Things to do before you're 40

Gosh. Where to start. A few things: I've watched the sunrise at the top of Mount Sinai. I completed the London marathon in a respectable 4:30. I've swum with a dolphin with no-one else around (apart from Franny). And I've finally conquered zips! Hurrah!

The other thing I've been spouting off about to anyone that'll listen is having my own business by the time I'm 40. Well would you know, it's my 40th birthday tomorrow. And whilst I may not have a thriving business, I'm making a good start. I didn't know how to sew a year and a half ago, and I feel proud that I've got to a point where I feel able to go out into the world and say, "This is my work. I hope you enjoy it." You can find the beginnings of my etsy shop here. I'll be stocking some quilts and further utility items over the next few weeks.







I'd like to say thank you to everyone that has supported me and told me to go for it. My creative space is buzzing. And it's mostly down to support from this lot over at Our Creative Spaces. Thanks guys ;-)

Haberdashery and cake? Sign me up!

On a tip off from "Katy Who Knows Literally Everything" at my day job, I wandered down Essex Road, Islington on Friday and found Ray Stitch. A place where pleasant folk hang out, it turns out. Behind the counter, or drinking lattes outside in the morning sunshine, everyone was super cheery and just lovely friendly.



And of course, the winning combo of cake and haberdashery cannot be beaten. Thrilled to have another sewing mecca so close to home. However, due to vast quantities of champagne drunk last weekend I am seriously broke, so I couldn't buy anything.







They stock some very lovely organic cottons, a good range of useful haberdashery and the usual Amy whatserface quilting cottons (can take or leave them if I'm prefectly honest) but they also had that very cool sewing utility brand Merchant & Mills.



The packaging is just heavenly. I love the graphic black and white and utility feel. So much craft stuff is girly and twee and this is brilliantly masculine and I was tempted to buy and just display the packaging at home. Alas, that will have to wait until pay day.

The brand came onto my radar just the other day when I stumbled upon Not Another Bill; an excellent idea to have a bit of creative stimulation through your letter box every month. The idea is that you pay £15 a month and get sent something gorgeous. Check it out, past presents have looked amazing. I reckon it would make a lovely gift for someone for 6 months or so. Just lovely.

Exactly what have I been up to?!

Crickey. Nearly a whole month since my last post. But I haven't been slacking - no! I have mostly been sitting in a jacuzzi drinking champagne :-) It will soon be my 40th birthday and I decided that the only way to celebrate was to get my buddies together in the same place for much merriment. We went to a lovely converted barn in Holt Norfolk and spent a long weekend on the beach, in the garden, and in the jacuzzi! Such excellent fun and a massive treat to have everyone together hanging out. B-rilliant.

The barn we were staying in even had my initials on the outside. Wierd.



There were some fine quilts on the wall, which I meant to photograph properly, but in the end the only evidence of them was this photo - a bit of Daddy daycare:



The Magnificent Mum has a beach hut and lent it to us for the day:



And of course, The HusWife and Patrice felt utterly compelled to wear my running shorts and do a spot of old fashioned gentleman's athletics:



And Becci cooked me a most delicious and chocolately birthday cake:



Hurrah! And hurrah again for great times with great friends! Other photos over on flickr