It's that time of the year again

Muddy Marsh Walks are good for the soul...and the calves!

Getting all Christmassy at Thursford

New Kids on the Block

The dire year on the allotment

Fashionable Mavis

This gorgeous Liberty print blouse belongs to my number 1 customer crush - 92 year old Mavis.

Quite possibly the coolest lady in Norfolk. A keen seamstress/tailor in her youth, she is now stricken with unbelievably poor eyesight and as such can no longer make herself clothing or fix her clothes herself. She called me early in the summer to help her mend and alter some clothing and soon requested a tailored jacket with some Scottish tweed she had bought many years ago and then this blouse with some Liberty print she bought many many years ago, she knows exactly what she likes, what suits her and what it takes to get it. It's a joy working for her and every time I see her she gives me more trims she has found in drawers and cupboards that she can no longer make use of. Bags of the stuff, hand made lace trim from India, elastics, buttons, canvas, linings, threads, needles - the list goes on and on. Her generosity has no bounds and as such I find myself happily replacing buttons, letting out darts and re-lining tweed skirts for her for no charge and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've become quite attached to her and have to hold myself back from ringing her constantly just to see how she is. Everyone should have a Mavis in their lives - she's a joy,

Vin-Stitch a go-go!

It's been a busy first year at the Vin-Stitch studio, and getting busier all the time. The jobs have been varied - as have the customers. Wedding dresses, ball gowns, tailored suits, liberty print blouses, giant bows, wedding outfits, curtains and PLENTY of alterations have all made their way through the studio or been created at my make-shift pattern table.

My machinery quota grows steadily and as such I've had to move into the largest room in the house to accomodate the work load it brings - so much so I'm on the search for proper studio space!

The next year is pretty much more of the same, but will include some work experience to help shift the work on quicker, it's very time consuming doing every aspect of the process myself and I will need help soon.

Early next year involves more wedding dresses alarmingly - I swore never again after a bad experience a few years back, but apart from one 'glitch' the brides have all been charming, chilled and creative and as such we have made some really beautiful garments together.

There are no words for just how much I love passing the time in my studio - none!

Garden Loveliness

Frankie Brint, a legend, my idol, my Granny

I have had the benefit of some truly amazing women walk in and out of my life, each playing a bigger role than they could possibly know. From my 3 aunts - Dalene, Joan and Barbara who took me in when I ran away from home, to my crazy Irish 'Mum' Ettie Carroll who was the first person I had a conversation with when I moved to London 19 years ago and have been stuck to ever since, to my cousins Tracey, Kim and Leigh who are my close friends as well as my cousins and my best friend (though we have grown distant of late) Amile. But without doubt the top spot is occupied by my beloved Granny - Wilhelmina Frantzina Voget Brint a real lady of great measure. To others she was scary and strict, aloof - cold even, she didn't mince her words and could silence anyone with a look that she used regularly, but to me she was only to be hugged and cuddled and loved all of which I did in abundance and she loved me right back.
She and I had a special bond that I have since found neither my brothers nor my cousins had, and sadly I never knew it till she was long gone or I would have treasured those moments and savoured them more than I did. I would have taken more mental notes and snapped more mental pictures, hugged her more, I would have told her every day how much I loved her - that she was everything to me and no-one would ever take her place.
We never disagreed - I would never dream of doing anything that would displease or upset her. She was not a warm or affectionate woman by nature, yet all I can remember of her is her hugs and the smell of her hairspray (she used a brand called Fiesta) that lingered long after she left a room or clung to my clothing long after our embrace had ended.
She called me 'Professor' and always addressed me that way in letters and cards, she said life had great things in store for me, she believed in me like no-one else. She always told me how wonderful she thought I was and how much my love and affection meant to her, I thought she was like this to everyone - it turns out she wasn't. I truly was blessed to always have gotten the best of her, I now know that there isn't another soul who could say the same, she was magnificent to me.
Most of our relationship was unspoken - we often didn't need to talk, she 'got' me, she 'knew' me. These are not things Rhodesian women were prone to at those times when children were to be seen and not heard, but she did. I knew I was loved - what a gift and a blessing.
Sadly when she got old and frail, I wasn't there to hug and love her like she would have wanted. I didn't get to whisper how much I adored her in her ear as she would have loved or rub her feet or her back like she would have needed. But she knew she was loved - what a gift and a blessing.
Not a day ever passes when I don't think of her and miss her.
Frankie Brint - a lady who was loved.

Oeufs en Cocotte

I Love Spring

Mmmm Homemade Sausage Rolls

Ice Ice Baby