Winter manifesto

15 ideas to make the most of the festive season 

So these last few months have really flown by, haven't they? It'll be Christmas before we know it and I'm starting to worry the festive season will pass in a busy blur, just like autumn did! In an attempt to avoid feeling like 'blink and you missed it', I've been inspired by the autumn manifesto written by the lovely Lou of Little Green Shed, to create a winter manifesto full of meaningful ways to slow down and enjoy this festive time of year.  I suppose it’s a little hygge inspired too...

Bake lebkuchen (German gingerbread) Visit a Christmas market Make a handmade decoration Knit a super warm snood Forage for evergreen  Bake Christmas biscuits Crochet a blanket to cosy up under   Have friends over for dinner Light candles Crunch through grass on frosty mornings Have a movie night Drink mulled wine Look up at the stars Go for a long walk  Warm up with hot chocolate 
What would be on your list? Let me know in the comments.



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Current Instagram favourites | autumn

Autumn might possibly be my favourite season. I say 'might' because I know that come spring and summer I'll also be proclaiming my affection for the them too! But I do love the crisp light, colourful leaves and refreshing air that autumn brings. There are few things better than a long walk through crunchy leaves before returning for a warming drink, good food and an evening bathed in candle light. I always enjoy seeing how others celebrate autumn and luckily my Instagram has been filled with gorgeous photographs this month, so I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite accounts for autumn inspiration.
One pleasant day Cups of tea, autumn colours and all the autumn blankets fill Carrie's stunning gallery. You can't help but get that cosy autumn feeling with each photo she shares.

The dahlia girl Vicki has a beautiful house and equally beautiful cat, Tabitha. But it's her morning shots of Tabitha in the garden with Vicki's glorious dahlias that I adore the most.  

Silver pebble  A nature lovers dream, Emma's collections of berries and leaves gathered from the hedgerows around her house are simply stunning. 

Bella whispers You'll find autumn scenery galore on Katie's Instagram. I love her autumn mantelpiece brimming with leaves, feathers and pumpkins. 

I’d love to know what your favourite insta accounts are this autumn, let me know in the comments. 
p.s. Check out my summer favourites here.



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Three phrases to live by from Big Magic

Life lessons for any creative person

The book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert was a pretty big deal... last summer. But of course I didn't read it at the same time as everyone else, I read it at the beginning of this year and loved it. You may wonder why I'm only just blogging about it now though and the reason is that recently I've found myself flicking back through its pages to re-absorb the encouragement and inspiration found within. It may sound a bit daft but it really does help with the inevitable self-doubt that comes with creativity especially when, like me, you're starting out in the scary world of selling the things you make. 

So rather than a book review, which would just be me saying how much I enjoyed it, I thought instead I'd pick out three phrases that stood out to me and could help any creative person through life: 

"Cooperate fully, humbly and joyfully with inspiration" (page 40)

Why it's important: You can't force inspiration. If you sit around waiting for it, it won't strike. So when you do get that exciting idea don't rush it, work with it.

"You do not need anybody's permission to live a creative life" (page 86)

And 

"Or if you do worry that you need a permission slip - THERE, I just gave it to you. [...] Now go make something." (page 90)

Why it's important: I had a cliched 'lightbulb moment' when I read that sentence. Subconsciously I'd been waiting for the 'permission' to give things a go. I don't know whose permission I was waiting for. But at that second I realised I was waiting for it. The lesson here is to stop waiting and simply start, because waiting rooms are pretty boring places. 

"Don't rush through the experiences and circumstances that have the most capacity to transform you." (page 247)

Why it's important: I'm SO impatient. Always trying to skip the journey and rush to the destination. But it turns out that's pretty stressful and tiring and, you know, impossible. A good approach instead is to go through the obstacles in your way, rather than try to rush around them.
Those are the three things I'm reminding myself of often at the moment. I've applied them to my creative business, but the book itself is about a creative life, therefore use them as affirmations in whatever way you need - to take that new class, to tackle that big idea or simply in your everyday decisions. And of course, it's a brilliant book so you really should read the whole thing if you haven't already!
If you've read it, I'd love to know what you thought in the comments.


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Current Instagram favourites | Summer

In the last few months instagram has become my new obsession. Whether it's gorgeous flowers, cute crochet or dreamy home interior shots I'm finding my fingers have been twitching to get my next scrolling fix. So seeing as I can safely say I've done a fair bit of research, today I thought I'd share the top four instagram accounts I've been loving this summer.
Peonie Cole Textiles Textile designer Catherine, shares the most beautiful pictures of her floral prints along with gorgeous shots of her pastel cottage and country life.

