Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Goodness, what a week... I closely resemble a mobile coffee table at the moment. No idea, how or why, but my back decided to give up on Monday. I am trying to be patient, because it will get better, I will get back up the steep stairs to my shed loft workshop, and sewing will reconvene before I know it :)
In the meantime... I am shuffling around the house / or doing small stretches of crochet on the latest jumper which is based on the popular traditional hexagon jumper where everything is worked from the underarm. I haven't made one in this design for years. Im using all the loveliest tweedy woodland colours I could find. Its going to be a beauty! This is alongside the blueberries Tilda. I like having a few on the go at a time.
On the footwear front - Soling a big batch of boots is in progress so its going to be about 2 maybe 3 weeks till I can pop those in the shop. Incredibly excited to see those lasted, polished and be-ribboned.
If anyone is waiting / or wanting to know when shop updates happen as well as diary entries, please do pop back and look for updates on the homepage (this is the most sure-fire way to see latest stock as Im notoriously useless at sticking to newsletters, mainly because Im reluctant to bombard your inboxes).
Why the newsletter and not instagram? Simply because I am struggling to find even an ounce of joy in using social media anymore. In fact I find it increasingly alarming at how it is shaping and influencing society. I know we get fed all this endless twaddle about how vital social media engagement is for visibility and small businesses in general, but goodness me, at what price?! And more pertinently, does it really matter or even help? I question if it gives as much as it takes.
I have a busy life, I make things and do literally everything for Fairysteps, I help run another business which, again keeps me busy, I have a husband with an endless appetite (being a farmers boy basically means he is a stomach on legs 😂), I cook everything from scratch which I love doing, I have 3 children, grown up now but still very much part of my days, and I was recently lucky enough to become a grandmother, hopefully the first of many many more. Like many of us, life is busy.
Plus, on Top of All This there's all the jabberings about 'algorithms'... do my social media posts even reach anyone? I probably have as much luck of a new purse being seen by a customer / follower, as going down the woods and burying it on the off chance that someone may dig it up.
Wasn't that a deliciously rebellious little speech. I bet I'm not alone though! I reckon if many of you asked the same question of yourselves you would reach the same conclusion - social media takes away time and energy you probably never really had. Despite nearly Every Single account on instagram telling you that you do in fact have time, you're just not organised, or your house is cluttered, or painted the wrong colour, and your tops not tucked into your skirt correctly... and on and on. But we all look regardless. Such is life.
I don't blame the internet, its a wonderful tool and I am so grateful for it, life changing for small rural businesses like mine. I wonder, what do you feel about social media? Do leave a comment if you fancy having a rant. I shall no doubt return to it after a few days, as I always do, but will try to keep the diary posts going.
In other news - drought here, usual nonsense, spring drying up, trees dying, grass like walking on cornflakes and soil has turned to cocoa powder. No rain forecast alas, fingers crossed we will get a good drop soon. Sadly my plum crop has given up and decided to either drop the fruit or ripen as teeny plums which are all stone. Thank goodness I removed so many branches from all the trees a few months back. I reckon I took over 500 plums off of one Victoria in particular, if I hadnt I think I would have lost her for certain.
Well, thats all my dears, on we go, Ren x
Friday, 19 June 2026
Making now — Cobweb Boots | Pink, Ochre, Moss and Lichen - Queenie shoes | Campion pink.
The pink I am using is a tad darker than these from the archive, but delicious colour all the same. Should be ready in July.
Ren x
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Fairysteps boot listings, as well as bags were open for a short time, but are now closed - I will be continuing with the small mountain of in-progress stock on my work tables, alongside these latest orders. Many thanks for everyone who ordered, and apologies if you missed your chance :/ hopefully Lady Fate will make the perfect stock pair pop up for you soon.
As always, subject to availability my dears as made to order rarely opens these days.
Find them in the Footwear collection next month - Ive been ruthlessly pruning and have updated the collections accordingly.
Ren x
Saturday, 6 June 2026
At last I am busy cutting boots. I know its June and summer, but Fairysteps are only made slowly, by me, here in the woods - so I need several months to get stock ready for autumn.
