• Cath Kidston - handmade - sewing

    Cath Kidston inspired rainbow needle case

    I mentioned the other day how I was inspired to get my sewing box out after a visit to Cath Kidston in Piccadilly. I really loved the felt rainbow needle case and pincushion I saw but wanted to make my own version. It took me a while but here’s my finished Cath Kidston inspired rainbow needle case. I love working with felt and chose a selection of colours from my stash box. I drew a rainbow on a piece of paper and used it as a guide, cutting out each arc then pinning it to a larger piece of red…

  • Cath Kidston - days out - London

    Monday happy things

    My list of things making me happy is quite shallow this week – – Last week I went to the Hobbycraft press show (on my own!). It’s not often that the children are both looked after and I’m invited to something I want to go to but it all worked out for once. I picked up some lovely samples from their new Easter range so I’m sure there will be a little giveaway of those soon. – On the way home from the Hobbycraft show I just about managed to squeeze in a visit to my favourite Cath Kidston store…

  • Cath Kidston - Christmas

    Monday happy things

    We always seem to pack a lot into each week but the last week has been exceptionally busy. We hosted a family Christmas which was fun but tiring. Highlights included lots of lovely family time, great food, a trip to the local Lido for a Christmas Day walk, more fresh air in Black Park Country Park on Boxing Day and seeing a rather spectacular display of Christmas lights. Last week I found time to finish Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. It is the last instalment of The Hunger Games, following The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I’d watched the first two…

  • Cath Kidston - Sculpture trails

    Monday happy things

    I’m so happy that it’s half-term, I know I keep saying it but it’s true! My 2 year old and I had a day in the West End. The weather was perfect for walking around and I really enjoyed the Anarchy &Beauty exhibition at the NPG. It was hard work entertaining my 2 year old whilst we walked around, it saddens me that young children are so excluded from this kind of thing, but we treated ourselves to lunch at Wagamama afterwards. We spotted this fun Cath Kidston decorated bus at Piccadilly (one of 58 painted scale New Routemaster bus…

  • Cath Kidston - competition - days out - housekeeping

    Win an annual subscription to Journl

    Last week Little Sis and I had a day out in the West End. We’re having lots of fun together whilst her brother is at school and I thought we’d venture  a little further than normal. I love planning and making lists so used Journl to plan our day. I checked bus and tube times and made a note of them, researched exhibitions to see, places to eat and of course, some of our favourite shops to visit. We dropped the 4 year old at school, hopped on the bus to the station and caught the tube into the West…

  • Cath Kidston - days out - Knitting and Stitching Show

    Monday happy things

    Happy Monday everyone. I’m having trouble adjusting to the weather at the moment. The winter boots and coats are out and the heating is on! I feel the need for a shopping trip to pick up some more winter woolies. Luckily I have lots to make me smile: I had a fantastic day at The Knitting and Stitching Show on Saturday. My husband kindly looked after the children all day and sent me cute pics of them all enjoying themselves. This meant I was able to enjoy myself, attending workshops, learning about progging and buying lots and lots of lovely…

  • Cath Kidston - homestyle - interiors - London - vintage

    Living the London Life

    A couple of week ago I treated myself to a trip to the Cath Kidston flagship store at 180 Piccadilly. I say treated myself because I know I can never visit without buying something! I like all the stores, I’ve visited a few *ahem* but the flagship store is my favourite. Despite being in a modern building it’s decorated with modern vintage, obviously. I particularly love the display of board games in the Kids section which as you know I’ve done in our own house. The walls of the shop are lined with distressed wooden doors and make use of…

  • Cath Kidston - Christmas

    Being organised this Christmas with Post-It Index tabs

    I like to think I’m pretty organised but can definitely empathise with a recent survey by Post-it Index which found that 83 per cent of women have to flag up articles on a weekly basis, as they’re just too busy to read them properly at the time. I’m constantly flagging emails, blog posts and tasty looking recipes but find it really hard to ever get back to look at them…. Despite living in this digital world I much prefer reading magazines and books, perhaps because they’re more visible and not hidden away when I close the lid of my laptop…

  • Cath Kidston - Christmas - days out

    My grown up day out

    Today was a real pleasure as I got a chance to attend the second Mumsnet Blogfest. Last year was amazing, (was it really 12 months ago?) so I had high expectations for today. The day started off well with a lovely walk to the station. Before I knew it I had swapped my rural idyll for Kings Cross and couldn’t resist a quick look around the shops. First stop was Cath Kidston where I treated myself to a new cover for my iPad mini featuring her little birds print, a tin of Christmas mints and a roll of Happy Xmas!…