I’m sure you already know how handy upcycling is to help you save money & keep items out of landfill – but did you know it’s really beneficial for your mental health too? Here’s how to use your craft skills to revamp furniture & feel happier…
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If ever there was a time for a motivational slogan tee, it’s now. Obviously, I’m not going to the shops to buy one, but that doesn’t stop me from making one (or two!) at home. Here’s how to customise your t-shirt with an uplifting slogan…
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Technically, re-covering my Ercol studio couches was simply a case of sewing a couple of big cushion covers, right? So how hard could it be?? Here’s how I got on when I attempted sofa upholstery for the first time…
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If you’ve recently moved house or have moved in with your partner you may now have way too many clothes for your existing wardrobe space. Rather than buying more storage, why not take this as an opportunity to declutter? But before you throw those old shirts and skirts out, there’s plenty of projects that they can be used for. Old clothing is the perfect material for DIYing a lot of other items, and anything that saves you money and keeps material out of landfill is a bonus!
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Here’s an easy step-by-step guide to make a gorgeous ombre gradient triangle shawl. PLUS you could win a copy of JOMO Knits craft book in my giveaway so read on to enter the competition…
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Learn how to make this ballsy cross-stitch design for yourself with step-by-step instructions, plus you could win a copy of Feminist Cross-Stitch in my blog giveaway so read on to enter the competition…
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If you want to update your wardrobe for 2019 but don’t have the budget to go out shopping, why not reuse what you already have in your wardrobe? When you refashion a plain t-shirt, you’re creating a unique fashion piece that no-one else owns and you can usually do it for less than £5 because there are so many low-cost DIY hacks out there. Here are 8 creative and thrifty refashioning ideas to get you started…
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Today’s blog post is all about getting stuck in to a new craft this year and the five reasons why you should try a hands-on project in 2018…
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This week has been an incredibly crafty one for me – first it was the wreath-making workshop and today’s blog post is all about my latest sewing project: Christmas jumper bunting. Scroll down to see my step-by-step guide to making this fun festive project – I hope you’ll give it a go yourself!In the lead […]
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Remember your childhood Christmas tree – I bet it had an angel on the top, didn’t it? Over the years I’ve spotted more and more stars adorning the tops of our festive trees, but I love the traditional look that an angel adds when sitting at the very top of the tree. So today, here’s […]
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Do you have a lovely Christmas jumper that you’ve shrunk in the wash? Did the moths nibble their way through your favourite festive pullover? Don’t bin them – you can turn your old knits into Christmas cushions! All it takes is some straight lines of stitching to make cute throw pillows to dress up your […]
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Last century, sewing was a skill that many people wanted to master. Sewing meant freedom of choice and the ability to be able to create your own textiles such as clothing, curtains, bedding, and other items for the home. Sewing was also a way to make money and earn extra funds to help put food […]
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Do you know someone who always seems to be chilly? The spouse who turns up the thermostat in the middle of summer. The family member who wears three pairs of socks, and the friend who’s never without a mug of tea. Now that the seasons are changing, you’re likely to know plenty of people who’d […]
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Were you a bridesmaid over the summer? Do you have a gorgeous freshly-laundered bridesmaid dress hanging in your wardrobe? Think you’ll probably never get a chance to wear it again? Think again! If you’ve recently been a bridesmaid at your best friend’s wedding and you loved the dress you wore but aren’t that much of […]
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Have you seen this month’s issue of Reloved Magazine yet? If not, quickly get yourself a copy from WH Smith, Sainsburys, Tesco or Costco, because my picnic project is in the magazine with an impressive double-page spread (and 3 further pages of step-by-step photos, too!) Yes, I’m seriously excited! Not one but three of my DIY upcycles were […]
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Today sewing blog post is a step-by-step guide to sewing sleeves and fitting zips. These handy projects have been extracted from Jules Fallon’s brand new book Complete Dressmaking (published by Quarto Press). I’ve started reading the book this month and I’ve already learnt a thing or two about sewing that I never knew before. It’s […]
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Today’s blog post is all about make-do-and-mend and how you can use fabric dyes to makeover your wardrobe. Plus there’s a giveaway to win a bundle of goodies from DYLON worth £50 so read on to enter the competition below 🙂 Tie-dye t-shirt tutorial on Wendolonia’s blog Remember when I gave my husband’s shoes a makeover […]
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Whether you’ve never sewn a stitch in your life or can vaguely remember how to sew from your schooldays, you can be reassured by the fact that sewing is a pretty straightforward task. It’s repetitive, precise and anyone can have a go at it. I’d love for you to have a go at it if you haven’t […]
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So excited to share with you my latest project for Reloved because my DIY infinity scarf was chosen to be photographed on a model for the magazine! Pick up a copy of the magazine this week to see my step-by-step guide to fabric printing using a lint roller.It’s a doubly-thrifty project because I’m upcycling an old tablecloth and […]
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If you are living on a tight budget, each season brings its own challenges and I think that winter might be one of the most difficult. During this season one of the biggest issues homeowners face is finding the money to pay for higher-than-usual power bills. We all know that it’s likely that we’ll be […]
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What do you get for your niece and nephew when you’re the coolest aunt in the world? Why, handmade teddy bears, of course! It’s a project that has been six months in the making and now the bears are finally wrapped up and flying across the sea to reach the little ones in Ireland in […]
