On my sewing table.......

This week it's all been about catching up with orders, including an order to a stockist. It's nice to occasionally batch sew. It gives you a chance to build up a rhythm, all the cutting can be done, then the sewing up of the bib fronts, then attaching the towelling, etc. It gives you a chance to build up a bit of speed as it cuts out the stopping and starting. It is also very satisfying when you end up with a pile of bibs at the end of the production line! 
This pile of bibs have gone off to Inside Out a lovely shop who are now stocking a great range of goodies from smaller handmade businesses like myself along side items from Cath Kidston and Orla Kiely in their stores in Tavistock, Exeter and Dartmoor. 
I always find though after concentrating on sewing one item that I am desperate to let my creative juices flow! So expect lots of new gift sets to start appearing in my shop next week!

Handmade Christmas: In the Woods

 Image credits 1.2of2, 2.Inkkit, 3. Gunnaydri, 4.Lessandmore, 5. Peacelovebeach

Second part of my series 'Handmade Christmas' where I am featuring items made with love and passion by independent small businesses, like myself. This week 'In the Woods'. Gift ideas for me, for the gardener in my life, a stocking filler for my little artist and ideas for the rustic home.

1. A Tabletop Forest by 2of2 a very talented brother and sister design team.
2. Twig Pencils by Inkkit, a pretty stationery and packaging shop on Etsy
3. A Scandianvain Retro Deer Cushion from Gunnaydri, on Etsy and based in London. I love this shop and would be happy to have any of it as a gift!
4. A Tealight holder/Seed starter holder by Lessandmore. Their desk organizers are amazing too! 
5. Modern metal Bird Cuff/Bracelet by Peace love beach. I am deeply in love with the jewellery in this shop, and have about five of Beth's cuffs on my Christmas wish list!

My Daughter

A conversation between my 3 year old daughter and me!

"Mummy, why do you keep using your camera"

Me: "Because I like taking photos".

Daughter: "Why do you keep taking photos of me?"

Me: "Because you are beautiful and also because I am trying to learn how to use my new camera."

Daughter: "Oh" (pauses for thought) "Mummy should I stand still for you so you can learn to take some photos?"

Me: "Well yes that would be great!"

Daughter: "Mummy"

Me: "Yes:

Daughter: "I don't think I can stand still!"

I can not quite believe that this little girl, the baby of our family turns 4 tomorrow. It is with bitter sweet emotions that we will celebrate this day. She amazes me every day with her thoughts, her giggles and her love. I can not wait to see her grow though at the same time wish I could bottle her up with all the curiosities and energy she has. Her unconditional love that she has for her brothers makes my heart melt. She wants to do everything they do and more often than not manges to succeed. Her determination and the way she asserts herself is something that I admire greatly. She has made sure that even though she is the baby of the family that she is not overlooked! She is loud, playful and strong willed. She is caring and nurturing and often will stop what she is doing to come and tell me that she loves me. I will never tire of hearing her say "Mummy I really love you so much" and I will never run out of the reply "I love you so much too".

Her dream of what she wants to be when she grows up sums her up right now so well.

"Mummy when I grow up I want to be an Olympic runner. 

And Mummy when I grow up I also want to be an Olympic Swimmer,

and Mummy I also want to be an Olympic talker!"

 {One of these I think she has already managed!}

Hello October...............

And then it was October. 

I really can't believe we are already in the tenth month of the year. The days, weeks, and months are racing by at an alarming rate, though I feel happy to find myself in October. I like watching nature change, getting itself ready for the shorter, colder days ahead. I too like to spend the month, getting ready, preparing for the winter. Gathering in the last of our harvests from our allotment, the chopping and stacking of fire wood, getting out the blankets and warmer bedding for the beds. Even our cooking changes, salads are replaced by soups and there is a return to regular baking. October is a time to celebrate, to admire natures beauty, to remember to look up and see the colour around us, to forage and collect. To sit toasting ourselves in front of a roaring fire after a walk in the woods. I like the layering of clothes, wrapping myself up in my favourite knitted cardigan and the wearing of snoods and mittens. 

With so much to do this month you will be finding us;
Celebrating our babies 4th birthday with bittersweet emotions.
Walking in the woods and collecting leaves and nuts to decorate the house.
Filling the house with the smell of fresh bread as I work my way through baking and eating most of the recipes from this book.
Carving pumpkins with the kids ready for Halloween, my son's favourite time of the year!
Lighting the first fire of the season.
Not minding when it rains on the school run as it means I get to wear an early Christmas present from my parents! 
Listening to the crunching of leaves under our feet.
Meeting up with friends and exploring the grounds of this beautiful place.
Sewing something for my daughter using this gorgeous fabric,
and sewing something for myself using this eagerly awaited fabric collection.
And finally a little family break here, where hopefully the weather will be kind and we can get to spends days enjoying the Autumn sunshine whilst walking on the beach.

October, it is good to see you!

Fabric Post

Fabric post has got to be one of the best types of post to drop through your letter box! And I've been eagerly awaiting this pile of goodies.
The strawberry and clover prints are from Heather Ross's Briar Rose collection, which is just beautiful and the other four prints will mean lots more organic cotton gift set and bibs coming very soon to 'a crafty hen'.

Handmade Christmas: Cosy Knits

Image credits 1. InnerWild 2.Sally Nencini, 3. Oeuf, 4. Homelab, 5. Moaningminnie

I have spent the last couple weeks getting ready for my son's birthday which is at the end of the week. I will then quickly turn my attentions to my daughters birthday which is a couple of weeks later. My OH also celebrates his birthday in November, so I feel it's impossible to even think about the big 'C' until after these events! But Christmas (there I said it) is coming, and quickly! One of the problems of celebrating birthdays towards the end of the year is that I usually use up all of my gift ideas on the birthdays and then draw a blank when it comes to Christmas. 
I also like to support small businesses like myself and buy handmade items where possible. Even with my boys who are star wars and lego obsessed I try and balance it out with handmade gifts. So I thought I would start up a new series of weekly blog posts featuring items I have found and liked, ideas for myself, for the home, for the kids and not forgetting men who can be so difficult to buy for! So here it is my first 'Handmade Christmas' feature this week featuring 'Cosy Knits' which seems very appropriate considering the temperature drop here in the UK!

1. Gorgeous fingerless gloves by InnerWild a lovely shop based in Scotland and selling on Etsy

2. Knitted Lambswool Tapestry Cushions by Sally Nencini, found on 'Not on the High Street

3. Eye Mittens for kids by Oeuf, perfect for playing peek a boo!

4. Legwarmers by Homelab, I've had my eye on these for a while, along with other items in her shop on Etsy 

5. Men's Neckwarmers by Moaning Minnie bought as a present for my OH last year, I can highly recommend.

 

Sneak Peek!

A 'sneaky peek' of some of the new baby bibs and burp cloths that I've been working on over the last couple of days and will be added to my shop, once back open!

I feel very excited about these new additions. Theres an organic bear, Scandinavian seed heads, a Japanese inspired cloud set and even a bit of linen going on! All are fresh, modern and stylish and the colours are very Autumnal. All I need now is some sunshine so I can get them photographed!