Tilda Memory Lane & Cabbage Rose blog hop

Today's blog post is part of a blog hop courtesy of stitch, craft, create who sent me this gorgeous Tilda Memory Lane and Cabbage Rose fabric to use and review.  Can I firstly say a big thank you to Nadine for organising this and sending the fabric over - it really is gorgeous.

I couldn't initially decide what to make with my fabric.  I wanted something that I would use, but what?!  Yesterday though inspiration took hold as I have wanted to make some bunting for my lounge for ages now to go across my window as I have an unused curtain pole that runs along the ceiling that is crying out to be decorated - I'd use my fabric for that!

I got busy cutting and stitching yesterday and I love the effect. 

I saved one of the pieces because I'm going to make a cushion for the lounge at a later date but can I say, do check out this fabric as the feel, quality and pattern of the pieces I was sent are excellent and I think it's a range I will be buying more of in the future.

G x

Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside

Let your Kids go Wild Outside by Fiona Bird

Published by Cico

Paperback Edition

18th February 2016

Creative ways for children to spend time outdoors and discover nature.

In an era when the iPad is often more appealing than the park, it can be difficult to encourage kids to get off the couch and go outside. In this inspirational book, with ideas for children of all ages, foraging expert Fiona Bird shows the value of playing outside and discovering nature for children and families alike.

First Fiona teaches children about their environment, including conservation guidelines and tips on how to forecast the weather. Armed with this knowledge, the outside adventure goes Into the Woods, in Chapter 1, with outdoor crafts including making leaf art bunting, a dream catcher, and a woodland broom. In Chapter 2, Meadows, Hedgerows, and Hills, ideas include wild face paints, natural dyeing, and making potpourri. Onward to Chapter 3, Seashore, where children learn how to go beachcombing, identify different seaweeds, play beach hopscotch, and make a mollusk wind chime. In Chapter 4, Water and Wetlands, children learn to make their own charcoal and go on an animal track and poop hunt! For those who don't want to move far from home, there's plenty to do in My Wild Garden and Kitchen, Chapter 5, such as making a snail holiday village and attracting bugs, as well as developing hunting and gathering skills, with seasonal recipes made from natural ingredients.
So let your kids go wild outside, and enjoy watching them learn and blossom.

To be honest, there isn't much else for me to say here as the blurb from the book does it all so neatly that I would only be repeating it.  As the summer holidays are upon us, this is a great book for encouraging less screen time and more outside 'doing' time.  It's a particularly apt book for throwing into the suitcase and taking on holiday with you as some of the chapters lend themselves particularly well to this, especially if, like me, you don't actually live near the sea!  This book certainly has enough ideas inside to keep yourself, and your little ones busy all year round!


G x

Still here....

I'm still here - are you still there?! This blogging business is getting so sporadic. I just don't seem to be able to find the time to actually sit and blog, I guess that's the problem with using instagram so much, it's so much more well instant.

Anyways, what has everyone been up to?  I've been back up to Hope & Elvis for a mixed-media workshop with Mrs Bertimus, but I think that deserves a blog post all of it's own which I will try and do soon, promise.  I've also been spending some pennies.

New books:

New oracle cards by Lucy Cavendish and @lisamcloughlinart

Handmade treasures

This is Telling the Bees handmade by the fabulous Hettie Brown

and not doing very much crafting at all! Why does work get in the way so much?! Speaking of which, I've got some planning to be getting on with so better dash and do....

G x