Wednesday 29 November 2017

Armchair makeover - before & after

Hello all. Well you may have noticed that it has been a little quiet on the AHC front. To be honest it has been a hectic year for me and I've been struggling to commit to all the things I have balanced in the air, which is why crafting and blogging have taken a back seat lately. So please don't think I've lost heart in this little blog of mine - blogging and interacting with you is something I really enjoy doing. I just have to accept I can't do everything. So while I may not post as often as I'd like too, I will keep it ticking over as best I can ... starting with this armchair makeover!


Armchair makeover - before and after


You may remember me sharing a piccie of this chair a couple of years ago. Suffice to say it is no ordinary armchair. It once belonged to hubby's lovely grandparents, who are no longer with us sadly. When they passed away we were asked if we'd like something of theirs to remember them by - and straight away we thought of this chair. Granny often sat in this chair and everything about it reminds us of them and their cosy, welcoming home. 

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Tuesday 17 October 2017

A crafty tea basket with Fortnum and Mason



What a treat. I recently received this gorgeous tea basket hamper from Fortnum and Mason - who are the quintessential British company, founded in 1707 and still located in London's famous Piccadilly. Specialising in fine teas, jams and hampers (amongst many other fine things) F&M sent me this delightful hamper and asked me what I might use it for once I'd devoured all the delicious goodies inside ... 

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Thursday 12 October 2017

The joys of autumn & foraging for a seasonal display



I've been thinking a lot about autumn lately (or 'fall' for my overseas friends) and I've been trying to put my finger on what it is about autumn that warms our cockles so. Many of us have our favourite season but autumn seems to be such a firm favourite for so many. While we know it is a rich and beautiful season visually, it also fills many of our other senses - it brings warmth to our bellies, our homes and even to the clothes we wear. Essentially, Autumn is one big giant hug! I don't know about you but when the trees start to change to hues of amber, red and gold and the fires are lit I crave slow-cooked stews, as well as pumpkin soups, apple crumbles, chai lattes and hot cocoa. (FYI I never said I was good at making any of the above, but I am very good at eating them!)

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Tuesday 3 October 2017

A month in pictures - August and September


Hello readers. Well it's a chilly Monday afternoon here in Hertfordshire, and Ralphy and I are snuggled under a blanket in front of the fire surrounded by tissues because I have a cold! Boo :-( Autumn is here, and how lovely it is too (colds aside.)  I know I've been quieter than usual on the blog front recently - life & work has been pretty full on recently. However I still have some lovely things in the pipeline for you in the next month. In the meantime here's a look back over our adventures the last couple of months ...



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Wednesday 20 September 2017

A tree house in the wilderness - Bee's Bower, Herefordshire




So remember I recently shared our glamping getaway in Mimi's tree yurt in Herefordshire? well after Mimi's Yurt we spent the second half of our glamping adventure in another incredible dwelling on the same site, which we also booked through The Cottage Co. But this place was like no other I'd ever experienced before - part tree-house, part-cabin, part canvas tent, Bee's Bower is an extraordinary place in every way. Perched at the top of corpse it stands alone, completely private overlooking the beautiful valley which surrounds it. The tranquil location and the incredible craftsmanship which has gone into this building really does make this a special place. Here is a glimpse into our getaway at Bee's Bower.  

Sleeps: 2
Where is it: Herefordshire
How much: From £289 for 2 nights
Pets: Up to 2 well behaved dogs welcome
Note: Suitable for babes-in-arms but not suitable for toddlers.
I also wouldn't recommend to those who have difficulty walking.


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Wednesday 23 August 2017

The joy of journalling + a handmade leather journal by Central Crafts





I really enjoy writing in my journal, but I find it almost impossible to keep a daily diary now - the days fly by far too quickly and there is no pleasure in writing just because you feel you should. I used to write a diary daily when I was a little girl, until the very worst thing happened ... my big brother discovered it and threatened to tell my mummy that I'd written a rude word in it! Well of course I was mortified, and what I had written was something like ... "In the playground today Dennis Gilbert said I was bloody rubbish at throwing!" Now the truth is my mummy probably would have just laughed to herself had she read it but my serious 8 year-old-self was taking no chances so I destroyed it - and all diaries from that day forward had padlocks! I continued to keep a diary into my late teens, which also makes for a very funny / tortured read ... "no one understands me and I'm DEFINITELY running away tomorrow" and the next day it read "didn't run away, went to cinema with Tara instead, went McDonald's after, was nice" :-) Those were the days when I wore motorbike books and dressed like Madonna in 'Desperately Seeking Susan' ... and no I'm not showing you any pictures!


