Before Christmas, we trotted off to Tate Britain to meet some friends and visit the Pre-Raphaelite exhibition. The highlight of the exhibition, as far as I was concerned, was room number six, entitled Paradise. A room devoted to William Morris. I flipping love William Morris. I love the ornate details, the colours, the grandeur, I … Continue reading Peacocks and paradise: William Morris at Tate Britain
Craft
Christmas knitting
The last few weeks in the run up to Christmas were filled with hectic present making. I ask you, what sort of moron decides it’s a good idea to make Christmas presents for every member of their family, when they have a four-month-old baby and a partner who is working late every evening? Oh. This … Continue reading Christmas knitting
Man present: homemade paperweights
It turns out, it's really simple to make your own paperweights. Or, more accurately, it's really simple to insert your own pictures into some pre-made paperweights for a brilliant personalised present. I always struggle to come up with good homemade presents for men, so this is particularly pleasing as you can put in any images … Continue reading Man present: homemade paperweights
Inspiration: 9 great craft kits
Along with my great fabric project dream, I have another business yearning: to open a craft shop on the high street where I live. I’ve recently moved across London and one of the things I miss the most from my old neighbourhood is the fantastic cheap and cheerful craft shop on Stoke Newington High Street, … Continue reading Inspiration: 9 great craft kits
How to make your own soap
I have to admit, my favourite type of craft project is one that involves little more than putting a few things together. Okay, as I’ve written that, I realise that “putting a few things together” is a distillation of every craft project there ever has been, as well as any food recipes too. But, when … Continue reading How to make your own soap
10 gift ideas for cooks
This is going to be my last post about my partner's birthday, I promise... But, I realised that, though I've already posted about the things I made, I haven't yet said anything about the other 25 presents that made up the box of his 30 presents for his 30th birthday. Some of these were a … Continue reading 10 gift ideas for cooks
Knitted Christmas ornaments
Those of you on the knitting website Ravelry, have you discovered the "neighbours" page? This brilliant widget is one of my favourite things on the site. It pulls up a list of other users who have made the same projects as you, or queued the same patterns. As soon as I add another project, one … Continue reading Knitted Christmas ornaments
Top 20 tutorials for homemade Christmas presents
Like these ideas? I've got more! Take a look at 17 homemade Christmas presents too... Last year, I was in Hong Kong for six months over Christmas so I had to buy presents online for my family back in the UK. Despite the fact I was on what I cheerfully referred to as a “sabbatical” … Continue reading Top 20 tutorials for homemade Christmas presents
All I want for Christmas
Somewhere around the time I hit 30, I started to become a bit mercenary with presents. No longer for me the joy of surprises, waiting to see what someone would get you, hoping that one of the things on your secret wish list might be wrapped up in that shiny paper and ribbon. Nope. I … Continue reading All I want for Christmas
Things I’ve learnt: photography
The short version of this post would be: not enough. If you've seen any of my other blog posts (if not, why not? Go and take a look now...) you'll have seen I am far from the most proficient photographer. I was asking my other half what he thought of my blog photos just last … Continue reading Things I’ve learnt: photography
Wolves in London 