• Christmas Stocking Hoop Kit
    Christmas - Crafts for adults

    {love embroidery} Christmas Stocking Hoop Kit

    November 22, 2025 - By 

    Life has been busy lately. Our evenings are full and I haven’t felt like picking up my Christmas Countdown sampler after work. Instead I’ve been picking up quick wins, such as the Christmas Stocking Hoop Kit which came with last month’s issue of Love Embroidery magazine. I wish I could stitch bigger projects but I just don’t feel like it, work takes all my energy at this time of year. {love embroidery} Christmas Stocking Hoop Kit The Christmas Stocking kit contained a pre-printed panel, coloured hoop and thread. All I needed to find was a needle and scissors. I gave…

  • days out

    7 ideas to make the most of a trip to Belfast with teens

    November 19, 2025 - By 

    Over half term we had a couple of days away with the teens in Belfast. Here are our 7 ideas to make the most of a weekend trip to Belfast: 7 ideas to make the most of a trip to Belfast with teens The teens love to do a mix of activities on a city break. They both enjoy learning about new areas so we knew they would love a London black cab taxi ride to explore the Peace Wall and find out more about Belfast during the Troubles. We saw a lot of street art and murals, and our…

  • Nutcracker trail at Cliveden
    Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 46/2025}

    November 16, 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 little or big things that made me smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures. Five Happy Things {Week 46/2025} Last week was such a quiet week after the previous week. We all needed a rest after such a busy half term away. We bought the Star Wars Gingerbread AT-AT Walker from the Lego Store! Not that our house needs any more Lego but we…

  • Gift guide - gingerbread

    2025 gingerbread gift guide

    November 13, 2025 - By 

    I’m excited to share my 2025 Gingerbread gift guide with you today. Over the last few weeks I’ve found so many fun and wonderful gingerbread themed festive products. There are gingerbread house kits, gingerbread flavoured treats and some gingerbread themed stocking fillers for the kids. I’ll be updating my gift guide in the run up to Christmas so feel free to leave me a comment if you find anything I need to know about! 2025 gingerbread gift guide Stocking fillers Gingerbread flavour Maltesers Mini Reindeers. Available from all major supermarkets, priced around £2.00 Decorated Gingerbread Man Cookies. Available from B&M,…

  • joyeux noel banner
    Crafts for adults

    Christmas banner kit {joyeux noel}

    November 10, 2025 - By 

    I love crafting at Christmas. Although I regularly display my finished hoops and quilts there’s something lovely about Christmas makes. Maybe it’s because they are on display for longer? I liked the look of the Christmas banner kit from Love Embroidery magazine, this was a freebie cover gift, designed by Hello! Hooray! The kit contained the pre-printed fabric panel, embroidery thread and wooden dowel. All I needed to supply was an embroidery hoop, needle and scissors. I took this little sewing project when we went away to Whitstable for a weekend. It was a great size for a little weekend…

  • Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 45/2025}

    November 9, 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 little or big things that made me smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures. Five Happy Things {Week 45/2025} The teens have a two week half term so we took them to Belfast for a few days away. We visited the Titanic Museum; took a black cab ride round Belfast to learn about this history of the Troubles and see the painted murals and…

  • paper origami rockets
    Bonfire Night crafts - Paper craft

    Bonfire Night paper origami rockets

    November 5, 2025 - By 

    Looking for a fun paper craft to celebrate Bonfire Night and all those colourful rockets? Try our paper origami rockets with the kids this year. List of supplies: Coloured papers (medium-light weight) Craft glue A pair of scissors How to make paper origami rockets: Prepare a 4” x 4” square paper for the rocket, 2” x 2” yellow, and 1” x 1” orange paper for the fire part. Let’s start with the fire pattern. Take the yellow square paper and fold it in half, diagonally. Mark the middle point of the current pattern’s closed side. Fold down the right corner…

  • Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 44/2025}

    November 3, 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 little or big things that made me smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures. Five Happy Things {Week 44/2025} The kids have a two week half term (!) so spent the week at home relaxing mainly. Big Brother has been working his way through his Year 11 homework and Little Sis went to a couple of art classes to keep her busy. We popped…

  • Crafts for adults

    What I made October 2025

    October 30, 2025 - By 

    October was a great month for making. I also visited the Knit & Stitch Show which is one of my favourite days out. Read on to see what I’ve made this month. What I made October 2025 At the start of the month we picked up the ceramic pumpkins we made at our local pottery cafe last month. They turned out really well and have been on display ever since. Earlier in the month I made my annual trip to the Knit & Stitch Show, went fabric shopping and attended three totally different craft workshops. The chance to try a…