DAYS OUT

Making the most of the few days of sunshine we've had, we've been spending time at the beach. Mabel trod on a Weever Fish that proceeded to stab her in the foot...off to the Lifeguard Hut where the remedy for the pain was to stand in a bowl of warm water! 

Bella's been braving the cold water to practise her belly boarding.

I spent a lovely evening with my friend Becka looking out over the river on the terrace of the Clipper in Shaldon, drinking wine and putting the world to rights. 

Bella finally lost a front tooth, which was a really big deal for her as she was the last person in her class.  Unfortunately the tooth fairy forgot to come in the night!!!!!  Consoled by the fact that it had happened to me when I was younger, and assuring her that she would come tonight, Phew!!

She still manages a lovely photo!!

We packed up our lunch and went off for a day at the zoo in Paignton. A lot of walking, a little bit of moaning, but a lot of fun!

 The girls have been really cooperative, and have even let me take a few photos of them modelling for My Sister Mabel

I've added to my vintage patchwork cot bed throws, and  now have three - 

Spring, Summer & Autumn.

 SPRING

 SUMMER

AUTUMN

I've just come back from a weekend in London where I stayed with my friend. I had a great day on my stall at Spitalfields Vintage Market on Saturday, chatting to people, watching the world go by and loving the buzz I get when I'm back in the city.

And now we've come to the end of the Summer holidays. We didn't go abroad for the first time in years and I missed those two weeks of assured sunshine which always makes the terrible Summers more bearable, but we've had some great days out and some great days in, the girls have learnt to play and enjoy each others company, which has been a big bonus and all in all I think it's been a pretty good one!

April has passed, and the constant rain has hopefully gone with it.  I had a couple of fairs and have been busy booking up more for the rest of the year, including the next Craft Hub 'Summer of Love" Craft Fair July 1st, the Ham Common Fair in Surrey 16th June and the Totnes Show 29th July.

I've been really putting some effort into promoting My Sister Mabel on Facebook, and it seems to be paying off, the Bella Bag is flying! I've got some great new oilcloths and have desperately been trying to build up stock.  Had a couple of good nights with friends which included a delicious Sushi night at Becka's with Saki, chopsticks and all the trimmings, and a great evening at Sam's called chocolate, cheese and wine!!! Meanwhile trying to run it off, but being a fair weather runner it hasn't been going very well.

Some of the many new designs of the Bella Bag

And so to May.. I have the Exminster Market, Victory Hall, Exminster on the 5th May and The Topsham Vintage Fair at Matthews Hall Topsham on the 7th, and also building up stock for the beginning of the busy Summer months. 

"Let there be sun!"

Mabel sums up the weather in April.

GETTING READY FOR SPRING

My first event this year will be All Things Lovely and Vintage at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay,  on 31st March which promises to be a great event. On Sunday 1st April there's the first Craft Hub event of the year in Topsham.  I've been busily sorting out  patterns, deciding on size ranges and materials, and I think I'm virtually there.

Mabel has just started pre-school so for the first time in years I have a whole day to myself... what a treat! Tomorrow I will be spending the day down in my basement/work room, audio book on the CD player, lots of cups of tea, scissors in hand cutting up a mountain of  vintage fabrics collected by me and my friends over the past couple of months.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING.......

There's no putting it off Christmas is definitely on the way.  We try to defer it a little until Mabel's birthday on 12th December, as we've realised from the past two years it gets a little forgotten in the preparations. I've been attending a few Christmas Fairs and still have another 3 events to go until I finish on the 11th with the Twinkling Firs Christmas Craftacular at Topsham. 

Last week I had a much needed couple of days in London, I met up with my friend Jaz from Brighton and we had a fantastic day shopping, talking, walking, eating and drinking. A came back refreshed and feeling ready for Christmas, with a lovely new pair of expensive boots (my Christmas present)!  There was no deferring Christmas in London it was everywhere and very lovely it was too!

Holly Lights on Carnaby Street

 The Stars In Oxford Street

 The Arches on South Molton Street

 Lois Vuitton Does Elephants For Christmas

BUSY SUMMER DAYS

As Summer approaches the warmer days and more hours of daylight definitely make me happier and more productive.  I have a place at both The Summer Fair at Totnes Steiner school on 11th June and and then a week later The Summer of Love Craft Event at Topsham Town Hall.

I've been busy turning some of my hoarded fabrics into new things (up cycling, I think it's called!)
 I recently bought some leather straps, and I've made up some "Big Bags" which I've lined, and sewn a big double pocket on the front. I haven't got around to putting them on the website yet but I will do sometime over the weekend.

I bought some retro 70's cotton fabric a while ago and made it up into these little summer tops, great over jeans or white 3/4 trousers, there was only enough for four of them. They didn't make it on to the website as I sold them all from Facebook. The brown version is still to be made up, and the white modern print will be available soon.

I found some new fabrics last weekend.  A lovely piece of vintage Laura Ashley in blue and white, I'm going to make it into some short sleeve tops, leaving out the elastic on the sleeve this time to give it a more floaty feel.

                                                                                                                                                                             

Soaked, Mabel tried and tested her My Sister Mabel pinafore whilst

spending most of last Sunday washing the car... and yes

the wet sponge does fit perfectly into the pocket!

Proving that she can look angelic,  Mabel models new £5 polka dot plimsoles with her tutu, also proving that you can buy 'Tesco's Finest' without having to look like you have!!!

My Sister Mabel will soon be available to buy in Hullabaloo/Gazebo Totnes.

Bella and I have just got back from a couple of days staying with friends in Kingston. We had a great day in Kew Gardens with the girls dodging the rain and conquering our fear of heights on the "Tree Top Walk" and then for pizza in the evening.  This morning we had some retail therapy in town, before heading back to the sticks!!

Rarely does the sun shine during the half term, but we returned from Kingston to gorgeous weather, so the only place to head for was down to the beach, a bag of cheese straws and sausage rolls from Luders (the best patisserie in Teignmouth)

Saturday we were off to Dartmoor to Widdicombe On The Moor for a visit to the Two Bridges Pub and Devon ice cream with clotted cream topping!