Have you ever started work on a project only to look up at the clock & realise that 3 hours have passed? If so, you might have been in ‘flow’, which is just one benefit of crafting. Here’s how getting creative can boost your mental and physical wellbeing:
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While it’s incredibly cool to have a gallery wall in your home, it’s also great when the images mean something to you. There are plenty of ways to include customised artworks in your home and here are a few options to help you fill your home with pieces you love…
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You won’t believe it but, after months (okay, years) of complaining to you about my horrible hallway, the space has finally been decorated! We really knuckled-down this month and pulled-on our paint-spattered overalls for one last push to finish the renovating. You might have already got wind of the fact that we’ve been painting again […]
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A painting in the woods. An installation in the field. A performance in the marquee. A class in the clearing. You’d be surprised at just how many creative happenings occur at Latitude festival. Sure, with literature, poetry, theatre, film and dance, Latitude isn’t just a music festival but did you realise quite how arty it is?? Here are just a few of the creative goings-on that I stumbled upon at this year’s festival…
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After a lovely bank holiday weekend of sunshine and DIY, my thoughts have turned to the school holidays and the fun things you can plan if you’re heading to the capital for a day or two this summer. Here are some cool, educational (and slightly geeky) things to do…
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Has the new year given you a burst of enthusiasm for getting your home organised? That’s how I’ve been feeling this year and I’ve been trying to sort out all the things that I’d been putting off during 2018. This week I’m tackling the artwork I’ve been collecting – it’s finally going on the wall..!
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2018 marks 100 years since the end of World War I. From 1914 to 1918, this conflict embroiled most of Europe, along with Russia, the US and the Middle East. In the UK, people from all backgrounds pulled together to contribute towards the war effort, from fighting on the frontline to working in munitions factories. But with communications far less efficient and slower than what we know today, posters became an essential component of mobilising morale and letting everyone know how they could help.
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I’ve given the walls of my office a mini-makeover this week and it’s really boosted my happiness. Since getting back to work after my little summer staycation, I felt like the space needed something inspirational to look at, and to make my office feel like home. Here’s what I did…
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I love night-time photography. Whether it’s a snap of a lovely sunset, a dark night sky or an urban setting lit up with artificial light, I think that after-dark scenes look magical. Here are a couple of my favourites…
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There are lots of quick and easy ways to give your home a unique and highly personalised look. One of the easiest, and often the most affordable ways, is using your own photos. Most of us take a lot but rarely do anything with them, apart from maybe posting a few online. You can take […]
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After a whole year of waiting, over 4 months since the line-up was announced, and two months since my last blog post about the acts I’m hoping to see, Latitude festival is now only 8 days away. As soon as July arrives, the countdown starts and I become more and more excited as the days […]
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I think I can safely say that this is the biggest photo I’ve ever printed. And definitely the largest I’ve ever pasted onto a wall, that’s for certain. Sure, I’ve used a couple of posters to create a large-ish image on my bathroom wall in the past, but have never filled a whole wall with a mural before. […]
Read MoreIn terms of making an investment in technology for the long-term, Digital SLR cameras are definitely the way to go. They are able to capture moments for you in ways that your smartphone simply can’t. And (even though there are upgrades available) if you have a decent camera then you can stick with it for life.
