Hello sunshine!! Yes, today the sun is shining, and the birds are singing – spring is here – for today at least!!
The image above is from – goodness – three years ago now – but is so cheerful and sunshiny, especially the dandelion. Did you know the name comes from the old French dant-de-lion, meaning lion’s tooth, from the deeply serrated leaves? Neither did I before I did some research on dandelions for a short article in the April Bustle & Sew Magazine!
Whatever the weather, we can be cheered by the celebration of Mothering Sunday here in the UK. This falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent – between 1 March and 4 April depending upon the date of Easter Sunday itself and this year Mothering Sunday falls on 26 March. Originally the day was marked by processions to the mother church of the diocese. When these were discontinued, it became a day on which young people working away from home would return to visit their mothers, traditionally bearing a gift of Simnel cake. This is a rich fruit cake filled and decorated with twelve balls of marzipan placed on the top. These represent the months of the year or, if the cake is baked for Easter instead, eleven balls represent the apostles minus Judas Iscariot. Today we more usually refer to Mother’s Day – a name imported from the US where it falls in May.
But whenever you celebrate Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday it’s always nice to have a special gift for your Mum. I included a special Mother’s Day pattern in this month’s Bustle & Sew Magazine – some pretty applique teacups for the Best Mum in the World! And I thought it would be fun to give away the sample in time for Mothering Sunday here in the UK. The finished project measures 12″ x 4″ and would make a great alternative to a card for one lucky mum this year!
For the chance to win this sample please just leave a comment below and just for fun, if you’d like, tell us a little about why your mum’s the best mum in the world for you.
The giveaway will close at midnight GMT on Monday 6 March and the winner will be chosen by random selection. I will post anywhere in the world.
Good luck everyone!
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED
Helen, your appliquéd teacups are just fabulous. Unfortunately my mum passed away a few years ago but I’d like to enter your competition on behalf of my little granddaughter Evie, who would just love to give your sample to her special mummy this year. Her mummy loves drinking tea and is a huge fan of china cups just like these.
My mum is the best mum
In the world in the past two years she has had a knee replacement been there for my dad having open heart surgery and two hernia operations seen my brother who is 54 lives at home not only move out but got married in the uk we are in Australia and had to have surgery for grade one melanoma skin cancer and that lady still smiles she is the best .
Helen, this is so sweet! Sadly, I lost my Mum last November. She was the VERY BEST Mother in the world to me and I miss her terribly every day. I hope everyone is able to spend Mother’s Day/Mothering Sunday with their Mum this year. I will be thinking of all the times My Mom and I spent together and cherishing every memory.
I would love to win the Best Mum giveaway, not for myself, nor unfortunately for my mother, but for my daughter, who is an exceptional single mother to two growing boys. They are an absolute credit to her.
I love your tea cups. I know that my mum was the best because she taught me to find something in life that I love to do, and encouraged me to do it. My mother was a tailor for others, but for me she taught me creating is an art and expands your mind to do the different and love it.
Your patterns, kits and general advice always welcome. I look forward to each new issue of bustle and sew. I shall be making the teacups applique for my mother in law who has been ill recently. Sadly my own mum passed away in November but I will buy some lovely flowers for her and place them at the side of my favourite photograph of her smiling.
I have the best mother in the world here and in heaven
She is with me every I go, I love you mum.
My mum is no longer with me, however, she was the best! She taught me how to sew, embroider, knit and all things artsy-craftsy! I love you
I have the best mother in this world and in heaven.
She is with me all the time. I love you mom.
I love this towel, thank you! My mom passed away a little over 5 years now at age 91 and not a day goes by that I don’t think of her or miss her. She loved me unconditionally, was always there for me, and a gentle and wise soul. This towel would be fun to gift to my granddaughter who is expecting her first child, my stepdaughter’s first grandchild, and my first great grandchild, a boy, in April.
Helen, I would love to win your adorable “Best Mum”!! It is so cute. I love artsy things too!
