personal interests.
• Website will be closing soon.
• As for my blog well its between changing direction slightly, to closing but I'll keep you posted on that.

Seems like such a small list of things but they meant a lot to me at one stage or another, but as they say all good things must come to an end, and I'd much rather do it with conviction rather than letting all simply fall by the wayside which is where it was heading.

Needless to say, a little weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Thank you to all that have followed me on my strange little journey either from the beginnings as LAMdesigns through to Mason Bee as it stands today. It's been fun, but let's do this again some other time.

xxx

Edit: Facebook and website has now been deleted.

In Which I Stitched a Flower...

I'm going to skip with a usual opening of..my its been a while, as it is fairly obvious with the last post being back in October. I'll simply say I took a step back and let myself get on with other things. To be truthful I am not entirely sure if I'll ever get back to regularly blogging and making again, but I'm not going to let myself get caught up in feeling any guilt. It's funny how not doing any of these things can leave you with that sense of...'what if' or 'if I don't do anything people will forget...' in a nutshell, this has only ever done to keep me happy, and if your not happy with what your doing why let the guilt bog you down? Not worth it.

Anyway, enough of the introspection...I've actually made myself do some stitching, and it's been rather nice to do. What the hell I am going to do with the thing I've done, I'm not entirely sure, suggestions on a postcard??

Where did I begin?

As with most things I make, I started with a doodle. This one was inspired by a rather snazzy calendar I picked up during a visit to the States last year from Paper Source (WHEN WILL YOU EVER COME TO THE UK??). I think it was a Rifle Press design, but bugger me if I can find the makers mark on it. Anyway, a doodle and a play about with colours. I began the process of turning it into a piece of embroidery...cue some soft swearing and a 'why am I doing this' moment(s).

Looks so organised...stays like that for about ten minutes before each project.

I started with a single thread of floss, and split stitched around the outside of the shape, or in this case petals. Note, I didn't separate each of the petals, this was for a reason...well I had an idea and just went ahead with it. Once the split stitching was complete, I marked the order of the petals with some thought (ish). 

Each petal was then padded out in the middle with long stitches using two /three threads of cotton stranded. Now I know what your thinking, cream padding when your going to do satin stitch in bright pink over it?? Yes, I am a nutter, has been said many a time. I did because I had loads of cream thread, I wanted a challenge and lastly, I knew I cover of it (so modest).

By the way, that shiny thing at the top of the picture is my stainless steel mellor, or laying tool, normally I use it for gold work but it works a treat for threads using it so that they lay flat. Also it's shiny...*_* I have a sterling silver one too.

With each petal I used a different number of padding layers, between 3 - 5 to give it a bit of a my realistic finish. By the fifth petal I had hit my my stride, which is typical.

So shiny...I do love a spot of silk thread.

Time for the middle section, I started it one way and then started it again. Yeah, I had thought to use chain stitch padding for the middle but when I tried it out it wasn't giving me the height and frankly it looked rubbish. So well over an hour later, with copious amounts of swearing, I unpicked the chain stitch.

Once calm again, I opted for a simple approach...couching the padding, using around 12 threads of cotton thread, in a long length I couched it round and round the middle, so it looked like a doughnut. Once I was happy with the height and the filling, I started to satin stitch over the top.

Then the question of what to do next? I had a small idea that the flower needed stamens, and after a brief reminder how to do it, I used a thicker weight yellow silk thread, and pistol stitched the stamens.

And now it's complete....

Now do I add more flowers, leave it be...make it up into something.

I have some pondering to do!