A Blissful Bank Holiday

I love it when all your plans come together...

Hi hi - I've been away from Blog land for a little longer than expected, what with being a mummy, running three business' and being away in New York for the wedding of the year (my fab friend Franny's - photo's to follow)
Being hectic is great but it's great to get to grips with all the simple and pleasurable things in life

i.e family, thrifty treasure hunting and sewing!

What a wash out of a weekend for Thrifty Treasure Hunting (TTH) ...but an early bird catches the worm (even in the rain) I came back with some fab finds for all the family!



I love to get home and get everything out of my 'Booty Basket' The feeling of rescuing an item and giving it a new home is just wonderful...I home in on all things Rosy as our abode is called Rose Cottage anda few other pretty items hop into my basket along the way...Like Noddy...he was 20p and he still had his tag on, he really makes me smile and he instantly put a smile on Lennon's face, he's been fed and watered and is now tucked up in bed!

Blissful round 1…

What a wash out of a weekend for Thrifty Treasure Hunting (TTH) ...but an early bird catches the worm (even in rain) I came back with some fab finds for all the family!

A teeny tiny pretty tapestry which got the CAT (Cheryl-ann Taylor) shabby shake up with a pot of F & B paint! - £3.00

I couldn't resist these polka dot Christmas decoration - a treasure steal at 5p each!

I've been looking for a little pretty something to hang above our kitchen table, we have wall lights in the cottage and this vintage crystal candle thingy does the trick - £8.00

A goosy gander tapestry - £5.00

A little jug and bowl, rosy, cute and a quirky shape all for - 50p

Russ Mohair Pinky bear - £2.00

Thrifty Teapot - £3.00

Sew & Sew - £5.00

All in all a truly thrifty treasure hunt! Mmm empty cupboard please – how much are they!

Blissful round 2…

My dear friend Frances inherited this thickly painted bogey green cupboard from a house she bought and it came back with me to Yorkshire, sat in the shed for two years and finally ‘Ta Dah’…she has had a CAT shabby shake up…perfect for all those booty finds!

A few other little treasures found themselves a new home too – How cute is Lennon’s Frog Finger puppet and chick made by Naomi.

Mmm – time for something yummy and a cuppa in our new CK mini mugs…The Ginger Pig rare breed eggs soon to be sold in the shops (just finishing off our egg box designs for them)


Thanks Tim they were delicious…dip dip dip!

“Mummy shall I water the garden for you in my own special way!”

Blissful round 3

Bag woman is my new name…

A couple of weeks ago a bought these two vintage wicker beauties and ready for summer they’ve had a CAT sew session! Luckily the basket was already lined in a horrible PVC, love an easy pattern!

A choice of two cute floral fabrics, some bargain ribbons from Boyes and a few vintage trims lurking in the studio and my two new bags have been made to look pretty (basket for the push chair to carry all Len’s bits)

Wowee, thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog.

Lots of thrifty love xxx

A day at the Fair!

What a lovely spring day that brought the second Homespun and Vintage Fair to Pickering, North Yorkshire organised byLinda & I.

We are so happy to have found the most talented girls and boys which have their creative wares on display...and with their support makes the Fair a great success.

Below are just a few piccies which I managed to take but to be honest I'm not that happy with them as they don't do the day justice...however please find more photo's on The Homespun and Vintage Blog and my dear friend Naomi's blog.







Lots of Fab Fair love xxx

Spring 'Homespun and Vintage Fair' - Yipee

Save the date...Really looking forward to a gorgeous day with friends.

On the first day of spring, whenever that may be, the sky is blue and the first spring sunshine comes in through the windows. Open them and you will hear faint bird song and the air feels a little balmy.

We love this time of year and have been very busy planning for our second Homespun & Vintage Fair at the lovely Friends Meeting House in Pickering.

The date is April 16th from 10.30am - 3pm

So start your spring cleaning now and make lots of room for our unique artistic creations, vintage fabrics and collectables. Come along and be inspired to make and create.

