Category: DIY
Towel art….
Given the German invasion of Greece we are now going to extreme lengths to reserve our sun loungers, hashtag British resistance!
Laters, Kate x
Successsssssssss!!
Joy is simply producing a whopping, great bubble…and wanting to do it again, and again, and again…
Yesterday, we finally go our giant bubble mixture to really work…YAAAAAAYYYYYY!
The recipe was:
One and a half teaspoons of guar gum (bought from Amazon).
Mixed with enough glycerin (from local chemist) to turn it into a paste.
To which 4 litres of hottest tap water is slowly added.
And a tablespoon of baking powder.
Then finally 6 oz of the best fairy liquid you can buy (we used platinum).
(The trick is lots of vigorous stirring..and then let it sit for 20 minutes).
(The bubbles wands are simply made from wooden spoons and cotton string, tied in a triangular shape with a weight (keys/keyrings work well) at the bottom).
We learnt that if you blew into the bubble..
You could get bubbles inside the bubble!
Hours and hours of pure, unadulterated FUN!
Laters, Kate x
Instant Gratification x
Heading to the sewing superstore today to re-stock the portable summer craft box…
(All pictures Pinterest)
I love the idea that one hook and some coloured yarn can do all this..
Laters, Kate x
Ode to Creative Coffee..
We had our final Creative Coffee EVER yesterday…a day of sadness, joy..and achievement all rolled into one.
Sometime it’s the simple things in life that make the magic and one of those things for me were Creative Coffee Mornings. They were started by the lovely Sophy many years ago now, when she made the genius decision that chatting over coffee with young children was so much more fun when creating was involved. Originally we’d all take over our unfinished projects and use the time to give ourselves much needed permission to complete them. Then Sophy and best friend, Minta developed it further and prepared, for a small fee, everything in advance with a termly timetable of once-weekly delights. From sugar craft to liqueurs to making sausages…it was the perfect antidote to urban brain boil.
Now Minta is off to pastures new – a whole new chapter is opening up for her in the wilds of Scotland, which I know she’ll relish and grab with both hands…but she’ll be missed.
Wednesday mornings will never be quite the same again..
(These are not handmade rolls but an edible sculpture, entitled ‘eight nude elderly ladies tying their shoelaces’..)
So I raise a cupcake to the wonders of Creative Coffee and all who sailed in her…. Ladies, it was a commanding performance with a spectacular range, lead with aplomb and an indescribable magical touch of alchemy. Thank you for the opportunity to spend time with some of the best women I know laughing, baking, making and creating. The memories will live long..(well..those that aren’t addled by sloe gin…)
I absolutely loved it.
Laters, Kate x
Wool and the Gang x
Wool and the Gang was born to find the best way to produce fashion..namely by hand…your hands..(or if you’re really nervous..someone else’s)
It’s a quirky, sustainable reaction to the fast fashions of our generation that says stop, think..and make something special that lasts whilst reducing stress and improving dexterity.
You can either purchase complete kits to make yourself..or a separate price is given for a ready made item where you can support fellow ‘Gangsta’s’ by buying their handmade pieces.
There’s different levels for various abilities..and options for men, children and the home too…even crochet.
Wool is a favourite yarn, but they also work with fashion factories to repurpose their fashion waste into new yarns to reduce landfill.
Clever eh?
It was founded by three women: Designers Aurelie Popper and Jade Harwood met while studying textile design at Central Saint Martins in London, after which they went onto work at Alexander McQueen and Balmain. Third member is Elisabeith Sabrier, former model, world traveller and yarn lover.
It’s the kind of stuff you you really want to make.
And now there’s no excuse..
Laters, Kate x
Clean Slate x
Old fashioned..or functional and full of character? Anaglypta or embossed wallpaper has that decisive, divisional effect.
Personally, I love it..it protects walls from the bumps and bangs of everyday life and offers a rich, timeless texture that’s hard to find anywhere else.
My marmite moment was what they did to it in the eighties..blinging the raised bits with lightly brushed metallic gold and copper paint..I can feel the bile rising all over again. But in a deep, dark matt grey or black?
(last 2 pictures mine, all the others from Pinterest)
It’s time to experiment with samples..how high should the dado go? Maybe a whole wall of anaglypta..different anaglyptas….the mind is happily starting to bubble..
Laters, Kate x
Sharing…..
Because sharing is caring……let me introduce to a new discovery..the rather magical world of Sugru..
It’s a bit like flubber..you never thought that anyone would ever actually invent it…
It’s a mouldable glue that glues anything and sets within 24 hours..to still remains flexible..
All those dodgy exposed flexes? Sorted.
Plus anything else you care to think of – It’s the ultimate true hero in the fight against the modern disease of built-in obsolescence…
It can cope with hot stuff..
cold stuff..mending cracks in fridges…It’s even dishwasher proof.
And waterproof…
These people can explain more…
But basically the only thing that limits its application……is your imagination…just utterly incredible!!
Laters, Kate x
Summer DIY
The rollercoaster ride of summer is gathering speed..today will be the first day of wearing a summer dress all day long without a coat. Bliss. I would happily wear summer dresses all summer long – they are without doubt the ultimate capsule wardrobe. I did my Atlantique Ascoli check and I have 5 cotton ones…so I’m on the hunt for 2 more to make 7 outfits for the sun ticked off. They’re all I take on holiday now – simply blinged and pimped with jewellery and different shoes for the evening.
I’m also collecting together my summer craft box – a tupperware container with enough bits to while away the magic hours that only appear on holidays, when time seems to get stretched by the sun. Last year we made macrame and friendship bracelets (even Charlie can rustle up a mean macrame)..and I’m sure we’ll make more this year..we got pretty proficient at sewing in chains and all sorts..
This year I’ve found this to add in..all we’ll need to add are a crochet hook, some buttons….
Maybe we’ll finally do a take on this…all I need is time..(and that little bit of child labour)……….
Laters, Kate x
Trial 1..
The inspiration..
The recipe.
The attempt.
That never progressed beyond this.
The aftermath.
The rain.
(Trial 2…soon….I will not be beaten. My garden might…)
Laters, Kate x
Corking!
Do you remember this post? An up-cycle of a well-loved pair of shoes with a row of brass thumb tacks..well, they’ve proved their worth and survived for another year (just – too comfortable to consign till the very, very end) and remarkably most of the pins stayed in..there are a few gaps..
Which have now been filled by these babies..push pins with personality!
I can see hours of fun ahead…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 