• Monday happy things {Week 131}
    gardening - Monday Happy List - Paper craft

    Monday happy things {Week 131}

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    I’m so pleased that today is the first day of our Easter holidays. My children were so happy to finish school on Friday and we had a really relaxing weekend together. I’m just excited that we have a break from our routine for 2 weeks. There are no after school clubs or running around. I’m hoping the children get the chance to be bored as usually life is so busy for them. I have lots planned but we all need to relax first. Monday happy things {Week 131} Last week I volunteered to go on a school trip with my daughter…

  • Creating adult space in the garden
    gardening - homestyle

    Creating adult space outdoors

    November 20, 2016 - By 

    One of the hardest things about this time of year is that our garden is so sadly neglected. Our beautiful French doors are closed and the shutters are kept closed. We did venture out today to plant some of the new Miffy tulip bulbs and it was lovely to have a little tidy up. The recent stormy weather has blown leaves everywhere and it’s all looking a little bare and sad. When we bought this house a garden was top of our list. We had a gorgeous garden with our last house and our current one is a little small…

  • Planting Miffy tulips for Spring
    gardening - Miffy Mums

    Planting Miffy tulips for Spring

    November 20, 2016 - By 

    I know a lot of my posts have been about Winter and Christmas recently but it’s never too early to be thinking about Spring. We have had some lovely blue sky days but I’m already longing for warmer weather and  longer days – give me back my evenings! Anyway, we’ve been getting the garden ready for Winter and part of that was forward thinking to Spring bulbs. Today we planted our Miffy tulip bulbs which was very exciting. After 15 years of cross-fertilisation and patient cultivation, Dutch tulip breeders have finally produced a variety to represent the Netherlands’ most famous…

  • magnolia plant
    gardening - homestyle

    6 Reasons Why Magnolia Shrubs Are The Perfect Summer Plant For Beginner Gardeners

    April 25, 2016 - By 

    If you are just beginning to find your green fingers this year and the warmer weather is encouraging you to get outside and really start to give gardening a go, then you are probably wondering what to plant. Well, where better to start than with the summery magnolia shrub? Plant them in spring and they will then flower right through the summer until the autumn. If you are already looking through these pretty plants on You Garden, but still not convinced whether to purchase them or not, then here are six reasons why magnolia shrubs are the perfect summer plant…

  • book review - garden crafts - gardening

    What I’m reading: The Children’s Garden by Matthew Appleby

    February 24, 2016 - By 

    A couple of weeks ago we were sent a copy of The Children’s Garden by Matthew Appleby to review. We’re all ready for Spring so this seemed like a great time to read a seasonal crafty book. My children love to play outside and are lucky to have a sand pit, water table, playhouse and mud kitchen. You would think that would be enough to keep them busy, but someone it is nice to have little crafty projects too. A garden can be a place for discovery, creativity and fun, and a space that encourages children to enjoy and engage…

  • baking - gardening - sewing

    Monday happy things

    September 28, 2015 - By 

    I don’t normally publish so many posts in one day but I have to mark the passing of another 7 days with my weekly Monday happy things post. My daughter started her new pre-school and is really enjoying herself. This is her first full week and I’m hoping she won’t be too tired to enjoy it. I was amazed how tired and grumpy she was after her first 4 afternoons! My mum has been staying with us and we’ve been crafting together which is one of my favourite things to do. As much as I love to sew on my…

  • crafts - garden crafts - gardening - handmade - tutorial

    How to make a Toy Story garden container

    April 17, 2013 - By 

    I must admit that whilst I’m happy with a needle and thread in my hand I’m definitely a failed gardener. Every year I try and grow something other than weeds and usually fail. When I saw the Tots100 Centre Parcs challenge I knew I should give it a go. For the toddler’s introduction to gardening I thought we would try growing sunflowers. I thought this would be a brilliant way to encourage my little city boy and hoped that even I couldn’t kill sunflowers! How to make a Toy Story garden container: We went to our local garden centre and…