Friday 28 March 2014

My favourite fings - My mum (on Mother's day)

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My mum.

I have a lovely mum. She's the kindest,  most loving, most humble person I've ever met, and not a day goes by when I don't feel loved by her. So since Mother's day is approaching, while my mum isn't an actual 'fing,' she is one of my most favourite people. 
So today Mummykins, you are my favourite fing!



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Thursday 27 March 2014

HOW TO MAKE: A simple flower arrangement



This video will show you how to make a simple flower arrangement in real time. 
Step by step I'll show you how to create a beautiful arrangement which can be used for weddings, funerals, christmas and birthdays for years to come. 

This is ideal for beginners.
Cost only £7.50 
and took 40 minutes to make.

(Apologies in advance for scatty behaviour ... 
and please note no spiders were killed in the making of this video.) 





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Friday 21 March 2014

Pretty Nostalgic Magazine


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Pretty Nostalgic Magazine. I've just discovered this after ordering a free back copy (how very generous of them!) and I have to say ... everything about it is just LOVELY. It's an independent magazine, filled with all things vintage, crafty, foraging, upcycling, natural recipes, craft fairs, vintage fashion, home decor and really interesting stories. In short, it's Jodie Podes heaven!




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Wednesday 19 March 2014

How to shabby chic your garden furniture ... in one afternoon.


Well it's spring (almost) and at this time of year we all head out into the garden and stand hand-on-hips accessing the winter damage, and ponder how to bring our gardens back to life. What I want is a pretty summery haven, what I have is some shabby-looking furniture in dire need of some TLC. I can't afford to replace everything but nor would I want to. So before you raid your money box and head down to Homebase I have two words for you ... 


SHABBY CHIC!!



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Monday 17 March 2014

Goodies to giveaway: Two FREE Tickets to the IDEAL HOME SHOW


Who would like TWO FREE TICKETS to this years 
IDEAL HOME SHOW??!
Earls court from 14 - 40th March

The lovely people at British Gas kindly gave me two free tickets and as much as I'd like to give Laurence llewelyn Bowens bum a big squeeze I'd much prefer to give the tickets to YOU :-)




However, in order to win these tickets you have 1: promise you will squeeze Laurence's bum on my behalf AND 2: email me the answer to the following question ....


Q: What is Ralphys FULL name??


Please send your answer ASAP to ahandmadecottage@icloud.com along with your full name and postal address. The competition ends midnight Tuesday 18th March 2014.


GOOD LUCK! 

JM x

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Friday 14 March 2014

Pretty notepads

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Notepads. I love them. I love using them as travel diaries, crafty fings and shopping lists. But I'm not talking any old notepad, they have to be pretty notepads. I know this makes me a notepad snob but my reasoning is, if it's pretty I'll want to use it! What's appealing about a regular ole A4 WHSmiths jobbie?? that just takes me right back to school * shivers * no thanks, pretty notepads all the way! which leads me to showing you these little beauties ....






This week I found these gorgeous little notepads by Lau & Home on t'internet. There are 4 in a pack (which is very handy) and they're perfect handbag / shopping list size (17cm) The paper inside is even a lovely old fashioned natural brown. Worthy of ink and quill I'd say!

For all 4 notebooks it's a mere £6.50 + P&P
Buy from amazon HERE

JM x












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Thursday 13 March 2014

AHC craft column in the Herts and Essex Observer.


I've love writing a blog. It's nice to keep my crafty adventures in one place ... a scrapbook if you like? or scrapblog! I thought it was about time I added a few clippings from my offerings as craft columnist to the local Observer (Herts and Essex). It has been a pleasure writing for them, and I've really enjoyed connecting with my local community through it. I even get spotted in town now and again, which isn't ideal as I often leave the house looking an absolute state! Thankfully Hubby occasionally intervenes before I reach the street, pointing out the jogging bottom and posh top combo isn't really working. Perhaps I need a disguise? : )

JM x



To read article click here

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Tuesday 11 March 2014

Make your own cleanser: The oil cleansing method

  
So my soon-to-be babyfaced lovelies! Last week I showed you what I think are the best natural beauty cleansers available on the market. However, like a lot of women I don't always have the money to splash out on lovely posh cleansers. So today I want to show you how to make this excellent homemade cleanser. The 'Oil cleansing method' has been around for decades and it's just lovely. In fact I much prefer this recipe to the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser (Shh I didn't say that!)

Here are the facts ...

* It only contains two oils so it's super easy to make *
(and takes all of two minutes to make ) 

* It removes the toughest of mascaras but is still ultra kind to your skin *
(stripping the skin of oils doesn't do our crows feet ANY good) 

* It 100% natural and organic *
(and makes you feel like a baby-faced Grecian goddess! 
and if it's good enough for Cleo it's good enough for us Oui?)




Akamuti's Castor oil is perfect for this. Just
make sure you get the balance for your skin type right.

Organic & cold pressed 

Castor oil


THEM: 'For thousands of years, castor oil has been revered for its therapeutic properties and has remarkable skin caring qualities.' 

AHC: This is the star of the show. It's a fantastic oil that dissolves dirt, impurities and make up and has a highly bacterial nature. This one is from Akamuti, I really like and trust their products.

COST: £5.50

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Friday 7 March 2014

Seasonal decoration - Bringing the blossom in


Isn't it BEAUTIFUL out there people?! The BLOSSOM is out. I don't care what anyone says, that signifies Spring to me. Even if it snows ... it's Spring snow (?) So for today's 'Favourite Fings' I wanted to share a few photos of my foraging adventures this month ... and show you how to save pennies (and the planet) by adorning your house with Spring.





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Thursday 6 March 2014

The BEST natural cleansers I've found are ...


Don't be thinking I choose natural products just because I'm a bit of a
hippy (ok I am a bit of a hippy) but I choose them because they work!
Lets get one thing straight. While I am a bit of a hippy-esque earthmother, when it comes to my skin I'm just as vain as the rest of you. I want soft, smooth, blemish-free skin and since I'm not getting any younger I also want the BEST wrinkle-preventing ingredients drenching my face at all times. I have now tried most products under the sun. I thought a chemical-heavy cream would be the ticket to ironing out my crows feet, but after much trial and error it appears to be quite the opposite. My skin has never been better and it's all down to our lovely, very potent mother nature! Note: I'm not getting paid to say this ... I wish I was, but I'm not.


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