Some sunshine please........

Oh these dreich days are really getting the better of me............the lurgy has been hanging around in our house for weeks now, little star was ill for about 3 weeks, she then had a small spell of jollyness and is now full of coughs and cold again :(

Last week I coughed like I smoked 40 a day and then eventually took to my bed at the weekend, full of the cold and feeling very flu like.........bleurgh.

So, in an attempt to try and cheer myself up, I decided to take a look through some lovely Spring pictures taken in the garden either last Spring or the Spring before that (I'm thinking prob the Spring before that as Stella took up all of my time last year!)

Where is the sunshine of February? The lovely sunny days promising us that Spring is just around the corner? There is nothing nicer than being able to take a cuppa out to the back door and sit and enjoy a bit of early Spring sunshine on your face, it warms the soul out of hibernation, don't you think?

Oh how I long for the yellow burst of little celandine flowers along the bank of the burn, and that sparkle of sunlight off the water as it trickles down to the big burn...........

Fingers crossed Mr. Sunshine arrives back from his long holiday fairly soon. In the meantime, I hope this little burst of Spring has cheered you up, it's certainly given me hope!

L x

Marmalade making

Well, that's January been and gone for another year! I have a bit of a love hate relationship with January, the house looks so bare without the Christmas decorations, but before long the spring bulbs are in, so I just have to fill the house with blooms.

So far we've had few pots of hyacinths blooming away and filling the house with their gorgeous scent, a bunch of tulips and now we're awaiting the burst of sunshine from a little pot of tete a tetes.

January can be such a long dark month, but this year we had a lovely week of sunshine, and the days were noticeably getting longer. Little star and I went out for a few walks with the dogs at about 4pm and Spring was most definitely in the air.

I do love curling up at the fire with a good book though, especially on a Sunday afternoon. I've just finished this book, a very good read, given to me by my Mother-in-law for Christmas.

We've at last almost finished the kitchen, there's still a wood store to build, a shelving unit to get painted up and a few finishing touches, but it is so lovely having the space to live in. Getting the cook books out and having a play in the kitchen has been great fun after a year of no kitchen!

Marmalade making was started last night so the first batch is done.

See you soon!

L x

Winter Wonderland

Baby it's cold outside, -15 to be precise! We had snow for 10 days on the trot, fun at first, then very frustrating! The log pile is diminishing rather quickly, but at least we're keeping cosy!

These photos were taken at the beginning of last week, we've probably had another 10" on top of this, about 2 1/2 ft in total! Gregg and I walked into the village as it would have taken us as long to dig out the car and the driveway! It was hard going trudging through the snow but beautifully still and sparkly.

The studio is cosy and busy! I had my mum up for 10 days, stranded here! So I made the most of it and got through the orders, the biggest problem was getting them to the Post Office, but we're managing, just! So I'm now having to be mummy by day and demon sewer by night to keep on top of things...............but it's all good.

Sadly I had to miss the Green Gallery Fair, it snowed all day on Friday, the roads were awful and I didn't want to leave the bub and G stranded with no car...........it was such a hard decision to make, but I think it was the right one. The Fair went well and lots of people turned up, which was great, especially after the huge effort that Becky puts in every year to make it such a special event.

Anyway, there's one week left for people to buy some Primrose Hill loveliness on-line before Christmas, we have a few goodies in our Not on the High Street shop. If there's anything else you've seen before and isn't in the shop, just give me a call or drop me a note.

You can also follow us on Twitter now too, it's quite good fun and so many lovely folk out there!

L x

Handcrafted & Vintage Christmas Fair

I can't quite believe it's that time of year again! This time last year I was spending my first few days at home with our little Stella, where has that year gone.........?



Somehow, in the midst of the madness, I have managed to keep the business ticking along, only just! So, after the Open Studios back in September, Katie and I got our acts together and organised the above fair, and in the blink of an eye it is upon us already!



We have a great selection of stall holders, everything from beautiful porcelain ceramics, to knitwear, vintage and textile homewares, artwork, photography, fashion accessories, painted furniture and lots more.



We've decided to do it as a fuindraiser for Help for Heroes as Rob, Katies husband, was in the Royal Dragoon Guard for 16 years. As far as we know we think this may be the first ever Handcraft Christmas Fair held in aid of the charity in Scotland, so lets hope we get a big turnout.

We've got the local SWRI serving up tea, coffee and lots of home baking, so hopefully that will pull people in too!



So, if you fancy a wee day out on Friday or Saturday of this week do pop along to the fair, remember to come and say hello!