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I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to hibernate for the whole of the Christmas period. If you’ve got some time on your hands this week, why not have a go at making some of my festive crafts? All of these projects can be completed within an hour, and you only need a […]
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Shopping for Christmas gifts need not be an expensive activity, in fact it it an opportunity for a having little thrifty fun. It’s often the case that the best presents are not very expensive, but are chock full of sentimental feelings; something that can help to bring up funny memories and remind you of beloved relatives. […]
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When was the last time that you went offline? For me, it’s probably been years. Ever since I got my first smart phone I’ve not had a day away from the internet. Well, when you’re carrying a computer in your pocket at all times, and your job is based online, and your friends contact you via […]
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Over the past month I’ve been busier than an elf in Santas workshop – yes, I’ve been DIYing lots of festive projects ready to share with you on the blog this December. And what better way to kick off the month than with a simple gift project – a felt camera case.This easy-sew project lets you […]
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Great news! I’ve been featured in the current issue of Sew Style magazine! When one of the writers from this fantastic magazine got in touch back in the summer I was really excited. I happily answered all her interview questions and even emailed over a couple of photos from my blog, just in case! Thankfully, the […]
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Finding the perfect style to suit your everyday life can be difficult, especially when you need to save money. Whether you work in an office, as a shop assistant or are a student most people like to put a little effort into their daily outfits, with an increasing amount of cash being handed over to […]
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Today’s blog post is a super-fast DIY project to add a little personality to an off-the-peg high street top. Yes, I’m doing a Primark hack, and I don’t care who knows it! It’s such a quick project that I did it just half an hour before heading out to a party wearing the top. AND […]
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I’m taking glamping to the next level. Yes, I’m talking about camping indoors. Okay, maybe this playden for the little ones isn’t quite waterproof, so it’s not really festival-friendly. And it’s more a playhouse than a stayhouse. Even so, it’s something that my nephew really wanted – his very own campervan, just like daddy. One sunny […]
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Did you spot this news on my Twitter feed earlier this week? I’ve been tweeting and instagraming all week long because I’m just SO excited to be featured on one of my favourite sites. When Cut Out + Keep got in touch to invite me to be their Crafty Superstar, I was literally bouncing around […]
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I’ve been working on turning my tiny kitchen into a more habitable room for a couple of months now and if you’ve been following my progress you’ll know just how miniature my kitchen actually is! Firstly, I chose a bright colour scheme inspired by the Great British seaside and, in particular, my visit to Southwold Pier. After […]
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Yesterday, I had some amazing news. The kind that shocks you so much – in a good way – that you can’t speak and simply point to your email when your husband asks “what’s happened?!”. You watch his expression as he reads through the message, looking to spot the moment when he too realises, and […]
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This week I’ve been crafting away in my caravan and have enjoyed a couple of happy afternoons of cutting, sewing and painting (more on that project soon!). Today’s post is all about the latest addition to my soft-toy family; a cute little teddy bear named Red. There’s something about summer that makes me want to be creative. […]
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Sewing should be fun. Creative projects ought to make us happy. And DIYs should be simple. However, in the world of perfect Pinterest photos, I’m starting to think that my crafts aren’t all that good. There are so many awesome tutorials out there that I can’t be but be inspired every day, yet I’ve found that […]
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Over the past couple of weeks you may have spotted a few blog posts relating to my vintage caravan makeover project and, in particular, my attempt to finally turn my space into a proper craft workshop. I desperately needed somewhere to stash all my creative bits, bobs and books so in the new year I started searching […]
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A couple of weeks ago I shared my ideas for a crafty storage solution for my vintage caravan workshop and after a few days of deliberation, delivery and construction I’m now able to share with you some photos of the completed shelving units and cupboards. After making the decision about the configuration of the units I […]
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If you’ve been following my caravan renovation project to turn a grubby old Sprite caravan into a cosy office and sewing workshop, you’ll know how important it is for me to create a space that is both practical and beautiful. I’ve previously addressed the damp issue and in doing so I needed to remove the […]
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While Christmas may be over for another year, I can’t help wishing that winter would stay around a little longer. Since the start of January it feels to me like the magazines are already talking about spring trends and shops are bringing out their summer ranges – even though it’s still cold and snowy outside! […]
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Take one plain pullover and make it into a Christmas jumper for less than £5. What a challenge! I was inspired to create a snowy scene on this knitted blue jumper so I popped out to pick up some supplies for my sewing project and now I’ve created a thrifty DIY festive jumper project on […]
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Yes, I do know that it’s possible to buy towels and I’m honestly not buying towelling fabric and making my own. But what I have been doing is sewing a little extra trim onto my old towels to make them fit in better with the whole look of the new bathroom. In truth, I had […]
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Do you ever buy some fabric just because you like it but have no idea what you’ll end up doing with it? I actually got this fabric from Abakhan over a year ago and at the time I thought it might be the inspiration for a kitchen makeover. But during the year, my tastes have […]
