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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Wednesday 21 December 2016

Ralphy and Snowdog - A Christmas message




Dear all. The house is twinkling, the cards are sent, the presents are wrapped and after one more day of work I'm off for Crimbles! So before I switch off I just wanted to drop you a message to say a big Happy Christmas to you all. Thank you so much for being such lovely friends and followers this year, you really do make this blog a pleasure for me to write. Have a safe, and peaceful time this Christmas and all the very best for the year ahead. I shall leave you with Ralphy, who insisted on writing his own message to you. 

With much love, 
JM x

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Thursday 8 December 2016

Festoon ceiling garland decoration + for Christmas or Weddings




If you fancy doing something a bit different with your Christmas decorations this year, here is a very pretty and affective way to add sparkly to your festive season. This string of ceiling decorations are so easy to make and you can easily adapt it to your own style. I had a lot of leftover baubles so I came up with this garland to make use of them. I like to keep mine simple with brown string, fairy lights and mis-matched baubles but you could easily keep them uniform or even add tinsel! 

You will need:

A length of brown string / twine / ribbon

Battery operated wire fairy lights in silver or copper

Selection of baubles 

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Thursday 1 December 2016

A month in pictures - November


It's nearly CRIMBLES!!! YEEEHAAA!!!! I'm a big fan of Christmas (can you tell?) and my decorations will be going up this weekend. We returned from an incredible week in the wild and wonderful North Wales last week. It was so beautiful dear reader, if you've never been I highly recommend it. I had to pinch myself on several occasions because the scenery was so utterly breathtaking. We walked through sun, rain and snow - up mountains and in actual fairytale moss-covered forests with waterfalls! At one point I'm sure we even entered frost-covered Narnia! I'll share some pictures with you soon. In the meantime the only thing that's cheering me up is the promise of CHRISTMAS!!!!! Here's our month in pictures x



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Thursday 17 November 2016

Fairy light tree centrepiece for autumn, weddings, christmas or easter

My neighbour recently cut back one of the bushes in his garden ... so when I spied a stack of lovely long branches sat by his recycling bin a little lightbulb went off in my head! You only need a few elements for this project. I've adapted it for Autumn by adding pine cones to the base, and copper and gold skeleton leaves on the branches which look gorgeous sparkling in the glow of the fairy lights, but you could easily swap the pine cones for baubles and give the branches a spritz of spray snow for Christmas! then come easter perhaps hang some decorative eggs from the branches and add some straw in the base? Whatever takes your fancy this is a lovely affective centrepiece that takes no time at all.


Decorative branches & fairy light tree centrepiece (for autumn, weddings, christmas & easter)

You will need: 

4 branches
Glass vase
Selections of pine cones / conkers / baubles
String of battery operated fairy lights
Pack of gold and copper skeleton leaves 
Glue gun or all purpose glue

TIP: If you'd like to use real autumn leaves for this project gather a selection of small leaves and press them for a week or two, then glue away! 


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