Apron happiness

Aprons make me happy. I love how they keep my clothes from being covered in flour and icing sugar when I am baking. I love how I can make them pretty and clever and creative while still being really practical. I love the big pocket that I can use to put change in at a fair. I love how when I put one on, I am 'in uniform' without being in uniform. They are the ultimate working garment.
I've made a few lately, and thought it time I shared them here:

I made this one as a commission for a lass who works in a cafe, and needs to wear black. She wanted a retro vibe, pretty apron and this is what I came up with. I love the shape so much, I made another similar style one in some retro style fabrics I've accumulated. Just because I could:

It's probably easier to see the style in this one. I love the sweetheart neckline. It needs bows and buttons. More more more!!!

And this one is for me. I need a new apron, one that is pretty and eye catching for when I am working a fair stall, but practical and easy to wash too. This one perfectly fulfils all the design specs. And it is nice to finally find a use for the poppy buttons I bought years ago!
Are you an apron wearer too? I would love to hear about your favourite, and/or what you like in an apron. Pretty, practical, or both, the ultimate combination?

Teacosy giveaway :)

Well, remember how Adele won the teacosy in my giveaway a few weeks back? Well, here it is. I had enough Horrid's (you know who I mean - Knightsbridge, posh etc) teatowel left to make a pair of potmits:

I couldn't resist these teatowels and bought a few. Adele LOVES teatowels, and so it seemed like the perfect material to use.

But when you are 4, like Angus, a teacosy means one thing only! It even comes with shields! ;-)

UK Revisited: a Twist of Lyme

I LOVE Lyme Regis. Famous for its Jurassic fossils, and for its role in "The French Lieutenant's Woman" by John Fowles, Jane Austen's "Persuasion" and Tracy Chevalier's "Remarkable Creatures," it has well and truly enough character to sustain such interest.
We found a small and beautiful town packed with history, interesting shops and really, really friendly people. Way more than most other places we went. There is a thriving creative community, including artists, craftspeople and fab food.

Looking back down the famous Cobb - a breakwater of stone that was built in the 13th C but has been enhanced and rebuilt many times, with the nice flat bit I am standing on dating back about 150 years. The top of the Cobb itself is flat but slopes at a rather drunken angle and so I left it to MrC the Mountain Goat.

Looking out to sea from the walkable part of the Cobb. The wee plaque you can see on the right says NO CLIMBING ON THE ROCKS. Like I would!

I think these are the steps from which Louisa Musgrove tries to jump into Captain Wentworth's arms in the 1996 film of Persuasion. However, these steps were built well after that date. The steps to which Austen referred were probably these ones:

Terrifying! Seeing these gave me a whole new appreciation of the accident waiting to happen!

Lyme as seen from the end of the Cobb. SO pretty! And such a nice place!

In the window of a hat shop full of fabulous things. Amazing dress. The lady who makes these creations has a studio in Lyme and the hat shop owner sent us off to find her but we couldn't. The place is a rabbit warren!
One of the nicest places is a shop called Eco-logical-you. I spent ages in this eclectic shop that is a hub of ecological, ethical and fair-trade products from dishwash liquid to felt bags. Bought a fair bit of stuff too, while chatting to the very nice and friendly owner.

The gorgeous Umbrella House, featured in a previous blog about Black and White houses, is on the hill above Lyme.
Lyme is SubLyme. Can't wait to get back :)