UPCYCLING

I've been up cycling some lovely fabrics into some unique bags in the past few months, including this vibrant pink/orange and brown tablecloth found in my local retro shop Hello Retro. 

Mabel Messenger Bag 

and a couple of large totes with some added repurposed denim

A piece of 70's barkcloth, originally a curtain in vibrant orange with a piece of unwanted denim 

Made this with some unwanted off cuts of tweed and a pair of green waterproof trousers, making the pockets base and handles, finished with orange stitching and lined with cream canvas. 

A large tote made with a pair of denim jeans and an orange flower barkcloth.

A pair of denim jeans and a piece from a 70's pink floral curtain 

A large tote made from a combination of old and new fabric. including a piece of Orla Kiely, a 70's woven bedspread and a pieces from a retro Danish duvet cover.

I've been saving my left over pieces of fabric from making dresses over the years (I hardly ever throw anything away.) Inspired by a quilt I found on Pinterest I decided to give it ago, and have now caught the bug. Above is a single quilt made from a combination of  70, mainly Scandinavian inspired fabrics and backed with a pale blue and white spot cotton. 

A fun play mat made from a combination of fabrics with grey channeling and backed with grey and white str print cotton.

All available on the website. www.mysistermabel.bigcartel.com 

STILL WAITING FOR SUMMER

  Festivals, Carnivals, Regattas, the end of the school year and summer holidays, all would be a lot more pleasurable if they were accompanied by some sunshine!!

With hope in my heart I've finished some long sleeve cotton smock tops.  Two are made with 70's retro flower fabric giving them a real hippy look.  The other is blue and white stripe fabric finished with a row of red daisies around the hem.

All will be available on my website

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

We returned for another culinary feast at The Riverford Field Kitchen one of my favorite restaurants in our area.   Riverford is best known for its organic vegetable boxes which are delivered all over the country. 

The day started with a Teddy Bears Picnic at Mabel's Nursery, the sun even shone.

And ended with a sale at The Coffee Rush in Shaldon, a regular hangout for Mums in desperate need of caffeine after the school drop in the morning, along with Becka (Sugarworm) and Claire (Curleys Cupcakes) the evening was a great success.

ANOTHER LITTLE 70's PRINT DRESS
This is the front, as undecided I've put the tie this side, although it could always be taken off and put on the back, making the front the back ........decisions decisions!!!

Not to waste any of this lovely fabric I finished it by making some bunting.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Spring is finally here, and with it sunny long days and Spring Fairs.  Mabels nursery is holding its Easter Parade on Friday 1st April, The Craft Hub's Birdsong & Blossom Spring Fair in Topsham  on Sunday 3rd April, The Easter Expo at Tavistock Town Hall 16th April and The Easter Fayre at The Flavel Arts Centre  Dartmouth on 24th April.  I've been busy making some extra little things to put on my stall.

 

It's half term, Bella has most of April off, going back for two days before she is off again for "The Wedding" and then again for the May Bank Holiday.   The girls have been busy amusing themselves building camps in the lounge.

With the arrival of a very large box, containing two chairs and a table for the balcony more accommodation was built.

I got asked by one of the mums at school if I could make her a really simple small bag to take to a wedding. A square, two 

handles, a button and enough room to put some action figures in to keep her son amused, she loved it, so I've made some more from the mountains of left over fabric I have.

I've collected quite a few retro fabrics over the past couple of weeks, really looking forward to recycling them into something new

Took a packed lunch, bought an ice cream on the way and  headed for the beach, the sun was shining and the girls had found a new lease of life.  As I sat there watching them playing, making sandcastles and arguing over buckets and spades, I thought how lucky we were to have all this five minutes from our home.

I met Wendy at the Topsham 'Blossom & Birdsong Fair". She bought one of my long sleeve smock dresses for her cute little daughter Dolly.  She asked me if I could make her a couple of dresses with some fabric she had a home... which I did, and I think they really work well.  Hope you like them too Dolly! Photos of Dolly wearing her dresses are further on in this post.

   

I've started using some of my new fabrics.  I really like this dress, (and it's available to buy on my website)  How did I get Bella to model for me again, plentiful amounts of chocolate cake, it works every time!

 

The girls were off to a 4th birthday party today, and I took a couple of photos of them just before they started screaming at each other. 

We all enjoyed the Royal Wedding. We had a small gathering at the end of the road, we met up with neighbours for a few drinks, it made me feel quite patriotic. Bella had a tea party at school and won the 

fancy dress competition for her year, and first prize for her drawing of where the newlyweds would live.  

                                                                                                                

     

Mabels celebrations were a little more low key she made a crown at nursery with plenty of glue and red, white and blue tissue paper.

made a crown at nursery with plenty of glue and red 

She didn't have a clue what was going on but she seemed to take it all in her stride.

We went for a lovely walk yesterday after dinner with the girls.  It was spectacular along the front, the sun was shining and the waves were huge, there was even a bit of surfing going on

I used some new fabric to make these harem pants, its a lovely bright summery cotton, thought they would look great with a little white T and denim jacket.  My Mum gave me the nautical fabric I think it works well with the ticking.  Wear it dressed up for a special occasion with a blazer and ballet pumps or dressed down with a denim jacket and white plimsoles.

 My Sister Mabel will soon be available in LEAF STREET in Exeter, Honiton, Broadclyst and Kennford.  Thank you Leaf Street.

Dolly wearing her new dresses

Grace is my friend Tina's daughter.  I met Tina when I moved from Torquay and started primary school in Teignmouth at the age of ten.  Both only children, we had a fabulous childhood growing up together.  At seventeen we went off to pursue different paths, but always kept in touch meeting up when ever we could.  A few months ago Tina also returned to Teignmouth with her partner and daughter Grace.  It still amazes us when we meet up that we are here again, and the reason for us both I think is the same, we know that this is fabulous place to bring up our children.....She's also a great little model for My Sister Mabel.

Love this photo of Bella trying on her dads hat in a cafe in Torquay, we had just visited The Living Coast.

                                                                                

Mabel's much loved new toy..... a bubble machine. She has taken to sitting on the front door step with her finger on the button and nothing will persuade her that it stays on by itself.    

A weekend of craft fairs.  Saturday was the The Exeter Steiner Schools Summer Fair, where I had a table next to Sam from Peagreen Furniture, who sells painted furniture, cake stands made with vintage plates and beautiful scented candles in vintage crockery and jelly moulds.

Sunday I was at the Exmouth Pavilion for The Posh Shopping Fair.  I have no more until The Craft Hub in Topsham on 19th June so I'm busy cutting and stitching!

Bella's school has shut for two days while they move into the new building, so we took the opportunity to take a day trip to St Ives.  It was lovely to see the white sandy beaches and blue sea, if only we could guarantee the sun why would we go abroad? 

We played on the beach, wandered around the little streets with it's interesting little shops and galleries,  ate Cornish pasties and ice creams then left for the two and a half hour journey home.