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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Friday 30 September 2016

How to make: Laura Ashley Embellished Tote Bag - with R&B Designs



Last week some fellow crafty bloggers and I spent the most wonderful afternoon at the beautiful Laura Ashley Manor Hotel. I had no idea Laura Ashley had a manor hotel, did you? well it is gorgeous let me tell you. We had a lovely time exploring the grounds, which was followed by a delicious afternoon tea and an afternoon of crafting. The fun and fabulous design duo Russell and Bawden (Amanda Russell & Juliet Bawden) led the workshop, and with their expertise and guidance we made some gorgeous Tote bags - using the latest Laura Ashley Fabric. I haven't used my sewing machine in a while so it was lovely dusting off the cobwebs. Here is my finished Tote bag, along with R&B's step by step instructions on how to make this lovely bag. I accidentally cut one of my shoulder straps so I made it work for me by adding fabric handles! I also embellished the bag using beads from old pieces of jewellery.




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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 29 October 2015

AHC Halloween Special!!! Pretty pumpkins and spooky nights out & about

I LOVE Halloween, and I love all the cold, misty, spooky, spine-tingling titillating things it brings to out murky October evenings. I seldom trick or treat nowadays, unless my nieces and nephews drag me kicking and screaming. I much prefer to be huddled somewhere telling ghost stories, surrounded by friends, a warm fire and some glowing pumpkins - OR I like to take part in a spooky evening of sorts. So today, I'm celebrating all thing Halloween, from pretty Pumpkin carvings to Victorian ghost walks .... so read on if your dare!! 


Halloween special

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Tuesday 4 August 2015

A month in pictures - July - Summer Madness


Well what a glorious month July has been. OK, so it's not so great now - the rain has been torrential this past week and "Oh I hope this isn't the end of summer" has been muttered at least once in every casual  conversations. But I have every faith our great British summer will return! July has been quite busy for our little house - work hasn't stopped but we've managed to escape for occasional day of fun! Here's our month in pictures ....


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Tuesday 14 July 2015

A day out 'picking your own' at Cammas Hall Fruit Farm


This week I had a wonderful day out at Cammas Hall Fruit Farm. The farm is run by the Lukies family and has been for the last 128 years. I had only intended to pop in and out of Cammas Hall, but having seen the vast amount of goodies on offer, not to mention the lovely cafe full of homegrown produce I ended up staying far longer than I anticipated ...





I wasn't the only one either ... friends, couples and families often spend the whole afternoon here; catching up over lunch while the kids play in the adventure playground, followed by a leisurely stroll around the fruit farm, picking and nibbling as they go (though bear in mind ready-picked is also available if you're in a hurry).  If you fancy a slightly longer amble, Cammas Hall have recently introduced a nature trail through the beautiful surrounding countryside - what a lovely, nature-inspired way to tire out the kiddies during the summer holidays, don't you think?

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Wednesday 1 July 2015

Ceramics Course at The Little Arts Workshop


This month I took part in a pottery workshop at The Little Arts Workshop in Bishops Stortford ... and I absolutely loved it. I have never dabbled in clay before, but I have been itching to for some time. So when I discovered a pottery course running at The Little Arts Workshop, I jumped at the chance. It's a wonderful creative hub, which hosts a varied selection of crafty workshops seven days a week, during daytime and evenings, for both adults and children. For toddlers and primary school children there are workshops in clay and arts and crafts, and for adults there are life drawing courses, ceramics courses, watercolour painting courses, and photography courses to name a few...


The Little Arts Workshop in Bishops Stortford

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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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Wednesday 22 October 2014

The Alexandra Palace knitting & stitching show 2014


ribbons and lace from Namolio


On the 9th October I took the coach with my crafty pals to the knitting and stitching show at Alexandra Palace. This is the third time I've attended the event, and I have to say - it never gets tiring. Every year I am filled to the brim with ideas and inspiration and I leave with bags full of crafty goodies - even though I promise hubby not too (!)  I'd love to introduce you to some of the wonderful artists and makers from the event, and share some of my favourite moments from the day.