What a lovely prize to win, it would be perfect to make for my Mum to say thank you for always being there for us.
Hi Helen,
Your designs are always so pretty! I miss having tea with my Mum, we had a very special connection. I am fortunate to be a mum to two very lovely young women, and enjoy the time I get to spend with them.
Many thanks,
Poppy (Diane Boyer)
Love the teacups so much-( and everything else that you do !) I would like to win this for my mum who battled breast cancer last year and never complained and worried about mine and my 2 sisters reaction to her illness – a mum thinking about her kids before herself as only a mum could do ?❤️
What an awesome giveaway. My mother raised me and my siblings to be hard workers and to appreciate our faith and family.
I love your tea cup sampler! My mom passed away recently and I have been missing our times together with a cup of tea. This is a great reminder to me of those times we shared. Thanks!
I drink tea everyday and what a wonderful treat for me.
Helen I adore this and would be so thrilled to win. Love all your patterns and magazine.
Love
Dorothy xx
My mom goes over above and beyond
I wish my Mom was alive to gift. 🙂 I’d like to gift my daughter who has a two year old and is a good mother.
🙂 Linda
I too lost my mum tragically back in 1991 but she was a great mother. She lived for her children and wanted to make our lives as good as they could be. So, like Amanda, I too would give this to my young grandsons so they could give it to their mother, my daughter if that is okay with you. It is a lovely piece!
I love the tea cups sampler and would really like it for myself but I would have to give it to my grandson so as he can give it to his mum, he said to me he has to climb all the mountains in the world to fight the gem monsters to get his mum all the gems and really she just loves her cups of tea and the sampler would put a smile on her face.
my Mum passed away, but I would love to give this to my daughter..on behalf of her children she has 1 boy and 2 girls, the boy is 12 and is autistic and the baby girl , 6 .. was born with Chiari malformation and Ehlers Danlos syndrome, my daughter has cared for and loved her children with not a single complaint, she is home schooling her daughter, now…when she was old enough for nursery school. my daughter volunteered at the church school so that she could be there to assist in Becca’a day, we never hear a single moan or whinge from her, he r children are her life..her autistic son is thriving from the attention he received in his formative years from his Mum…she is marvelous, would love her to have your beautiful teacups:} she has teatime with her children as I had with her….an expat from Somerset here:}
I so enjoyed this post and the explanation of how “Mothers Day” in UK came to be. I would love to win this for a friend there. I no longer have my “mum” with me but her example influences what I do every day. My love of needlework and sewing came from her example and teaching and I consider it such a blessing.
Hi Helen. I love following the goings on and adventures of your newfies. My mum would love the teacups. She’s a big fan of a good cuppa. Got to be made with tea pot!
My mom (USA) is the best because she is always at my side for the good and the bad, even though I am an adult child of many years.
When I saw this pattern in the magazine, I thought I should make it for my mom.
Happy Creating.
Thank you for the chance to win Helen. I would love this for my mum in law who adores tea and pretty china teacups which she displays in her kitchen. Also she is a great mum, mum in law and grandma to us all and this would let her know how fabulous she is.
Sue x
Helen, your sampler is lovely, my Mum would love it. She is 92, we have tea every afternoon, she loves to reminisce and tell stories of days gone by; I cherish every minute I have with her.
This is just my cup of tea,
A pretty wall hanging just for me.
But my two boys, well they don’t sew,
So it’s down to me to give it a go.
My mother is no longer alive but I would love to gift this to my eldest daughter, she is a fabulous mummy to two little boys and also my registered carer, she does almost everything for me as I am severely disabled. I love the teacups sampler just as I love all of your designs x
This really is my cup of tea,
A pretty wall hanging just for me,
But I have sons, and they don’t sew,
So I’ll just have to give it a go.