Initially I am using a few limited edition colours in select hides which are robust and supple, perfectly suited to bootmaking. These will all be one-of-a-kind and won't be repeated.
Cobweb will feature first as it is such a versatile height. Frond to follow.
My collections in the shop have been whittled down to far less styles than before with many being moved to the studio archive at discounted prices. Most of those products are retiring and won't be made in the future. Its taken 25 years but I am finally focusing on just a few. Stock batches will shift between boots, shoes and bags.
If everyone finds it useful I might continue with the diary, with latest stock updates shown on instagram.
Ren x
Tuesday, 2 June 2026
After taking a few pictures of the giant honeysuckles on the way back from the Fairysteps studio I settled into cooking tea, looked up from my chopping board and saw this cheeky mister! Obviously decided it was his tea time too. The forest garden is a no deer zone to try to protect some of the special plants growing there so I wasn't best pleased. Although, I have to say they are beautiful creatures.
Note to check fence...
But moving on from TNTs (Tree Nibbling Terrors) and back to the honeysuckles. Wish you could smell these. They must be 40 or fifty feet up, spectacular in every way.
I love the woods. Its an honour to live among them.
Ren x
Sunday, 14 September 2025
First of all this little creature came into my life in January. By lunchtime, I decided Mr F needed a little dog. By teatime we had a little puppy. We had nothing prepared and left the owners house with a cup of puppy kibble and a very small critter the size of a guinea pig nestled in my woolly hat in the bottom of my bag.
In retrospect it was the worst time of year to have a puppy. The constant outside toilet training breaks were freezing, wet and miserable. The little one was so tiny and constantly cold that we had to fashion a life jacket from an ankle sock. Taking her out to pee was preceeded with the question, "Have you socked her?".
Nightime trips across the yard always felt terrifying to me because I worried that an owl, thinking it had just been given a wonka golden ticket, would swoop down, pluck her from the ground and disappear with it's 'bonus' snack into the midnight sky. But... we got through it all, and she grew, and grew, and became the sweetest natured little blessing. Agatha x
Tuesday, 9 September 2025
I am so enjoying being back in my workshop after such a long absence. I even had cobwebs on my sewing machines, its been that long!
The Pocket purse is a favourite of mine, as is Owlsfoot so I was pleased to combine the look of the two. The name Field Bag came from the fact that it very much reminds me of old fashioned binocular cases, also known as field glasses.
Ren x
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
I can't believe how fast time seems to be flying by, yet also dragging on. I blame it on the relentless rain we have been having. I feel as if its been raining forever. My youngest informed me yesterday that its been raining since September and she is most probably right. However, I keep seeing patches of blue and everything here at home is flushing green so Spring is here!
I look forward to walking the lanes with warm sunshine on my back and little birds busy in the hedgerows. Tea in the yard, morning, noon and night. Evening trips after work to the seaside to eat fish n chips in the van and stare at the beauty of the sea. A happy thought.
Ive spent the whole year so far buried underneath custom orders and can safely say that I am now completely burnt out ;) its been a hard slog to the finish line but I am 4 orders away from completion, yippee! Lots of pairs still on their lasts and yet to be laced and packed for posting but thats a matter of weeks away now. I most probably shall'nt open custom again this year, but you never know.
Once completed I will be moving onto stock making as since the 'clear out' sale the Faerysteps shop is all but empty! The horror of it! Stock will be slowly added but I do have a great deal of catching up with home projects and work here so when I say slow I do mean slow. Ive been working 7 days a week for months so I'm owed some slow time ;)
Ive got some shoes already cut out from back along which I will make first, but then am keen to get going on a pile of Wisp short boots. They are so useful for any season so Im thinking its a good style to start with. Lots of limited edition leathers I can use for these so many will be one of ones. I don't plan on making anymore of the very small leathergoods this year (hence the sale), but I will make some Withy, Jinks & Hazel belt pouches as well as a few Wela wallets. Also planning lots of Natter bags, simply because its a great little size and fits a phone and essentials. There will be other larger bags made too.
