• homestyle - interiors

    Turning Your Bedroom into a Multi-Purpose Haven

    February 8, 2025 - By 

    Pictured: Julian Bowen Pickwick Wooden Bed Frame, available from Bedstar (priced £223): the bed height is sufficient for drawers to be used as under bed storage. Turning Your Bedroom into a Multi-Purpose Haven Are you a creative soul looking to transform your bedroom into a multifunctional haven for your crafting and sewing hobbies? With a little creativity and organisation, you can turn your bedroom into a multi-purpose haven that inspires creativity while maintaining comfort and functionality. Here are some ideas to get you started: 1. Dedicate a Craft Corner Designate your workspace by using a rug, a different colour on…

  • Exploring Jane Austen's House in Chawton
    days out - Hampshire

    Exploring Jane Austen’s House in Chawton

    February 5, 2025 - By 

    Did you know that in 2025 we will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, one of my favourite British authors. She is as popular as ever and we are looking forward to having the opportunity to celebrate her life and works this year. We are already hooked on Miss Austen, the tv adaptation of Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, and we are looking forward to finding out about all of the events happening this year. Exploring Jane Austen’s House in Chawton A few years ago we decided to visit Jane Austen’s house is Chawton. This…

  • Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 5/2025}

    February 2, 2025 - By 

    Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for the last few years. It’s my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. Five Happy Things {Week 5/2025} We did some major decluttering this weekend. I don’t know how we have so much stuff but every shelf and drawer seems to be overflowing. I’ve been ruthless and taken bags to the local tip as well as the charity shops. Hopefully someone else will be…

  • Crafts for adults

    What I made in January 2025

    January 31, 2025 - By 

    The longest month of the year is finally over! January is my least favourite month so this year I set myself a few projects to complete. I hoped this would make the month go a little quicker, seeing the weeks pass through the finished projects on my work table. The first project completed was this sweet little log cabin embroidery hoop. This was a free cover gift which I had started but not finished. It only took a few hours to finish.   My second completed project was the cute gingerbread house embroidery hoop, another free cover gift with an…

  • Crafts for adults

    How to Turn Your Child’s Drawings into Animated Clips

    January 30, 2025 - By 

    Creating animated clips from children’s artwork is a wonderful way to celebrate their imagination. Transforming a drawing into a short animation can bring their creativity to life in a fun and interactive way. This activity encourages artistic growth while allowing parents and children to collaborate on something meaningful. By combining simple tools with creative thinking, children can see their ideas take shape in a lively, engaging format. The process of finding tools to make animation can seem challenging. However, with accessible resources and straightforward guidance, anyone can create animated clips to share with loved ones. Watching a child’s artwork move…

  • felt shamrock bookmark
    Crafts for adults - Crafts for teens - Crafts for tweens - St Patrick's Day crafts

    Easy felt shamrock bookmark

    January 29, 2025 - By 

    If you are looking for a fun craft to celebrate St Patricks Day then I have a lovely craft to share today. My daughter loves to read so we had a lot of fun designing these felt shamrock corner bookmarks. Use felt and thread to create them and you will never lose your page again. List of supplies: Felt (I used white, light green and dark green) Needle Matching threads Pencil or fabric marker A pair of scissors Free felt shamrock template How to make a felt shamrock bookmark Prepare the template patterns and select different shades of green coloured…

  • Paddington mural in London
    Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 4/2025}

    January 26, 2025 - By 

    Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for the last few years. It’s my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. Five Happy Things {Week 4/2025} Last week I finished embroidering and stitching the cute little gingerbread manor house pincushion from Pretty Fabrics and Trims. This was a real joy to stitch over the last few weeks, I always enjoy a pattern from them. It’s currently sitting with all my other gingerbread…

  • felt gingerbread pincushion
    Crafts for adults - gingerbread house

    Felt gingerbread manor house pincushion

    January 24, 2025 - By 

    For the last few years Pretty Fabrics and Trims have produced a Christmas charity pattern. Last year was the adorable North Pole set which I loved making, and finished stitching in January too. This years pattern was a felt gingerbread manor house so of course I had to make a donation and buy it. I was able to use my own supplies to make this little pincushion, choosing some gingerbread and white coloured felt, embroidery threads and white seed beads. I used freezer paper to cut the different pieces, this is a technique I’ve only recently learned, and find it…

  • St Patrick's Day clay leprechaun craft
    Crafts for adults - Crafts for teens - Crafts for tweens - St Patrick's Day crafts

    St Patrick’s Day clay leprechaun craft

    January 21, 2025 - By 

    January is a looong month but we are already looking forward to all the special days which will shortly be coming up. We love celebrating St Patrick’s Day and couldn’t resist adding this clay leprechaun craft with you. It’s definitely a craft for older children and my teens love playing with my clay supply. These lucky little leprechauns are dressed in lots of green and may just bring you a pot of gold if you treat them well. List of supplies: Air dry clay or foam clay – you will need a selection of different coloured clays of your choice…