Thursday 11 December 2014

Handmade gifts + teacup candles + cards + sewing projects + tea caddy


Here are a few more ideas for handmade gifts. Some of these projects take a little more time than others, but all of them guarantee a lovely gift, and when you've made them once you'll make them again and again. If you're not a 'crafty' person, please don't be put off ... many of the projects I share on this blog, are things I've only tried once myself, and if I can do it so can you :-)





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Tuesday 9 December 2014

A Winter Spiced Biscuits Recipe


 It's about to get VERY Christmassy here at AHC headquarters! Now as you well know folks, my cooking skills are pretty dire at the best of times (I recently failed to boil an egg correctly - I blame Delia) but I am very good at eating! So let me introduce to you, the lovely Laura from We made this home blog. Laura is a graphic designer and lover of all things handmade and vintage, and she's the bringer of this most scrumptious 'christmas-in-a-biscuit' Winter spiced biscuits recipe. Prepare to fill your homes and bellies with seasonal goodness! Over to you Laura ...


Winter spiced biscuits



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Friday 5 December 2014

A potted christmas tree - for life.


I've been a champion of the potted christmas tree for as long as I can remember. My mum always preferred artificially ones when I was growing up, due to the 'needles getting stuck in me slippers!' but as soon as I had my own house, it was real living trees from the get-go. I not only name my trees, they are also addressed as one of the family .... "you alright Maud? not getting too warm in that corner are ya dear?" Yes I know I'm a big softie / crazy person but it makes me happy knowing this little tree is alive and kicking, and it makes me equally sad to see a strong beautiful tree adorned in all it's glory, only to then notice it's a ghost of a tree which has been cut off at the base  ...  and will soon be chucked out with the rest of the rubbish in a matter of weeks.


Wild camping in Scotland - A Handmade Cottage

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Wednesday 3 December 2014

Nature-inspired handmade gifts + quick and easy projects


Handmade gifts for nature lovers



 I don't know about you but I'm not at all organised for Christmas yet. I've been so busy working on the next video, I've yet to dust off my Christmas deccies! But when it comes to pressies I've been quite organised. In the next couple of weeks I'd like to give you some pressie ideas, all of which are easy projects I've made throughout the year (err except for the necklace!) The following gifts are all nature inspired and super easy to make, as I'm far too lazy to have it any other way ;-) so if you fancy whipping up any of the following, simply click on the links!

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Friday 28 November 2014

My month in pictures + A chilly November





Well it's almost the end of November. There's a chill in the air, the fires are burning and hot milky drinks have been keeping my cockles toasty. The autumn was lovely wasn't it? I think the reason I haven't started bombarding you with rustic Christmas delights yet is because I'm not quite ready to let the autumn go - but my inner child is screaming at me to put up decorations and watch Christmas films. How lucky we are, to be warm and loved ... and have such things to look forward too.  So before we begin the countdown into cosy winter madness, here's a look back over November ...

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Wednesday 26 November 2014

Rag rugging for beginners - with Jenni Stuart-Anderson


I've wanted to make a rag rug ever since I learned that my great grandma used to make them, while sitting in front of her fire. Like many people she couldn't afford to buy rugs, so she would keep her toesies warm by making rag rugs - for the lounge, bedroom and bathroom ... and all she used was some sack cloth, and some old duvets. Rag rugging is such an easy, pleasurable craft and anyone can do it. It's a rough and ready craft that doesn't require too much concentration so we can still keep one eye on our beloved Downton Abbey! 


How to make a rag rug


At my recent visit to the Alexandra knitting and stitching show, I took a 'rag-rugging' workshop (which is also known as 'progging') with the rag-rugging Jedi MASTER - Jenni Stuart Anderson and she very kindly said I could share it with my lovely readers. So grab ya bodgers (oh-err missus) and lets get progging! 

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