L x

Perthshire Open Studios

This Saturday sees the start of the Perthshire Open Studios 2010 and I'm really looking forward to it! Last year was such a big sucess, Katie, Diane and I all did well, so the three of us have got together again this year to put on a quirky and colourful exhibition of textiles, jewellery, photography and ceramics.

We had a nice little selection of home produce, so hopefully we'll have more of that this year!

We've got live Scottish music on the deck again on opening day, and as an added extra this year we're doing tea and cake in the garden over the opening weekend, what more could you want!

So, if you're local please do come and visit us, we'd love to see you! Fingers crossed the weather stays dry!

L xx

Back to work

Well, supposedly! I've been back at the sewing machine for about a month now, gosh how I've missed it! Stella is 10 months old now, where that time has gone I do not know......but I've been itching to get back into the Studio for the last 6 weeks or so, does that make me a bad mummy?

Over the last 10 months, life has changed so much. We no longer spend hours working away on the house and garden, there's another little person now who needs to be fed, changed and entertained, and of course absolutely adored.

Life has changed in a very good way.

We've had our first family holiday on the stunning yet sleepy island of Tiree, but more on that another day.......

Somehow today is the 1st September, in 10 days we'll be back open again for the Perthshire Open Studios. I'll tell you all about our plans at the end of the week, it's going to be a great opening weekend though so put 11th & 12th September in your diary......

It's good to be back folks :)

xx

Our new toy....

Ever since I was a little girl I've always wanted one of my own.................

I learnt to cook on a Rayburn and an Aga, so you can imagine I'm in heaven right now. Gregg is rather enjoying it too, it's woodburning, heats the house and the hot water, so it's butch enough for him to play with too......!!

Christenings and finishing off with the trademen has been keeping us busy, but I'll be back again soon. Life is a little more calm again, which is good. :)

L xx

The last 13 weeks

I think we're just about out of the fog! Life with little Stella is good, although where the last 13 weeks have gone, who knows!

Christmas came and went, spent with the family and was a very chilled out affair, just what we were needing.

The house renovation (part 1!!!) is almost there, the next couple of weeks will be exciting as the woodfired ESSE will hopefully be getting fitted........watch this space!

Hopefully it wont' be quite so long until my next post............

L xx

Christmas "Open House" at Lilybank

Hello all!

I'm in the land of pink and babies at the moment so this is very short and sweet! Thank you all for your lovely messages welcoming our little Stella into the world! She's doing extremely well, Mummy & Daddy are a little sleep deprived, but hey, it could be worse!

Just a quick post to invite all the locals along to this years "Open House" event. Seeing as we have our hands full at the moment, Katie at Vintage Squirrel has kindly offered to host this years event, and would love everyone to come along. We'll both be selling our wares, plus another friend is coming along to sell her gorgeous painted furniture, so do come along and start your Chistmas shopping!

It's at Lilybank, 32 Mercat Green, Kinrossie, Perthshire, from 11am until 4pm, this Saturday, 14th Nov. If you'd like any further info or directions give Katie a call on 01821 650632.

Hopefully see you on Saturday!

L xx

Our little star has arrived.

Meet our little bundle of joy, Stella Rose! She arrived on Saturday 31st October at 4.50pm, weighing in at a healthy 7lbs 14oz and without too much drama, just 10 days late!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much we love her already, I would walk to the ends of the earth for this little button if I had to.

See you all soon. x

Lisa & Gregg ( a very proud Daddy) x

I'm still here.....

For those of you itching to know, I'm still hanging on in here with no signs of the bean arriving! So, tomorrow is D-day, he/she will have no choice in the matter!!!! Will hopefully have photos next week when I'm looking forward to being home with the little bundle that we're so eagerly awaiting the arrival of!

L xxx

Hanging on in there....

Hello abandoned little blog, where has the time gone? I feel very bad for not updating you very often but life just seems to have gotten in the way, building, sewing and a growing bump taking up lots of energy.

Photos of cute windows, big spaces, and the view from outside.

But, we're hanging on in there, the new part of the house is nearly finished so we'll be able to move in soon and then the renovation part can be done on the existing house. A week to go until the bump is due to arrive, although I have a feeling he/she may be early.........x

Sorry for not visiting many blogs to say hello, my report card would most definitely say "must try harder" this year...........

Hopefully speak to you all soon with news from the stork.x

Lxx

Progress

It's a dreich Sunday afternoon, so I've spent a couple of hours downloading photos and catching up whilst sat next to the stove......and this is August weather??? So at last, here are some photos of the progress of the build, it's coming on but the rain hasn't helped over the last week.

Everyone keeps asking me if we'll be finished before the babe arrives, do you think we'll be finished in 8 weeks..........?

