The year has got off to a flying start despite reservations about recession, VAT increase and general gloom. I celebrated by repainting the workroom roping in husband, son and his girlfriend last weekend and very lovely it looks too! Gone are the spilt coffee stains down the walls……

If my landlord does not do something about the access road to the farm I could have a mutiny on my hands. Too many people with damaged tyres – makes me feel guilty though it’s not my fault!! A little word is called for I think………

I have lost my domestic god to a shed! My husband is retired and, as I am still working full time, he volunteered to run the house but now his passion lies with this timber construction in the garden. “Shedding” ,as it is called, means hours of sawing, hammering etc and dinner if I’m lucky. I am impressed with the workmanship though and will keep you posted on the progress.

We are now working on our 8th house at Chantry Hall in Westbourne. What lovely houses, beautifully built with nicely planted grounds and extremely nice people – I have enjoyed doing all of them. Best of all - very straight forward windows! It has been very interesting to see everyone’s individual ideas – the latest one is to have some lovely silks.

Lots of calls from old clients in the last few weeks which is such a pleasure – I must be doing something right. Some go back 15 years or so – I value every one!!

Christmas is rushing towards us and we are getting really really busy. It has been a good year for us despite the financial climate but this job is like being a farmer – it’s either too hot, too wet, too dry etc……! Just thought I’d give my landlord a mention!

Everyone has been on their holidays and had a lovely time bringing back tons of fudge for us all to eat. I have no will power and will eat anything – I wish they wouldn’t!!!

Once again I vow to keep this more up to date – good bloggers do it evey week not once every few months like me – we’ll see!

I am working on a beautiful barn recently converted for holiday rental in one of the local villages, really nice people and a great place. Hope they do well – we need to finish the curtains first!

It always does get very busy from September onwards and I am anticipating it will be even more so this year a s people try to beat the VAT increase. Don’t think of it as 20% – simply an increase of 2.5%!!

I have taken on a new lady and to my delight she is getting on really well – she is being trained at the moment and seems to be loving every minute – long may it last!

It has been so long since I updated my blog – have been very tied up with family matters. Mental note to myself to be more disciplined!

Renting premises on a farm is great and sometimes we get roped in to give a hand. Young cattle, out in the big wide world for the first time ,needed to be moved so we all had to block the many exits. Took me right back to my childhood as I grew up on a dairy farm and moving cattle from one end of the village to another was a regular occurrence. Sadly it has all gone and the old farmhouse is now owned by a large building society.

The trip to the osteopath was follwed by a visit to a sports physio for treatment on a dodgy hip – this involved a first me in the form of accupuncture. Seems to have helped- it appears  that the combination of curtain hanging and tennis playing does me no good whatsoever but I have to just get on with it as I have no intention of giving either of them up…!

I am very grateful for the fact that we remain busy despite the economic climate.I have been doing this job now for about 25 years but still worry about the next order coming in and that all goes well. I get more picky and probably drive my wonderful team of ladies mad! I am well aware of the cost of having hand made curtains and try to get it right!!!!

Am fitting curtains and blinds for new client in Chichester this week – hope all goes well as a lot depends on it!

More Bank holidays this month – great for some but I need to get the orders out! Pain really…!

Having lots of visitors at the moment – who all need feeding and clean sheets etc. – thank you husband! What would I do without you……

Off to the Osteopath – this job is not kind to backs.

I now have an account with a new designer called Emily Burningham. Very pretty unusual floral designs, quite small patterns and unlike anything else I have. I also have a new  book from The Design Forum with lovely soft linens in great neutral soft colours. Pret a Vivre also have some great plain linens in a stunning range of colours which make up really well. We made some very long curtains for a barn conversion recently and they hung better than I had hoped for.

Hunter & Hyland have brought out a new range of  reasonably priced wooden poles in great colours and lovely finials – superb quality as usual from them.

More and more lambs appearing on the farm ( any mention of mint sauce is strictly forbidden) and although they are really sweet they look as though they are auditioning for a part in Brave Heart with all that blue dye on their backs! The special baby care unit is just behind the workroom and we can check on their progess.

Had a great Easter weekend in the New Forest with a diet of chocolate and Simnel cake and long walks. Bit cold and wet but it was a lovely break and I managed to catch up on some reading. I belong to a book club and last week’s meeting was held a place called “Wellies” along West Stoke road – a really friendly place with great soup and sandwiches – the main meals look good too.

Am really looking forward to starting work in a beautiful Georgian house in Chichester, also hopefully house in Southbourne. West Stoke House due for some replacement curtains in their reception area- melting snow caused water damage to the ones we made 5 years ago. If you have never eaten at West Stoke House then I urge you to try it, the food is delicious and the service is great. There is a lovely atmosphere there and we are lucky to have a Michelin Star restaurant so close – it is perfect for a special occasion. Unfortunately my birthday is ages away!

The poor baby lambs out in the cold  and wet on the farm, if I thought there was room in the workroom I would bring them in. I am sick of changing the gas bottle to keep us all warm at the moment and of paddling in mud. It would be lovely to go out without a coat on!

 With Easter nearly here all my thoughts about eating sensibly will be blown away by large chocolate eggs and simnel cake. I did lose 2 pounds once this week but they seem to have reappeared – depressing.

Happy choc. egg eating…….

Thank you so much for all the care and skills you all put into making our curtains. They add so much to the grace of our rooms, and they bring us pleasure when looking at them.