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Tuesday 1 August 2017

A month in pictures - June & July

Hey folks. Well it's August today and the summer feels like it is whooshing by doesn't it? We have had a lovely summer so far ... we have been busy working but we have still found time to enjoy ourselves, the surrounding countryside, seeing friends and bopping around at festivals and whatnot. We also had a fabulous glamping getaway in Herefordshire this month, and I became smitten with lampshade making! We have had some scorching weather here in the UK but we've also had some huge torrential storms too, which Ralphy was not very impressed with, we had to sit up all night with him :-( bless his little paws. He's never really been bothered by storms before but these storms were on a whole other level - in fact the lightening was so frequent we could of cranked the music up and called it a disco. Here was our month(s) in pictures!


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Thursday 27 July 2017

A glamping hideaway - Mimi's Tree Yurt, Herefordshire




Last week we returned from a wonderful glamping getaway in Herefordshire. We booked Mimi's Tree Yurt through The Cottage Company who have an excellent selection of quirky cottages based in Wales and the surrounding areas. However, Mimi's Tree Yurt, which is not far from the Wales border is not your average glamping experience - this beautifully handmade Eco yurt and Botswana-style kitchen have been lovingly handcrafted by a small team of talented craftsman, and the results are very impressive. Now this may not be to everyones taste, so if you're looking for a bug free existence and prefer pristine hotel-like conditions Mimi's Yurt is not for you. But if you are looking to escape into nature ... if you fancy some rustic slow living, roasting marshmellows under the stars, and soaking in a copper bath after a long day of walking, or perhaps taking a hot shower in the outdoors while the sun streams through the leaves overhead .... then you will love Mimi's Yurt. Here's a glimpse into what you can expect from this little corner of paradise.

Where is it: Herefordshire
How much: From £207 for 2 nights
Pets: Yep. They love them.
Sleeps: 2


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Thursday 15 June 2017

Blake House Craft Centre - Essex




Last week my craft ladies and I headed to Blake House Craft Centre. I had visited briefly the weekend before with hubby and Ralphy, but upon seeing how gloriously crafty this place was, I knew I had to return with my crafty girlies so we could savour the vast array of fabrics, yarns and trinkets. It houses a variety of shops in original farmyard buildings and there is a lovely restaurant on site with ample indoor and outdoor seating should you need refreshment and a laze in the sun. It's a great place to take the kids too as there is also a 10 acre maze of ... wait for it ... MAIZE! It was drizzling the day we visited so we didn't visit the maze this time around but I'm sure it would have been amazing! See what I did there? :-) Here is a peek into the delights of Blake House Craft Centre ...

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Thursday 18 May 2017

Our Wedding cross stitch sampler & cross stitch table numbers / letters


Wedding cross stitch sampler


Hubby and I recently celebrated our 4th anniversary. As most of you know, we handmade a lot of the things that featured in our wedding - and one of my favourites was this Wedding Day Cross Stitch Sampler. I also used the same kit to create table numbers! (well letters, actually.) I had never cross-stitched anything in my life before making this so I admit it was a bit of a plunge into the deep end, but when I saw this beautiful kit from socreastitch I just had to make it. Cross stitch is a lot easier than you might think, and many kits are colour coded. That said, this one wasn't but if I can get the hang of it, anyone can. It was such a pleasure to make - and I still remember evenings spent stitch in front of the fire stitching while hubby designed invites. We had the sampler on display on the actual day and it now hangs in our bedroom as a reminder of our beautiful day. 




