• Mollie Makes Christmas
    book review - Christmas

    Mollie Makes Christmas {festive bedside reading}

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    I have been so slack with my crafting lately. Real life is pretty busy so my blogging and crafting time is squeezed more than ever. This makes me sad as I have some sweet little crafty projects I want to make for Christmas but no time to make them. I haven’t even made the last few Mollie Makes cover gifts. I am a non-crafting crafty blogger. Anyway, on my bedside table is Mollie Makes Christmas. I’ve treated myself to this for the last few years and really enjoy reading it cover to cover. The 2016 edition features 110 gorgeous gift…

  • Colouring Shakespeare colouring book for adults
    book review - competition

    Win a copy of Colouring Shakespeare colouring book for adults

    November 13, 2016 - By 

    I love to take some time out of every day to make something. I spend a lot of time at my computer so love to shut my laptop and pick up my latest paper cut or adult colouring book. I’ve always enjoyed colouring in and I’ve had a lot of practice with my own children who love to colour. Thankfully someone came up with the idea of colouring books for grown ups and it’s been lovely to have some gorgeous colouring books for myself. I know my readers also seem to enjoy the craze of adult colouring books so today…

  • Win a bundle of Christmas Picture Books from Oxford Children’s Books
    book review - Christmas

    Win a bundle of Christmas Picture Books from Oxford Children’s Books

    November 6, 2016 - By 

    This year I’ve totally been spoilt for choice with what books to include in our annual Book Advent. Every year I pick a selection of 24 books, wrap them up and put them under the tree as part of our Advent celebrations. The children choose one at random each day as our book of the day. Oxford Children’s Books kindly sent us a selection of their new Christmas titles which we were so excited to read together. Read to the bottom of the post for your chance to win the exact same bundle of Christmas picture books! Greatest Animal Stories,…

  • The Last Night by Cesca Major
    book review

    The Last Night {book review}

    November 4, 2016 - By 

    Last month I was sent a copy of The Last Night by Cesca Major to review. A polite note was included asking if I could possibly read it before the book hit the shops on the 3rd November. My heart sank a little as I find I have so little time to read, usually in bed when I’m a bit too tired to concentrate for long. However, I need not have worried, as soon as I picked up this book I was hooked. Last year I read Cesca Major’s debut novel, The Silent Hours which I loved. The story was based around…

  • The Marvellous Activity Book
    baking - book review - gingerbread

    Moone Boy The Marvellous Activity Book blog hop {Imaginary Friend gingerbread biscuits}

    October 30, 2016 - By 

    Today we’re taking part in the Marvellous Moone Boy Activities blog hop! Have you read any of the Moone Boy books yet? Welcome to the world of Martin Moone, who is totally fed up with being the only boy in a family of girls. He’s desperate for a decent wingman to help him navigate his idiotic life. So when his best pal Padraic suggests Martin get an imaginary friend, or ‘IF’ for short, he goes for it. Start reading Martin Moone’s adventures with Moone Boy: The Blunder Years by Chris O’Dowd and Nick V. Murphy, followed by the second story The…

  • Rag Rugs, Pillows and More book cover
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - What I'm reading

    Rag Rugs, Pillows and More book review

    October 26, 2016 - By 

    It’s not often I get sent a lovely adult craft book to review, but I am so pleased when I do! The latest book on my bedside table is the wonderful Rag Rugs, Pillows and More by Ragged Life founder, Elspeth Jackson. This is a wonderfully modern approach to a traditional, and rather forgotten, craft filled with beautifully contemporary projects all illustrated with gorgeous photography. Elspeth also includes all the techniques and tools you’ll need to get started on an exciting new craft. In this stunning new book, crafter Elspeth Jackson reinvents the old (and somewhat forgotten) technique of rag…

  • The Nightmare before Christmas picture book by Tim Burton front cover
    book review - Halloween crafts

    The Nightmare before Christmas picture book by Tim Burton

    October 23, 2016 - By 

    I count myself as a bit of a Tim Burton fan but I never realised he wrote The Nightmare before Christmas! A new version has just been published, not only written by, but also illustrated, by the talented Tim Burton. We were kindly sent a copy to review. This is the book that came BEFORE the film. This is the book that fans of all ages will be coveting. This is the book that contains exclusive, never seen before original sketches. This is the book filled with skill, craft, cunning and misery. This is the book of the Pumpkin King.…

  • Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Spooky School
    baking - book review - competition

    Win 1 x 3 new Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam chapter books

    October 21, 2016 - By 

    I love this time of year. The weather and early evenings bring us indoors more but it also means more time for reading! Luckily my two are little bookworms and love to receive new titles to review. Have you heard of Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, everyone’s favourite robber-dogs-turned-bakers? They are the stars in a successful picture book series which my 4 year old always picks up at the library. So I was delighted to hear that a new first chapter book for readers aged around 6-9 years has just been published. Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Spooky School Shifty…

  • Fashion Mash Up Daisy de Villeneuve
    book review - clothing - homestyle

    Fashion Mash Up Daisy de Villeneuve

    October 18, 2016 - By 

    A few days ago I published a piece about the new Miffy X H&M Collection. My daughter is a little fashionista in the making and loves to go shopping with me. She takes a real interest in her clothes and how she looks so was delighted when Penguin Random House sent us a copy of their new title to review. Fashion Mash Up is a beautiful, collaborative craft book of fashion through the ages, which has been designed and curated alongside the Victoria & Albert Museum. Packed with over 75 pieces of clothing, 250 stickers with fabulous glitter and foil…