• My Big Book of Sewing
    Crafts for kids - What I'm reading

    My Big Book of Sewing {book review}

    July 21, 2019 - By 

    I love sewing but didn’t really know where to start with my children when they said they would like to learn. We were #gifted a copy of My Big Book of Sewing published by CICO Kidz to try at home and both my children, aged 7 and 9, enjoyed looking through it. They quickly bookmarked the crafts they wanted to try – a pretty long list I thought! My Big Book of Sewing The projects are split into 4 chapters: Fashion Fun (cozy scarf, hat rosettes, summer skirt, phone case), For Your Home (lavender bags, felt egg cosies, stripy quilt,…

  • Using the Cricut Maker to craft a quilt top
    Crafts for adults - Cricut Maker

    Using the Cricut Maker to craft a quilt top

    June 23, 2019 - By 

    I’ve been pretty terrible at making time for me recently. My poor son broke his wrist and has been demanding a lot of attention – rightly so. Anyway, a few weeks ago I did manage a little progress on my Shipping Forecast quilt (I will finish it this year!). I used my Cricut Maker so thought I would share a few details of how it saved me time with my little Shipping Forecast quilt. Using the Cricut Maker to quilt You may remember I had pieced the felt map of the UK to the backing fabric, and I had cut…

  • Mollie Makes hoop kit finished
    Crafts for adults - Mollie Makes crafts

    Botanical succulents hoop art

    May 22, 2019 - By 

    Regular readers will know that every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new. Issue 105 came with a kit to make a cute pom pom watermelon which only took a few minutes, I have been looking forward to the next gift for ages! Botanical succulents hoop art The Botanical hoop art kit came with issue 106…

  • Stitching by the sea and a Shipping Forecast Quilt update
    Crafts for adults

    Stitching by the sea and a Shipping Forecast Quilt update

    April 20, 2019 - By 

    This Easter we managed to get away for a week to Teignmouth. Fo the past few years we’ve stayed at a wonderful little cottage on the back beach. The location is perfect – beach outside the front door, pub and Fish & Chip shop 2 minutes away. Teignmouth is blessed with a good climate and there’s also an arcade, children’s playground, tennis courts and crazy golf 2 minutes in the opposite direction. The children have loved playing on the back beach and found quite a few treasures. I had to limit them to a little container, otherwise they would bring…

  • Moda Matchbox Mini quilt hanging on a washing line
    Crafts for adults

    Moda Matchbox Quilt No. 3

    March 29, 2019 - By 

    Last year I boldly stated that I wasn’t going to buy any new craft supplies until I had used up my overflowing stash. I’m afraid I broke my promise. Not only did I fail to plough through my stash and make everything, I also bought some new items. I’m beginning to think that I should give away the unopened craft kits I have. I think that if I didn’t want to open them and make them when I got them, then I probably shouldn’t waste any more time on them (and feel guilty about storing them!). Moda Matchbox Quilt No.…

  • Stitching an embroidered tiger keyring
    Crafts for adults - Mollie Makes crafts

    Stitching an embroidered tiger keyring

    February 20, 2019 - By 

    I don’t work during school holidays so wanted to have a little project to make. I have quite a few craft kits so didn’t know which one to pick. Thankfully the latest issue of Mollie Makes landed with a very cute cover craft kit. Regular readers will know that every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new.…

  • Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle
    book review - What I'm reading

    Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter

    February 15, 2019 - By 

    Did you watch the Great British Sewing Bee on Tuesday evening? I attempted to watch it, but I was interrupted so many times by my children that I gave up. I will watch it again when they are both out! I’ve always loved sewing so have been looking forward to reading Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter( I got my copy via NetGalley). Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle  For the mothers of the disappeared in 1970s Argentina, protest was difficult. Every…

  • mindful embroidery
    Crafts for adults - Mollie Makes crafts

    Mindful mini pennant decor

    February 3, 2019 - By 

    Regular readers will know that every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new. Mindful mini pennant decor Mollie Makes issue 101 included a cute mini pennant craft kit: embroidery thread, yarn, printed fabric, needle and dowel. The printed fabric made this a quick and easy project (although it seemed to take me a few days to make…

  • Miniature Felt Party Bear from Mollie Makes magazine
    Crafts for adults - Mollie Makes crafts - sewing

    Miniature Felt Party Bear

    January 11, 2019 - By 

    I was lucky to find time for some crafting over Christmas and New Year. I took a little pile of projects away with me which meant I had plenty to keep me busy in the evenings once the children had gone to bed. Regular readers will know that each month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new. Issue 100…