Well my dears, I think that pretty much sums up future making plans. As always, updates are via Instagram (I tend to use facebook less and less) and can also be seen on the home page of the website. Plus do check out the 'Latest' collection which will always show the newest items added to stock. Its going to be a few weeks till anything new is added though.
Till then, keep smiling, Ren x
Friday, 15 September 2023
Well this is fun. I had a notice from Instagram today informing me that my account has been suspended and will be permanently deleted if my appeal fails. The appeal consisted of clicking the squares which had a bicycle in, confirming my email address and telephone number. That was it. 10 years of posting on my account (and I dread to imagine the time that took) potentially lost or saved by clicking 4 squares with a bicycle in.
No questions about who I was or what I did for a living or even why I use Instagram, just 4 squares to click and a potential 2 day wait to hear from them. My social media presence hanging by a fragile thread and at the whim of a technological programme.
I went from cross (spitting cross) to resigned in about 5 minutes. All I could think was, my goodness, we are all completely in their hands. I don't want to be in their hands any more. If it comes back and they decide I am not a threat to the wider public with my leather shears and crochet hook then I think I may just leave both meta platforms, Facebook & Instagram.
Imagine the number of shoes I could have made in the time it has taken to run 2 social media platforms. Imagine the amount of time in the future I can claim back before its lost by not continuing!
I abandoned my writing here in my diary for instagram and quickly became drawn into the nonsense of number chasing on the platform, its as if you are only as important as the number of your audience, yet I would rather have one interested person listening / reading than a hundred disinterested. It has been an interesting morning mulling it all over. I think I'm through with social media though. I feel rather 'lighter' even writing that statement.
Right o, I'm off to pop the kettle on and celebrate my new freedom as well as making a list of all the products I can make for the shop instead of posting & reading comments :)
Saturday, 6 August 2022
Well my dears.
What weather. Home has had little to no rain for months and everything is tinder dry and much is dead or dying. Its rather grim to be honest. Our spring is all but gone too so water has been first priority for Mr F.
I never thought I would long so much to hear the sound of proper raindrops.
Heaven knows what the cows are picking at because the grass is now crunchy underfoot, its like walking on cornflakes.
In the workshop its cool and shady with the blinds closed which is a blessing. I am super busy booting for England! The plan is to clear all shoe orders first and then concentrate on the taller boots one pair at a time. Many are intricate and need individual attention. It's going to be fun sharing those with you.
For today though, its a quiet day for me.
Take care, Ren x
Friday, 18 December 2020
I think my highlight was recreating our wedding from 30 years ago. Same chap, same dress, same church, same gate. This time our three beautiful children were with us.
The May was in full blossom, the sun shone all day long and I felt so full of love that I am quite sure my feet only just touched the ground. Magical memories in the midst of mayhem x
Ren x
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
Have to say I was rather pleased with this new style. Let me introduce Maisie to you all...
Simple, super comfortable, great for wide ankles and wide fittings, lovely and airy for the Summer, what's not to love. Everyone on the 'look see' pages ( thats social media ;) ) really liked her and requested more, so I shall make a full size run. Have to draft the patterns for all sizes first of all so it will be another week or so me thinks.
In the meantime I have cut oodles of Flittle sandals in this stunning black crackle leather! A full size run as well as duplicates of the most popular sizes. Hoping to have the first ones of these in the shop either later today or tomorrow. Exciting stuff eh ;)
The black crackle leather is limited edition. I only have 2 hides so when it's gone, it's truly gone.
FAIRYSTEPS home updates: It's been busy. But when isn't it busy? Much to do as ever and chipping away at things. Mr Fairysteps has worked wonders on the Whisky Wagon and although you can't see most of his hard work, mainly because its welding underneath, we know its there. He has insulated inside and the fit out can begin very soon :) Ive bought curtain wire ready to make and hang the curtains. Ive got lots of shirting weight cotton in all different patterns so I think I will use that.
It has gone in for MOT today so please cross fingers that it passes.
Teapot and kettle is back up in the Potty Hut, but the weather has decided that Summer is over and seems to have gone into Autumn mode home here. It's a bit depressing really, as I was rather enjoying the sunshine. Even managed to go outside not wearing thermals... Let's hope it returns soon and warms us all up again. I will have to write to someone about it else...
