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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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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Wednesday 29 October 2014

My month in pictures + An autumn story + October


An autumn story



Well hello my little autumn lovelies. Today I'd like to introduce a new feature to the blog!  Life can get a bit overwhelming sometimes, and I have to remind myself to slow down and take stock. So I thought a nice way to do this is a look back over the month.  There may be some projects you missed, so I've included links should you want to make any of them.
Here is my October - an autumn story :-) 

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Friday 4 July 2014

Cider with Rosie





I picked up this lovely fabric-covered edition of 'Cider with Rosie' by Laurie Lee, from a second hand bookshop the other day. I'm only a few chapters in but already I can tell you with confidence, this is a wonderful book, and I can't believe I've reached the grand old age of 35 without having read it before!

It's such a lovely story, and this particular edition also contains some beautiful illustrations and images that bring the story to life. It also includes a handful of precious photographs of that time and place, preserved by the author for over 50 years.
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Monday 6 January 2014

Becoming a natural beauty


Laugh lines or wrinkles, call them what you like, we don't like them. Like most people I had tried all manner of things to prevent age showing on my face. I'd like to tell you I eat vast amounts of organic veg and drink kale juice but that would be a lie. I don't drink much water (unless there's milk and a teabag in it) and I eat cake. So like most women I try to make up for it with what goes on my face instead. When I gave up smoking (I was a young musician) I also gave up chemical products at the same time and became a natural beauty. As a result my outlook and way of life completely changed, as did my skin.


My wedding morning ... I even used natural products on my big day.
Photo by Binky Nixon

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Friday 20 December 2013

My favourite fings - Switching off

 photo ff.png


Nowadays almost all of our daily activity involves technology of some sort. Now I don't want to sound like ole Miggins over the road, "we didn't have all these fancy moblies in my day",  but I have to admit that occasionally I find it HUGELY satisfying to switch it all off.
Some of you might love the thought of turning off all phones and putting laptops out of sight, whereas others will have started to sweat at the prospect of not having 24 access to facebook.


Switched off, on a cottage holiday.


Well yes at first it is quite strange. You'll keep going to check your phone or when faced with a question to which you don't know the answer you'll panic when you realise you can't ask google. But after a day or two it's just SO lovely. I feel refreshed, free, and more relaxed than I ever thought was possible. We are utterly consumed by technology. So I find from time to time that it's a good idea to give your brain a break and your loved ones 100% of your attention.

So even if it's just for a day, perhaps give it a try ...
you might love it so much you won't want to switch back on!

JM
x

"I'm not answering that phone ... I'm on 'oliday!"


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Tuesday 1 October 2013

A thrifty guide to growing plants & flowers for free


Good Morning autumnal lovelies, I just spent a lovely day in the garden, getting it ready for Autumn. I filled my brown bin to the brim and woke the neighbour's baby several times after walking face-first into spiders webs. But before the summer comes to a close I wanted to share some tips on filling your garden with beautiful flowers without spending a penny (literally that is). While some of you may relish an afternoon traipsing around Homebase, others may not (myself included) - and the following will not only save you money, it will also give you a far deeper sense of satisfaction and you'll love your garden all the more for it.




Sharing flowers with your neighbours

Now before you head out into the garden and start cutting back all your plants - (which I'm sure has therapeutic benefits and often reminds me of cutting Hubby's hair) stop, and take a look around. More often than not, ole Mrs Miggin's next door has let her plants go wild and they're clambering all over your side of the fence. But rather than hacking away at her prize Geraniums, why not entice them into your garden instead? For example - my shed was looking pretty bare and I really wanted a 'Santa's grotto' vibe so I enticed Mrs Miggin's straggly old bush onto my shed. I didn't even need to hold it in place (it had suckers!) and now it's almost completely covered and I didn't spend a penny. 






More tips for accumulating new plants for free


Collecting seeds .... 



At this time of year flower heads dry up and their seeds fall out or fly off in the wind. If you collect these carefully you can store them (in pretty little packets!) or sow them in Autumn  and you'll have have a flower-filled garden come spring! For more info check out this BBC Gardening article. 


Sharing seeds ...

Did you know there are seed swapping / sharing events? check out http://www.seedysunday.org
Or browse the Internet to find one near by.






Transplanting ...

Or as I like to call it - Pulling them up by the roots out of your mums / mates garden and plopping them in yours, Easy peasy! Autumn / winter is a good time to move plants as they're dormant, but not all plants can handle a move so have a google beforehand to make sure.


