After a mad hatter of a week ..

This early morning has been one of faffing and enjoying this little space, making sure everything is just right for the weekend .

.

.

.

Ever since I was young, these have been my very favourite cards, I clearly remember the feeling I got when I found a shop which sold them. I would spend ages choosing which ones to buy and then, they only got sent to very very special people as I found it so hard to part with them.

Now, being a shopgirl, we can finally be a shop that stocks them.
The delivery man giggled when he saw my utter delight at the box arriving. Thank you Two Bad Mice, you are my favourite.

I hope that you have a lovely weekend xx

Wednesdays ..

Tonight is our late night opening , when most of the shops, the cafe and roastery will all be staying open until 9pm.

There will be food, drink and music in the courtyard, and a fire and blankets to keep us warm.

Let’s hope for a dry night xx

late nights ..

Our first, late night opening is on Wednesday 13th November from 5.30pm - 9pm.
This little shop will be filled with all sorts of beautiful Christmas delights.

All of the others shops, including the Roastery, will also be open and the cafe will be doing their gorgeous soups and puddings (booking is advisable) .

.

We will have winter wreaths and foliage bunches on display, just incase you would like to pre-order and collect nearer the time (that’s a gentle side eye to the lovely gentleman, who, however much fun it was, scrabbled frantically around in the stick box on Christmas Eve last year to fashion something festive).

The boys have brought me some branches. Thank you xx

And preparations are underway.
Well, that isn’t actually true, I have a branch, and I have written three signs ….. but it’s a strong start I think.
We would love you to join us xx

These are a few Of my Favourite things ..

My bench.
Where I spend lots of my time, and where I always remember how very lucky I am to be doing something that I love very much, and how lovely it is to never just be waiting for the weekend or the holidays. That this is enough.

.

.

.

.

Flowers.
“With freedom, books , flowers and the moon , who could not be happy” Oscar Wilde.

Just saying ..

.

.

Books.

That feeling you get. Big socks, a book and a jumper pulled over your knees. When you become completely absorbed in reading, that time and everything else stands still. Add some chocolate, and that is, for me, one of the happiest places to be.

.

.

And kindness.

The best thing of all.

It’s the Farmers market tomorrow from 10am-2pm, it would be lovely to see you xx

An outing ..

I was so excited last weekend, to visit, amongst other delights, the very very inspiring and beautiful Charleston farmhouse.

The home of artists Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Quentin and Julian, her two young sons by her husband, Clive Bell.

“It will be an odd life, but…it ought to be a good one for painting”, Vanessa said of living at Charleston, the Sussex farmhouse that in 1916 became, not only her home, but the country home of the Bloomsbury Group; that forward thinking, avant- garde, circle of writers, intellectuals and artists. 

Almost as soon as Vanessa and Duncan moved into Charleston, they began to paint, not just on canvas, but over every available surface - walls of course, but also tables, chairs, fireplaces and bedheads. It’s just beautiful.

“The house seems full of young people in very high spirits, laughing a great deal ...lying about in the garden which is simply a dithering blaze of flowers and butterflies and apples” wrote Vanessa in 1936.

I think her and I may have been friends, except that I am not all that keen on apples.

Just imagine spending a weekend there, with them, sat at this table, with that garden to look out to and enjoy. On my.

Every room took my breath away, it was beautiful , creative, adventurous and so inspiring. The garden is a work of art too, even thought the rain did not stop once for 3 days. I would strongly recommend a visit if you are around that part of the country … and like that sort of thing.

Have a happy weekend whatever you are doing xx

Well hello october …

Where did you so suddenly appear from?

Our wreaths and foliage bunches tied with ribbon ( please see photo as I don’t actually know what they are called) order book is now open, each wreath or bunch is made on our workbench, just for you.

If you would like to order one, please get in touch, you can either email me, pop into the shop, or of course phone me.

.

Thank you xx

Save the date ..

For those of you asking , our late night Christmas evenings are on the 13th November and the 4th December, from 5pm until 9pm.

More details to follow.

Thank you xx

About last week ..

.

.

.

.

.

All loaded up and ready to go xx

In other news, I was lucky enough to spend a couple of hours on Tuesday morning with a lovely lady.

She had been asked by her son to make the buttonholes for his wedding, which of course she was delighted to do.

However, she lacked a tiny bit of confidence and was unsure were to start. So, with coffees, a cosy shop and some gorgeous flowers, we made a start.

She created the most beautiful buttonholes and it was a joy to see her go off, very very proudly with her box of delights xx thank you Gaynor, it was very lovely sharing that with you xx

“I think you are a secret eater Kate” they said.

”Hardly secret” said I.

xx

A day out ..

Guess where ….

The very gorgeous Baileys Home and Garden, one of our very favourite places to visit, shop shopping and home shopping and endless “ oh my goodness, look at this”.

It was so hot, we spent a lot of time sat here, sampling treats from the lovely Tabernacle tea /cider room , and then wandering about the store, returning here for refreshments and sampling more treats from the tea/cider room.

And debated whether we could fit a bathtub, into a mini. …

and falling in love with a birdcage, that pre-occupied my mind for days afterwards.

and saw a job vacancy, and wondered if I could bribe them to have me, and be a shopgirl in two shops, miles and miles apart

and the answer was no, as I find driving on the motorway tricky, and taking the quiet roads would take 2 days each way, which is far from practical.

So we had the happiest, chatter-iest day out, and will return before Christmas. You can only imagine how lovely that will be!!

xx

Autumn arrivals ..

The shop is full of flowers that are drying , mainly hydrangeas in the softest shades..

We just hang ours upside down and leave them to dry out

Others say to pop the flower stems in an inch of water, the water will help to slow down the drying process and the flowers preserve better. Once the water is gone, the flower will be completely dried and last indefinitely.

Whatever way you choose, now is a good time to snip them.

New arrivals this week include these lovely simple battery operated wire lights .. £10

And these lovely metal stars which are beautiful either left plain or adorned with flowers or twinkly lights .. from £4.99

And lastly … the very beautiful and most gentle Charlie Macksey xx