Mr Fairysteps in true self sufficiency spirit reinstated the long neglected vegetable garden. I don't know how he works so hard! Seen tending the potatoes here, but behind is the HUGE cage he built for the cabbages, mainly to keep cabbage white butterflies out as well as pigeons. A pair of them have been eyeing the young plants up, and at one point I swear I saw a recipe book under a wing...
At this point Id like to point out that Mr Fairysteps is 6ft 4 (giant) and the 'cabbage run' is also 6ft 4... how big is he expecting the cabbages to grow I asked? Didn't we laugh! It is in fact so he can stand up in there without having to stoop over and knacker his back. Wise man.
The blueberries need picking so I must do that this week. The blackbirds have been evicted and kept out with netting so they should be safe for a day or two.
I reinstated Sunday sewing to sort out my wardrobe. Starting with trousers... It's been a mixed bag to be honest. I perfected the flares pattern and its great, looks good etc, but Im not 100% sold on it. Got to admit that having reached the grand age of fifty, comfort seems to be my top priority now. That and simplicity. Im just not so keen on anything remotely fussy anymore. Not to mention the fact that my stupid tummy balloons to the size of a beach ball on a regular, sporadic basis and is useless in a tight fitted trouser waistband (why didn't I think about this?).
Looking in my wardrobe at all the frilly bloomers and myriad of colours I feel uninspired to wear any of it. Maybe the whole weight loss thing is to blame, and maybe I 'hid' in my clothes before without really knowing I did it? Who knows.
What I do know is that change is afoot and I must evolve. I mustn't be afraid of change, but instead must explore new possibilities.
So my dears, I have bought a sewing book and some cotton jersey, as well as special hand sewing thread and needles and decided to tackle some of the Alabama Chanin wardrobe staples. I love the simple clean lines of it all. I may even adapt some of my own hand drafted patterns and make them for the shop, who knows.
My biggest challenge will be the EZRA coat, which I have to admit I fell in love with as soon as I saw it. Gosh it's a corker!
The layering possibilities for this coat are beyond beautiful. It has the perfect, in my opinion, swish factor, a lovely nipped in waist too.
Huge deep pockets, that fit and flare cut, tailored to perfection. The woman's a genius! I have bought some UK made cotton single jersey to make a double layered one for Winter warmth. The outer will be Forest green with an Aubergine lining. No pattern work, all plain.
This is the shorter blazer option on the pattern which may be worth making first as a test on sizing and construction. Can you imagine Fairysteps Borrower buttons on this.
Yes, I thought so too.
I am wearing my AC fitted dress constantly and missing it something dreadful when its in the wash, so I think making another one of those first is a must. Ive ordered some chocolate brown jersey and am just waiting for that to arrive. Then its a sploosh in the washing machine followed by the tumble rumble to make sure its fully shrunk, then snip snip and sew :)
Next will be an underskirt in olive green jersey, simple A line fit and flare. Im going for layers for my future wardrobe. Layer upon layer of simply cut natural colours. And dare I say it... simple leggings underneath on colder days, long socks or no socks for warmer ones. Coupled with my Arrietty shoes I think its a good look for me. Comfy, adaptable for all seasons and above all highly practical.
UK made single cotton jersey from: Richer fabric on ebay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Knitted-Jersey-Cotton-Stretch-Interlock-Jersey-Fabric-Material-Made-in-UK/180684868630?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=480067527169&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Button thread (cotton thread with a strong poly core) as recommended for hand sewing jersey from Empress Mills here, also good for needles - https://www.empressmills.co.uk/36s-polycore-thread
As ever my dears, its been a joy talking to you all. Take care and have a lovely rest of the week.
Ren x
Friday, 29 May 2020
Well my dears, what a strange few months this has been for everyone. Ive been self isolating since 1994 when my first baby arrived so its not been very different for me... up here. But, I do know its had a profound effect on many, which is a very sad business. Bearing in mind that much like Brexit, we have probably, mostly, all started to suffer with Brain Numbness when we here any news on the subject, so that's As Much As I Will Say on the matter.