Love your blog and all of your wonderful patterns. My Mother was a lovely kind woman and I miss her every day but I would like to make a gift for my youngest daughter for giving me my beautiful grandchildren. After I lost my oldest daughter at a young age I thought a part of me had died with her. Little did I realize how much joy my Heather’s children could give me and help me heal from the loss of her sister. She is a wonderful Daughter and Mother.
Hello from Singapore ?
When I was growing up, times were hard then, and both my parents worked hard to support the family. I remember my mom was hardly at home cause she worked 2-3 jobs everyday. And yet, she always made sure to prepare food for us, do the laundry etc in between jobs. I didn’t know then, how hard that must have been for her. But now that I am a mother myself, I realized that she was, and still is a very strong woman. She is enjoying her retirement now (with my dad). She would tell her grandchildren stories about those hard times whenever she comes to visit. Never with regrets, but with pride that her hard work and sacrifices allowed both my brother and I to become university graduates. I would love to present her with your lovely gift because to me She is the Best Mother in the World.
Love it! I would give it to my daughter in law (a wonderful, hardworking Mom). I lost my mother almost 3 years ago a week after Mother’s Day.
My mum would adore this! Out of all the people in the world, my mum is my greatest friend and ally
My mum has tea parties with my granddaughter, just like she did with my daughter when she was small, and just like she had with me so many years ago. She is the sweetest, most loving person I know. Even with 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, she still manages to make each one feel as if they are the most special to her. Love her to pieces, and so blessed to still have her at 83.
This is soooo lovely! I know my Mum would love it! The reason she is the best Mum in the world is she never gives up….she’s had four (yes four) knee replacements, had breast cancer and is currently going through secondary breast cancer in her lung (and she’s not even sixty yet!) but she fights it every day (her chemo is once a week so very intensive) but she never grumbles just claims she’s lucky to be able to fight it and be here every day with us. She’s not only the best Mum in the world she’s my hero! Xxx
I adore rea cups!! This is darling. I would love to receive this. Plus it would look awesome in my home. Thank you.
Helen, I would love to win this for my grandaugher to give to my daughter. She would love it she loves all things tea related. I lost my Mom many years ago.
Thank you for such a lovely giveaway! I would love to give this to my mother-in-law. She is so loving, caring and supportive. She is always there for me and her grandchildren. We live in different states and don’t get to visit but we talk several times a week. She is a incredible woman and I love her dearly!
So sweet, my mum would love this so very much! She is such an incredible and inspiring lady that I have no idea what I would have done without her!
Greetings Helen!
Your tea cups are just lovely and would make a great gift for my mother-in-law who enjoys a good cup of tea and is very special to me. I am truly lucky to have her in my life!
Love the design.I the absence, (through death) of both my mum and mother-in-law, I would love it for my daughter-in-law.
Hi Helen, I’m following your FB page… You create faboulous desings! I love all them! I’m from Spain but I’d like to participate (I hope this is possible). By the way, I thank you so much for this lovely giveaway.
My mum is the best mum all around the world because of the way she is. She has always been my guardian angel, my best teacher for life, my most precious company. Definitively, I adore her…
That is the sweetest teacup design!
I love my mum’s perseverance – she went from a newlywed who had no idea how to cook to a woman who is now a cooking force of nature constantly being asked for her recipes and now learning to use Google to find new recipes to try out.
This is gorgeous! I would love to give this to my beautiful mum, who is 87 in a couple of weeks, and still does voluntary work in her local hospital and church. She is truly an inspiration x
My Mom has been gone for many decades now so I will tell you what BEING a Mom, for me is like. I was blessed with my daughter late in life, 47 years old in fact. Every day she is in my heart teaching me to be a better person, to understand the world from a different perspective. Without knowing it she makes me so proud of her, of the young woman she has become. She is my sunshine even while she’s in uni in England and I am 5000 miles away.
My Mum has been there for me through thick and thin. This would be a sweet gift to remind her how much she means to all the family.
Mum and I always share tea when we meet up. Made in a teapot and dunk out of proper tea cups. This picture so reminds me of my lovely mum.