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Tuesday 14 October 2014

A handmade christmas with Laura Ashley


So last week I attended the Laura Ashley bloggers Handmade Christmas fair, which was held in Homemade London - a fab little craft shop in the West End. I didn't quite know what to expect from such an event. I'm not a fan of office parties and I avoid networking at all costs, but when Ms Ashley invited me to her bloggers Christmas evening, I knew it was going to be a fun, crafty affair ... and I was keen to meet other crafty bloggers.



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Wednesday 20 August 2014

Wilderness Festival - Mother Nature's Disneyland


 photo ff.png


I have recently returned from Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire. The word 'festival' seems to conjure mixed emotions for many people - there are those who absolutely love them, and those who think it's a young person's game, wouldn't set foot in such places for fear of being trampled on by beer-swilling lager louts drugged up to the eyeballs on 'disco-biscuits.' These kind of festivals do exist of course, but there are others - others which are an adventure for man, woman, and child, and these festivals can be far more magical than the likes of Disneyland ....




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Friday 1 August 2014

Fibre east craft festival


One of the reasons I love craft so much, is because I love pretty things. Knitting, sewing and making in general means I can make pretty things. The process is enjoyable, it's highly addictive and at the end ... you get a pretty thing! If you're looking to get into craft, craft fairs are a great place to start. Craft fairs are shopping heaven for crafty folk, and this weekend my crafty pals and I headed to Fibre East - a festival of British natural fibre and craft, in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.



  

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Monday 21 July 2014

GIVEAWAY: Win 2 tickets to the 2014 Alexandra Palace Knit & Stitch Show



Morning lovelies! Well today I am super excited because I'm giving you crafty lot the chance to ...

WIN TWO TICKETS TO THE ALEXANDRA PALACE KNIT & STITCH SHOW!!! 

I'm so pleased because I love the knit and stitch show and attend every year. If you love craft you will LOVE the show. It's a great day out and is full of demonstrations, workshops and wonderful stalls selling everything to do with craft. To see photo's and read my review of last years show you can do so here.  The competition will run for the 3 weeks and expire on the 10th August. The winner will be announced soon after ... see below to enter (it's easy and everyone has a good chance of winning - no favourites!)




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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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Wednesday 22 January 2014

The Waltham Abbey Wool Show


My crafty pals, AKA The Bishops Stortford Craft Club and I headed out to the Waltham Abbey Wool Show this weekend. It was such an inspiring afternoon I had to share it with you. These women blew me and my crafty pals away with their skills, their creativity and how that they've turned their passions into thriving business. Read on to be inspired!




This lovely stall above belongs too Namolio ... they make accessories and sell gorgeous supplies for sewing, knitting, crocheting and other related crafts. The ladies below are from the West Essex and east herts guild of weavers and dyers. It really made me want a spinning wheel ... possible new hobby coming on.











This lovely lady from knitola.com sells gorgeous knitting kits! Look at this beautiful doll! If I hadn't found her at the end after I'd spent all my budget I would have bought this in a heartbeat ... isn't she gorgeous?! Hubby - next birfday perhaps??! 

This gorgeous woman is Jeannette Sloan of  jeanettesloandesign.com ... she's a knitwear designer and  sells all sorts of lovely kits - I have my eye on quite a few of them (especially the fingerless mitts and the shawls!).






This woman is my hero. She is Gillian of Pintail Designs and she is a Fair isle knitting ninja. Not only does she makes beautiful things, she also runs workshops. I WILL learn to knit Fair isle and this lady is going to teach me! (she doesn't know it yet.)





This cheeky chap-ette is Sarah from Weaveknitit.co.uk. She and her business partner Jane run a company selling beautiful yarn (I bought 6 balls of it) which they hand spin themselves. They also run courses : )




Finally we have this clever woman from Shamu Makes ... She HAND-dyed every ball of wool you can see in that pile and no two are the same. They are such beautiful natural colours ... some of which will be turned into Welly toppers very shortly!!




As for me, I now have enough wool to fill a field so I better get cracking on my spring blanket!!
 

JM x









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Friday 18 October 2013

The knitting and stitching show at alexandra palace




SO, last weekend my fellow crafters and I took the coach to The Alexandra Palace knit and stitch show. I was so excited I hardly slept the night before ( I know - I don't get out much). We sat on the coach and made our crafty shopping wish lists.

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