Market Time

Just a quick post to welcome people to Courthouse Road Street Market this Saturday from 10am, and next Staurday - 15th from 10am. The old town high street market will also be on 15th- Chrismas gifts and stocking fillers for everyone.

Chirp up Chicken

Two new Scrabble pictures, very proud of these and tempted to keep them! Isn't that always the way? Available via etsy shortly, and via Old Town Christmas Market 1 Dec, Courthouse Street Market on the 8th and 15th December.

The dark is not a friend to digital camera's

Ooh, I am having one of those days - when everything seems to take ten times longer than it actually should. Earlier I had an hour long dentist appointment, a very tricky crown which has so far needed about four appointments in the last two months. Fortunately its on the NHS, so not selling soul to devil just yet.

However, this seems to have set the tone of the rest of the day as sort of walking through treacle. Even walking the dog today took ages due to number of furry friends she must, simply must say hello to.

Then, finally, after a slow tea I decided to take some pictures of my new, ahem picture creations I've made. I am quite proud of them so excited to show them to the world. But, as it is dark nearly all the time I have failed to take daylight pictures. I spent ages fiddling with the camera, then realised some pictures had come out great, even though the others were all too dark/light/silly flashes etc.

After saving them and then having a good look I realised I'd been taking slightly wobbly videos. So scratch that, and I'll start again tomorrow.

Lucy from Looplops Designs been very busy making and designing...

Firstly, some beautiful brooches made from vintage buttons, belt hoops and bits.



Then some little baby crocheted booties....

A posh dog brooch modelled by me... 

Jigsaw cards...

A posh brooch in use...

Come and see us at the Wonky WI Bazaar on Saturday November 3rd, 11am St Johns Hall, Brittany Road, St Leonards.

Upcoming Craft Fairs and other exciting news...

Lucy and I are getting excited about Christmas, no not the actual event yet but the crafting lead up. We've got two events lined up at the moment - the Wonky WI Bazaar on November 3 at St John's Church Hall, Brittany Road, St Leonards from 11 to 4.30pm. The St Leonards Wonky WI are a fantastic organisation, full of organised and talented women so this should be a fantastic afternoon.

The second fair is the Old Town Christmas Fair to be held on 1 December by Rock a Nore Road. This promises to be full of twinkly lights, lovely goods and maybe, just maybe, Father Christmas himself.

Hope to see you there.

Flannel cupcakes by Retrofy, £3.50 each.

The weather is matching my mood...

It's a cold, wet and windy day here in Hastings. And I have to say it matches my mood, bar the fact wind usually makes me feel a little exhilarated.

Lucy and I were due to do a local retro/craft market this Saturday and had been excited about showcasing our new makes. Lucy's been busy making fantastic jigsaw puzzle cards, all very gorgeous pictures cleverly put together (pic to follow).

I've been busy making beautiful flannel cupcakes to sell as little stocking fillers/teeny presents for hosts and friends. My seven year old daughter even got in on the act and made one for her best friend. And now they are sitting in boxes in our spare rooms/hallways/trippable hazards.

Courthouse Street Market has been planned to run monthly, and is in Hastings old town, which if you haven't been is a great place for a wander, a shop, and a drink or two at a cafe come the weekend. Sadly, the street closure license hasn't come through in time this month, so the market has had to be cancelled.

Still, in a onwards and upwards route, we're discussing doing the Thursday Farmers Market in Hastings town centre on the run up to Christmas. Few fiddly bits, like potential rain to sort out, but do come along and say hello if you're about.

And if anyone has any advice about other alternative craft markets (preferably indoors in the winter), please let me know...

Margate, Broadstairs and a lovely bungalow

I'm just back from a truly lovely weekend away with my old book club. We were, worryingly called BAPS and used to meet once a month at each other's flats in London, discuss a book - sometimes briefly, discuss loads of other books - frequently and just be generally a lovely addition to our lives.

Around seven years ago, there was a bit of an exodus from London, with one woman going to America, another to Scotland, one to Harrogate, and so on. So we stopped meeting, though have all been in contact with each other through friends/circles and so on.

Anyway this weekend seven of us booked a bungalow by the sea near Broadstairs for a catch up. There was a fantastic outside pool, but sadly bit chilly in the UK in September to use, great access to the sandy beach and lots of sofa's. We drank lots of wine, more coffee and water than we used to and swopped lots of stories.

Now I am back home in Hastings, and am feeling quite blessed, if I can use that word to have such lovely women friends - who also like coffee and wine quite a lot!

Here's how it comes served in the Italian ice cream parlour in Broadstairs. (n.b. Lucy - they need your knitted cup warmers as it got cold quite quickly by the time it filtered.

Welcome to Looplops and Retrofy's blog - we're new designers and makers based in the South Coast of England. We've got together to be Looplops and Retrofy.

Lucy, from Looplops makes and designs exciting crochet toys, creates gorgeous dresses and cushions and thinks up fab ideas like crocheted mug warmers.

Bev, from Retrofy is busy re-making and breathing new life in to the old, and previously loved. Her makes are around furniture, scrabble and cards.

We can be found at vintage, craft and farmers markets, plus we're coming soon to etsy with our shops...

Sock monkeys' from Bev at Retrofy and a variety of fingerpuppets ranging from Batman to frogs from Lucy at Looplops designs.