I am one of the lucky ones at the moment and still have my mum with me and at the lovely age of 90 puts down her long life to being happy and drinking tea.
Hi Helen, everyone loves a cuppa and this is a perfect applique to have in the kitchen. My mum is a sprightly, crazy 86 year old and I love her to bits.
Your tea cups are lovely, Helen:):)
My mom inspired me to learn how to sew so I can patch things for my family. Now when my daughter asks, “Can you make this, Mom?” I’m so proud to say “Yes, yes I will.”
This reminds me so much of my Nanny. She got me into collecting tea cups and antiques, taught me how to cook, sew, and paint. I miss her so much. I’d do anything to see her once more, I’ve got so many things I ‘d love to tell her about.
Ive been reading and enjoying your talents since the beginning and although I dont have my mum around, I do know a young mum here, who isdoing a GREAT job with her three youngsters. Our Mothers’Day is in May here in Canada.
Happy Mothers’ Day to you all, in the UK.
My Mum taught me to sew and taught me how to be a Mum, she is my best friend and it goes without saying how much I love her… she is an amazing Nanny to 5 grandchildren…
My mom has passed away for many years now but I have a wonderful mother-in-law. She raised four (4) boys by herself. She will always introduce me as her daughter (she had no bio daughters) and always says that if she ever had a daughter, I would of been it. She is up in years now and still tells me every time I see her how wonderful of a daughter I am. She has fulfilled my emptiness of having my own mother. I’m am sure she would love this and knowing her she would hang it over her bed.
I hope you have an amazing and fulfilling Mother’s Day too! Thank you for your giveaway! LoveUBunches!
I would love to give this to my mom because she is the greatest and would do anything for me!
I lost my mom in 2001. She had 5 daughters and raised us on a preacher’s salary which is not easy. She was loved my all who knew her and she is still greatly loved and missed by many. She was only 64 when she went to her heavenly home. To win this would be a great honor to her memory. She would play “house” with us and we would use her dishes and bring her “tea” to drink and she would love every drop! Thank you for the opportunity to honor all mothers everywhere!!
Just so love your designs. I was inspired to sew by my mother.
Thank you for the generous giveaway! Unfortunately my mom passed several years ago, miss her every day.
I love the tea cups and I love my Mom who taught me how to sew and appreciates all things handmade!
My Mum helped me to start embroidery and I have not looked back. I still have some of her embroideries especially her Crinoline Ladies.
My mum, who is 82 years young and also from the UK, is the Best Mum in the World! She has the biggest heart and is always giving and doing for others without expecting or asking for anything in return. We share a love for needlework, tea and tea cups. I know she would love this beautiful sample!
I would love to be lucky enough to win your beautiful teacup picture to give to my beautiful great grand daughter grace to give to her mummy as my mum died suddenly in her sleep in 1982…she left a big hole in all our lives but she’s still there whenever I need her becuase I think about her everyday.
She taught me to knit when I was about 4 sitting at an old scrubbed table in the kitchen using 2 big nails and a ball of string! I was hooked, she loved children and would have loved little Grace….in turn I’ve taught my children, grand daughter and little Grace to sew knit and bake…we still use some of mum’s tea-sets and old mis-matched cake forks for ‘afternoon tea treats’.
It’s a tradition we carry on every Mother’s day … this year it’ll be Lemon Drizzle Cake served on one of her old Irish Linen table cloths.
Mine is the best because of everything. But since she had me, I have the best daughter so the Mother Tree keeps sprouting!
I would love to give this to the best adopted Mom a girl could have ! I share her with my best friend since my own mom and mother in law are both gone.
This time last year my wonderful mum went for numerous years to be my live kidney donor. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be as a lump was found. I since had my kidney transplant just before Christmas. My dear mun is having surgery on Friday to remove the lump. Would love the chance to win this as it’s perfect for us as we always meet at least once a week for coffee and catch up.