This is our bath for the main bathroom, salvaged from our friends garden, they rescued it from a flat in Edinburgh, but had 3 to choose from so we got this one for a box of beer!!!! The feet have to come off and be cleaned up and I'm planning on painting the underneath a nice Cornflower/Forget - me - not blue, another job to add to the list!

The windows arrived on Friday afternoon, after a little bit of humming and hawing I decided I liked them........good job eh!

Enjoy the week ahead, fingers crossed the weather is a bit better!

L x

I'm still here.....

just......and no more! Boy this project managing lark is a full time job! As you can imagine, between things being rather busy with the business and the start of the extension/renovation, there hasn't really been a minute lately. Plus of course the little bean growing away daily.......I'm getting rather large..........hmmm, the next few months are going to be fun!

Anyway, I'll hopefully be back with a full update of the job in hand as I really want to document it on here, so fingers crossed our paths will cross again later this week.

I'll leave you with some summer loveliness from the garden, there is the odd corner in amongst the building site!

L x

The joys of country life.

Just thought I'd quickly pop in and say hello, it's been a busy week, can't believe it's Friday already! In between the showers, I've been taking lots of photos of new products. Today Nicola (the elf!) and I set up a cute little photo shoot with the pottery, as the photos I had weren't the greatest. I'm really pleased with the results so I must get the website updated, another job to add to the list!

And the dreaded "C" word is being banded about here already........

We (Gregg) had a bit of a nasty deed to do this week, you'd better not read on if you're of a delicate nature..... The other day, while taking photos, I happened to look over to the chicken run and noticed one of our little bantam hens lying on the ground looking like she was having a fit. When I got over to her I knew exactly what had happened. Her feathers were wet and she was in a bit of a mess, the drakes (male ducks) had attacked her. I think they may have broken her neck. She was beyond saving, so for the first time ever I had to despatch one of our chickens, not the nicest job, but unfortunately one that goes hand in hand with chicken keeping.

So, the two drakes were despatched last night and will be slow cooked this weekend in a casserole. The four remaining ducks seemed a bit lost this morning, but there did appear to be a bit more harmony in the hen house. I think we've done the right thing.......

I let you know how the casserole tasted.........:)

Enjoy your weekend.

Lx

The view from my desk....

Glorious sunshine, sitting out on the deck outside the studio. Listening to the babbling burn, ducks quacking, and hens clucking away. The wonders of wireless broadband allows me to work on-line, what more could a girl want!

Even though it was a wet and miserable weekend the opening was fun, it's lovely to have the studio back in working order and looking very smart even if I do say so myself! The deck is almost finished, just the balastrade and rope to go around the edge and that's us, another project finished at last.

Photos of inside shall follow this week. Hope you're all having a lovely sunny one like us.

L x

The madness....

The deck is nearly finished, Gregg is still out there working at nearly 10pm......

The studio had a mass blitz on Friday, one half is tidy, the other half is like a bombsite.......

The list of stock I still have to make is rather large, hmmm.........

But, the tablet is made (I delegated that one!) and the lemons and sugar are ready to be made into old fashioned lemonade.........

Do you think we'll be ready by Friday at about 11am? Did I tell you we were opening for the season then? Come and join us if you're in the area.........

L xx

A lovely new blog to visit....

.....pop over and say hello to Rebecca at POLKADoT Farm, a fab blog about life on her and her husbands farm in rural Stirlingshire. I met Rebecca a couple of years ago at a Christmas Fair we were both selling at, it's lovely to see her here in blogland.

Image is a toadstool keyring, one of last years big sellers and making a return this year in many more products! x

Stuffing & handsewing

I'm a real Friday loving girl, the weekend is about to start, I deliver the eggs in the village, Fridays just buzz along nicely. Today, I decided to stuff and handsew some of this weeks production, seeing as there was a rather large pile of it mounting up.

We open up for the summer two weeks today, as usual I'm leaving it all to the last minute! The studio looks like a bomb has hit it and needs a major tidy and move around, there's still pine needles on the floor from the Christmas tree...........the next couple of weeks are going to be busy.

Seeing as I feel I know my customers quite well I decided to start making lots of what I know sells well, so lavender bags were the order of the day today in the handsewing. Next week I'll get making some other new pieces, which I'm rather looking forward to.

We're off for the weekend, back down the road to visit friends and family, we're both looking forward to it as it'll be our last weekend off for a while. For the next few weeks it'll be all hands on deck, literally......Gregg has started on the deck outside the studio and has promised me it'll be finished for us opening back up in May.......fingers crossed eh!

Happy weekend. I'm off to put eggs in boxes. xx