The Pastel Patch Pastel coloured crochet and Cath Kidston goodness, need I say more?

Zoe Power You can't help but feel cheerful when looking at the fresh flowers and sweeping blue skies that fill Zoe's feed. Plus she has a good name ;) 

Victoria's Cottage  With an abundance of cups of tea, croissants for breakfast, summery picnics (and a cute cat) I think I'd quite like to live at Victoria's Cottage too.

I hope you've managed to enjoy the start of summer too! What are your favourite instagram accounts at the moment?

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Four simple ways I’m going to make my life better

It's time for something a little different today, I learnt a lesson this week and want to share the below as a promise to look after myself and make a few changes. Perhaps it will inspire you too.
Last week I was ill, so ill I missed a whole week of work (a first ever for me) and ended up in A&E. The doctors didn't know what was wrong and I had to wait another four days for test results. Luckily it was just a bad, rather rare virus, but whilst trying to diagnose they asked lots of questions about my diet and stress levels. I realised how run down I've been. A busy time at work, fitting blogging around a full time job and setting up an Etsy shop had me exhausted and surprisingly unhappy. I had the balance wrong. I'd been trying to fit my life around these things, rather than fitting these things around my life. 

So I promise to do these four things about it, starting right now:
1. Make more plans for the weekend. Whether it's seeing friends, getting on with the DIY project I'd been looking forward  to or a film night with the boyfriend. No more all work and no play.
2. Bake more cakes (and therefore eat more cakes). I used to really enjoy baking but now only do it when I have someone’s birthday to bake for and end up stressing as it'll be during a busy week. So every few weekends I'm going to pick a recipe and bake something yummy, just because.
3. Eat a proper lunch and take a proper lunch break. I've got into the habit of eating lunch at my desk, while this is sometimes useful to get a bit of blogging or shop planning done, more often than not I don't really get much done and I don't really eat much lunch. Not exactly a healthy set up.
4. Give myself a break and treat myself. I am my own worst critic, always feel I could have done better and consequently never treat myself to anything, not even a chocolate bar! But enough! Buy the treat. Eat the cake. Take a night off. Life is too short.
And do you know what? I'm feeling better already.
What do you do to keep your balance?



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Floral and Feather Shop – Now Open!

Crochet accessories and motivational prints inspired by nature

So, this isn’t exactly an exclusive as some of you may have seen the news on social media, or spotted the new shop links on the nav bar and side bar, but… I have opened an Etsy shop!
I’m still finding my way (and making more stock) but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while and it feels great to have finally started working on it. I have so many more ideas and products in my head, which I can’t wait to make and show you.
For now, the shop is stocked with a crochet snood and a string of crochet bunting (obviously there had to be some crochet #crochetaddict) both are inspired by the colours of spring blossom. Click on the pictures to find out more.

I have also designed two A5 prints featuring my photographs and a motivational quote, perfect to have on your desk or in a home office.

Everything in the shop takes inspiration from nature and the seasons and is designed and made by me; I’d love to know what you think. I’m also considering listing some downloadable crochet patterns, including the pattern for the ombre crochet phone case below. Let me know if you’d be interested in the pattern for it.

To go with the shop I’ve started a mailing list, sign-up here, you’ll get a discount code in the first newsletter too!
Right I better get back to my making, happy Sunday all. 


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The Maker Place wish list*

While we're still busy decorating all the rooms in our house (to all of you who told me it's a slow process, I believe you now!) earlier this year we made a bit of a resolution to think more about our purchases and focus on investing in a few key pieces, particularly from local and UK based makers and designers. And The Maker Place is a new online site where you can do just that. 

With everything from kitchenware to office accessories and wallpaper to decorative prints, it's bursting with handmade pieces from some incredibly talented makers. Each maker has their own profile page so you can find out a bit more about who you're buying from and they feature in-depth interviews on their blog, the most recent with potter Kara Leigh Ford is well worth a read - she got down to the final 20 auditions for the Great Pottery Showdown and I love her organic style (and her striped shed/studio)! 

Here's a little pre-payday wish list of some of my favourite pieces:

Clockwise from top left: stoneware speckle teapot, nest building materials cushion, classic Swedish butter knives, peg it all little in green peg board, great tit screen print, sea foam dinner plate
What handmade pieces are you keen to pick up for your home this season?
*Affiliate links - if you're thinking of making a purchase I'd be honoured if you'd use the links in this post to do so and I'll receive a little bit of commission.

