Backpacking Adventures

I am very excitingly off on some backpacking adventures tomorrow, for a few weeks, and so am now doing all sorts of things I can think of to put off packing.

This is not as bad as it sounds - I have actually almost packed, I just need to wash a few last bits, and add in a few extra things I've just thought of to take.

I am however, trying to be very good, and not just keep adding things I think of!!

I got my trusty Lowe Alpine 55l rucksack back in 2002 and have taken it all over the world with me on various adventures, and it's been great. The only problem (apart from it now being very old and worn) is that it is surprisingly roomy, and so if I have space, I tend to fill it!

So as I now go on more weekend/long weekend trips (Can't wait for retirement!!) rather than month/year long trips, I have replaced my trusty old favourite with a new Lowe Alpine 45l carry on. It's lightweight, has the right amount of padding and pockets, and is surprisingly roomy, whilst still fitting into hand luggage size guidelines. 

I have so far taken it as hand luggage on a Ryanair and British Airways flight and there has been no question it's within the size allowed. 

Now as I really am one of those people who will pack stuff if there is space in my bag, and then get annoyed later, I decided that I can do 3 weeks backpacking in Central America with hand luggage only. It's going to be hot, so I can fit a lot of sundresses, bikinis and shorts in my hand luggage space. 

Slightly bulkier but definite essentials also include my snorkel & mask, hammock, mosquito net, and a big box of English Breakfast tea. 

Off to pack now.....photos to follow in a few weeks!!

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!

New Circus Mobile

Wow it's been 2 months since I posted anything! Apologies - I don't know where the time has gone!

So I'm always coming up with new ideas for mobiles, and quite often have an idea in my head for ages before I actually get round to making anything.

So I had the idea for a circus mobile in my head for ages but was a bit worried about making it as I am totally against anyone using animals for performances in any sort of way - but then I thought 'hey elephants aren't pink for a start, so none of my mobiles are totally realistic and my ideas of how to present the animals was so exciting that I wanted to try.

So here it is:

What do you think?

Crazy Spring Snow

I love snow! I turn into a child and start jumping up and down as soon as I see snowflakes falling, and spend half the year dreaming of our annual ski trip and how big the snow drifts will be.

We've had more than our normal share of snow this year, and particularly in March, and I've spent a lot of time out wandering in it.

Here are some of my photos:

Kensington Palace Gardens - Cycling Home

My poor tomatoes - they've since died :(

Snow encroaching on the hallway inside our block

A ridiculous forecast for March!!

Playing in the garden in my newly made giant jumper dress. 

Hammersmith Bridge

Walking the Thames at low tide

The Thames was frozen at the edges!

Deep snow!

Crazy icicles under our balcony!!

New for 2018!!

So it seems to have become tradition, that about this time every year, I come up with a new item to sell. Sometimes it's replacing something I've discontinued, but mostly because I think now is when I think about stopping hats until October ish again, so feel I'll have some empty space on my stall (this is never the case!!!).

So as we live in a very small flat, and I am definitely taking up more that my fair share of storage space in here, I have decided to stop selling cushions. They are very bulky, and also very stressful to have on my stall when it is wet/windy as there is risk of mud!!!

But it turns out I have been secretly hoarding a lot of the organic cotton prints I use for the cushions. So instead, and carrying on with the baby theme, I have decided to make some organic cotton dribble bibs, and bunny teethers.

I embroidered some for a friend's nephew!

Such cute prints!!

I found some non snagging velcro, and have trimmed it into circles so there are no sharp edges!

Very cute and chewable!!

A Sneaky Ski Weekend

Since I work in a school, and don't fancy going skiing amongst the half term craziness, we have to make do with skiing long weekends - which is actually plenty long enough to get into it and enjoy it.

As it was stupidly cheap to fly, and we thought it would be quiet after the New Year holiday, we went on Thursday for a sneaky ski long weekend. As in previous years, we flew to Geneva, and then got the hour and a bit transfer to Avoriaz, to take advantage of the Portes Du Soleil ski area.

Although this is the 3rd time we've skied in the Portes Du Soleil area, it's so massive that we discovered many new areas and runs this year, all with stunning mountain scenery.

Here are some photos:

From London (and I'm sure most other places in the UK) it's so easy. Flight = 1 hour 20 mins (+1 hour time difference on the way), transfer  = 1 hour 20 mins ish depending on the number of drop offs, lift up to Avoriaz = 5 mins and viola, you're in Avoriaz village. We always rent apartments from Air BnB right in the village, and the whole place is ski in ski out. Plus then you're right in the middle, so it's easy to get to the farthest edges of the ski area. 

I would highly recommend it for a weekend, or a week even!

Happy 2018! Here are some Bears!

Happy 2018! Wow how the time flies....I swear it was only the summer of 2017 last week! Anyway, happy new year! I always love the positive vibes at the start of a new year. Everyone always has such good intentions....so here are mine!

• To build my business even more - I am lucky that it has been growing slightly every year since I started so I need to build that up and have an even more fantastic year than last year
• To travel - I already have trips to France skiing, Barbados and a few other places in the pipe line so I think this one will be an easy one to keep up with
• To gym more - I live across the road so it is easy to go....but equally easy to think I'll just go tomorrow!
• To de-clutter! I have already done a little bit of spring cleaning and although it felt ruthless, it now feels good to have done it, so I'll keep at it to keep our little flat clutter free!
• To get on and make my new ideas more quickly! I so often have ideas in my head for months before I get on and make them - and then when they turn out to be a success I think why didn't I make them sooner?!? (See Unicorn mobiles last year - such a success!

So this brings me straight into a new mobile idea. I have been making small bear mobiles for ages, and they are pretty popular. So I had a few spare bears hanging around, and thought - Oooh why don't I make a large bear mobile?

So here it is (photos taken on my fancy new digital camera, after mine died in Nicaragua in 2016!)

What do you think?