• days out

    A trip to The Knit & Stitch Show 2025

    October 11, 2025 - By 

    Yesterday I made my annual trip to The Knit & Stitch Show in London. It was held at Ally Pally and as we used to live nearby, I am always happy to visit the area with it’s magnificent views over north London. A trip to The Knit & Stitch Show 2025 I booked my workshops in advance and had an early start to get there for 8.30 before the show opened. My first workshop was making re-useable fabric crackers with Janet Goddard. I’ve wanted to make these for ages and a workshop was a great way see if I would…

  • Simple paper cone cat craft for kids
    Crafts for kids - Halloween crafts

    Simple paper cone cat craft for kids

    October 8, 2025 - By 

    With Halloween a few weeks away I’ve been sharing some of our favourite Halloween crafts over on Pinterest. Our origami witch’s hat and accordion fold bat are always super popular. This year we’re excited to share a new Halloween craft for kids with you, our simple paper cone cat craft for kids. This makes a lucky black cat which is perfect for Halloween! List of supplies: Coloured craft papers Scissors Googly eyes Pencil Craft glue Sharpies Paper cone cat template Simple paper cone cat craft for kids Print out and prepare the template patterns. Select coloured craft papers for the…

  • The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose
    Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 40/2025}

    October 6, 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 40/2025} We spent the last week trying to enjoy the seasons but Hallowmas/Christoween continues and it’s so confusing. It feels like Halloween is being replaced by Christmas in the shops, and it’s far too early for me. Although I’ve been enjoying stitching the small motifs on…

  • Crafts for adults

    What I made September 2025

    September 30, 2025 - By 

    We love September, with the cooler days and leaves turning all different colours. Although we are busy with the teens back at school and their after school activities, the short evenings make it a fun time to sit around and craft. With Halloween and Christmas to look forward to, there is no shortage or projects to work on. What I made September 2025: I started the month by making the embroidered postcards which came with Love Embroidery magazine. It was fun to embroider onto card. Then we made Halloween costumes for our Maileg mice. It’s been many years since we…

  • homestyle

    Warm Up Your Home: Sash Window Tweaks That Cut Bills Fast

    September 29, 2025 - By 

    British winters find the tiniest crack and make the house feel as if the North Sea is moving in. Draughty sashes whistle, meeting rails scarcely meet, and single panes mist up the moment the kettle boils. By dawn the cill looks tearful, the paint is sulking and the boiler has been tap dancing all night. Comfort leaks at the usual suspects. Staff and parting beads have loosened with age, pulley apertures behave like tiny megaphones and the frame to masonry joint has lost its pliable seal. Putty has cracked, gaskets have flattened and the odd distorted sash leaves a gap…

  • 3d printed lego pieces
    Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 39/2025}

    September 28, 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 39/2025} My daughter and I spotted a ceramic pumpkin workshop at Wick and Ceramic in Ickenham (where we made little Jellycats earlier this year). We went along and learned how to make pumpkins and used special ceramic glaze paints to decorate them. We are waiting for…

  • Tech!

    How London’s small businesses can protect themselves in a digital world

    September 25, 2025 - By 

    London is full of creativity and entrepreneurship. From artisan bakeries to quirky concept stores and cosy cafés, the city is buzzing with new ventures. Even unique places like cat cafés have become part of the capital’s vibrant small business scene. But running a business in today’s world means relying on websites, online booking systems and social media – and that brings digital risks. Why online security matters for small businesses Small businesses are attractive targets for hackers because they often have fewer resources to invest in cyber security. Data breaches, phishing attacks and stolen customer information can be costly and…

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
    Five Happy Things

    Five Happy Things {Week 38/2025}

    September 22, 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 smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures. Five Happy Things {Week 38/2025} It’s clearly Autumn as we’ve been enjoying some of our favourite meals. Last week I made my first Toad in the Hole (usually my husband makes it) and there have been homemade flapjacks too, the perfect after school treat for the kids. I added a layer of mincemeat…

  • Maileg mice costumes
    Crafts for teens

    Easy Maileg Halloween costumes

    September 20, 2025 - By 

    My daughter and I have been making some little Halloween costumes for our Maileg mouse collection. Halloween is one of favourite times of year, we’ve already made so many Halloween crafts! Easy Maileg Halloween costumes This is an easy craft and we used acrylic paint we already had, as well as four cardboard tubes. We used cardboard tubes to make our miniature Halloween costumes – a pumpkin, ghost, monster and bat. First we painted the cardboard tubes, leaving the bottom as we knew we would need to cut the cardboard tubes. We set them aside to dry, and gave them…