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5 tips to simplify your next interior decoration project

How to make planning your next room redecoration easier

Planning to redecorate a room in your home can be both really exciting and really stressful. Who else gets that eekitsalltoomuchidon'tknowwheretostart feeling? Where you have so many ideas, thoughts and things to remember it's completely overwhelming and you end up distractedly browsing a few websites then panic a bit and give up. Not the most productive use of time, but this was about as far as I kept getting with the plans to redecorate our new bathroom. So I sat down and came up with these tips to make the whole process easier, quicker and less stressful. Seriously, they’ve opened my once-disorganised eyes. I’ve written the tips with a bathroom focus, but you could apply to any room or redecoration project.

1. Work out what you want to achieve with the redecoration Is it just a new look? Or do you also want to create more space? How about more storage? Pinpointing this will help focus the rest of your ideas, and will ensure by the end of the project you achieve what you set out to. For our bathroom redo we want to achieve more space, more storage and make the room feel brighter.
2. Gather inspiration  We all know I'm going to mention Pinterest here, but I do find Pinterest can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, too much inspiration, you know? For example, my bathroom board is full of characterful country bathrooms and roll top baths (neither of which are suitable for our current tiny bathroom) as well as the more realistic small space ideas I've gathered since thinking about the project. So either set up a new board specifically for your project and keep all the roll top pics for the next house, or print off and create a mood board of all the relevant pictures. You might be amazed what it suddenly shows you when all the most appropriate stuff is in one place... clearly our bathroom will be blue and white!
3. Samples, samples, samples Nothing helps you make a decision faster or reduce risk of costly mistakes than getting in some actual samples. Lots of online stores like Victoria Plumb and Tile Mountain offer free samples, or you can buy samples of tiles, flooring and paint from most DIY stores for a few pounds. 
4. Take measurements and keep them to hand What's the point of thinking 'oh that might fit' when out shopping or browsing online, when you could check the measurement and know for sure? Measure the whole room and keep them in your handbag or on your phone, it's a massive time saver. Also if you're tight on space like our bathroom is, draw the measurements out to a small scale onto some graph paper and you'll be able to see exactly what space you'll have to work with.  
5. Get a rough budget in place In a similar way to tip 4 once you have a rough budget you'll know what you can afford and decision making will become easier. Fallen in love with some expensive wall tiles? Then you'll know you might have to economise on the flooring, or find a cheaper shower. Keep a running total so that you can assess and readjust as necessary.
Right, if you've done all that you should be feeling far more decisive and in a much better position to get on with the project! I’ll keep you posted on our bathroom progress. 

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Inspired by | the pheasant

Autumn is here! It's possibly my favourite season, and while this month's bird of choice can be seen pretty much all year round, it's striking autumnal colouring and habit of wandering though country fields and makes the pheasant a perfect pick to add a seasonal touch to your home or wardrobe this October. 

Kitchen glove | Ulster weavers
Found feathers phone case | Cassia Beck 

Scarf | Highland Angel
Handmade lampshade | Ollie & Roo
Which is your favourite? 

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Inspired by | the rose

This month's 'inspired by' is something which has now turned into an unlikely obsession of mine. A couple of weeks ago we brought ourselves a beautiful pale peach climbing rose to grow up the empty trellis on the back of our house, inspired by this trip to Pashley Manor. And in a move most unlike my normal self I have been diligently watering, training around the trellis and pruning it ever since - I was even out there yesterday morning before work! But it's just such a beauty (and cost us a good £15 - who knew roses were so expensive?!) and currently has four roses and at least another three about to open so I wan to make sure they stay looking pretty for as long as possible. I've also taken to cutting the ones which are hidden at the bottom and bringing them indoors to pop in little glass vases, really getting my moneys worth here. 
So here's my pick of a few more roses to adorn you and your home...

Crochet rose pattern | Skip to my Lou blog


Rose garden dress | Mrs Pomeranz | Not on the High Street 

Rose crown | Bloom by Ellen | Not on the High Street
Digital print | Laprintables | Etsy UK
And here's my beautiful rose...

Which is your favourite?


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Skylight inspiration AKA Project Natural Light

The big compromise when we brought our first house last autumn was the bathroom. Apart from being small and outdated, its major flaw is the lack of a window and therefore any natural light. The fact that we brought the house anyway is a testament to just how much we loved the rest of it! Especially considering we had already rented a flat with a windowless bathroom for 18 months - so a bathroom window pretty much at the top of my house hunting wish list. It’s funny how things work out.
But all is not lost. We figured once we got settled we could research how to get some natural light into the bathroom. Being a terraced house a skylight is definitely the most light-giving option (others include glass style bricks to steal light from neighbouring rooms or adding sun tunnels to the ceiling). A couple of weeks ago we had a builder round to see if it was a possibility, which it is and I'm super excited to report ‘project natural light’ has begun.
Obviously, I headed straight to pinterest for some dreamy skylight and décor inspiration… 

