London Hiking

 I've always been a walker. Any time there is some free time, we often say 'Let's go for a walk'. 

The problem is in lockdown, we've completely exhausted all of our local walks. So along with a friend, we decided to start exploring further afield. 

Walk 1 was to Richmond. Not so unusual, but we'd usually cycle there or get the Overground. This time we went across Barnes Bridge, up through the Sheen Gate into Richmond Park, across the park, and back home via the river. TOTAL 16 miles, with a lovely lunch stop at the Duck Pond Market. 

Walk 2: Osterley Park, River Brent, Hanwell Park, Pitshanger & Ealing

This walk started off round Gunnersbury Park, up the A4, and then in to Osterley Park. How have I never been here before?!? It's a beautiful National Trust property, and I'll have to try and visit once it reopens. Then across the M4, along the canal for a bit (past the Three Bridges), up the River Brent through Hanwell Park, and round into Pitshanger. Then back streets of Ealing and home. TOTAL 17 miles

Walk 3: Brent Reservoir & Fryent Country Park

This walk started off past Wormwood Scrubs, and up towards my first London home in Willesden Green. It turns out I never went any further north than Gladstone Park, so it was nice to explore what was nearby. Around Brent Reservoir, and across into Fryent Country Park. VERY BOGGY, but beautiful. Then back through Neasden, Willesden, Harlesden & back home. TOTAL 17 Miles

Walk 4: Brompton Cemetery, Hyde Park, Regents Park

This one was meant to be shorter, as we left later as it was raining. It ended up being 18 miles as per usual!! River path, Lillie Road, Brompton Cemetery, back streets of Chelsea, with some lovely Mews roads, Hyde Park, Serpentine, back streets above Oxford Street, Regents Park, back streets of Bayswater, Uxbridge Road & home. TOTAL 18 miles

Walk 5: Putney Heath, Wimbledon Common, Wandsworth

We started with a usual, along the river and across Barnes Bridge. Then up Roehampten Lane and into Putney Heath. Under the A3 (who knew there was an underpass there) and onto Wimbledon Common. Back through Wandsworth towards the River Wandle, across Putney Bridge, back though Fulham and home. TOTAL 18 miles

New Name Banners

I've been sewing name banners for a good few years now, and so get lots of repeat design orders - mint and grey elephants being the most popular - so it's very exciting when I get a new design request.

I especially love when a customer knows exactly what they'd like! Here are some examples of some recent new designs....

Embroidered Llamas & Pom poms

Guinea Pigs

Embroidered Llama & Cactus

UFO & Planet

Hedgehogs & Owls

Happy Birthday Banners

Alongside all my personalised felt name banners, I also make Happy Birthday banners (and Christmas ones too - but it's too early for that yet!!). I love the idea of having a long lasting, reusable banner that can come out again and again for everyone's birthday, and replaces all the terrible single use banners you find in party shops.

The original one I made was in yellow and grey (surprise surprise), but I've since made a range of custom ones to suit other people's tastes too!

Here are some photos...

Which is your favourite? And which colours should I make next??

A-Z of name banners - part 2

It's been a hard decision choosing banners to put into this A-Z of names. Ideally, they'd all begin with the right letter, and so would the name (e.g Hearts & Henrietta which was one of todays posts). Sadly most of them don't conform to this, so I've usually picked one of each to show off.

Here are my recent ones:

Cole & Clouds = yay! Double 'C'

And then Connie with some awesome lions!

Daniel & Dinosaurs = Double 'D' - win again!

And another cool Connie, with 2 different dogs. 

Emilia & Elephants! = Double 'E' 

Emilia is such a beautiful name, and quite popular at the moment it seems - I've sewn 5 of these banners, all in different colours, in the last year. 

Faiz with 2 different animals. Because why not?

And Alfie and Foxes. It doesn't begin with F but does have an F nicely placed in the middle!

G is for Gael, and Giraffes. Sadly not in the same banner, but they still both look beautiful!

H for Hannes and Hearts - again not in the same banner, until I got the order last week for Henrietta with Hearts - which fitted in perfectly instead!!

More to follow, we're only on H! Watch this space! 

A-Z of Names...

I've made so many names over the last few years, that I've decided to do an A-Z of name banners, to show of a selection of some of them.

Here are my first few....

Alice in Wonderland for an Alice - so fun and appropriate

Pink letters and white clouds is one of my most popular name banner combinations!

Because I make all my names from scratch, it doesn't matter how it's spelt - I'll make anything!

Cute boats with a life ring for B

More to follow....watch this space....