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Monday 8 May 2017

A romance with Rome, Italy




For hubby's birthday this year we packed our bags and headed to Rome for 5 days, and I have to say that it was one of our most memorable city breaks to date. If you haven't been to Rome, and you're contemplating whether it's worth the trip ... just do it. I can't recommend it highly enough, it is simply beautiful. The food is incredible, the locals are funny and warm, it is incredibly rich in culture and you'll find stunning scenery around every corner. Here's a little peek into our recent romance with Rome ... 

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Wednesday 26 April 2017

VIDEO - How to make a faded 'distressed' floral table top


So you may remember I posted a tutorial on how to create a faded 'distressed' floral table top using napkins and decoupage last year? well I also made a video for it as well and I have only just got around to uploading it! This has been one of my favourite projects to date, it's so pretty and affective ... I highly recommend giving it a go.




If you can't see the video above simply click here
Enjoy x
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Tuesday 4 April 2017

Month in pictures - March


Morning all. Well since I've had my head buried in work for most of this month my photos are few this month I'm afraid ... however I did really enjoy taking time out to research and write the piece on my real life heroes and my bedside makeover which you'll see in a mo. I've been very excited this week as Hubby and I are off to Rome later this week for 5 days! We're both in need of a break and I've never been to Italy before! So to get me in the mood I've been; digging out my summery chic dresses from the loft (It's all about the chic in Rome don't cha know!)  planning a detailed itinerary (with plenty of time for simply wandering-whilst-eating-gelato) brushing up on my Italian (OK so by that I mean hello, goodbye, excuse me and can I have a large vat of red wine please?) and I've been watching Rome-based films to get me in the mood (in fact I highly recommend the woody allen film To Rome With Love ... it's a lovely feel good comedy). If you've been to Rome and have any fabulous recommendations, tips or hidden gems then do share! In the meantime, here's our month in pictures.



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Tuesday 28 March 2017

A pretty pastel bedside makeover




As most of you know I've been having a clear out of late, and as a result I have to say I've been  enjoying my living space much more. I don't know about you, but one room that I often feel gets overlooked is the bedroom. Perhaps it's because visitors don't often venture into this space so we put our decorative energy into other areas of the home, but the bedroom really is one of the most important rooms in the house - not only do we spend a lot of time in this room but it has a direct affect on our mental and physical well being. If you do have difficulty sleeping you might find that creating a calm, peaceful and uncluttered environment makes the world of difference. After a good de-clutter I've given our boudoir and my bedside table some much needed TLC. Hubby's side needs more work however but small steps people, small steps :-)

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Wednesday 22 March 2017

Country cottage birdhouse in United States edition of Woman's Weekly Magazine




Do you remember the little cottage birdhouse I made readers? well it's gone stateside! This week it's being featured in Woman's World - The american weekly magazine! How exciting ... I hope the attention doesn't go to it's head :-) 



With the arrival of spring, if you fancy making this lovely project but you don't live in the US you can of course find the 'recipe' for this project here on the blog. I'll pop the link below. It's such a lovely spring project and can be simplified too. I love mine, I use it for ribbons and string.

JM x

DIY country cottage birdhouse




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Thursday 16 March 2017

My real life heroes + My mothers remarkable story and the Liverpool Blitz


Mothers Day is almost upon us, and with the recent celebration of International Women's Day I've been thinking a lot recently about the incredible women who are responsible for my being here on this earth. One of these women (my mother) I've been blessed enough to know, while the others, who are still very much a part of my tapestry, passed away long before my time. These women have an incredible story to tell which I'd like to share with you today. It is a sad but uplifting story which features three women from three generations, and whenever I find myself struggling to cope with whatever it is that life is throwing at me, I think of these women and I always find courage. The story begins in Liverpool in 1941 ....



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Wednesday 1 March 2017

A month in pictures - February



Well it's the end of february and little green shoots are poking their noses though in my garden and on my forest walks which can only mean one thing - SPRING! That said today was freezing so I shan't be changing the duvet and getting my flip flops down just yet, but just knowing it's around the corner is enough to put a zing in your step! I haven't been very crafty of late (though I have been in a knitting frenzy of sorts)  and I have been planning some lovely craft projects, which I'm really keen to get started on. In the meantime here's our month in pictures ...

