Chiswick Riverside

I love living by the Thames in London.

In my dreams I'd live somewhere else by the seaside, but it wouldn't work for either of us for work, and also I'd never actually get any work done as it would be too tempting to spend all day in the sea!!

So the Thames is a great alternative, and I've even swum in it a few times!!

Usually we'd go for a long river walk at least once a month in the winter and once a week in the summer, preferably combining it with a visit to one of the many riverside pubs (ahh how I miss pubs!!).

As the river path is always busy, and fairly narrow in places, I've been avoiding it since the start of lockdown, because it just didn't seem like a sensible place to go, but since the more relaxed rules came in last week, I was just itching to go and see my river.

My usual walk is over Hammersmith Bridge, along to Barnes Bridge, over that, and back to Hammersmith and it's just gorgeous! It usually takes about 1.5 hours, but depends on how many times I stop to smell flowers and take photos!

So I went on Thursday evening and it was just beautiful. A little chilly, but the sun was out, and so it felt just like we were on holiday at the seaside (you know, cos it's always a bit colder than you expected - haha!). It made me so happy!! I'm definitely going to have to go back again soon!!

Sun Hats

So last year, I finally got round to sewing some reversible fabric sun hats - having been asked for them many many times. It took me a few pattern tweaks, to find one I was happy with, and I sewed them in 2 sizes.

They were so popular, it was great! Unfortunately, I hadn't planned far enough in advance, so sold out pretty quickly!

Since then, a friend asked for matching hats for her new baby, and herself, so I graded my pattern to include baby and adult sizes.

So here they are - ready for launch tomorrow - take a look....

Four Sizes available - from Baby to Adult!

Sun Hats

Wow how has it been 6 months since I last posted! I don't know where the time has gone!!

I've been asked for years if I sell kids sunhats, but have never got round to making a pattern and actually making them.

So this year I made sure I did it, and sorted out a pattern in May - just in time for a really wet and stormy summer! Typical!

Here are some photos! I'm currently working through my fabric stashes and using all my lefotover fabrics, as I have too many stashed away all over the flat!

Crazy Llama Mobile

I've been making llama mobiles for a while, which with mountains, a sunshine and cacti were pretty cool - but then I was given a water bottle with some crazy embroidered llamas on it.....and well....I couldn't ignore it, I had too use it as inspiration for a crazy llama mobile!!

Here are how some of them turned out.....

Custom Mobile Orders

I love when customers come and know exactly what they would like, and I am able to make it for them! Its great when they have such strong ideas about what they would like, and even better when I am able to make it for them, and see their excitement when they get it.

I've had a few great custom orders recently! Here are some photos of them:

This lady wanted one of my circus themed mobiles, with the bunting round the top, in a very beautiful mix of pasetel colours, and with a unicorn, a dog, an owl, a bunny, an elephant and a penguin! So cute!

This lovely customer again knew exactly what they wanted - birds native to Cyprus, a sun, moon, stars and rainbows. It was very fun to create some new birds and I especially love how the Kingfisher turned out!

I'm always happy to make new custom mobiles, so if there is ever anything you think of that you'd like made into a mobile, please do let me know!

A Mini Break to Newquay

In half term, I went for a much needed mini break to Newquay. I thought about taking some work with me, and in the end decided not to, and to just have a proper break from all work.

We rented a cute little house from Air BnB up on Pentire Head, at one end of Fistral beach and it was fabulous. The view was stunning and it was walking distance down to the beach.

I haven't surfed for years, but we hired boards and spent hours in the sea every day, perfecting our falling!! We had cake for breakfast on the beach, and came back to the house all tingly with cold, in time to go for a walk along the beautiful headland, and sampling a lot of the local cider.

All in all, it was a fabulous mini break, and Cornwall is just so stunning.

Here are some photos:

The view from the house - stunning

My new wetsuit that I bought this summer has been fabulous!! So so cosy!!

Mmmmm cider! Stable restaurant has the fabulous position of being actually on Fistral beach. The food and drinks are amazing, let alone the views!!

I love body boarding with my fabulous Mum (in the middle). She asked for her wetsuit for her 61st birthday present and has worn it so many times. Isn't she awesome??

Recreating our photos from Nicaragua last summer - only this time we're in wetsuits. It's harder to handstand in a wetsuit than it is in a bikini!!!

Look - I can stand up!! Haha, and then fall off straight away!!!

*New Mobile Idea* Hot Air Balloons

So the new mobile designs just keep coming this year!! I keep getting very excited and coming up with new ideas. This latest one - inspired in part by my visit to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta - for the first time in years - features lots of different coloured hot air balloons, some clouds, and a sunshine.

What do you think?

Malta Adventures

I managed to drag my boyfriend away from work for a week at the end of August, and we had a fabulous last minute holiday to Malta. Coincidentally, some very good friends also booked the exact same hotel, and were there for 5 days overlapping us which was great!!

We always try to go to at least one new country every year (although my boyfriend had already been sent to Finland and Barbados with work - grr I know!!) so Malta seemed like a fab new place to explore, and more importantly, so so hot and sunny!!

As it was so hot, we did mostly live in the sea and pool, but we did also manage a lot of sight seeing too. 

Here are some photos:

The pool at our fab hotel. We stayed at the Seashells at Suncrest Hotel in Qawra and it was gorgeous! The food choice was insane!!! Also there was an adults only pool....what's not to love!!

Visiting the beautiful old walled town of Medina. So nice and cool to wander the quiet, narrow streets.

On a boat trip to the Blue Grotto. Going in and out of caves around the rocky coastline was fab!!

And then jumping in for a swim afterwards!!! The sea was so lush and warm, it was dreamy to float around in there for hours!

Our view from our room. Such beautiful buildings. We were at the back, so didn't have a sea view, but got the evening sun on our balcony, after the pool had closed, which was lovely. 

Wandering round Valetta. Such windy, old streets, and very tall buildings. I hate to say it, but it was almost too hot in Valetta, so we escaped to the war museum, which was thankfully, mostly underground!!

The view from the old town in Victoria, on Gozo. So much fun to wander around. 

Swimming in the Blue Lagoon. Heaven! Just look at the colour of that sea!! We swam away from all the crowds and went over to the quieter side. 

I also went exploring and snorkelled into a cave!!

Beautiful fishing village of Marsaxlokk. So quiet and colourful. 

I would very much recommend a visit to Malta, and we will definitely be going back. There is so much more to see, and everyone was so friendly. Plus the sea was warm, the sun shone every day, and the food was delicious, so what's not to love?!?