From Autumn into the new year....

Last year, the last part of our summer was a trip to Devon with friends. Coften, a part of Devon I haven’t visited before where our friends have been for almost 10 years. We got to enjoy all their special spots, enjoyed gorgeous walks along the seas front to the Salty Dog which we loved, had ice cream, fish and chips, mussels, a little boat trip across the sea and lovely to make memories together swimming, laughing & generally enjoying life.

Whilst we were away so was Bramble, with my parents in Staffordshire where he enjoyed his first holiday! Then once back after a few days re washing and packing we were off to Ireshopeburn, a little village in North Yorkshire. First we planned to visit Robin Hoods Bay on the way, Brambles first beach. It was a gorgeous day arriving there as the tide was starting to wash out. We walked up high and along the path towards the village and the views are amazing. As the path leads you down back into the seaside village you smell the salty sea and we meandered around the cobbled streets.

As we found ourselves a little spot to take it all in, Bramble was soaking up the sun and the long beach was now exposed ready for us to walk along and find some crabs! We were going to visit Whitby too but the day was just so lovely and I said to my husband to stop and just take in the day, just be, which is what we did.

We had booked into a gorgeous little cottage @beaumont_cottages North Pennines. Lizzie was a lovely host & we walked into the cottage to find a vase of freshly picked sweet peas from the garden beyond & a selection of local beers. The cottage was very instagram friendly & I was taking pictured from every angle!!!

At the start of our journey to North Yorkshire I was feeling under the weather, took a precautionary PCR test to be on the safe side which was nagative, so the trip could go ahaed. But as the week progressed as did my symptoms! As this was our first holiday with Bramble we were mostly outside enjoying the local environment & then watching films, generally relaxing.

The last leg of these few days away we travelled home via The Lake District. A firm favourite of ours for many reasons & wanted Bramble to experience the magic it conveys. At this point I was sadly not too well at all & so to be safe we popped into a chemist for medicine & another PCR tests. Low & behold myself & our daughter were positive with Covid, so the holiday was cut short slightly! My husband nipped out for yummy supplies for the trip back to Derbyshire, which included fudge, which was very kind of him!!!!

We still had a great time away, I just didn’t have quite the energy I normally would have but made the most. I captured some wonderful memories of Bramble for his first holiday with us as a family. Once we arrived home we were then isolating for ten days but really took us a further few weeks to feel better & have the normal energy levels return. The garden was in need of some tlc which took a little longer to do under the circumstances but always rewarding.

Workshop planning was in full swing & preparations for the return to school for our little one which she was really looking forward to. September would bring some sort of normal & the start of a new school year. But we had one last trip before school which I had promised my daughter for some time. And that was to visit York for the day. As our daughters a big Harry Potter fan we had to visit ‘The Shop That Must Not Be Named’!

We’ve all been through such a lot in the last few years with Covid & having to lock down. Many of us not seeing loved ones or loosing loved ones. Home schooling for some too was extremely difficult & the children have done brilliantly. We were so very proud of our daughter who in the end was so comfortable in control of what was asked of her. Even online zoom piano lessons became her normal! So with that in mind I treated us both to afternoon tea at Bettys, our little one loved it, felt very grown up.

Our garden was still full of colour & this year my dahlia’s actually flowered which I was delighted with. Workshops were being promoted, planned & at home our bedroom was to have a fresh lick of paint & some gorgeous new wallpaper deigned by Hannah Nunn. My new routine with Bramble was wonderful, really giving me the joy I needed to start each day. The weather was still lovely & warm & life felt good.

Mid September brought another workshop delivered at Renishaw Hall with Kindred & Kind. It’s an absolute pleasure to work in the stunning glass houses with Rhian. Her knowledge on plants is incredible & a lovely collaboration. Watercolours for beginners is the workshop I ran, the ladies embraced it well & it was lovely to deliver with the abundance of blooms surrounding us.

The weather was still quite nice at the end of September so I managed to catch the last opportunity to enjoy a visit to Wollerton Hall. There gardens are so inspiring through out the year so grasping this chance was important to me & a day to enjoy with my parents. As September came to an end, my favourite season was just beginning, pumpkins ready to pick & hydrangeas looking beautiful in the garden. Treated myself to some Sarah Raven spring bulbs & very excited to see them bloom in the spring.

New work was being created & I was taking some time to create marketing material for social media. Keeping it creative but with a business touch. Many, many gorgeous autumnal walks were enjoyed & even some time with my husband just before October half term. I was also starting a new Creative Logo for The Little Stitch House which was a delight, including two adorable chocolate Lads. Making the logo feel fresh but also show it was inspired by stitch. Claire was a joy to work with & meet, an opportunity to have cake was such a treat when I handed over the final design.

As we crept into the festive season I was contacted to produce a few commissions for dog lovers. It’s a privilege to receive as I know these pieces are cherished for years to come. I also had a very exciting project I’d been working on which for our daughters birthday at the beginning of December would reveal itself. Alongside working on these projects I enjoyed some me time to visit such places like Emma Bridgewater to catch up with my best friend & do some Christmas shopping.

So for some time now I’ve wanted to bring in my love of interiors into my business. I love as you know, my home & filling it with reclaimed pieces, up cycling & displaying my very special hand made items I’ve collected over the years. Don’t ask me why but sometimes I seem to have a block that stops me in my path to go forward with ideas or I’m nearly there & I almost freeze?! Covid didn’t help this & at the start of 2020 I had re branded, booked lots of events I was attending & had this interiors aspect to my business at the tip of my fingertips.

But as I strongly believe, things happen for a reason & instead now was the right time to showcase my very own wallpaper design!!! My daughter was turning ten & had asked for her bedroom to be a little more grown up. This was an opportunity for me to surprise her with her very own wallpaper which I then could showcase to you. This new design in the Sweet Pea Home Collection will be available in a few colours & was inspired by village life. More designs are being created as we speak & this is where my little business is taking me to kick start 2022.

We all don’t know what the new year will hold regarding Covid but I think we need to start living with it now & learn to move forward. On a personal note I turn 40 & so am fully embracing the year a hundred percent. I hope you have a good new year & enjoy the little wins. I look forward to bringing you my new collection & chatting to you on my next story about the things I’ve achieved & enjoyed. Till then, take care x