Tuesday 25 July 2017



Lavender, love it or loath it?

The workroom currently smells of lavender, and my husband hates it. I'm not too bothered either way, I find it quite relaxing but its not top on my favourite smell list (that would be Rose or Oud).
My nana and mum both asked me to make some lavender bags for them, realising it was not so much a request as a notification of demand I set to work.

I grow lavender here at the stone tent, so it was easy to pick a substantial amount, hang up in bunches, and dry. After two weeks, I pull the lavender off the stalk and away we go - dried lavender, full of a fresh strong lavender smell! It takes moments to sew little bags to fill with it.

I have lavender in amongst my welsh wool, its not only a relaxing smell used in herbal treatments for relaxation but it also repels moths from all of my gorgeous pure wool products, apparently the plants attract bees (I've seen that in the garden, positively buzzes with bees); the plant also repel rabbits, who don't like the smell - just like my husband!

As I was sewing some bags I made some for the etsy shop. I had panels I'd embroidered for a project I didn't complete so I made a sweet three piece set. Draw sachet, clothes hanger bag and a bag for the doorway.
Very pretty even if I do say so!



Wednesday 19 July 2017

Wonderful Willow Pattern

Wonderful Willow Pattern

We all know it, that bright "Blue and White" china that can be found in kitchen cupboards up and down the land. Its long been a stable of UK homes and is somehow now a symbol of reassurance, a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake on some blue and white china somehow makes everything ok. 
What most people don't know though is that the chinoiserie willow pattern, depicting a Chinese love story was in fact imagined and created in Staffordshire, a long way from the exotic Orient. Believed to be first developed by the founders of Spode and Minton in the 1780's, its now entered the nations very fabric, from Nanas favourite Roast Joint Serving Platter, to washed up pieces of sea pottery on the Cornish Coast.

The love story of the willow pattern is quite romantic, and on closer inspections of most pieces all the characters can be seen.

The Romantic Fable: Once there was a wealthy Mandarin, who had a beautiful daughter (Koong-se). She had fallen in love with her father's humble accounting assistant (Chang), angering her father. (It was inappropriate for them to marry due to their difference in social class.) He dismissed the young man and built a high fence around his house to keep the lovers apart. The Mandarin was planning for his daughter to marry a powerful Duke. The Duke arrived by boat to claim his bride, bearing a box of jewels as a gift. The wedding was to take place on the day the blossom fell from the willow tree.
On the eve of the daughter's wedding to the Duke, the young accountant, disguised as a servant, slipped into the palace unnoticed. As the lovers escaped with the jewels, the alarm was raised. They ran over a bridge, chased by the Mandarin, whip in hand. They eventually escaped on the Duke's ship to the safety of a secluded island, where they lived happily for years. But one day, the Duke learned of their refuge. Hungry for revenge, he sent soldiers, who captured the lovers and put them to death. The gods, moved by their plight, transformed the lovers into a pair of doves (possibly a later addition to the tale, since the birds do not appear on the earliest willow pattern plates).- Wikipedia.

So why write a blog post about Willow Pattern? Well, this is your heads up! It last had a revival in the 1980's, the newly wealthy collected it to adorn their country kitchens and its popularity resurged. When I first started dealing in antiques in 2008 nobody wanted willow pattern, I couldn't give it away, but things are changing, now as soon as I get it in stock, it sells. So, take heed, the fashion is changing as people start to love willow pattern again!

Wednesday 5 July 2017

Nothing New Under the Sun

In transferring some data from one device to another I came across photos of a family trip to Hampton Court Palace taken last year. If you get the chance to visit then do! Now this is the point where most blogs would fill you with images and facts to regale the wonder to be found in one of the nations favourite Royal Palaces. But this isn't most blogs.


I had been there before to take part in the first "Kirstie Allsops Hand Made Fair". This trip was quite different though, not only did I not have my hand made goodies in tow, I was accompanied by my mum, brother and future sister-in-law.

We roamed around, iPhone out taking photos and breathing in all the history, then whilst wandering around the art galleries we came across a collection of Canaletto Paintings. My Mum was awestruck. All roaming came to a halt as she stood and breathed in every painting in full detail.


Anyway, apart from having to chivvy my Mum along it was an excellent trip, I am obviously biased loving history, especially Tudor and Georgian period but none the less it was great.
However my favourite photo that I took is this one.
Etched into the stone windowsill of the Tudor Gallery, that Catherine Howard apparently ran screaming down when told she was to be executed, was this fine example of old graffiti.
I LOVE THIS. Most of all because its a shows there's nothing new under the sun. At some point some young soul who was bored scratched into the stone and someone else decided to copy and so it went on. This to me is very comforting, history was being made there, decisions that had ramifications that changed the path of the world, but someone still tried to etch their mark on the stone. The world changed, but people still wondered what to eat, who they liked and what mark to etch in the stone. Nothing new under the sun.



Monday 3 July 2017


The Radish Problem

Ever noticed how excellent the humble Radish is? Just like people, they're all the same, but all completely different too. From planted seed to harvest in 30 days there are few more satisfying veg to grow, especially with children.


The problem is, after the first few amazing salads, what the hell do you do with all the radish you've got? Well, in my opinion they make a great breakfast juice when juiced with carrot and apple.

They also  make a brilliant salad with sliced orange, but that's not my favourite.

Take a 1/2 a red onion and dice it, dice an avocado, slice your radishes, chop some parsley and combine everything with salt, pepper and 1/2 a lime juice. I promise you, you'll love it.