Wednesday 18 May 2016

How to make a flower crown + for weddings, festivals and flowers girls

A few weeks back I was invited to take part in a blogger challenge by the Luxury Silk Bedding company Gingerlily. I love a crafty challenge so I was more than happy to join in the fun. We were sent a box of silk flowers and some other bits and bobs, and with the Chelsea Flower Show as our inspiration we were told we could create anything we wanted using the silk flowers as our main element of inspiration. 


how to make a flower crown


For a day or two I kept wandering past the flowers on my craft table, while I waited for them to shout out to me and tell me what it is they wanted to become - I toyed with a fairy garden, then a summer dining display ... but these flowers were so pretty I wanted to wear them ... so I asked myself in what scenario could such flowers be worn? of course ... weddings and festivals!! So here is my floral crown - inspired by the fresh flower crown I made for my own wedding day. This would be perfect for a flower girl, a bride, and I'll certainly be dancing around wearing it at festivals this summer :-)


How to make a flower crown

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Thursday 12 May 2016

My new craft room + storage for small spaces


Finally ... here is my new workshop craft room! This used to be our music room (AKA hubby's man cave) but since he's moved it to other premises it now mean Jodie Podie has a CRAFTY ROOM! We gave it a lick of paint and I went about sourcing myself a new craft table and some rustic storage. Welcome to the new AHC headquarters ....


creating a craft room


Tips on sourcing a workshop / craft table

The first thing I wanted was a rustic craft table. They're expensive to buy so I created one, which I've already showed you in my previous post: How to make a scandi-chic trestle table. Trestle tables are ideal for craft rooms & workshops as they are collapsable, should you need to make room for large floor-projects. The top of my table has two large holes which is ideal for threading my sewing machine leads through. I also pop my bin under the other one and knock through any rubbish / threads. Is so nice being able to leave the sewing machine set up for long periods of time, it means I actually use it. 



rustic trestle table
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Tuesday 3 May 2016

A month in pictures - April


It’s May - the bluebells are in full bloom and buds are bursting all over. We had a lovely walk at the weekend. It was a new walk and we got lost twice and had to find our way through woodlands, over babbling brooks and fields. Getting lost is truly one of my favourite things … I just love it. It’s one of the few times I find I’m able to stay fully mindful and in the present. When I find myself on a walk I’ve done a hundred times before, I find it so easy to let my mind wander back to work, back to chores that need doing, back to the mundane ‘to-do’ list. I try so hard to stay in the moment, and it frustrates me that I can’t always leave such things behind. So escaping for the day, and getting lost is sometimes exactly what I need because there’s nowhere to be but right here, in the moment. How strange that it takes getting lost, in order to feel found? Oh that’s quite profound for a Tuesday afternoon eh? Anyhoos. I’m sharing my new craft room later this week. It’s still finding its feet, but it’ll be nice to show you where I’ve been crafting of late. In the meantime, here’s our month in pictures!



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Thursday 21 April 2016

Bishops Stortford Craft & Farmers Market



I love farmers markets, so I was pleased as punch when a monthly craft & farmers market popped up in my hometown. Wandering around the market with my little basket, I tasted cheese, chatted to the local sellers and was reminded of bygone days - when food was grown, sourced and reared locally, by local people. This is how our grandparents brought groceries on a daily basis. But such produce seems to be a luxury to us nowadays. I know many would argue the produce at such markets can be overpriced compared to your local supermarket, but it's vitally important to recognise the difference between the two. Much of our supermarket food is mass produced in factories, and crammed full with preservatives and (cheap) artificial ingredients to ensure a good profit. So while it may not be practical to buy from a farmers market on a daily basis, treating ourselves and our bodies to fresh, quality produce when we can, whilst also supporting the lifeblood of local family businesses, really is worth every penny, and it makes for a such lovely afternoon out! Here are some of my highlights ...
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Thursday 7 April 2016

