A Bit Of This And That

01/05/2026

Hey there, ABOTAT fans! It's been a while!

So, what have I been up to since my last post? Well, sadly, my workshop in the Ely Street Antiques Centre Courtyard is no more. It was glorious while it lasted, but it just wasn't meant to be. This time... Perhaps I'll be back again one day, fingers crossed!

I'm still making, mending and tinkering though! Most recently, I finally got around to a bit of mending of my own (one's own to-do piles are always the last to get done). A hoodie that's in perfect condition, except that the cuffs had frayed. A perfect opportunity to try out a bit of visible mending I hadn't had a crack at before. I'm pretty happy with the results to be honest. I love the colours and now my hoodie has a great new feature!

Also, any of you lovely folks who were in town for the Bard's birthday bash might have seen my marvellous husband, and proprietor of CadabrArt Gallery, Graham dressed for the occasion in a very subtle Tudor bonnet and shoulder cape of my construction. Again, I love how these came out, and Gray had a great (albeit rather warm) time swishing about looking wonderful 😁

So, if there's anything you need mending, altering, or making then give me a shout! And if not, then enjoy your long weekend x

24/10/2025

With Halloween fast approaching, ABOTAT is getting a little bit spooky with the latest additions: an adjustable bustle skirt (one size fits most!) in shiny, slinky black, and an elasticated stripy skirt (~sizes 12-18 probably?)

Everything is one of a kind here, and it's all made by me!

Come on over to Ely Street Antiques Centre Courtyard and see if anything takes your fancy 😁

10/10/2025

With spooky season upon us, and with those chilly evenings drawing in, why not combine practical warmth with costume-y silliness and grab yourself a handmade jester hat?

An absolute must for the discerning, sartorially-minded fool about town.

Come along and see what other strange and silly things might take your fancy! We're here Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm at the Ely Street Antiques Centre Courtyard

What3Words: taking.counts.repair

(Thanks, as ever, to the gorgeous Gray at CadabrArt Gallery for being a marvellous model)

09/10/2025

Wow, so tempting! Sure, Meta, I'll definitely spend actual money for zero reward! Thanks for the suggestion! 😆

07/10/2025

Another commission complete! I was asked to make a wizard's robe (more accurately, a Wizzard's robe) and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out 😁

Here it is being expertly modelled by the wonderful Gray of the equally wonderful CadabrArt Gallery

He's always happy to be my clothes horse when needed. Just one of the many benefits of working next door to one's husband 😊

03/10/2025

The weather is decidedly unsociable today, so what's a maker to do?

Something silly, of course!

Warm hat season is upon us...

Come by the workshop and take a look, and also pop in to my marvellous neighbours here at Ely Street Antiques Centre Courtyard 😁

What3Words: taking.counts.repair

26/09/2025

Finally got a sign on the door! As with everything else, it's a work in progress but, as a first draft/ prototype, I'm pretty happy with it 😊

Come on down and see my strange collections at the Ely Street Antiques Centre Courtyard, Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm.

What3Words: taking.counts.repair

19/09/2025

It's really cool what you can make with things that other people have discarded. Years ago, a guitarist in a band sent me biscuit tin filled with all of his used strings. Why did he keep them in the first place? We'll never know.

But now some of them have become pretty little flowers that help brighten up the space here at ABOTAT. And why not 😊

19/09/2025

I'll be at this brilliant event, showing just a few ideas of things you can make out of other things, as well as teaching a few basic clothing repair skills to anyone who wants to learn 😀

Don't forget it's our free Community Sale and Swap event this Sunday 21st September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 10am-2pm. It'll be a fun-filled day including free bike repairs, pre-loved baby items and school uniform for sale, free scissors and secateurs sharpening, crafting activities, a give and take stand, small tabletop sale and more! Free parking available. Have fun, save money and the planet!

12/09/2025

Meet another member of the ABOTAT team: this is Ray, my trusty pin cushion. He does a marvellous job and I'd be lost without him.

A few people have expressed concern that Ray might be uncomfortable with so many pins and needles in him, or that perhaps some poor creature somewhere in the world is suffering as a result.

I prefer to think that, somewhere in the furthest chilly reaches of the earth, a snow tiger with debilitating sciatica has been miraculously cured thanks to my amazing voodoo acupuncture.

Ray can most often be seen gazing out of the window, watching people go by. Feel free to drop by to Ely Street Antiques Centre Courtyard and say Hi, I'm sure he'd love the attention