• Our homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar
    Advent crafts - crafts - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Our homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar

    November 22, 2017 - By 

    Every year (since having children) Advent seems to get bigger and bigger. I buy both the children chocolate Advent calendars to count down the days until Christmas but in the run up to December 1st I can’t help buy more and more advent calendars! I will be writing a little more about them another day, but today I wanted to share the homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar I’ve made for them to open. Our homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar Over the past few weeks I’ve been collecting vintage Sylvanian Families items, mainly from eBay. I’ve managed to buy a pretty big collection…

  • How to make your own Elderflower cordial
    Handmade gifts - homemade - homestyle

    How to make your own Elderflower cordial

    June 10, 2017 - By 

    Did you know that it’s currently Elderflower season? I didn’t until Belvoir invited me to an event over half term and I learned a little more about elderflower and how they make their delicious cordial. The elderflower season is quite short and if you live near the Belvoir factory they encourage you to pick wild elderflower! You can drop it off and get paid and you also get the satisfaction knowing that you have helped contribute to their delicious Elderflower Cordial! Sadly we don’t live anywhere near Belvoir but I really wanted to try making our own cordial. Our last…

  • 6 ways to use Duck Tape Chalkboard tape
    Duck Tape crafts - homestyle

    6 ways to use Duck Tape Chalkboard tape

    October 11, 2016 - By 

    My husband and I have been fighting over the latest Duck Tape. We both love Duck Tape and he often ‘borrows’ mine when he needs it for a DIY project around the house. When he saw the latest Duck Tape Chalkboard tape, from leading stationery brand Duck Tape, he immediately wanted it for himself! I’ve been trying to use it for my own purposes before it disappears into his man-cave, never to be seen again. Luckily it has so many uses that I don’t think there will be much left. The Chalkboard tape can help turn almost any hard surface…

  • homemade - housekeeping

    Homemade v shop bought – can you make your own?

    January 13, 2016 - By 

    Cooking a meal for friends and family can seem daunting and many people just buy ready cooked meals from a shop instead – but once you know the basics of cooking you’ll soon discover that making your own food can be easy. The same rule applies for a huge variety of other tasks, from decorating your home to making your own cleaning products.   Cleaning your home Most people cringe at the thought of cleaning their car or home because the products needed to carry out these tasks can work out very expensive. But you’ll be surprised how effectively you…

  • Cooking - homemade - homestyle

    Tesco 60-Minute Roast Challenge

    November 11, 2015 - By 

    It’s not often I take my laptop into the kitchen but I had a good excuse as I wanted to try some new recipes. Autumn makes me want to cook more traditional meals and we all enjoy a traditional Sunday Roast Dinner. We were invited to take up the ’Tesco 60-Minute Roast Challenge’ – creating a delicious traditional Sunday roast in under an hour. I love cooking and often cook a roast but it’s something I like to take my time with. I admit I was a little nervous about preparing and cooking everything in an hour but I tried…

  • book review - homemade - homestyle

    On my mantle – November

    November 22, 2014 - By 

    I’ve gone all minimalist for November. This month my daughter turns 3 and we’re having a Frozen-themed birthday party to go with her Frozen-themed presents. It’s probably no surprise that some of the colours have crept into our living room and on my mantle. We have ice blue candles standing proud in my great-grandfather’s brass candlesticks. I’ve recycled our Halloween munchkins but spray painted them white to give a fresh new look. The bus blind has been moved to a different room and been replaced by my lovely Orla Kiely stem print vase, a favourite house-shaped tea light holder and…

  • Autumn - Halloween crafts - homemade - homestyle - Nature crafts

    On my mantel – October

    October 28, 2014 - By 

    I’ve had lots of fun decorating my mantel this month. The Autumnal colours have crept in and our nature table has been bursting with leaves, pinecones and seeds which the children have adored picking up. My vintage bus blind is still in its usual place on the mantel. We have done a little decorating this month but still haven’t decided on a permanent home for this. I love it though so I’m glad it’s still somewhere central. As well as the vintage bus blind I have my brass candlesticks, two of my favourite ceramic tea light houses, our clock and…

  • Dolls quilts - homemade - homestyle - Patchwork & Quilting

    How to make a quilt gallery wall

    September 9, 2014 - By 

    I think I’ve mentioned that the only room in desperate need of a makeover is our living room/dining room. It’s a long room which runs the length of the house and is lovely and light. We’re in the process of deciding on a new sofa so hopefully that will influence a colour scheme soon or vice versa. You know I love to make doll quilts. They are pretty wasted on my 2 year so I’ve gradually been sneaking them away from her and washing them with the idea of hanging them and having my own quilt gallery wall. It was…

  • handmade - homemade

    Winter smoothies

    February 9, 2013 - By 

    Do you remember last year I told you about Good Natured who produce a range of pesticide residue-free brand of fruit and vegetables. I made a rather delicious Indian Shepherd’s Pie with their Splendid Spuds. Well they have recently launched their brand new winter range of Succulent Strawberries and we were sent some to try. Today has not been kind to us so this afternoon I created a perfectly healthy winter smoothie using Good Natured Succulent Strawberries and Good Natured Ban-tastic Bananas. The children love smoothies and I have to admit although this was the first time I’ve ever tried making…