Bosherston lily ponds

Its been such a lovely few days weather wise so after a busy day at the studio we thought that we should make the most of it. Especially as here in the UK you never know how long it its going to last...

So we went over to Bosherston lily ponds, which are a good twenty-minute, drive from us but definitely worth it. The lilies were out in full bloom but I think that we left it to late in the day as they were starting to close up for the evening. Which was a shame but they were still beautiful.

I went over with my Dad and it was a great to have a natter and catch up about all sorts, Although we are very close we don’t often have time when its just the two of us (plus Teal); when one of us isn’t working, writing up reports, sorting jobs or just generally listening with one ear ... as we walked around the ponds we got talking about Mum who passed away just over a year ago. Its lovely sharing memories and we got on to speaking about her 'bucket list'... Some people may find a bucket list odd but it was lovely to help her do some of the things, some were silly things like seeing the end of the series of Gavin and Stacey on BBC 1 others were major family achievements like seeing my brother get married.

Which was an amazing day and it definitely made Mum and Dad very proud, my brother and his wife make a fab couple and they topped it all off with putting a deposit down on their house just days before Mum passed away. I think she was secretly waiting for this, as she knows they will be very happy there.

The lily ponds are normally wonderfully peaceful haha... but to night we picked the wrong night for that... as there were a large school group doing an orienteering task, which was funny as you could hear the kids shouting ''I cant see point 4'', ''come on we have to beat the others''...the whole way around the 2mile plus route we took.

But Teal loved her walk and it was definitely what we needed, some times you just need some fresh air and change of scenery... look how cute this toad sign is...

incy meets the Prince of Wales

Wow! Today was an exciting day for incy!... We met the PRINCE OF WALES.

Over 18months ago we had help from the Prince's trust to set up. We joined their Business Enterprise programe and gained a small set up loan. Which we used to produce our initial marketing materials and website... its amazing how many people think wow you got a loan. Straight away think you have loads of money in the bank. But until they open their own business they dont realise how much money is needed to set up and where it all needs to go!

So as an example of one of the 7 Princes Trust Businesses now up and running we were picked to show off our products at the Ffos Las racecourse, in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Ffos Las is the newest race course in the UK, and the day is hoped to boost the Welsh profile in racing. The day at the races which had been laid on in Prince Charles honour will have a slice of proceeds from ticket sales being donated to his chosen charities.

“I think this royal seal of approval will flag up Ffos Las to racegoers beyond Wales,” Commented horse trainer David Evans.

It was a great day with all the fun of the races and the buzz of the Prince being at the course. Along with meeting us Business Enterpreners and many other of the Princes charities. He then went on to watched the races and im sure he put on a sneeky bet before heading off on his helicopter...

So when I did get to meet the Prince he asked why she set up incy and the times that I had during the set up and how the Princes Trust has helped us... After a little chin wag about incy, I presented the Prince with a 'British Icon Telephone box' cushion. He was very impressed asking how it was sewn and say that it would be great for his back!

We also had Clarance House asking who gave the ''stunning cuhion''. All in all it was a good day and it was great to speak with lots of press and just to generally spread the incy word... just  a shame it was drizzly day, but we are used to that in Wales.

A hard week

This time last year myself and my close family were nursing my mum through her final days...

In late October 2009 my mum suffered with a stroke and within 10 days we found out that she had two type 4 malignant brain tumours both of which were uncurable. After a debulking operation in November we knew that we were on borrowed time as mum had terminal brain cancer.

So I quickly realised that I had to gain all the skills that I could from my mum, many of the things that most mothers and daughters would share on a day to day basis.My mum taught me to sew from a young age, and at the age of four I got my first singer sewing machine for christmas. From then on sewing was a hobbie that we both shared and had a huge passion for. Mum was a very talented quilter having had commissons and a one man show.

From November onwards I became a full time carer along with my dad and brother. Together we took over everthing as well as looking after all of mum's needs dealing with Radio and Chemo therapy.

But I never make things easy for myself and through out the exhaustion, heart ache and fustration, I decided to push the incy dream and make it a reality along with looking after my own health.

My mum was the first person to order off the website a 'ladybird' notebook which she actually used as an amazing diary in her final months.I was desperate for my mum to see incy succeeding and make her proud of me, after 7months hard work and very emotional times my mum passed away at home on the 7^th June. As a year comes round all  the emotions and heart ache come back...

Often I think ooh ill tell mum that or i see something that I know she would love to see and it's then that I remember that she isn't here to share those memories with...

My family have been amazing and we have some how managed to get through this year, and wow it has flown! I don't believe in the after life or ghoasts and gools but I often wonder if she knows what Im doing now? or how I feel...

This time last year was the hardest thing I will ever go through...waking every day to discover what the next day would hold with my mum and if we would see another day! My mum will always be the inspiration behind incy. This may have been the hardest thing I have ever done but it the proudest thing ive ever done and those months hold alot of memories that will stay with me for ever...

On tuesday a year may have pasted but it dosn't mean the memories have faded or been lost . I may find comfort looking at old pictures and wearing my mums rings... 

My mum was an amazing mum and I'm proud to say that she was mine and will always be mine, even if she is not here to hold me close and say that xxx

The long course in Tenby

Yesterday after a full day of sewing and sorting stock I thought a good two mile walk along south beach in Tenby would clear my head...hehe 
Little did I know that the long course were doing there swim! So as i got down to the beach with Teal, we were meet by over a hundred men and women in wetsuits doing the challenging 1.9k or 3.8k swim in the cold welsh sea!

Then today while dropping of more stock with one of our boutiques that we stock in Tenby. I was meet with the same crazy but brave people finishing the Bike ride of either 56 or 112miles! The event was being broadcast live over Radio Pembrokeshire and for those of you that listen you will know that they do a great job of keeping every one up to date on whats going on in the county and filling our radios with cheesy music! hehe everyone loves a bit of cheese now and again.


Wow is all I can say these guys deserved a putty pedal as my mums gran used to say! Im sure they got a medal and a lot of support. 


Take a peek at the fab video on there site it shows the crazy people in action...

http://www.triandenter.com/our-events/tenby-long-course-weekend/