Baby boom!

We're so very lucky, having had two friends give birth to two very special little bundles of love in the past month...we have beautiful little Dorothea Rose and the very handsome Reuben Arnold. We couldn't be more excited to meet the little ones in hopefully not the too distant future. It's hard being so far away...when all we really want to do is pop in and say 'hello'

I've been getting baby craft crazy...

Date night with friends

Two of our very good friends got engaged at the end of May and we just haven't had a moment to celebrate with them, so Friday night was date night!

They recommended a great restaurant Trattoria dal Taio  just outside Verona, which was perfect for us country folk. Our table was reserved inside the grotta, originally used as the ice house, with it's constantly cool temperatures you're kept warm by the stufa...the food was great I highly recommend the Strangozzi della nonna alla umbra as a primo. Such a lovely evening.

in the grotto

new treasures

I found some new treasures whilst we were in Liguria, I'm particularly excited about my new stamp set, it's pretty neat it does it need a little bit of TLC, but nothing that warm soapy water won't solve. Also picked up some little vintage bowls, which you can never have too many of,  these guys are Italian from a Treviso manufacturer.

new find...

I don't love it... I don't love it...must put it in the store.

Paris treasures

Although I was in Paris primarily for work,  I did manage to pick up some new treasures, don't know if I'll get time this week but I'll try and add some to the store

really sweet for Christmas time - mix and match napkins

pretty hankies

still in their original packaging  - adhesive labels for those all important Christmas parcels.

wire basket

I'm loving this wire tray...I think it may be staying with us, it's perfect for the cutlery I bought in Sidmouth. LOVE

large french linen mangle cloths

New!

NEW in store

   

Pinnies

'Tis the season...to start thinking about gift making...

Whilst my other half was super excited to have the opportunity to spend a Saturday afternoon watching back to back football...this was a real treat for him, I took myself off to one of my favorite fabric shops in the Veneto region. With ideas a plenty, all I needed was the goods to start I found myself some beautiful linen off cuts and some striped linen off the roll. Next stop the remnant shop to find that all important herringbone tape...

Knowing how I am with projects, I have to get going and finish them otherwise they sit in the 'to do' pile for months & months...this is always easier when you have all the elements needed...so they were cut, sewn and washed all in record time ready for wrapping and sending.

NEW IN

NEW IN STORE

hangtags

new hangtags in store now

Ashley Pouch

...so much to do and just not enough time to do it in, and it seems that the things you really love doing are the first to slide. This past year has been a disaster for me when it comes to alone time to potter and make, although I've collected some amazing new vintage trims and stuff...all I need now is that precious thing, TIME.
There are some new 'Ashley Pouches' in the making...

dishcloth LOVE

I've just finished packaging the handknitted washable dishcloths that my wonderful Mum knitted for me back in Somerset. 

I love these dishcloths I received my first handknitted dishcloth back in 2002 and have been a strong user ever since. What a wonderful alternative to the  blue/red/orange Jaycloths that too many kitchens home.

Evergreen

This weekend we had 3 dinner invites, so rather than the usual biscuit & wine offering I popped to the garden centre then creative on our kitchen table. All those tins and containers I've been saving came in very handy. 

summer bunting

I love bunting it's so nostalgic and brings back such happy memories of village fetes, fancy dress and cake!

This I made from sample square leftovers from our SS11 collection, I have scissor blister to prove it! It's so easy to achieve such a pretty accessory for the home or garden, if only I had a garden to put it in...hopefully someone will want to buy it at the next garden fete.

V&A quilt exhibit

very excited booked tickets for June 6th.

Seeing spots

I love weekends and I secretly love it when I don't need an excuse to stay in...this weekend was miserable and wet.
which is fortunate because most of my projects have been feeling rather neglected of late. We have a garden sale coming up next weekend where I had the grand idea of making stuff...as usual with me it's a last minute rush to get a few things done. A couple trips to the scampoli (fabric store) where I always manage to find a bargain and lose myself for an hour leaving Michael stranded at the coffee machine reading the sports paper.
Very excited about the new spotted bags in 2 sizes and small pouches.

sleeping with cashmere & silk.

Never one to complain that spring has arrived, but for those of you who have problems sleeping, the sunlight peeping through your blinds an hour earlier can be miserable...my poor Mum being a sufferer, so for Easter my Mum has the luxury of sleeping with cashmere and silk eyemask.