Let's talk shoes instead and pass a jolly few minutes in Fairysteps Land :)
What have I been up to? Gosh, what haven't I been up to! I think a list is needed because there is so much to catch up on.
- Obvs the Scotland trip was cancelled. Whisky Wagon is up on jacks in the big shed as Mr Fairysteps has moved onto more pressing matters. This consists of his yearly battle with Mother nature, mainly brambles, stinging nettles and ivy this year, plus veg growing on an industrial scale... I know nettles are great for caterpillars etc... but for heaven's sakes. If we left them all the caterpillars would in fact overrun the property, possibly even Devon (the entire South West of England might even sink under the weight of the invasion), and isn't there enough going on without us causing that sort of calamity? Maybe the van will be finished this year for local trips to the seaside, crossing fingers. He is also super busy getting our Airbnb ready for next year, masses and masses of work to do yet ;)
- I changed my name back to its original one, Fairysteps. It was strange but it just felt the right thing to do. It almost feels like time travel in an odd way. I can't think of how else to describe it, but it was most definitely the right thing to do. Anything that turns back time has to be a winner ;)
- I closed custom orders. I know, what am I like! But by golly it was needed. I honestly haven't had this much enthusiasm and joy in my work for years. I literally am working my socks off, yet I feel like Im on constant holiday. Well as far as Im concerned that says it all. Sadly there have been grumbles about custom going :( but the majority seem very happy about all the new stuff I am making. Alas, I can't please everyone, as much as I try. But I do know that if I burn out there won't be any shoes for anyone, custom or otherwise, so I simply must follow my instincts on how I need to work and what options I offer. Note: I still feel guilty though...
- I revisited an old style and have been busy tweaking that pattern to perfection. Ive made several size runs now and I am so pleased with them. If I was doing custom I wouldn't have had time.
- On a personal level, all my grown up children are back home living which has been a wonderful treat to have the whole litter back together. Obviously I don't want them to stay forever, I mean come on, I know I'm a good Mother but there are limits ;) but it's good to see them safe and well and busy. I am so lucky!
- My Slimming World journey continues, happily I can say, because I just can't imagine living any other way now. Eating healthily every single day feels so good. I am now lighter than when I met my Husband when I was just 17 years old. I am not at target yet, but it's so close I can almost touch it :) I honestly don't know why the government doesn't promote the programme? All the NHS diet advice programmes seem to be for calorie counting. Ive don't that. Yes I lost lots of weight. Yes I was utterly miserable. Yes I put it all back on. I was hungry all the time and it made me obsess over how much food I was eating, which is most unhealthy. Slimming world taught me about all the healthy foods I can eat as much as I want to of. It was simply a case of filling up on those and waiting for my tastes to change so that I didn't crave junk foods anymore. I am 1.5lbs away from my 3 stone loss award ;) Thats in just under a year. Woo Hoo.
So thats me caught up. Lots of other bits too, but I daresay you've developed a nervous twitch in your left eye by now so that will be enough for now. Lets have some shoe pictures instead :)
 Finally faced my buckle hang up and decided that buckles are in fact rather blooming marvelous, so for heaven's sakes Ren, get on and start using them more. Having embraced this new found love of buckles, and true to form, I haven't made a single shoe without a buckle in weeks 🤣 |
The little butterfly on the Tea Bar shoe really suits it I think. I've also used a flower accent on the next batch which are all shamrock green. Just you wait till you see those wonders!
The next variation is Petalstrap. Initially with a different coloured, narrow centre strap, but Ive changed that now to the same base shape as the Tea Bar shoe. I have some simply beautiful jade leather which will be a full size run of these, with a limited edition printed leather for the flowers in lilacs and pinks. O my goodness, soft, subtle, beauty.
The original narrow centre strap.
And the latest tweak of this design. Im a terrible pattern fiddler. Notorious in fact, so there will be more tweaks ;) its the perfectionist in me...
Well my dears, the worktable calls and once I have made another pot of tea I shall continue on these shamrock green Tea Bar shoes. After that, its Jade Petalstraps in a full size run. Then I think Luna is calling.
