CATCHING UP

Can't believe we are already three months into the New Year. and four months since my last post. I should've made it a New Years resolution to do at least one post a month (but I didn't).  So a quick synopsis of the last four months.

At the end of November I set up a stall for The Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market. Lots of preparation, and a lot of commitment both financially and manpower. I met some lovely people and made some money ....but i won't be doing it again!

Christmas came and went with a beautiful Christmas tree, presents and a poignant moment when I realised that this would be the last Christmas that Mabel would believe in Father Christmas. She even asked me several times as I tucked her in on Christmas Eve, but I didn't think this was the right time.  I must say I felt kind of sad that the magic would disappear for both of us after this year.   

Lots of walks on Dartmoor and the beach to blow away the cobwebs

We finished the year with an impromptu New Years Eve party, which left me with the mother of all hangovers the next day!!

Goodbye to 2018. It was definitely a lot easier and better than 2017, but not as good as 2019 is going to be.

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!

AN ENGLISH SUMMER

A little bit restricted with Summer holiday arrangements due to my impending op, so we've stayed local (which is a first for us in August for a very long time) and we've enjoyed local entertainment, weather permitting. 

Our local carnival 

some of the traditional sculptures along the seafront made with waste materials

Have to say there's been very few long sunny days in August, but I loved the way this picture captures the Summer flowers against the grey sea and sky

Mabel and her friend Isaac at Charmouth beach. A fossil hunting trip on the Jurassic Coast, but not a fossil did we find.

Another grey day on Dartmoor on beautiful Dartmoor

and another rainy playdate camp.

There's 25% OFF everything on the website. Enter the Code SUMMER at the Checkout.

breast cancer update

I had my masectomy on Monday 31st July. I went down to surgery and returned several hours later with new boobs, four drains, two PIC dressing boxes, oxygen and a heated duvet over the top of me to aid circulation. The best news was that they had found nothing in the lymph nodes. Spaced out on Tramadol, Paracetamol and Morphine I slept like a baby unaware of the pain. I left hospital on Wednesday with just two of my drains removed but everything else in place and feeling painful. A week later I had the drains removed and saw my breast surgeon who said that he was pleased with the way everything had gone. The particular implants I have are expandable so next week all being well I'll have them pumped up for the first time. I have a pathology appointment tomorrow to discuss the removed tissue, then after that it's just back for Herception injections until March.  My battle is coming to an end!!!

DANCING, DARTMOOR & NEW DRESSES

This Saturday saw Bella start her Junior Associates programme with the Royal Ballet(every Saturday.) With only eight locations around the country, we are lucky that one of them is at Dartington Hall, 45 minutes away. With only two places available and only two years of ballet training she has done amazingly well, and we are very proud.

Dartington Hall 

Bella Ballerina

Lucky to be located in this beautiful part of the country. This Sunday after a family swim, we went in land. Just a half an hour drive, and we are in the spectacular Dartmoor National Park. It covers 954 square kilometres of land, has amazing walks, the River Dart, picutresque villages and some lovely pubs. Our first stop was Widdicombe a village famous for (Widdecombe Fair) and it's beautiful Devon ice creams topped with clotted cream. 

We found this lovely little pub The Ruglestone Inn hidden away in Widdecombe....well it can't be that hidden as it was absolutely heaving inside, there was "no room at the inn" for food so it was drinks only, but we'll definitely be back for Sunday Lunch

 The pub also had an array of animals wandering about including this family of ducks, some chickens, goats and a pub cat.

 On the way back to the village Mabel was complaining of rubbing wellies, luckily Harry was on hand for a shoulder carry as I had trouble enough getting myself up there after my earlier ice cream 

I'm not a religious person, but I do like to visit this ancient church when we're in Widdecombe, partly because its so old (dating back to the fourteenth century and also because of it's serenity.   

and then home, after the cows of course! 

This weeks new dresses are made from this pop art style fabric ZAP - KAPOW available on the website. 

A NEW YEAR

Christmas 2014 came and went in a flurry of presents, over eating, over drinking, lots of tv and lazing around.  Although we all enjoyed it very much I was also looking forward to a little bit of creativity and getting a new collection together for S/S 2015.  

I have a little collection of fabrics that I've been saving and I've now started cutting them up. I've found some great new oilcloths for the bags and I'm also working on a new little range of upcycled customised clothing (all will be revealed) 

My sale has gone well and I have very little left although I have had a real demand for the school book bags at the moment! I've also started selling on a fabulous new site http://www.remadeinbritain.com/ selling handmade upcycled items.

Although Winter isn't my favourite season, we've really enjoyed some lovely days out with the girls walking in the Winter sunshine, and ending up drinking alcohol somewhere with a lovely view!

Walking on the beach, cold but nevertheless sunny

 stopping at the The Ship Inn for a Guiness

 

Walking on Dartmoor 

 walking on Dartmoor and having a cider at the Two Bridges Hotel in front of the open fire!

 Walking through the smugglers tunnel to the Ness beach before a glass of wine at The Ness House

Girls back at school, me back into some sort of routine, I should be able to post some of my new range soon.  Hope you like it!