Owing to technical ineptitude......

I was trying to edit a post and managed to delete it instead. So, forgive me for repeating these photos but I wanted to show these lovely necklaces that are now available in our shop. Unique handmade beads made by Debbie. Chunky, funky  and individual.

 I also wanted to show an example of the felties that I made on Saturday. A bit of a work in progress but quite cute I feel.

Another work in progress.......

Dogs behaving badly.

Just look what the two Hairy Herbert's did while we were away! My friend kindly dog sat for us and sent this photo. She said they were well behaved but then we didn't see her for dust as soon as we returned. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much!

More thoughts on home.

A lady came in to the shop today. She said she had walked passed in the evenings when it is lit up and looking lovely and not been too sure whether it was part of our home or not. It is the place where my heart is happiest because it is where I make things and to me a happy heart means home. But it is where I sell those things that I make so it is quite squarely a shop also. People nest in their kitchens, bedrooms and sitting rooms. And some of us nest in shops.

Yesterday I went to visit a friend. My first visit to her new abode. We got to talking about how important a sense of home is. So much about creating a home in the media focuses on couples and families and my friend, I am sure will not mind me saying, is single and lives alone. It made me think about the treasures, the routines and rituals that give us a sense of home, whether that home is shared or not.

Sweet chilli dipping sauce made from our homegrown chillies. Unlike the green tomato chutney, circa 2010, which lurks, darkly, at the back of my larder this stuff actually gets eaten.

This year I have departed from the recipe which requires a rice vinegar with a 5% alcohol content and used white wine vinegar instead. Also, in amongst all the gorgeous red are a few yellow chillies and even a rogue green one. I feel like Dr Frankenstein of the preserve world. Where will it all lead?

The shop sign is still only an idea and nothing concrete, or wooden, or any other material as yet. 

Although today I did make a commitment to the name of Quirk Strangeness and Charm. 

Someone asked what the shop name was and those words tumbled out of my mouth.