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Family memories come and go so quickly. Even when you wait months for a big occasion – marriage, graduations, 1st birthday parties – the time goes by in a blink. You can make the occasion memorable with some of the party tips I shared on the blog earlier this week, but it’s the reliving of these […]
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Have you ever taken a photo and thought to yourself, ”I wish I could print this out lifesize”? That’s exactly what I thought when my husband took an amazing shot of the sea last week. Well, I suppose my thought does have something to do with the fact that I’m currently decorating my bedroom and […]
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I guess I was quite adamant when I said I only wanted books for Christmas, huh? Because that’s what I got – and piles of ’em! So you can imagine how thrilled I am to start the new year with a stack of books to read and plenty of reviews to bring you throughout 2017. I’m just […]
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Today’s blog post is all about bringing a touch of festive cheer to your home this December. Hanging Christmas quotes and pretty festive scenes on your walls is an easy way to bring the spirit of Christmas into every room of the house. Yes, even the bathroom! Today I’m sharing some lovely yuletide designs to give […]
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Today’s blog is a quick and easy decor update that can make your home feel really autumnal in a matter of minutes. And you don’t need to spend loads of money on new soft furnishings, or hours crafting a garland, or days painting your walls to add a touch of autumn colour to your home. My […]
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Blazing red sunsets, rainbow skies, dark silhouettes and pastel hues. All of these beautiful elements combine to make one of the most stunning features of the evening sky – the sunset. If you’ve never watched the sun setting over rolling countryside, perhaps this summer is the time to do it. It’s a really special moment when you […]
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Here’s a helpful guest post by Victoria from Apartment Number 4, while I’m taking a little break. I hope this’ll help you to discover some new accounts to follow on Instagram and provide an endless source of photographic inspiration. And don’t forget to follow Victoria’s gorgeous Instagram account too @victoria_aptno4 – Enjoy!Although it’s still a […]
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I wanted to share a quick blog post with you this Tuesday Shoesday after finding some rather cool prints on Etsy this week. I searched for “shoes + art” and I discovered a whole world of fabulous shoe-related quotes. I couldn’t NOT share these classy wall-art designs with you, and I hope you’ll like them […]
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I’m excited to share a fun project I’ve been playing around with this week. Yes, I’ve been designing my own clothing. I’ve been spending time picking out my favourite photos and choosing my ultimate ‘girl boss’ quotes in order to make a few designs of my own. And that’s because I’ve just discovered a new […]
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No, it’s not too late to show someone you care about them this Valentine’s Day. You’ve still got time to post a card to that special person, you just need to get hold of a card. No time to run out to the shops? No problem! I’ve come up with a super-simple DIY project to […]
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I can’t believe it, we’re nearly at the school half-term holidays again! Where did the last 7 weeks go? If you’ve got children of school age you probably base your life around the academic calendar too and are looking forward to, or dreading (!), the impending half-term break. I thought I’d share with you a […]
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I only heard about the supermoon lunar eclipse when my brother mentioned it to me on Saturday night. I always seem to hear about these big celestial events just after they’ve happened so it was a real treat to be able to experience it for myself this time. I did my research yesterday and found […]
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I really couldn’t believe it when an email dropped into my inbox telling me that I’d been shortlisted in the Amara Interior Blog Awards 2015! Yes, my little thrifty blog has been shortlisted in the DIY & Craft Category and I am chuffed to bits! I know I’ve been sharing lots of interior inspiration and […]
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I once lost a whole load of photos when my mobile phone died. It was before the days of the ‘cloud’ (which I’m still not sure I fully understand now..!) when you had to physically plug your phone into the computer to get images off it. That particular phone could access the internet but I […]
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I like to think that I’m the boss in my own home, but in reality we all know that its our pets that really rule the house. Well that’s certainly the case here anyway – if Muffin wants to sleep on the bed, I’ll give her a pillow to herself and if Cookie wants to […]
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This week I went to the opening of a fabulous new exhibition at the Ipswich town hall art gallery, featuring the work of artist Mandy Christmas. The exhibition featured a stunning display of photographic works featuring countryside and coastal views along with some simply astonishing up-close shots of wildlife. Even the artist’s exhibition sign was […]
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Today I wanted to share with you some photos of a couple of buildings that I spotted on a recent trip to the coast. There was nothing particularly interesting about these buildings from the front, but when viewed from the side, it was a very different matter! I love how these buildings have been painted with […]
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I love giving gifts – even more than I like receiving them, believe it or not! – and part of the enjoyment is finding the perfect way to wrap and decorate the presents to make them extra special. I’ve been spending lots of time with my printer, trying out ways of making my own wrapping paper, […]
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I went as far East as possible yesterday. That IS what Easter means, right? 😉 I headed to the East coast in East Anglia and braved the coastal winds to enjoy a walk along the seafront with my family. I enjoyed a traditional fish and chips lunch and a cup of afternoon tea before walking […]
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I recently visited a sculpture that I’ve never see before. That’s not to say that I’ve never been to the location before – I have been to Snape Maltings many times (only last month : see my blog post on the Henry Moore sculpture here) – and that’s not to say that it’s a new addition […]
