• DIY marquee light tutorial - the gingerbread house
    birthday - handmade - tutorial

    DIY Marquee Light Tutorial

    March 6, 2015 - By 

    I saw an amazing DIY at the Hobbycraft press show I attended last month. They had DIY marquee letters in their wedding section and with my son turning 5 later this month I thought I would make a little DIY marquee light in the number 5 for his birthday party. It was a really simple craft but so effective, I know he’s going to love it! Materials needed to make a DIY Marquee Light: gold spray paint 3D papier mache cardboard number white battery operated LED tea light candles center punch scalpel Easy DIY marquee light tutorial: First decide if…

  • competition - handmade - sewing

    Kirstie Allsopp Fabric Pin Cushion Kit giveaway

    February 27, 2015 - By 

    Are you giving a gift this Mother’s Day? I have a lovely little giveaway to share with you today, and it would make a lovely gift, for your Mum or Nan. Or you could keep it and make it for yourself! I’m a huge fan of  Kirstie Allsopp and her craft kits range at Hobbycraft. Today I have a lovely Kirstie Allsopp Fabric Pin Cushion Kit to giveaway, and the winner should receive it in time for Mother’s Day on March 15th. image credit This kit is beautifully presented in a gorgeous floral box. This charming pin cushion kit is…

  • handmade - quilt

    Monthly Makes – February

    February 26, 2015 - By 

    February has been  great month for me. Although sometimes it’s felt like I have been drowning under blog posts I’ve managed to find time for some sewing. My Union flag quilt is coming along nicely. I took it away with us over half term and spent quite a lot of time on it. I’ve evened up the sides so the stripes are really noticeable. It’s still going to grow a lot more but I’m really pleased with it. I’m putting aside for a while as I need to spend some time thinking how I’m going to finish it off. It’s…

  • Cath Kidston - handmade - sewing

    Cath Kidston inspired rainbow needle case

    February 24, 2015 - By 

    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…

  • competition - crafts - handmade - Handmade gifts - sewing - Valentines Day crafts

    Win 1 of 2 Sew Your Own craft kits

    February 11, 2015 - By 

    I have been enjoying all the heart themed crafts over the last few weeks. There’s just something about the bright colours at this generally gloomy time of year. Our house is filled with hand made cards, decorations and a few sweet treats too. My children are a lovely age for this little celebration and they’ve really enjoyed making cards for everyone. With two young children much of my crafting is now aimed at them. They love to craft more than anything and our house is filled with their work. I figure I have plenty of time to craft when they…

  • book review - crafts - handmade

    The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon bookazine

    February 6, 2015 - By 

    I’m so happy The Great British Sewing Bee is back on. I really enjoyed the first episode last night and I’m awe of the contestants sewing skills. Some dress making skills are definitely on my wish list this year! I love to sew so was really excited to hear about the new Mollie Makes bookazine – The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon. This is a collaboration with Comic Relief (obvs!) and the bookazine features over 50 marvellous makes for Red Nose Day  (13th March 2015). I rushed out to buy a copy last week (Sainsbury’s Pinner if anyone is local to…

  • Dolls quilts - handmade - Patchwork & Quilting - sewing

    Decorating our home with quilts

    January 8, 2015 - By 

    Two new quilts have been added to my quilt gallery wall. Over the Christmas holiday I re-arranged some of the pieces to include my Wild Olive Winter Stitching Club piece which was a snowflake shaped quilted mat. I love the colours and unusual shape. I have also added my finished ticker tape quilt. Last year I wrote about the Hand Quilting workshop with Charlotte Newland I attended. We had to bring an unfinished quilt to work on and this little quilt was stuffed in my sewing box. Since I messed up the binding I just didn’t wanted to finish it off…

  • book review - crafts - handmade

    What I’m reading: Indigo by Nicola Gouldsmith

    January 4, 2015 - By 

    Indigo is one of the colours of the rainbow, as easily recognised as it is fashionable. From its origins as a naturally produced dye, most common in India, to its ubiquitous appearance in blue jeans today, indigo has travelled far and wide. Just before Christmas I was sent a copy of a new book called Indigo. Inside the author, Nicola Gouldsmith, shows you how to use indigo to dye fabric in different ways, including dip-dyeing, tie-dyeing and printing and stencilling, as well as basic plain dyeing. She then shows you how to use the results of your dyeing to make…

  • Paper bell garland for New Year
    handmade - Kids crafts - New Year crafts - tutorial

    Paper bell garland for New Year

    January 1, 2015 - By 

    The festivities have not dampened my children’s desire to craft. We managed to squeeze in another quick New Year craft which I wanted to tell you about. We made a sweet little paper bell garland for New Year.   Equipment needed to make a paper bell garland: gold coloured paper scissors pencil pipe cleaners sellotape twine How to make a paper bell garland: Find something large and circular to draw around, I picked an old coffee jar, and drew and cut out 6 circles. Find the top of each circle and make two folds to create the bell shape like…