Oh hello...all is lush!

So, I've been very lacking in keeping up with my blog what with trying to make, design, promote, sell and generally making enough cash to keep things running. So it to no surprise that some things have had to fall way-side. However, I'm finally ticking a few more boxes and have more time to get things done.

So, it's been a really exciting year for me...
This time last year I was still working and baristaring part-time at the amazing Workhouse Cafe in Bristol, where I had worked for the last 4 years pretty much since its opening day.
(If you follow me on Instagram, you will be highly aware of my obsession with great coffee and food, so it made sense that before opening my business, I'd worked in the catering industry for the last 10 years.)

In being part of this growing independent business on a part-time basis, and with such an incredible and understanding boss, I was able to slowly and steadily grow my business into what it is today, and last May I made the solid decision of stepping away from my part-time paid work and embrace self employment 100%...!
I actually think that had I not had such an understanding boss, who had my back and as much positive energy to bounce off of, then this natural progression would have taken a hell of a lot longer. I believe that through self-determination, hard graft, working with and meeting like-minded people and generally being a nice person, you can go a long long way. So with Spring in the air and approaching a year of being fully self-employed and with a new collection of work coming out, I count myself very fortunate in making it thus far.

I thank each and everyone of you who have been with me every step of the way and look forward to seeing what this next year will bring...
- THANK YOU...!

waterfalls...

So, its been a long while since my last blog post.

It's been a pretty amazing few months and a lot has happened over the summer:

- An amazing 5 day trip to Amsterdam where we hired bikes and cycled all over the city.

- I had my stall at Glastonbury Festival for the second year running which was great!

- Mr Red Bird and I moved from our damp 2 bedroom basement flat into the most amazing 3 bedroom light and airy house right next to a huge park. With its wooden floors, garden, log burner and bath tub, this  house is the place of our dreams!

- I partied at festivals with friends.

- I joined back up with Made In Bristol's pop-up, Paper Scissors Stone shop.

- I got myself 2 new stockists, '19 Alexandra Road' in Clevedon and 'M.A.D.E.' in Cirencester.

I will try and post up some pictures of the above events, but here's a little of what I got up to a recently when we had a Bank a holiday weekend...

Mr Red Bird planned a little suprise trip out of Bristol to the Breacon Becons for walks and waterfalls. Only a short distance away, within 2 hours we were out of the city and into the wilderness! 

As you can see it is a stunning location and a perfect and wholesome way to spend a Saturday.
Next time we visit in warmer weather I think I will bring a wetsuit as you can do canyoning and wild swimming here too!

For more information on the location, take a look at this link:
http://www.breconbeacons.org/waterfall-country-walking-trails

Easter Weekend...

Happy Easter folks...!

I hope you've been making the most of the long weekend & the fabulous weather.

As it is rare, that I have a weekend like this to spend with Mr Red Bird we decided to jump in the car and made our first camping trip of 2014 with a little expedition to the beautiful coastal town of Lyme Regis. It being bank holiday did mean that the trip took us a little longer than we liked, but just over 2 hours to be by the coast was pretty good!

We've made this trip once before and have been longing to go back ever since. Great scenery, coffee, restaurants & fish and chips...need I say more?

We camped at Cummins Farm Campsite which was situated nearby the town centre. A walk of about 40 minute through the fields of sheep & newborn lamb was gorgeous whereby you follow the River Lym right into the centre of the town.

With lots to explore, this busy place is ideal for people of all ages and great for families with children too!

Our favourite places to visit were:

Town Mill Bakery for freshly baked sourdough toast, hot cross buns, cakes, hot lunches & amazing Origin Coffee.

Lyme Regis Antique & Craft Centre for an array of all things vintage.

The Millside Restaurant for great quality fresh seasonal ingredients locally sourced.

Herbies for great Pollock and chips by the seaside.

Town Mill Bakery

Town Mill Bakery

Herbies Fish & Chips

    

Today we found ourselves soaking up the sun back in Bristol.

We simply couldn't resist the breakfast on offer at The Lido, and were both temped by the Turkish Eggs on Sourdough. This is a favourite haunt of ours on a weekend as it's tucked away from the busy streets and having a poolside breakfast in the sun...well, it's almost like being on holiday!

After a much relaxed breakfast, a couple of coffees and a read of all the papers a walk was in order. We are lucky enough to have the beautiful sights such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and a leisurely walk around Clifton Village in the sunshine is just perfect.

The Lido Breakfast

The Lido Breakfast

The Lido Poolside

Bristol Supsension Bridge

Wohoo...I'm off on vacation...!

...The sun cream is packed, snorkel, mask and flippers neatly tucked away & a trillion bikinis to last me my 3 weeks on the sunny shores of the west coast of Thailand!

I think I've adequately stretched my stomach to be able to eat as much Thai food as I can, especially when it's all about £1.00 a dish! Mr Red Bird and I actually have out favourite little pork & rice lady just off the Koh San Road that we always order from whenever we visit Bangkok. The last time we went was 4 yrs ago, so it's been a long time coming.

As well as sunning myself and eating the vast array of amazing food available, Mr Red Bird will also be doing a few hotel reviews for i-escape as well as celebrating his 35th birthday!

Here's a few pics from our last visit...

Chillies

Dried cuttlefish at a night market

I have also shut my Etsy shop now until the April 1st as I'm treating myself to a little down time. I'll be swapping my pliers and cold home studio for warmer shores, a good book and getting some sun on my grey skin! 
Despite having a horrid cold I am finally starting to relax into the idea...

My thoughts are with those who have been involved in the recent and ongoing troubles in Bangkok...

... x

Things of late...

Delicious Dim Sum at The Sky Restaurant to celebrate Chinese New Year! 

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Ashton Court

1st viewing of Snow Drops at Ashton Court

Walking off the Dim Sum at Ashton Court 

1st Cherry blossom

Charleston Swing

Breakfast at Harts Bakery

Hearts 

Cranes, Princes Wharf

M-Shed, Princes Wharf

Chequered Coat (vintage), Scarf (French Connection), Jeans (Zara), Trainers (Urban Outfitters), Leather Satchel & Umbrella (vintage)

Eagerly awaiting food

Hainanese Chicken Rice & Malaysian Laksa

A little snapshot of what I've been up to recently. As you can see, a hell of a lot of eating has been involved over the last couple of weeks! Me & Mr Red Bird are real foodies & I have a real sweet tooth too. As it's Chinese New Year we made the most of last weekend and ate our body weight in Dim Sum - ha! We went to out favourite place to enjoy Dim Sum which is Sky Restaurant in Bristol. The ingredients is super fresh and worth paying a little extra for I think. As it was such a beautiful day, we were lucky enough to walk off our HUGE lunch up in Clifton & Ashton Court which is always so pretty in the sunshine. We've had so much rain over the last couple of months, it was sad seeing the grounds so waterlogged. I feel for all the people suffering with the floods right now...

A few friends mentioned of late about Swing classes, so I grabbed the first opportunity I could and went along to my first class on Wednesday with my friend Penny. It was a full class doing Charleston Swing & I had such good fun, I signed up for a run of classes which are once a week. I really can't wait to learn more now that I've got the first bit under my belt without landing on my face.

This weekend we've been fighting with the weather again but had to get out and about. Harts Bakery is always a good start to my morning. Mr Red Bird had the vegetarian sausage roll & I had a bread and butter pudding thing filled with homemade marmalade and chocolate filling - yom yom! We spent the afternoon walking about all over the city dodging the wind and rain and finished up having an amazing Chinese dinner to fill our hungry bellies and to rest our weary legs.

I hope you all had a good one too...!
x