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Have you stomped your mucky boots all over the carpet? Have you laughed as you scuffed your trainers over the floor? Did you wipe your feet? I am of course referring to Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet, a seafront installation by artist Gordon Young which forms part of the seaside town’s regeneration project and is now a […]
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Just a quick photo today of the lovely bunch of sunflowers that hubby brought home for us this weekend. These bright yellow sunflower heads bring a much-needed injection of sunshine into our retro living room for autumn now that the weather is turning grey. The flowers are arranged in our chunky Hornsea storage tub which has lost its lid and […]
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As you will probably know if you have read my blog for a while, my husband is an artist and runs a number of events as well as curating exhibitions and art projects. For him it is really important to get information about his art events out there so that interested people can attend. Spreading the […]
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Just a quick blog post today to share some photos that I’ve taken of my sunny summer adventures so far. I took a trip to out this weekend for a picnic on the shores of the river, where we enjoyed cream-cheese and cucumber sandwiches and a cup of tea. It was a lovely sunny day and […]
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Today is the launch of a brand new photography exhibition at the Morley College, Westminster in London and it features work by my wonderful photographer friend and blog contributor Claire Lacey of Lacey In Places. Here she shares her photographs on the subject of Man v Nature and discusses how she produced the images: For my first assignment […]
Read MoreI really don’t think there’s anything better in nature than a beautiful rainbow. It’s a mini-miracle in the sky and it happens so rarely that you really have to stop and stare when then sun breaks through the clouds on a drizzly day. I love rainbows (and not only because they definitely have a pot […]
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Possibly my favourite piece of artwork ever! Well done Andy G 😀
Read MoreI am pleased to be able to share a fantastic giveaway with you! Artist Andy Greenacre is giving away 10 limited edition prints of his “Remember These?” artwork this week. These illustrations have developed from his recent drawings related to memorable objects from childhood. If you were an 80s child you probably remember playing with some of these […]
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Over last weekend I went to the celebration event for the The Never Ending Mural project in Ipswich. This was a community-led project inspired by the Ipswich Art School Fundraising Appeal and brought to life by artist and curator John D Edwards (pictured below). The project began on Ipswich Waterfront in June 2011 with the help […]
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I was lucky enough to be in Preston during the town’s Guild celebrations. This once-every-twenty-years event included performances, art, processions, fireworks and music over a two-week period and here’s my snaps of the town centre and Avenham & Miller parks:
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Here’s one of my favourite photographs from Andy Greenacre’s recent exhibition – check out his website here: www.Andy-Greenacre.co.uk This panoramic photograph was taken by the artist back in 2000 in South Africa.
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Now, I’m not someone who is keen on camping. For a start, I don’t like being that close to bugs. And I hate getting dirty or wet. And I really dislike getting a crick in my neck when sleeping anywhere other than my own bed. Yet often when I go camping, all of the above […]
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Here’s a couple of stunning photos by photographer Claire Lacey, taken at Ipswich waterfront of an enormous piece of graffiti art and some peeling paint on the dockside. What do you think? Leave me a comment below 🙂
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Today is the opening event for the MA art exhibition at the University of Central Lancashire and if you get the chance, do go along to the event tonight. There are plenty of studio-based students working in a variety of media exhibiting alongside a handful of site and archive intervention artists who are exhibiting their […]
Read MoreIts September and the new school term is starting, and for most of my life this has meant packing up my satchel (yes, I still have one) and heading off to school, 6th form, college and university. And I love this time of year. It’s a new beginning, with new possibilities – you’ll be meeting […]
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It’s that lovely time of year again when crops are harvested and lovely bales of all sizes can be seen in the fields – round bales, small rectangular bales, oversized bales and I’ve even seen straw bales stacked up as high as a house! The sunshine over fields of hay is lovely and signifies the […]
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Just got back from one of the best weekends ever – I went to the races at Newmarket and had a fantastic day despite on/off thunder-and-lightening storms! I loved looking at the horses in the paddock before they raced, chosing my favourite and putting on the smallest of bets… and twice it paid off – […]
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Today I’m off to Newmarket races for the day. I’ve never been before, and I have no idea what to expect and even less of an idea about what to wear! My generous brother-in-law gave me and my husband tickets for today’s race-day for Christmas – and to top it all off, after the races […]
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This weekend I went to the Ipswich Maritime festival and spent a scorchingly hot day wandering around the docks doing a spot of shopping, eating lovely treats and enjoying fantastic entertainment. There were morris dancers, soul singers and sea-faring fiddlers, alongside characters in traditional Victorian dress: a little like ghosts wandering through the crowds, slightly scary but very […]
Read MoreI’m sad to say that the London 2012 Olympics are all over. This has been an amazing 16 days since the opening ceremony and I enjoyed the game more than I ever thought possible. As the least sporty person you’d ever meet, and as the kind of person who turns over the TV if a […]
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I confess that I’ve got nothing done this week. I’ve seriously just been glued to my TV watching every event I possibly can and have been loving every second! And then re-watching it again on the Olympic roundup every night until the early hours. I’m so pleased that I have a ‘flexible’ job! So this […]
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A stunning photograph taken this summer by Alex Clarke with a Cannon EOS 550D – great composition and amazing colours – enjoy!