Dividing plants ...

Certain plants get so big it helps them enormously if you divide them into smaller plants (chives for example) and not only does it help them, you also multiply your plant! Again, autumn is a great time to do this. However you might not want four of the same plant so why not do a swap with friends to get some new shrubs into your garden?! I've swapped a few plants this way so it's a win win all round. But do check beforehand as dividing doesn't work with all plants and some plants will look at you aghast!

Further reading ...

With a little thought we can easily save pennies. I love making arrangements just from wild flowers and plants I find in the hedgerows all year round and will be posting on this later in the year. In the meantime if you feel you need a little help in the garden I suggest  'The Thrifty Gardener'  by Alys Fowler. I don't usually recommend a book if I haven't read it but this girl knows her stuff so we're in good hands. But for now, get out there and start luring in your neighbours plants!

JM x




Note: Please note, I cannot be held responsible should you get into trouble for luring your neighbours plant into your garden. I suggest you only work with plants that are already hanging over your fence (so now your property) and refrain from pulling them over at 4am in the morning : )


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Monday 9 September 2013

The cottage guide to BLACKBERRY picking!


I LOVE this time of Year! When blackberry picking time comes around I get so excited. I do love summer but I love autumn more. It's such a beautiful time ... the colours, snugly blankets, fires, hot chocolate and BLACKBERRY AND APPLE CRUMBLE! we're also allowed to get a bit fat as we need the warmth : ) I realise I haven't talked about craft much lately but I'm just too distracted by the pick n' mix of berries in our hedgerows at the moment. Thanks to a glorious summer the bushes are jam-packed (see what I did there?) with fruit this year which means? ... 'one for me, one for the basket, one for me ...' 





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Monday 2 September 2013

Making Sloe gin - How to tell when Sloe Berries are ripe



So it's been a wonderful summer and the hedgerows are bursting with bumper crops this year ... 'one for me, one for Ralphy, one for me ...' I'm determined to make the most of mother natures bounty this year. So today I want to give you a heads up on the SLOE berry. It's not picking time yet but it will be soon so here's a guide to picking at the right time.


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Wednesday 17 July 2013

Welcome to a handmade cottage




Welcome to my cosy corner. I'm Jodie May - songwriter, wife and devoted dog mother to Ralphy (pictured right.) I founded my local craft club (The cottage crafters) and I am happy to be the first Craft columnist for the Herts and Essex Observer. When we moved into our little cottage we didn't have much in the way of money. So by using craft, thrifty buying, up-cycling and making things myself I managed to create a lovely, cosy characterful home ... full of old furniture, antiques and ramshackled loveliness. 
    




I absolutely love old rustic things ... antique furniture, antique cotton and lace, old copper and silver and old floral fabrics. In fact almost all of my furniture is antique, and it was all sourced from charity shops. I love the simplicity and the quality of old things ... and I love that each piece has a story to tell. I also love the simple way people lived in by-gone days ... and I try to take from that as best I can, by living as naturally, and simply as I can. ... which is easier said than done. 

      I not only created our handmade home, we also had a handmade wedding! We made almost everything and saved a small fortune. On return from our honeymoon I felt my life needed a change of direction, so I started a craft club in my town, became a craft columnist for the local Observer and decided to start a blog! I want to show people that crafting cosy characterful homes (or weddings) is a lot easier (and cheaper) than you might think. I hope you enjoy the blog, and do feel free to come and say hello anytime.



About me ...


Name: Jodie May

Age: A lady never tells ... Ok I'm 37.

Likes: Dog Walks in Woodlands * paddling in streams * anything floral antique lace * tea and cake in vintage china * Campfires * Antique shops (I love old things that have a story to tell) * Gardening and attempting to grow my own * blankets * charity shops * crafting * making things * having time
with with my loved ones.

Dislikes: Cooking (I just can't ... I try but it's not good, thankfully hubby loves cooking : ) Slugs - though I can't kill them. Running (I just can't - and hubby laughs when I try.)

TV: Wind in the willows (I know I'm a grown woman but it's just so sweet and lovely! and I'd love to
live in Moles house) The good life * Upstairs downstairs *  Frasier * Only fools and horses * Larkrise to Candleford (I watch it with my lovely little elderly friend Ros : )

To read some frequently asked questions (and answers) click here!

JM x





www.ahandmadecottage.com

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