To keep you refreshed our very successful vintage tearoom will be there again, serving delicious homemade cakes as well as tea and coffee on vintage china.

A very warm welcome awaits you.

A beautiful thank you!

What a hectic little day!

Daddy D has been a rather poorly 'man flu' kind of chap today which meant my Thursday work day was full of his jobs aswell as mine!

I had a fab meeting treated to homemade cake and a delicious 'proper coffee' with our wonderful client Barbara from toftlyview.co.uk - her 5* B&B and Cottage are so special, it's fab to work with a client who has such good taste and enjoys a giggle along the way!

After doing a few errans and stocking up the first aid box I rushed home to get a couple of hours in to work on our 'Spring Homespun and Vintage Fair' (flyer on it's way I promise!) before my nursery run to collect my little man...

I was greeted by these absolutely gorgeous flowers and a lovely Mark Hearld thank you card from Tim at The Ginger Pig. This kind gesture brought a tear to my eye as once in a while it's so lovely to feel appreciated. Thank you GP you are simply the best!

With lots of blooming love xxx

Pigs, Pies and Prettiness!

A good few months of fun, hectic days and exciting times have come to an end after my weekend styling The Ginger Pig at the International Food Event (IFE – Excel London). Here's Julie and I standing proud amongst the pretty and porky Ginger Pig stand!

For the past four years Gary and I have been working for The Ginger Pig, a butchers and farmers of rare breeds reared in North Yorkshire who sell their produce in their four London shops . We have such a wonderful time working with all the staff and I have the pleasure of taking Tim's (the owner's) wonderful ideas adding a little bit of Design Farm magic along the way.

This year I was asked to style and create their stand at IFE an event in London which enables business from the food industry to show off their produce and gain interest from potential new customers. My theme was 'Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen'.

What an exciting and 'Right up my street' old time I've had! Making, designing, finding rustic farmhouse props, photography, learning the trade of sign writting...what a dream job!


Les and Julie the bakery creatives at Grange Farm (The Ginger Pig HQ!) made the most wonderful produce, the star of the show was their Pork Pie wedding cake - it was a show stopper!


I've had so much fun titivating with pastry roses, metal tractors and all things rustic farmhouse kitchen!


Yummy yummy pork, preserves, pies and hams all decorated with ginger bulb buckets, wooden ginger pigs and rustic props - surrounded by the most gorgeous stripey linen.


Look at that giant sausage roll!


The Ginger Pig's pork pies were voted in the best 10 in The Independent this month so good work The Ginger Pig!


Here are our quirky name badge rosettes we created to be worn on the linen aprons we had made, they looked fab...oh and a little post card to show off their lovely produce!


After setting up the stand, I was taken to the Marylebone shop on Moxon street where I chatted to the staff and had the chance to potter aroungd the shop which was good for me to see all that has been going on as I haven't visited since I became a mummy.

Whilst I was stood with David outside a customer walked into the shop and we heard him declare to his family "This is the best butchers in London" - well I agree!


Lots of Piggy love xxx

Scattered around our home... an array of items I've homespun!

yI love to make things for my family, friends and oneself, my day to day job is running my fashion and textile business where I design and make sample garments for the fashion industry which are bought by designers such as Marc Jacobs to Anthropologie to Top Shop and Next.

In my spare time on an evening when Beaky is in bed, I curl up on the sofa and make make make!

Below are a small sample of pieces I made at the beginning of the year and items created for the Homespun and Vintage Fair were inspired by my past creations - Photo's to follow

Syd the croched rabbit is showing off his corsage!

Patchwork wool blanket made for my Beaky whilst I was pregnant...it has been used as a playmat so much but as Lennon was a very very sickie baby a mussie was drapped over to protect it!


Hair clips, brooches and corsages...I love to wear pretty accessories.


Thanks for peeking.

Lots of crochet love.

Cheryl-ann