• crafts - handmade - Recycled crafts - sewing - tutorial - vintage

    Making momentoes with Julie Arkell

    Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to take part in a workshop with Julie Arkell. If you haven’t heard of her, where have you been! She’s a London-based contemporary artist who is well known for her papier mache dolls and I was really excited to find she was running a workshop at Sally Bourne Interiors. I spent all day with Julie and a group of like-minded women and it was fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever spent a whole day sewing but it was amazing, lovely to sit around a table, sew and chat. Julie’s recent work reflects vintage…

  • baby - The Gallery

    The Gallery – body parts

    I haven’t participated in The Gallery for ages but I couldn’t resist this week’s prompt – body parts. I have lots of pictures of Edward showing varying degrees of beautiful baby chubbyness. However, we’ve recently put up a stair gate and I couldn’t resist this picture: Not many body parts fit through those bars!

  • eczema - Family Life - reviews

    Water wipes

    Before our son was born I admit I was pretty clueless about babies. It was only at our John Lewis nursery appointment that I learned about not using baby wipes for the first couple of weeks. So we stocked up on cotton wool and I religiously washed his face, fingers and toes with cotton wool and boiled water until he was 6 months old. Our little boy has had eczema since birth so we’ve always been careful what products we use on his face and body. I knew that most wipes contained preservatives or chemical additives so have always used…

  • playing - reviews - Toys R Us Toyologist

    Klip Kitz Toy Story Buzz Lightyear review

    I was lucky enough to win a Klip Kitz Toy Story Buzz Lightyear from Karen at All About The Boys. My son is too young to play with it so I gave it to our friends’ little boy who is 4 and Toy Story mad. Here is her review: William and Justin did it together after you left and really enjoyed themselves. It took about 45 mins to make with Daddy doing most of it (since it was really for a 5 year old), however William did do some of the larger pieces himself. Assembly was straight forward other than…

  • Orla Kiely

    If only I could drive

    One of my wishes for 2011 is to learn to drive and I have found the ultimate carrot on a stick: Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, this Citroen DS3 has been designed with a bit of help from Orla Kiely. It’s an eco-friendly car, with just 500 being produced and it’s due to be launched in February 2011. The car features her olive acorn design painted on the exterior, colored and hand-stitched headrests in her signature flower pattern for the interior, and acorn print carpet mats. Check out the lamp on the dash board! Swoon. I am so…

  • blogging - Quinny Caster - Quinny Zapp Xtra - reviews

    QuinnyCasters News #9

    I’m so excited to tell you that I’ve finally won a QuinnyCasters challenge! Our third challenge was to use all possible online means to tell the world about our Quinny Zapp Xtra. Well I love a challenge and set about reviewing the Zapp Xtra on my favourite forums and websites, including Netmums, Mumsnet, Mums the Word, Bounty, as well as my blog, my baby blog and flickr. My motivation was that the top 3 QuinnyCasters who posted the most constructive and/or most reviews/testimonials would receive a hamper which would include: a Hoppop Motta Bike, Hoppop Donut Potty, Hoppop Coppa drinking…

  • baby - Christmas - crawling - eating - teething - toddler - weaning

    Bye bye baby

    I’m resigned to the fact that we’ve recently waved goodbye to those blissful baby months. You know, the ones where you can guarantee that if you leave your baby on his playmat in the middle of the floor he’ll still be there while you answer the door. Ever since Edward turned 9 months (a mere week or two ago!) he seems to have turned into a whirlwind of energy. We’ve been back home for a couple of days and he obviously feels the need to explore every corner. So far he’s pretty much ignored his lovely Christmas toys in favour…

  • Cath Kidston - Christmas - crafts - gingerbread house - handmade - sewing - swap - swaps

    Christmas swapsies

    As part of my Day Zero challenge I’m aiming to take part in at least one swap a month. So in the run up to Christmas I signed up for a couple of Christmas swaps. First up was the Blogger’s Secret Santa organised by Leanne where I received a copy of Cath Kidston’s Sew! from Helen. It’s full of beautiful projects to make (some of which will probably end up as birthday and Christmas presents). I sent a Moleskine recipe journal to Domestic Goddesque. Then I joined up for the Secret Christmas Ornament Swap organised by Denise and I received…