Image source / image source

Image source / image source And when you think of skylights, VELUX* is probably the company that springs to mind. I’ve been looking at their range of blinds, which includes everything from blackout to roman, and decided that their venetian blind would be the ideal finishing touch. Helping to keep the room cool and provide a bit of privacy when needed (we live next door to a gliding school!). However, if I thought I could get away with it I’d also be quite tempted by their The Disney and VELUX Dream Collection 'Bambi 1' blackout blind, which is the stuff my 10 year old self would have dreamed of. 
Anyway back to grown up skylights, do you have one in your house? Which bathroom look would you go for? I just love the tile colour in the top right image.
*sponsored link

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Five ways to relax on a beach holiday

So here's the situation, one minute your rushing through traffic, juggling work, personal life and a blog and the next you're lying on a beach with your fingers twitching and unable to just 'be'. Sound familiar? City breaks are different as you often have such as packed schedule you don't have time to sit and worry, but by the beach and by the pool you can easily get caught up in all the things you should be doing, forgetting to take an all important break.

With that in mind I put a bit of thought into how I'd relax on our beach holiday this year and now that I'm home (and it worked) I thought I'd share it with you. Although it's not really ground breaking stuff, these little reminders certainly helped me.

1. Have a social media break. Or even better leave your phone at home completely (which I did, shock, horror!). But if you do have to take it leave it switched off and only use for photographs or emergencies. You can still share all the #holidayspam pictures when you get home, but this way you get to enjoy some good old fashioned, quality no internet time too.   
2. Plan what you are going to do with your sudden free time. This might sound like an oxymoron when we are talking about trying to relax. But sitting on a sun lounger thinking of all the things you should be doing isn't exactly a recipe for relaxation either. Take books, magazines a notepad pad and paper and of course a craft project!
3. And if you run out of books and crafts - people watch. You can learn so much about different cultures just by soaking up some of the atmosphere. Thinking up fun background stories for people is a great way to distract yourself from wondering if you replied to your boss' last email.
4. Don't wear a watch. Aside from the obvious no tan line benefit, it means you can escape your routine and do what you want when you want - essential for a bit of chill time.
5. Start a beach finds collection. Beaches are the perfect place to go hunting for little treasures; my personal favourites are sea shells, sea glass and feathers. When I struggled to sit still during our first few days in Barbados two years ago, I collected lots of sea glass from the shoreline and now it sits in a little glass jar on our windowsill. Fun to do and a free souvenir. 
Do you have any top holiday relaxation tips? 

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Inspired by | the swallow

This month’s ‘inspired by’ is all about a bird that reminds me of hazy summer days and long walks through fields. Watching swallows joyfully swooping through the air and almost skimming the tops of crops as they fly is something I’ll never tire of. I’m not sure if they are actually swallows or swifts, or even house martins, they move too darn fast but nevertheless they are a joy to watch. We saw some very similar birds while exploring on holiday in Menorca last week; they were flying around the cliff edge with amazing grace and speed, suggesting they shared our excitement at being carefree (for those few days!).

Swallow cyanotype candle holder | The Way to Blue | Folksy

Vinyl swallow wall stickers | Vinyl Impression | Etsy

Wooden swallow brooch | Twiggd | Not on the high street

Swallow print dress | Stella McCartney

Which is your favourite?


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INSPIRED BY | THE BLUE TIT

We’re back on feathers in my monthly ‘inspired by’ series, with possibly my favourite bird – the blue tit. “Why favourite, you ask?” Simple, their cheerful blue and yellow colouring! It’s no coincidence that our living room features this exact colour scheme, where the accessories below would look right at home...
 

Hand sewn blue tit glasses case | Dear Emma Designs
Needle felt blue tit kit | Hawthorn handmade | Etsy

Blue tit tweed bird sculpture | The Cotton Potter | Etsy
Blue tit and blossom tea towel | Kate Slater | Not on the high street
Which is your favourite?


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Inspired by | the daffodil

Cheerful and bold, the sight of swathes of daffodils appearing just as the weather starts to warm is one I look forward to every year. Their sunshine yellow colour, unique shape and ability to brighten up the greyest of days is clearly irresistible to makers and photographers (here's one I snapped this spring), so cheer up your week with these daffodil inspired treasures. 

Crochet daffodil pattern | Messyla
Daffodil throw pillow | Prints of heart | Etsy

Daffodil iphone case | Indira Albert
Daffodil bed linen | Seasalt Cornwall
Which is your favourite? 


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