Haberdashery jealousy

When I heard a haberdashery shop was opening up on our small high street around the corner, I was really excited...but I was also a bit sad. I had been nursing a dream for the last two years or so to do the exact same thing. Then, when I heard this morning, they would also be offering classes as well, I slumped into a bit of a jealous heap frankly. This was my dream business!

To cheer myself up, I had a look at my favourite blog, Yarnstorm by Jane Brocket (I have raved about her here and here before, she is awesome, and her blog always makes my day) and spotted her latest children's book offering, Ruby, Violet, Lime. On the cover, was a photo of some cupcakes with lime green icing. I needed some of those lime green cupcakes in my life, I couldn't be sad with those in my kitchen so I set to baking, and this is what I got. 

Hummingbird Bakery vanilla cupcakes with a bit of food colouring in the mix 

I think some of the plants on our terrace were influencing my colour choices subconsciously.

See what i mean?

My husband's pride and joy - Abutilon. Very pretty.

I still feel a bit sad, but it has mostly been overtaken by feeling a bit sick from a cupcake induced sugar overdose. But seriously I don't think I can let myself feel jealous anymore just because I didn't get around to starting such a business myself. And I didn't start my dream business for several reasons. It doesn't mean there is any need for me to let go of this dream, just because someone has realised theirs around the corner from me. I think I will try and pick up some tips and tricks from them and their experiences, and you can pretty much take for granted that I will be down there enrolled in all their classes. Fingers crossed they start a sewing group. I dream of afternoons spent like this. If they don't, does anyone want to start a sewing circle with me?

I was probably a bit too 'green' to start my own haberdashery business just yet anyway.

A trip to Aldeburgh

Having heard such wonderful things about Aldeburgh, Suffolk, from a variety of sources, I had been desperate to go for a long time. I finally got there this summer. 

It didn't disappoint. 

We picked a rainy couple of days, which only added to the atmosphere of the place. I can't quite find the right word to describe Albeburgh; eerie is a bit negative, otherworldly is not quite right, isolated is again negative, but it is kind of all these things, only in the most positive way. Perhaps gentle is the best description I can come up with. The sort of place your grandparents would probably like. In fact we were probably the youngest in our hotel by a good 50 years or so. 

It is a small seaside town. The colour of the gunmetal sky against the green of the sea and red of the shingle beach cut across the horizon, stretching seemingly forever in both directions, leaving you feeling rather insignificant, which for me, was strangely relaxing. 

The beautiful weatherbeaten red brick houses and walls around the high street seem to echo the red shingle beach.

We ate a high tea at the Cragg Sister's Tea Rooms that consisted of crab sandwiches (freshly caught) and home made cakes, scones and tea. It was delicious and the room itself is so incredibly kitch (again, in the best possible way!) with hand knitted tea cosies, vintage tiered serving plates and gentle 50's tunes playing in the back ground. A wonderful little place.

We also managed to sample the UK's best fish and chips (apparently) and it was very good too. It was strictly a take away number, so we ate it staring out to sea on the beach wall.

Much of the architecture in Aldeburgh tended towards the quirky.

I loved how each house was different, very different to the often homogenous streets of London.

I definitely recommend a visit. We will be back there soon. It is the perfect place to drop out from it all (outside of school holidays that is).