SUMMERS END

Spent a lovely sunny day in Lustleigh a few weeks ago. Lustleigh is a small village on the edge of Dartmoor with some of the most beautiful thatched cottages, tea rooms, a great pub Lustleigh Cleave and a strong May Day tradition. The crowning of the May Queen has been commemorated with the engraving the names on the rock since 1967

Busy preparing for the new season, so no new items at the moment, apart from these back to school oilcloth book bags. Available on the website.

and another new way to use up some of the left over pieces of fabric , are these quirky hanging sardines.

August Bank Holiday we joined in the festivities for the Back Beach Music Festival, and watched the flotilla of boats celebrating 200 years of the Shaldon Regatta

The last week of the holidays, we headed to Sussex for a few days to visit friends in their new house in Isfield. Had a very rainy day in Brighton shopping, and took a trip to Middle Farm (a place I would often take Bella when she was little) a working farm, with lots of animals, an delicious farm shop and cafe and an amazing range of cider and perry

Back home, and our old friends from Brighton came to visit us on the way back from their visit to Totnes.

And so the Summer comes to an end and Autumns on its way. It's  back to school and time for new shoes. I'm hoping these sturdy new Clarks shoes will last more than a couple of months

 Autumns also means empty beaches, with rain and sunshine all at the same time.

treatment update

Finally got my pathology report, that thankfully confirmed all the cancer had gone. I've since had two expansions of my new boobs, which have taken a bit of getting used to, I have another one this week, and an appointment with my oncologist, then back every three weeks for my Herception injections. I consider myself very lucky! I've been celebrating ever since and recently had some friends over for dinner.  This bottle of home made blackberry gin went very nicely with some really smelly cheeses from Country Cheeses, home made desserts and liquor soaked chocolate covered blackberries. May the celebrations continue!

HOLIDAYS END.

It's been over two weeks since we returned from Spain, and the weather has generally be good to us. We've been missing having the space and warm late evenings. We've had various days and nights out in the remaining weeks of the holidays, and feel very fortunate that we live in a beautiful part of the country where we can continue having good times. 

When the tide goes out on the River Teign we go cockling, the tradition says that you can only do this when the month has an R in it so it was really our last haul, and a good one it was too.

We took the girls with us to Ikea in Bristol to buy them both new beds,we were planning to go onto the Bristol Science Museum but like any trip to Ikea it took far longer than it should (so we'll have to save that for another day) 

Last week we were in Amersham in Buckinghamshire for the house warming of friends Heinz & Jenny's beautiful house. Designed by Heinz it has won it's section in the RIBA Awards and goes onto the final in November.Great evening catching up with old friends 

We also booked a two hour mackerel fishing trip, minus Bella who a heightened dislike of boats since our crossing to Spain on the ferry. Great couple of hours in the sun, with a good catch of fish to take home for tea.

Bank Holiday Monday we packed up lunch and wine and headed down to the back beach for the day.  The Back Beach Music Festival was on and during the day friends and family came along to join us. We left after watching the beautiful sunset. 

We live about seven miles from Torquay (a popular holiday destination) and a town I spent a couple of years in before moving up to London. Today we took my in laws to see the show Cats at the Princess Theatre. With a couple of hours to kill we had a walk around the marina, went for lunch and spent some time in the amusement arcades.

And before we knew it I was thinking about "Back To School" and the fact I hadn't made my usual quota of school book bags. 

Very excited by my new dress design.  Many,many years ago (over 20) I bought a dress from Top Shop in the sale before going on holiday. Loved wearing in then, and still love wearing it, because it was made in linen, it's virtually falling apart.  So I've recreated it, firstly so I could carry on wearing it, and secondly to sell.  The reaction has been amazing and they will be available this month.

New makes as we go into Autumn and the sleeves get longer 

Vintage Style Flower Print Fabric Dresses 

Vintage Star Wars 

Dinosaurs

For The Love Of London 

Thomas The Tank 

Mickey Mouse and Pluto

And to use up some of those left over pieces, some little bags

And that is really the end of the Summer holiday of 2016. 

It's been fabulous, and we've all enjoyed it very much! 

BALLET, BIRTHDAY & MAKING BAGS

This week began with a trip to London for Bella to take part in a Workshop at The Royal Ballet Covent Garden. I was also really pleased to have the time to meet up with my friend Jaz who came up from Brighton for the day. It was good to catch up (without the children)We had a lovely day strolling around the shops, stopping for lunch and then back to see Bella perform her days work, before taking her to her favourite place Eds Diner Soho,

Performing at the Royal Ballet 

 Can't ignore it, Christmas is just around the corner.  

The sparkly Christmas floor at Liberty's where I even purchased a couple of decorations.

Jaz showing Bella how it's done!

All budding ballerinas need a visit to Eds Diner after a busy day.

Back home and the celebrations continue with Bella's 11th birthday on Wednesday. Couldn't be more proud of the way she is growing up and her achievements!

Fitted in some work this week, with new makes in the shape of these fox print bags 

Great new Autumn bubble print dresses, beautifully modelled by Mabel  

  and some gorgeous monochrome too.

and a new selection of school book bags in various oilcloths. All available on the website.

BACK TO NORMALITY - HELLO 2013.

In laws gone, Christmas decorations down, girls back to school, sewing machine back on the dining room table, sale on the website www.mysistermabel.bigcartel.com and loads of rich and calorie filled food hanging about the house.  We spent the last couple of days taking trips out in the Bongo up to Haldon Forest and Dartmoor going for long walks, then returning to the bongo to eat up all the left over Christmas food.

Haldon Forest

Walking up Haytor - Dartmoor

I've been working on a new product which has started well. It's the school book bag made from oilcloth velcro fastening and finished with a webbing handle, now available on the website £10

Sale is on and I'm busy working on some lovely new dresses for Spring/Summer,  busy stitching and sorting out fabrics.