DIY rustic 'scandi chic' farmhouse trestle table

As you know I've got a new craft room! I'm going to show you the room in detail very soon, but first I wanted to show you my new craft table. I wanted a strong, rustic trestle table for my craft room so I went looking for one online. I was flabbergasted to learn just how expensive there are … with cheaper ones starting around £170 and nice rustic vintage ones between £600 - £1000! They are beautiful of course but goodness, that’s a family holiday! So in true AHC stylie I decided to make my own. I'm so happy I did, as the table below only cost me £45. This would make a lovely farmhouse-style or scandi-chic dining table … and it would also be ideal for al fresco family dining as it can be easily dismantled. You could also paint and distress the legs for a lovely shabby-chic look. I might paint these legs, but the character of the bare, aged wood has really grown on me so I'm keeping it 'au natural' for now. 



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Thursday 3 March 2016

This month in pictures - February


Hi popsicles! I hope this finds you all well on this chilly March morning. I've just been for a brisk walk with Sir Ralfred .... my hands and toes are icy cold and I can't WAIT for summer to warm our cockles now. As much as I love the cosiness of autumn and winter, I'm so ready for flip flops and hazy days now. Roll on bluebells and bring forth the sunshine! This was our month in pictures ....



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Friday 26 February 2016

Botanical print feature wall & how to hang pictures easily


Botanical prints feature wall


I was watching the TV programme ‘The Good Wife’ a few years ago and I noticed the lovely feature wall in Alicia's apartment. It was covered in uniform frames of botanical flowers - and I loved it. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to re-create this wall art ever since, and now I have a new craft room I thought this would be an ideal opportunity! It was quite by coincidence that when hubby’s lovely Grandmother Joan passed away a couple of years ago, Grandpa gave me a beautiful set of botanical prints that once belonged to her. I was so touched by this - as not only could I make a beautiful wall of art filled with flowers and nature, but it would also be a lovely way to remember Joan, who aside from being a keen nature lover and gardener, was also a crafty soul herself.


Botanical prints

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Thursday 18 February 2016

The 300 year old Belleville cottage, in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.




Where is it: Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Sleeps: 8 ( in 5 bedrooms )
Price from: £500 for 3 nights (based on 8 sharing)
Pets: Welcome

Last October hubby and I attended a wedding in Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, along with some of our close friends and their baby. So rather than book into a hotel, our little group of 7 decided it would be much nicer (and cheaper!) to make this into a cottage holiday break. As soon as I came across Belleville Cottage I knew it would be the perfect home away from home for out little weekend in Kent. Now as you know my preferred holiday cottages are old, rustic, rural and isolated. However we wanted to be quite central for this particular trip so while Bellville isn't isolated as such, it certainly is very old, and the countryside surrounding Royal Tunbridge Wells is very picturesque and beautiful, and quite deserving of it's well-known nickname 'The Garden of England.'


Belleville Cottage - Photography by John Pickup


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Thursday 11 February 2016

How to make: Handmade personalised photo cards




I love this project. It's such an easy but effective way to make a handmade card for any occasion - it looks lovely, takes 5 minutes and all you need is some card, a photo and an envelope so it's ideal for and last minute occasions. As Valentines Day is coming up I thought I'd make one for hubby (and Ralphy of course). Real romance isn't always about big gestures or splashing out, and it's certainly not reserved just for youngsters ... for me romance is about the little things, and thoughtful gestures. So get your bits together and think of all the brownie points when you remember Valentines day and your other half doesn't! ;-)  


How to make - personalised photo cards for any occassion

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Friday 5 February 2016

A month in pictures - January


Well January has been and gone in a whirlwind. I'm still getting my craft room in order (it's still a bit of a mess but it's almost ready to show you.) Despite the busy start to the year we've had some lovely walkies this month and I've enjoyed getting stuck into some lovely crafty projects; one to lighten and brighten our living space and the other project would make a wonderful Mummy's day gift! it's only a few weeks away so if you're blessed with a lovely mummy then have a lookie and get crafting! Here's our month in pictures ...



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