No. 67 Columbia Road

Whilst pigeon stepping through Columbia Road Sunday flower market last weekend (obviously not the only Londoner taken back by the bazaar sunny spell we had), I spotted a gorgeous fabric shop and haberdashery - Beyond Fabrics - which sells retro inspired printed fabrics (sourced from around the world) some amazing braided ribbons, amongst other pretty knickknacks.

colour, colour, make and do

Met my mum after work today at our local John Lewis' haberdashery department - treated myself to a selection of kitsch and colourful wool, and got a belated Christmas present from my mother in the way of the Cath Kidston Stitch! book... I'm gonna have me some fun making some of these gems! Can't wait.
After my mum had seen how we'd dress the bed back in the children's section in our store, she vowed to have the fushia pink childs chanderleir to go with her fantasy bedroom, edecked with Pip bedding and accessories. One day mum... one day.

santa baby, just one more little thing...

This Christmas I rekindled a somewhat dormant passion for dressmaking, after doing a bit of a Gok with a sequined bolero from H&M and a beaded neck piece my mum had tucked away in her bits-draw. So, with the encouragement of a close friend, who I will refer to as the eBay queen, I'm going to make a kind of New Year's resolution to buy less from the highroad and haunt Brighton's vintage and charity shops more. I might even challenge my time with a few old Vogue patterns. But, first things first, I need a dressmakers dummy.