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Wednesday 22 February 2017

My favourite little corner + my new Barker & Stonehouse industrial lamp


Barker and Stonehouse green vintage industrial lamp


I was recently asked where it is in my home that I choose to relax and unwind. My initial thoughts took me straight to the sofa, dog on lap in front of the fire ... but while I do relax and pass the time there in that cosy spot, the place I truly relax and feel at peace is when sitting in front of my sewing machine, in my craft room. My mind goes quiet there, and only ever there really. So for those that haven't visited my craft room, here's a glimpse at my favourite corner, plus I have a a recent new addition to show you - my Barker and Stonehouse green vintage industrial lamp! 


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Thursday 9 February 2017

'Jar of hearts' Keepsake memory jar




Memory Jars make beautiful gifts. They are quick and easy to make, yet they are an incredibly thoughtful way of capturing a moment in time. I made this one for my young niece who was turning 21. I asked everyone she knew to write something on one of the folded hearts - be it a favourite memory, or simply what they loved most about her, and she absolutely loved it, and in years to come or even when she's having a bad day, she can looking inside and be reminded of good times, and of how much she is loved. So since Valentines Day is coming up I thought I'd share this lovely little project with you, but remember it's also makes a lovely birthday / anniversary / wedding / christmas gift too!

You will need:

A jar
  floral or patterned paper 
Ribbon or string
scissors


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Wednesday 1 February 2017

A month in pictures - January




Well hello you lovely lot and happy January! I've had a bee in my bonnet this month over clearing out our loft. As I've mentioned we'd like to move house later this year, so I figured it was about time I tackled the pile of stuff that has been accumulating in our loft for the past Occasionally I climb the loft stairs, look around, then proceed to walk straight back down and pretend no such loft exists.  In fact you often find that tidy people (which I am, usually) are the worst hoarders. Our houses are only tidy because somewhere there lurks a cupboard or drawer (or *ahem* loft) where EVERYTHING is thrown. So bit by bit I've been dragging it downstairs, sorting it into piles, holding it under hubby's nose while shouting 'THROW OR KEEP!! ANSWER NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE' in a Sergeant major manner ... and oh my, it feels so GOOOOD!!! I never expected to get such a buzz from driving away from a recycle dump with an empty car but alas, I think I'd choose that high over a G&T and hot bath! OK, well maybe not ... here's out month in pictures. 


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Friday 27 January 2017

Tŷ Glas Cottage - A romantic 'Hideaway' in Pembrokeshire, Wales.




Tŷ Glas cottage is located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales, and it is definitely one of my most memorable and favourite cottages in Wales. This pastel blue period Welsh cottage is set in its own wild natural gardens, with 40 acres of pastures, woodlands and lakes, with beautiful views of the Carningli Mountain. Conservation is at the heart of this lovely cottage, and it has been renovated to reveal it's old dairy, open fireplaces and natural wood flooring throughout. Everything about this cottage is idyllic, and it combines natural rustic charm with comfort and luxury in the most perfect way. While this cottage is one of the more expensive cottages I have featured, if you're looking for something special, this cosy romantic retreat for two really is worth a visit.

Where is it: Pembrokeshire coast national park, Wales
How much: £584 for long weekend.
Pets: Allowed by special request
Sleeps: 2

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Wednesday 11 January 2017

Enchanted Forest Bag by Voyage

Whilst on holiday in Snowdonia in the Autumn I chanced upon the most beautiful bag in a shop - it was made by a company called Voyage and it was absolutely love at first sight. Of course the bag went straight on my Christmas list, so you can imagine how delighted I was when the bag in question fell down my chimney Christmas morning - straight away I thought of you, as I knew many of you would love it as much as I do ...



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Thursday 5 January 2017

A month in pictures - A frosty December


Happy New Year all! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We had a lovely Christmas, and had a quiet but cosy New Year with our close friends - we reminisced about the previous New Years we had spent together ... partying the night away into the wee small hours ... while this year we were all in our PJ's sipping tea in front of the fire. How times have changed :-) I'm looking forward to this year ... it's going to be a year of change. We're hoping to move house at some point which will be an awfully big adventure and I can not wait! But for now here's a look back over December. 
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