• The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies
    What I'm reading

    The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies

    June 22, 2020 - By 

    I’ve made sure to make more time to read lately. It’s so easy to slip into bad habits of going to bed later and later, so I’m trying to go to bed earlier so I have time to read a few chapters before bed. I really enjoy reading books by Dinah Jefferies, so was delighted to find her latest book available to review on NetGalley. The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies Contessa Sofia de’ Corsi’s peaceful Tuscan home has been upturned by the arrival of German soldiers. Desperate to fight back, she provides shelter, medical aid and any help she…

  • The Group by Lara Feigel
    What I'm reading

    The Group by Lara Feigel {book review}

    April 29, 2020 - By 

    Disclosure – thanks to NetGalley for letting me see a review copy of this book. When I began to think about the impending lockdown I thought this would be a great time to read and catch up on all sewing projects I wanted to do. Five weeks into lockdown and I’ve finished one book and one sewing project (which was pretty much nearly finished anyway). With two young children my hours are filled, as they should be, by keeping them busy and happy. Books and sewing have taken a back seat, with maths, colouring sheets, baking and walks pushed to…

  • Yayoi Kasuma Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn't Sorry {book review}
    Family Life

    Yayoi Kasuma Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry {book review}

    April 25, 2020 - By 

    Back in October half term 2018 we were lucky to get tickets to the London Yayoi Kusama installation, a free event at the Victoria Miro gallery near Old Street. I’ve always admired Yayoi Kusama’s work and was excited to introduce the kids to her work. We loved the Infinity Mirrored Room, the giant pumpkins, paintings and installations. It was a really inspiring event for the whole family. We really loved the pumpkins covered in dots and tried to re-create them at home on painted rocks – it was so much harder than it looked! Yayoi Kasuma Covered Everything in Dots…

  • The Rose book cover 
    book review - What I'm reading

    The Rose: The History of the World’s Favourite Flower

    April 19, 2020 - By 

    Us Brits love our green spaces. We’re lucky to have a little garden and we love pottering round in it, filling it with colour every year. Our back wall is a sun trap and covered with climbing roses. We’ve always enjoyed roses, they seem such an essentially English plant. Which is why I was keen to review The Rose: The History of the World’s Favourite Flower told through 40 extraordinary roses which has recently been published by Welbeck Publishing. The Rose: The History of the World’s Favourite Flower told through 40 extraordinary roses The Rose has been published in collaboration…

  • TATE: Project Print (30 projects to spark your creativity)
    book review - What I'm reading

    TATE: Project Print (30 projects to spark your creativity)

    April 14, 2020 - By 

    I don’t know about you but I love a new craft book for a bit of inspiration or to challenge me to try something new. The lovely people at Octopus Books recently got in touch, asking if I would like to see a copy of TATE: Project Print 30 projects to spark your creativity by Colette Whittington, the next wonderful addition to their list in collaboration with TATE. TATE: Project Print (30 projects to spark your creativity) With this book you can explore the versatile art form of printmaking and develop your skills with 30 eye-catching projects. Whether you are…

  • Young, Fearless, Awesome {book giveaway}
    competition - What I'm reading

    Young, Fearless, Awesome {book giveaway}

    April 8, 2020 - By 

    We’ve all been reading a lot of books since we were placed in lockdown. Thankfully both my children love to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction books so are never bored. We were recently sent a copy of Young, Fearless, Awesome: 25 young people who changed the world to read. Young, Fearless, Awesome by Stella Caldwell Meet 25 young people who changed, or are changing, the world! Learn about some of the most gifted and brave youngsters on the planet who all made a difference while they were young. From musical geniuses to environmental activists, Young, Fearless, Awesome is packed with…

  • I Can't Draw {book review}
    book review - Crafts for kids - What I'm reading

    I Can’t Draw {book review}

    February 23, 2020 - By 

    If you’ve ever thought that you’re not creative or can’t draw then I have a great book review to share with you today. I Can’t Draw: this book will prove that you can by Lydia Crook contains 60 fun and quirky art activities for all ages. I Can’t Draw {book review} I Can’t Draw: this book will prove that you can, is a fun and interactive workbook for all ages that teaches the basic elements of drawing, sees illustrator Lydia Cook provide beginners with 60 quirky art activities to teach them how to draw. These include lessons on: continuous line…

  • 10 Step Drawing books
    competition - What I'm reading

    {Giveaway} 10 Step Drawing: Nature

    February 16, 2020 - By 

    My 8 year old loves to draw and paint. He’s been attending extra-curricular art classes for a while and he absolutely loves learning new things. He has already told me he would go to more art classes if he could! I love encouraging his hobbies and was excited to be gifted two new books from Search Press: 10 Step Drawing Nature and 10 Step Drawing People. You may remember we previously reviewed 10 Step Drawing: Animals so we were excited to see these. 10 Step Drawing: People by Justine Lecouffe, draw 30 people in 10 easy steps This is a…

  • The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford
    book review - What I'm reading

    The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford

    February 1, 2020 - By 

    I felt that I wasn’t doing very well in my 2020 Goodreads challenge until I saw the front cover of The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford on NetGalley (thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book!). I spent 5 years living in Scotland, which is where I first heard about the magical islands of St Kilda, an isolated archipelago of islands some 40 miles off the west coast of Scotland. The Lost Lights of St Kilda is set on the beautiful and remote islands, linking one of the islands inhabitants, Chrissie, to a parallel story…