Take care and wherever you are, I hope your sun is shining.
Ren x
Tuesday, 4 February 2020
Welcome to our latest restoration project :) Its super exciting this one because its going to hopefully enable the Big Adventure we have planned in May. A road trip from home to the Scottish highlands and up along the west coast. This is to celebrate and mark our combined 50th birthdays (10 months apart). Ive only ever got so far as the Lake District so its practically a Moon trip for me. Its also my Faerysteps van because my leather merchants are all 'up country' so obviously I cant go past and not buy leather ;)
Finding the right van has been a right slog though. Poor Mr F has spent so much time trawling through junk online. We even visited a few heaps to have a look. One such notable heap looked perfect in the pictures, but on arrival the entire base, thats everything from 2 foot down, was rusty as an anchor. The chap offered us £500 off the asking price for 'a spot of paint' to 'put things right'. The only thing that van needed to put it right was a last trip to the scrap yard... needless to say we didnt buy it.
Please take note at this point of the number plate. You can see where the name came from now. Number plate = WW + Trip to Scotland, land of distilleries, well it had to be the Whisky Wagon didnt it. I'd have preferred something tea related to be honest, but didnt feel it prudent to mention this minor point to Mr F after all his efforts....
There is rust on this one. It came from the Welsh mountains where it was being used as a mini bus for disabled passengers, hence it has lots of seats and a wheelchair lift in the back. All of which will be removed during the big strip down. It is a factory fitted minibus though so professionally lined with grey carpet, etc. Very swish if you look aside from the mould all over the seats and floor... Floor carpets are being removed for certain.
The rust can be treated and Mr F intends adding a charcoal strip along the bottom there in line with the lights. I might try to get some tree silhouettes to pop along the top. Want to keep it all very low key though. Just chuffed as punch its a dark silver body and not white. I was anticipating an instant migraine every time I approached it when the sun shone else.
Someone very thoughtfully tried removing the stickers. With a scotch pad and stanley knife... What were they thinking? So that's got to be sorted too.
Wheel rims are rusted and look awful so these need removing and wire brushing, undercoat and top coat. Same dark charcoal paint. It shows less dirt than white.
So then. Thats the outside at the very start of it all. So far Mr F has had a run around day yesterday getting the speed restrictor removed. That was a real worry, because if that had to stay we were relisting it for sale and starting the search all over again. Its such a relief that has gone :) Next its into the barn to dry off ready for stripping out the seats, floor, wheel chair lift and a myriad of other bits. Then a thorough internal clean of all whats left before the refit.
We have 8 weeks at the most to get it ready to roll. Watch this space ;)
Ren x
Saturday, 1 February 2020
So here I am... bold as brass! Why is my hair never brushed when I take a picture? I was asked by the lovely Jess to let you know how long its grown since the last update, so here I am. Silver streak is spreading, but because our water is very coppery it is in fact, going green. Thats fine, I quite like green, it makes me feel slightly mermaid-ish. The fact that I don't swim can be Glossed Over.
Whilst on a vanity streak I must say that just having hit 50 has made me Take Myself In Hand. I joined Slimming World back in June last Summer 2019 and my journey of discovery of both health and wellbeing continues. I am so happy I started and highly recommend it to anyone who feels theyve rather lost the plot. I adore food and cooking, but in latter years, especially without the whole litter living at home to cook for, I had fell out of love with cooking. Everything was becoming very much drudge, with my weight gradually creeping up each year, till last Winter when it drastically rose. Buttons were at breaking point, literally. Early Summer came and I was holding water like a good potting compost. Nothing fitted, Fridays weekly slog up the hill was feeling like a marathon and I was running out of new tent patterns to sew up into dresses that I could hide in... you get the picture ;)
I went to the group meetings for 3 weeks, but you know me, 99% recluse so that had to stop. Luckily you can transfer to online so that was perfect for me. It was hard at first re-learning a new way to think, shop, cook and eat. But its second nature now and I really don't even fancy half of what I used to crave over. Its forever though, I won't change away from food optimising now because I love all the recipes so much. Plus, I am not quite at target yet so the journey continues. Its a way of life to stay healthy as far as I can see and Im ever so grateful that those clever people at Slimming World wrote it all down for me and made it so easy.
