• book review - Craft book review - handmade - Patchwork & Quilting - sewing - What I'm reading

    All Points Patchwork book review

    I love to make quilts but always stick to the same, safe designs. Recently I’ve begun to experiment and tried my hand at jewel, octagon, triangle and diamonds EPP – baby steps! I was interested to hear about All Points Patchwork: English Paper Piecing beyond the Hexagon, for Quilts & Small Projects by Diane Gilleland, published by Storey Publishing. image credit I received a copy to review and read it in one evening. It’s a lovely book and I learned so much from it. I’ve taught myself which is why I’m always happiest following other people’s tutorials and patterns. All…

  • homestyle - interiors - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Fillable wooden letter sea glass decoration

    Every year we rent a gorgeous cottage on the beach in Devon. It’s the most amazing place and we would live there in a flash if we could. The children love to pick up sea glass and bits of pottery which has been washed onto the beach and we always bring back a pocketful to remind us of our holiday. We’ve already had our week by the sea and wanted to do something with our beach treasure. When I was in Hobbycraft I spotted the perfect receptacle – fillable wooden letters! How to clean sea glass First you need to…

  • Cath Kidston - sewing

    Monday happy things

    I’m not sure why Monday always surprises me but it does. I had the laziest weekend possible as I really needed to recharge my batteries and now I’m ready to share my Monday Happy Things. Yesterday I finished piecing all the hexagons for my union flag quilt. My 3 year old really wants me to finish ‘her’ quilt and was keen to photo bomb my photographs this morning.  I’m going to add a panel of solid to either side of the pieced union flag to make it large enough to cover her bed. I just need to find time to…

  • Kids crafts - tutorial

    Recipe for Minion play dough

    This morning we shared the fun we’ve been having with the new Ravensburger Minions Movie Jigsaw Puzzle. We love those little yellow Minions so thought we’d make our own Minion play dough. Recipe for Minion play dough: 150g plain flour 100g salt 2 tsp. cream of tartar 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 140ml water How to make Minion play dough: Place all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix. Add the oil and half the water and mix well. Stir a sachet of lemonade flavoured drink mix powder Kool Aid with the remaining water until the powder has dissolved and…

  • playing - toy review

    Ravensburger Minions Movie Jigsaw Puzzle

    Are you looking forward to the new Minions film which is released this summer? Our family love Minions so were excited to review the new Ravensburger Minions Movie Jigsaw Puzzle which ties in to the new film. Ravensburger Minions Movie Jigsaw Puzzle The Ravensburger Minions Movie Jigsaw Puzzle contains 4 jigsaws in a box (12, 16, 20 and 24 pieces) and is aimed at children aged 3+. My 3 and 5 year old were happy to sit down together to try out the jigsaw puzzles. The puzzles featuring the Minions characters Stuart, Bob and Kevin in various situations. My children…

  • Father's Day - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Craft stick photo frames for Father’s Day

    Father’s Day is soon approaching here in the UK and my 5 year old has really wanted to make something for his Dad. I recently received a really cute roll of washi tape so thought we would use this to make craft stick frames as a little Father’s Day gift. Equipment needed to make craft stick photo frames: washi tape craft sticks scissors glue dots photograph or drawing How to make craft stick photo frames: First cover each craft stick with the washi tape. Fold over any spare tape. Cut your photograph or drawing to the shape you want and…

  • Fairy garden crafts - garden crafts - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Craft Stick Fairy Door

    I’m so excited to share a really sweet craft with you today. We love playing with our fairy gardens, yes we have two, and have been thinking of little things to make for them. I wanted to make a new fairy door for our upcycled milk bottle fairy house. We’ve been using a painted stone fairy door but needed something a bit bigger. Easy Craft Stick Fairy Door I experimented with craft sticks to make a new fairy door. I choose a rainbow of colours, placed them in the right order and used Titebond Wood Glue to hold them all…

  • Cath Kidston - sewing

    Cath Kidston-inspired ric rac skirt

    I love Cath Kidston and was totally inspired by her use of ric rac to make a Cath Kidston-inspired ric rac skirt for my daughter. I bought a cute little denim skirt and four different coloured 1m lengths of ric rac. I pinned each piece of ric rac to the bottom of the skirt starting from the side seam. I used the hem to line them up and keep them evenly spaced. Then I turned the skirt inside out and started sewing on the ric rac with my machine. I used white thread as a contrast to the colours of…

  • competition - playing

    Win an Ugo Owl play tent worth £24.99

    The weather was amazingly warm today which meant we spent much of the day outside. Fingers crossed this is the start of summer and to celebrate, I have a lovely summery giveaway. I’ve teamed up with GetGo, who is part of the Worlds Apart family, and have the new GetGo Űgo Owl Play Tent to giveaway. Twist open a world of imagination with the new GetGo Űgo Owl Play Tent this summer and make playtime a hoot. GetGo has convenience at its heart and its range of outdoor play products offers active play, with no fuss! The innovative new GetGo…