I found an old craft book a while ago from 1978 ('Crafts', edited by Mary Harding, Book Club Associates, London) and in it was a section about working with leather. I've not been drawn to leatherwork before, mostly because of my vegetarian tendencies (although I do eat meat occasionally and buy…

    When I was out walking, I found this flower growing on the street and picked a bit to take home. I think it's an anemone. (Please let me know if I'm wrong- it happens often!) The petals are so very delicate. If I touch them, they fall off. I think they are very…

      I've had fun this weekend making some new clothes for both of the children for autumn. Here are some things I made for Keira. There's a new skirt made from a vintage cotton/wool blend fabric, some tweed trousers/shorts (kind of like long shorts to wear with tights underneath maybe when it gets…

    I've been doing a bit of baking while working at the cafe, and one of the most popular things on the menu is lemon slice. Customers often order a wedge with their morning coffee and it's pretty easy and quick to make. I felt a bit shy about stealing the recipe from the…

Now the equinox has passed, the mornings are getting darker and we're slowly sending the warmth back to the northern hemisphere. There's so much good food at the start of autumn. Tonight I hope to bottle pears and we'll eat the last of the sweetcorn from the garden. Sometimes after dinner, Tom and I sit…

  After school today I drove out of town for Arlo's piano lesson. The wind was pushing the heavy clouds quickly across the sky, and they were gathering together in protest over the sea. I had to stop and take a photo. I've committed to spending the next few weeks doing other work during the…

      I ordered some of my favourite cards- these recycled ones, made by my friend Caireen. They arrived from Scotland this week, and C had wrapped my parcel in these pages from the latest Gudrun Sjoden catalogue. I have a deep love for this Scandinavian designer, and often go and gaze longingly at…

      Inspired by the amazing pieces of vintage lace that I'm lucky enough to be sent by kind readers (thank you, lace suppliers!) I worked on a new design this week: a treasure purse. I used gathered linen of different colours, and pieces of vintage lace to make a few for my shop…

It's definitely still too warm for winter clothes, but the crisp autumn air outside has given me motivation to make a few things for the children for next season. I made Keira this 'flying birds' cardigan/jacket on the weekend. She likes birds and can often be found looking through my collection of old nature books.…

    Thank you for your birthday wishes for Keira. We had a great weekend, talking up her first day of school (today) and celebrating with a kid's party in our local park. It was simple but fun, with blankets laid out on the grass and a cd player to play music for 'pass the…