• Family Life

    AD/Weekend puzzling with Jigsaw Avenue

    What did you get up to over the weekend? My daughter came back from her first residential weekend and was very tired so we had a quiet weekend at home. It gave us the chance to try some puzzles that Jigsaw Avenue kindly gifted us. Weekend puzzling with Jigsaw Avenue We couldn’t wait to try a new jigsaw puzzle. We find they are a great family activity that we can all get involved with. We chose to try the Paris jigsaw from their Cities range, a 1000 piece puzzle, featuring a cool collage style. Let your digital detox begin with…

  • Royal crafts

    DIY Union Jack Liberty flag

    Did you know that there was a ‘right’ way to hang a Union Jack? Apparently an upside-down Union Jack is used as a sign of distress. Even worse, it can be seen as offensive to some! Last week I was playing around with some of my gorgeous Liberty London Tana Lawn to create a fun Union Jack Liberty flag. The union Jack has so much history behind it, incorporating the English and Scottish flags with the cross of Ireland’s St Patrick. DIY Union Jack Liberty flag I had the idea to make my own DIY Union Jack flag from my…

  • sewing - subscription box

    Spring stitching with the Spring Craftpod 2022 box

    Spring is my favourite season, along with Autumn. I love watching my garden come to life after the winter months and this year I have reaped the rewards of all the planting I did last year. Spring stitching with the Spring Craftpod 2022 box My garden is full of wild violets which I can never bear to pull up. I’m glad I didn’t as one of the projects in my latest subscription box was a sweet embroidered glasses case featuring violets. I do love my crafty subscription boxes and the Spring Craftpod box was full of treats. I especially loved…

  • Family Life

    Buying Cars: New vs Second-Hand

    Disclosure – this is a sponsored post When it comes to shoes, buy new. When it comes to furniture, second-hand is fine if it’s in good condition, especially if it’s an antique. And when it comes to cars many people think, erroneously, that new is the only way to go. Now there are benefits to buying new cars – that gorgeous new car smell, for a start! – but there are equal, if not superior, benefits to buying second-hand too! Let’s take a look. Buying Cars: New vs Second-Hand No Recall Risk New cars are fresh off the assembly line,…

  • Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 395}

    Starting the week by writing the Monday Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while. It’s a chance for me to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures. It’s a post I always love to write. Monday Happy Things {Week 395} I love a four day working week! It went super quickly and was pretty busy. We have a house full of Star Wars fans so baked some special Jar Jar Binks shortbread biscuits for Star Wars Day! Have you…

  • days out - Hillingdon

    Re-visiting Church Gardens, Harefield

    A few weeks ago we had the chance to re-visit Church Gardens, Harefield. This is a private garden but open on certain days throughout the year. It’s in a lovely part of north Hillingdon, well worth a visit with kids as there’s always something new to see. Re-visiting Church Gardens, Harefield Our last visit was six months ago so we were looking forward to seeing the gardens in a different season. Our first stop was the walled garden. As it was the beginning of Spring the daffodils were in full bloom. The greenhouse was full of seedlings and it was…

  • What I'm reading

    Hoop Quilts for Beginners {book review}

    I love reading craft books, I find them so inspiring especially when I want to try something new. I was recently gifted a copy of Hoop Quilts for Beginners by Anne Marie Chany via NetGalley. I loved the cover of the book – I know you should never judge a book by its cover – which was bright and colourful! Hoop Quilts for Beginners by Anne Marie Chany Hoop Quilts for Beginners: 15 Designs Using Easy Patchwork and Embroidery is by Anne Marie Chany. The craft of hoop quilts combine simple quilting techniques with embroidery, patchwork, and other favourite fabric…

  • Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 394}

    Starting the week by writing the Monday Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while. It’s a chance for me to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures. It’s a post I always love to write. Monday Happy Things {Week 394} I finished the sweetest little embroidered banner which came with Love Embroidery magazine over the weekend. I love a small project which I know I can finish in a few days and it got me back into the mood…

  • days out - Local Review - London - Royal crafts

    How to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in London with kids

    In June, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee (a whopping 70 years of service). The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend takes place between 2nd – 5th June with events taking place all around the country. How to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in London with kids Trooping the Colour (Saturday 2nd June) Trooping the Colour takes place annually to celebrate the Queen’s birthday . More than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade to mark The Queen’s official birthday. Platinum Party at the Palace…