My mom is the best! I didn’t know until I was an adult the sacrifices she made and the burdens she kept to herself to keep us happy
I don’t have a relationship with mom but if I were to win this Is give it to myself because I’m doing the best I can fit my little one.
HI, Helen
I just wrote to you on the Mother’s Day Giveaway and by fault (mistake) my full name appeared!! Please, could you not post my previous comment because I don’t want my full name to appear. Many thanks
Teresa
Love your applique teacups. Unfortunately, my mother passed away in 2006. She was a fabulous mother and my sisters and brother miss her advice and love. I would love to win this awesome sampler for one of my daughters.
I think my Mom would enjoy a nice little embroidery present with a British touch!
For many years after my parents divorced, it was just my mom and I. Lots of lean years, and time spent together playing cribbage, tennis or just hanging around at the park (all free). She worked hard to save to buy a modest house, and did the best she could. This year she will be moving in with my husband and I in our new home.
Hi! My mom is the most tender-hearted person in the world…always positive no matter wheat. We live so far apart but talk on the phone every week.
Let’s have a nice cup of tea my mum used to say, sadly no longer with us this would be a lovely reminder.
My mom is the best mom, she taught me how to sew, how to cook, how to be handmade, but most of all, she taught me how to be a mom!!!
Witaj Helen 🙂
Moja mama zmarła 25 lat temu. Była bardzo młoda, miała zaledwie 44 lata. Dziś ja mam 47 lat i ciągle się zastanawiam co by powiedziała, gdyby widziała siostrę i mnie i nasze dzieci. Była bardzo pogodną osobą, pracowała jako nauczycielka w przedszkolu. Dzieci ją uwielbiały. Bardzo mi jej brakuje…
Pozdrawiam serdecznie wszystkie mamy i życzę im wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji Dnia Matki (w Polsce Dzień Matki obchodzimy 26 maja)
My mom passed away 2 days after my 21st birthday at only 49 yrs young. But she was one of the most talented, creative and giving people I have ever known in my entire life. Despite being in a severely abusive marriage and her devastating illness, she continued cooking for anyone who needed it and she could create anything on a dime. And she did it all. She could knit, crochet, sew, paint, cook, and she was a concert pianist. I miss her very very much. She would have loved being a grandma to my boys and a great grandma to my grandson. I tell everyone to hang onto those they love. Enjoy every moment. Make lots of memories.
Greetings from California!
I would like to make this teacup wall hanging for my dear friend, Nancy. She has been my mentor and friend for over three decades, and she loves to receive my handmade gifts. She enjoys cooking and collecting vintage china. I would change the text on your pattern to read, “Best Friend in the World!”
Thanks for offering this inspirational giveaway.
My mom taught me to sew. I actually used my grandmother’s treadle Singer machine to sew. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
My mom passed away last November.
She was among the world’s great moms, and she taught me lots of good lessons on the art of mothering, I miss her very much.
My mum has been a mum, dad and best friend to me for many years. She’s a tiny feisty woman so that’s a lot to fit in! I’d be lost without her and am where I am today thanks to her love and support……oh, she also likes tea!
My mum’s amazing, she’s my carer and has been for 13 years, she does just about everything for me, or with me. She even insists on ironing my seams for me when I sew, so can spend my time actually sewing.
One of ten children we were all treated the same. Mum showed her love to us all and making the teacups wall hanging would be a lovely tribute to her.
I love your give aways. I don’t have a story .I do have tea parties with my daughters and granddaughters, age 3 to 10 I would so love to have rhis in our decorated tea room(dinning room)
Hi, Helen.
Thank you SO much for respecting and attending my wish.
God Bless.
Happy Mothering Sunday! My mum died 39 years ago, but I still miss her. She had a great laugh and believed in me. When I went to college, she helped me save money and was supportive of my choice of college. She did love to drink tea as well as coffee. She would love your tea cup
i love your tea cups.it would look pretty on my wall.