Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Deers and honeysuckle
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

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Sunday, 14 September 2025

a long absence

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

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025

A new bag for Autumn

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
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Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Where did winter go?

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

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