• Waddingtons vintage jigsaw puzzle
    homestyle - vintage

    Vintage bird jigsaw {charity shopping for me}

    September 9, 2016 - By 

    It’s been a while since I shared a vintage find here. I still love charity shopping but as my children get older (and there is no more room for toys!), I’m able to focus on the things I want for myself a bit more. I love vintage games as they are fun to craft with. I have more than enough Scrabble sets but I couldn’t resist a sweet vintage Waddingtons Birds Spelling Pictures jigsaw I found. I absolutely loved the birdy theme (very on trend for Autumn) so snapped it up. I bought it without seeing inside but I thought…

  • creating a craft space for kids
    homestyle - interiors - upcycling - vintage

    Vintage sewing table makeover

    September 7, 2015 - By 

    I had no idea what to call this post. Over the Bank Holiday weekend I finally had some time to update a vintage wooden sewing table I bought earlier this year. I found it in a charity shop, complete with dodgy 1970’s orange nylon quilted lining. I ripped out the cushioned lining and it’s been waiting for attention ever since. Vintage sewing table makeover I’ve been updating my daughter’s bedroom. She said she no longer wanted her dolls so we’ve cleared out all the beautiful dolls beds I’ve picked up and re-painted, her dolls, dolls clothes and feeding chairs, baths…

  • DIY Miffy stool
    crafts - Handmade gifts - homestyle - interiors - upcycling - vintage

    DIY Miffy stool

    September 3, 2015 - By 

    A while ago I bought a cute vintage wooden 3 legged stool. I painted it with some Annie Sloan paint, didn’t like it and packed it away on the loft. My 3 year old is starting a new nursery later this month so we’re trying to make a fuss of her and give her bedroom an inexpensive makeover. DIY Miffy stool Guess what I made my un-loved vintage 3 legged stool into? A fantastically cool Miffy stool and my daughter loves it. At 3 years old her bedroom is rocking the pink look so I have made a subtle stool in…

  • vintage

    Monday happy things

    June 29, 2015 - By 

    I’m a little late with my list of Monday happy things but, given the gorgeous British Summer weather we’re experiencing today, I’m sure you can forgive me. After an exciting weekend I had a hard job deciding the 5 things which made me happiest over the last week. Top of my list must be my new Orla Kiely shopper from Tesco. The pattern is called Sunset Flower and reminded me of patchwork flowers. I can’t get enough of these tote bags as they’re perfect for shopping and really strong too so last ages. I found this gorgeous 1960s Waddington puzzle…

  • How to make Scrabble tile badges - the gingerbread house
    Crafts for adults - Handmade gifts - tutorial - upcycling - vintage

    Scrabble tile badges

    May 21, 2015 - By 

    Did you know it’s Scrabble Week? This May over 6,500 new playable Scrabble words join the Collins Official Scrabble Wordlist. To celebrate the biggest update in 4 years, Collins are hosting Scrabble Week which runs from May 21-28 2015. I love playing Scrabble and crafting with my vintage Scrabble tiles. I felt I should make something special to mark Scrabble Week so I made some fun Scrabble tile badges. My two favourite things (after my family of course) is sewing and drinking tea so I made simple badges using my Scrabble tile stash. I used: Vintage Scrabble tiles 2mm cork…

  • Scrabble tile dishwasher magnet
    Crafts for adults - Recycled crafts

    DIY Scrabble tile dishwasher magnet

    April 16, 2015 - By 

    I have a fun little make to share with you today. I don’t know about you but my husband is forever putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher when in fact it’s clean and needs emptying. My children also love to help tidy up but needed a little visual help to understand if the dishwasher was clean or dirty. This is such an easy project. I love crafting with Scrabble letters so I have hundreds of tiles to play with but you should be able to pick up a vintage Scrabble set from your local charity shop for a few pounds.…

  • Handmade gifts - upcycling - vintage

    How to make Scrabble tile key rings

    March 18, 2015 - By 

    I was tidying up today and was a little shocked how many Scrabble sets I have. As much as I love the game I also love to craft with the letter tiles so have bought a few sets recently to upcycle. Today I’m going to share how I make Scrabble tile key rings. These are the perfect size to pop in a cracker, or send in the post as a little gift. Equipment needed to make Scrabble tile key rings: Selection of vintage Scrabble tiles Dremel Needle file Mobile phone straps with a lobster clasp How to make Scrabble tile…

  • homestyle - interiors - vintage

    On my mantle – February

    February 28, 2015 - By 

    February has been a busy month and my mantle has changed several times to reflect Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year and my husband’s 40th birthday. So what’s on my mantle this month? The one constant has been a bunch of daffodils. I’ve really enjoyed watching them bloom. Can you see my beautiful vintage tea cup and saucer? I spotted it when out charity shopping with my mum and had to have it. I love vintage china and this was produced to celebrate the Treaty of Versailles on 28th June 1919. The motif features a map of the world and the…

  • book review - film review - vintage

    Monday happy things

    February 23, 2015 - By 

    I’m so late with my weekly Monday happy things post. With half term in sunny Devon and my husband’s 40th birthday today we’ve been really busy, but in a good way. – I finished The Miniaturist (which I loved) and have just started reading The Secrets Sisters Keep! by Sinead Moriarty which is looking promising. – I came home to my sweet new acrylic prints which I had ordered from Truprint as a Mother’s Day gift to myself. I chose two of my favourite photographs of the children and turned them into acrylic prints which, at 6×4″, fit perfectly on my…