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.