I started at 13 st 1 lb - Current weight 10st 10 lb.
O look, hairs just washed again. But importantly, I have legs! Who knew. And a waist, which was getting hidden under several rubber rings of tummy... Gosh I feel better. I even bought some Snag tights in various colours to wear with different skirts which I havent worn for over 20 years.
Ive threatened my youngest that when I reach my target weight (10 lbs to go) I will be making some bright pink hot pants to wear next time she has friends visit ;) she has threatened to disown me if I do.
But, hey, Im fifty now, its time to be reckless :)
Ren x
Thursday, 30 January 2020
Always exciting working on something new, even if it's not strictly new ;)
I haven't made this boot in over 10 years. Originally called 'Ophelia' she was popular at the time but I moved onto other styles and she fell by the wayside. Whilst sorting through old image files I rediscovered her again and decided to revamp the pattern.
I spent a very happy day redrafting patterns and tweaking here and there till they were just right. I then spent another day sifting through leather stock to see which ones would be most suitable for this style. Not all leathers work with all styles so that's a tricky one to be honest. I think the lighter weight leathers will be best to keep the boot super supple so the cut can really tuck in around the ankle and over the instep.
I plan to make an initial full size run, half of which are finished and awaiting lacing and finishing touches, the other half on my table now. Not long for the big reveal ;) I will then continue with stock leathers in some rather special combinations. I have colours for darker basic boots, like browns and dark greys, blues and greens as well as super pretty pastels to mix up. There are even a few patterned ones.
Gosh its exciting making these. As ever, updates on Instagram of when the new stock is ready.
Other news from HQ:
- The shop has had a revamp as well as the leather swatch. Some colours are running out and won't be replaced so I thought it best to remove them from the swatch now.
- My snowdrops are well and truly up so as far as I am concerned Spring is coming... and about time too. I am sick of Winters wet, damp, cold misery. I am finding myself dreaming of light nights and walks without raincoats and woolly everything's.
Till the next time.
Ren x
Friday, 22 February 2019
Its been a while since Ive written a post so apologies for the long time away.
Lets drop right back in with a round up some recent makes... Lots of Clara's on the order books recently so had to share the 'rear' view of these glorious peacock blue ones. Gosh I love blue so much. Its the colour of sky and water, life essentials, maybe that's why Im drawn to it so much as I get older?
And green, there's another life essential... Holly in zest. Possibly my last of this leather as I plan on keeping some of the remainder for some bags. I have an itch to make some cross body Meg bags soon, time permitting.
I havent blogged about my latest new style have I... please meed Pod. Rather fine even if I say so myself ;) Im so chuffed to bits with how this turned out. Named after Pod, Arriettys father in one of my favourite books, The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. Pod is a seamless delight for your feet. Ive been holding off choosing a colour for myself while I gave it some thought. They will be my new walking shoes for several years to come so I wanted to make sure I picked a universal colour scheme for my current wardrobe. I wear so much dark blue and black and grey now that I feel inkwell is my best choice. Its also super soft leather. A little brown wren for me.
Willo continues to be our best seller of the winter so far. There is a quite a following for this little boot and its so much fun for me seeing what exciting colours you choose. Im probably as excited as you are when you order!
These plum and chocolate and mermaid with 'ragglebloom' additions were particularly pretty. Very different, but subtle all at the same time.
I even squeezed in 2 stock pairs of shoes with the new chestnut leather. What a colour!
One pair of Kitty and one of Binky. Havent made any for so long. Im thinking of resurrecting one of them for more regular appearances. So far, Im more drawn to Binky.
And finally, something lovely from Faerysteps Land to share with you all...
I found this stunning lichen on a ramble down through the oak woods earlier today. Gosh, it was so pretty. The softest blue tinged grey... Mother nature is so clever isnt she.
Time for a late tea for me, feet up with the teapot for an hour, then an early night. Saturday tomorrow but heaps to do. Have a good weekend all, Ren x
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