Ahh what a week! Real Life is a bit of a shock to the system this week, having spent the past seven days being wined and dined and generally spoilt in the most idyllic rural retreat! It's been an absolute joy to opt out of the rat race for a bit, but it's impossible not to be inspired when you're in such beautiful surroundings: I'm not sure how these ideas will feature yet, but I can feel a whole countryside of ideas bubbling away in my subconscious - it's a delight :)

Oh and a couple of them were just too amusing not to share ;)

It had been so long since I'd had a proper holiday, and as much as I adore hatting I didn't take any work with me whatsoever. But the world of mad hatting had other ideas... Rocke That Frock is an absolute GEM of a vintage shop - if you're in the vicinity: go!!! And frankly the whole surrounding area is so raw and unspoilt at this time of year (we went for days without seeing another soul as we tramped through the countryside - if it floats your boat too then I'd highly recommend it!) that frankly it's worth a visit in its own right.

Daisy Rocke really knows her stuff and has a network of superbly stylish vintage suppliers - if she wasn't so lovely it'd be too easy to envy her ;) She's got a treasure trove of top quality, unique pieces from all eras at thoroughly reasonable prices, including a fab range of vintage hats, and we soon got chatting... and then Daisy produced this glorious Victorian hat stretcher from the window. About ten minutes later it was in the car (along with two suits and a cotton bomber ha!)

Meet Olive the Hat Stretcher: her namesake is the equally elastic Olive Oyl - couldn't resist ;)

I hate being ill. The first day of Camp Duvet on the sofa is always a novelty, but a full week is interminable, especially when I was struggling to fit my three alter egos' (Work:hats:Real Life) in anyway!! So thank goodness for knitting! It still needs stitching together, but I think this will be just the ticket for remaining chic and warm whilst walking our latest house guests this week ;)

It's all GO again this week, with an enquiry from a Coco Rose customer, and a new hat hopefully on the way into the window. Admittedly it makes for a slightly stressful Monday evening, but I can't complain, and in the absence of wine (c/o my antibiotics - humph) hot chocolate is seeing me through!

Finally, since the blog is happiness focused, here are some other things that have kept me smiling over the past couple of weeks... It's the simple things, eh? :)

Handmade Harbour is guaranteed to chase away the cold dark nights until next time. Meanwhile, I'm off on a secret birthday adventure to countryside cottage next week (EXCITING!) so after some serious R&R I'll hopefully look less like my patron saint The Mad Hatter in time for the next blog! Stay cosy my dears! x