• doll quilt
    Dolls quilts - vintage

    Another vintage dolls bed

    October 1, 2014 - By 

    I’ve been naughty and bought another vintage dolls bed for my daughter. We were out shopping in Pinner last week and I spotted a beautiful vintage dolls bed in an RSPCA charity shop. I have to admit that my daughter already has a couple of doll beds. In fact she has two she plays with, and there’s another two waiting to be painted in the spare room! Another vintage dolls bed I was trying to be good so I looked at it, thought it was very sweet in its original state, then walked way. We had lunch and I thought…

  • crafts - handmade - Handmade gifts - sewing - swaps

    Monthly makes – September

    September 30, 2014 - By 

    September was a pretty busy month for making things. Aside from crafting with the children, which happens pretty much every day, there was also some baking with carrot cakes and a lovely Victoria sponge. There was the finishing off of WIPs and making a start on handmade gifts for Christmas so I thought I would write about my Monthly Makes. The month started with the London-themed ATC I made for a swap. I embroidered a London bus (from a pattern in Annela Hoey’s Little Stitches). I received a lovely ATC from my partner, she created a sandcastle and used a…

  • days out - Handmade gifts - National Trust - Orla Kiely

    Monday happy things

    September 29, 2014 - By 

    So it’s only the second time I have written my Monday happy post but already it’s making me happy just thinking about what to write about. I’ve decided to pick 5 things which have made me happy over the last week but I could easily have written more: On Saturday we booked ourselves on a tour of the beautiful Red House, the only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement. He only lived in it for 5 years but it still retains some pieces of furniture, wall paintings and decorations that…

  • Christmas - gingerbread - Handmade gifts

    10 gingerbread foods to bake

    September 28, 2014 - By 

    You know by now that I love gingerbread, not just at Christmas but all year round. I’ve drawn up a little list of 10 of my favourite gingerbread foods to bake. We love making gingerbread men as much as anyone but some of these are just a little bit different and so much fun. 10 gingerbread foods to bake You can make gingerbread biscuits in any shape or size. I’ve been collecting vintage cookie cutters for years and my children love to rifle through the collection to choose their favourites. I have a never fail gingerbread recipe and sometimes the…

  • homemade - homestyle - housekeeping - interiors - London - vintage

    On my mantel – September

    September 27, 2014 - By 

    I love reading Tales from a Happy House and how her mantel charts the seasons in her house. When I saw her invitation to join in I knew I had to, albeit a little last minute as usual. Our fireplace is pretty nasty but I love the mantel in our living room, it’s a real focal point and I just had to share what’s on my mantel this month. I’ve said before that we haven’t decorated our living room since we moved in last April. The room is painted a neutral colour which means most things look good. The two…

  • playing - STEM activity - toy review

    Hubelino Marble Run

    September 26, 2014 - By 

    For the last few weeks my children have been enchanted by a marble run in our local toy shop. Every time we visit they have demanded a couple of marbles so they can watch what happens when they set them off at the top of the run. Luckily for them they were sent the Hubelino Marble Run Starter Set and they’ve been having lots of fun with it at home. The Starter Set includes 85 parts and a construction book, that shows you how to build Marble Runs with less than 10 parts, but also with a lot more. The…

  • baby - baby products - competition - Lindam Munchkin blogger panel

    Win a Nappy Change Kit from Munchkin

    September 25, 2014 - By 

    Over the Summer holidays we travelled a fair bit around the country. The children don’t mind long car journeys and as soon as we say we’re going away they will pack their rucksacks with toys and snacks for the journey.  As part of my role as an ambassador for Lindam Munchkin I recently received a parcel of useful travel items including a Designer Nappy change Kit, Teether Babies toy and a brilliant Travel Booster Seat and I am excited to be able to offer the Designer Nappy change Kit from Munchkin to one of my readers today. The Designer Nappy…

  • cardboard tube mummies - the gingerbread house
    Halloween crafts - Kids crafts - Toilet roll crafts - tutorial

    Cardboard tube mummies

    September 24, 2014 - By 

    Yay, it’s almost October which means we can start to get excited about Halloween crafts! My Pinterest stream is full of some great ideas which I’ve been busy pinning, hoping to keep my children occupied now the weather is getting cooler. Easy cardboard tube mummies My 4 year old loves any craft which involves a cardboard tube. The first thing he said to me yesterday morning was something about painting tubes and turning them into cars – not what you need at 6.50am! Equipment you will need to make cardboard tube mummies: cardboard tubes from the recycling box printed photos…

  • book review - Handmade gifts - sewing - What I'm reading

    Crafting handmade gifts

    September 23, 2014 - By 

    I feel bad writing about Christmas but it’s my blog so I think I’m allowed. Christmas is fun, especially when you have two little children. They’ve been writing their Christmas lists for weeks which means we’ve all been thinking about it perhaps earlier than normal. I love crafting handmade gifts. Every year I say it but I never start early enough but this year I am going to have. As my family read my blog I can’t say too much but I’ve planned a few super cute projects from some of my favourite craft books. First of all I really…