Read MoreYesterday saw the first 20120 Olympic gold medals being won by Team GB and it was girl power in action as the winners of the Women’s Pairs rowing event powered their way across the finishing line well ahead of their competitors. Olympic newbie Helen Glover and army captain Heather Stanning celebrated with hugs and tears as they […]
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This past weekend I took a trip to Southwold and luckily enough I stumbled upon a lovely vintage fair that was being held along the seafront, near the pier. It was so quaint to see beach huts opened up as vintage stalls, alongside traditional retro market stalls and even a fire engine! I […]
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The annual cider festival is currently running in every Wetherspoons pub in the UK and this is the last weekend to celebrate lovely British ciders. I had stopped for a cheeky drink in my local Wetherspoons this week and was pleasantly surprised by the festival – a massive selection of ciders and it cost only 1.99 […]
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Hi everyone! It’s a lovely day today with blue skies and the most amazing fluffy white clouds! This is the prettiest sky I’ve seen in a long time and I thought it deserved a few quick pics and a blog post! It’s supposed to be a ‘mini heatwave’ today according to the local radio station! I’m not […]
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Look at this gorgeous wild poppy that I spotted growing outside an old garage recently. I’ve never seen a purple poppy before, so I quickly took a couple of snaps of it and noticed that it was actually growing out of a crack in some concrete! It’s amazing where wild flowers can grow, and yet […]
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This past weekend I went to a fabulous event – an open-air cinema screening of Mamma Mia! As part of the Ip-Art Festival a massive screen had been erected in the park and the evening kicked off with an exciting session of music videos on the screen followed by the main feature once everyone had arrived. […]
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Yesterday the Olympic torch passed through Suffolk so I went to our local town to see it go by. Although I’m always keen to join in local events (such as the Diamond Jubilee, see my pics here) I wasn’t quite prepared for just how exciting it would be to see the Olympic torch pass by! […]
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Its less than two weeks to go until this year’s Latitude Festival, which is technically my ‘local’ festival, being held just up-the-road at Henham Park, near Southwold in Suffolk. I’ve been a Latitude festival fan since I first went in 2008 and it’s grown considerably over the years – probably due to its family-friendly-ness and its always being […]
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Last weekend was Open Farm Sunday – a fantastic opportunity to visit your local farms and have a good nose around for free and it was on Father’s Day so we gave dad a good day out without spending a penny! I looked on the Open Farm Sunday website and decided to visit our nearest […]
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I had such a hectic (but lovely) weekend over the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday that its taken me this long to recover and get back into full-swing! As you might remember me mentioning before the Jubilee, I had celebrations planned throughout the whole weekend – fitting in as many community parties and BBQs as possible! Luckily […]
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Last night I watched the Channel 4 programme by artist Grayson Perry ‘In the Best Possible Taste’ in which he researches the British class system for his recent artwork: 6 tapestries titled The Vanity of Small Differences. Grayson believes that taste is directly influenced by our class and has created the tapestries to show the […]
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Last weekend we attended the Alive & V-Dubbin festival hosted by VW enthusiast group Suffolk Bugrs at Jimmy’s Farm in Suffolk. We visited the festival on the final day, with the specific intention to view the main focus of the event; the show ‘n’ shine competition. We love seeing the best (and the worst if you’re […]
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I’m really looking forward to enjoying all that my local area has to offer to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend! Today I’ll be attending a village BBQ with my family and taking part in the jubilee quiz and tomorrow I’m off to the check out the celebration picnic in the new village that we’ve […]
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Here’s a few snapshots of my lovely staycation holiday in sunny East Anglia: We had a great time walking the coast, photographing beach huts, playing in cheesy seaside arcades, bowling and eating lots of lovely treats! And we were very lucky that the sun shone and that hubby won at Bingo! Great fun and our […]
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