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I am forever spotting gorgeous vintages dresses when I go for my weekly rummage in the charity shops but I am often put off from investing in an outfit because it is far too big for me. Last week, I tried on this vintage shirt dress from Oxfam, which was around 3 sizes too big […]
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Before the summer holidays were out, I fully intended to sleep in my caravan and camp out for a couple of nights while the weather is good. In fact, it’s sometimes a little too hot to sleep indoors so I thought that a night in the caravan would be ideal to cool off. I started […]
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It’s taken a little longer than I’d hoped, but my vintage dress is finally fixed! My retro tortoiseshell cat’s eye sunglasses are from Sunglass Junkie and shoes from New Look It was mostly down to my laziness over the summer holidays that delayed the repairs but I spent an evening at my sewing machine this week […]
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I think that I’ve undeniably smashed through the sewing block I wrote about earlier this month with all this project. For someone who wasn’t really in the mood to sew at all, I’ve certainly put my all into making this teddy bear for my niece’s christening gift! I did the whole project on one morning, […]
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I’ve been massively inspired by watching Dawn O’Porter’s This Old Thing show on channel 4 for the past few weeks. I know thrifting is nothing new to this blog and I’m sure you all know that I was huge fan of vintage long before this programme was launched, but it’s just given me an extra […]
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Sewing. It’s been a while. The dust cover has been protecting my sewing machine for a few weeks now. Okay, who am I kidding? A few months. I don’t know where the time has gone, but I’ve simply not gotten round to doing any sewing for a long time. Considering it’s my favourite hobby and […]
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Since the end of The Great British Sewing Bee I’ve stepped away from my sewing machine and for some reason have struggled to think up ideas for creative projects. I think I was just SO inspired by the Sewing Bee that when I no longer had that regular reminder to get sewing nor that weekly prompt for […]
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So after many requests to see a photo of my finished sewing project I’ve finally pinned my husband down long enough for him to take a snap of me wearing it. So here is the finished item and me posing in front of my retro caravan (don’t go thinking I’ve forgotten about sharing my caravan […]
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During the week I shared a blog post about my new sewing project and how I was working with stretch fabrics for the first time. I wanted to share my progress with you and let you know how I got on – so here goes! As you know, I spent a lot of time getting […]
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As usual, I’ve been inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee to get back behind my sewing machine and make myself a summer top. It was while watching last week’s episode featuring lots of stretchy fabric challenges that I first thought I’d like to have a go at using stretch materials. I was kindly gifted […]
Read MoreIt’s been a week of children’s clothing challenges on The Great British Sewing Bee – first the cute dungarees (that I am bursting to make for my nephew!) followed by the task to turn a pillowcase, children’s jumper and trousers into a fancy dress costume for the little ‘uns. As you probably know, fancy dress is my […]
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This week I’ve been slaving over my sewing machine… and loving every minute of it. You see, I’ve been inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee and watching the show each week has reignited my love of sewing and making something new without spending a fortune. In fact, being thrifty and recycling fabrics are two […]
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So do you think it’s the only thing worth watching on TV these days? Are you loving The Great British Sewing Bee like I am? I’m a big fan and it really makes me want to get back behind the sewing machine and start making again! I happily sat and absorbed the first show but […]
Read MoreI have amazing news and I’ve already been yelling it all over Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Google+ so if you haven’t already heard my screeches from where you are here it is again: I’VE BEEN SHORTLISTED IN THE NATIONAL UK BLOG AWARDS 2014! When I saw all the other amazing nominees in the Retail […]
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At the weekend I told you all that I’d finished sewing the cushions for my bedroom that I’d been putting off for ages. I finally powered through my sewing-block and used the leftover fabric from the bottom of my bedroom blinds to rustle up a pair of cushions for the bed. It is kind of lucky that […]
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That retro-knitwear staple, the snood, is very fashionable again this year, with all kinds of patterns and colours available in high street shops. But you don’t need to splash out on a new accessory to keep you warm this winter. You can simply upcycle an old festive jumper or cardigan that’s past its best and turn it […]
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Over the past couple of years Christmas jumpers have really taken off. This is not new information to those of us who love rummaging through charity shops, hunting out genuine vintage festive knits that your granddad would have worn. They were great for making your friends wince and declare you seriously uncool only 3 years […]
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When Lauren from the Offset Warehouse asked me to be a guest blogger for their special Christmas Showcase, I jumped at the chance. Not only is it one of my favourite online haberdashers, but it also has a great range of recycled festive fabrics ripe for the making, and my head immediately filled with ideas for […]
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A couple of weeks ago, one of my closest friends and blogger-extraordinaire Jenna from Glitter Daze blog came to stay with me and we has a fantastic time going on little trips, taking snaps for our blogs and getting stuck into craft projects so that we would have plenty of DIY tutorials ready for you over the […]
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So on this wet Wednesday morning, what better to chat to you about than my new ironing board. Honestly, it’s a much more interesting topic than you’d think! I needed to replace my previous ironing board this week because I discovered that it has gone mouldy and rusty where it had been leaning up against a […]
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Earlier this week I mentioned that I was having a go at making my own dress. I’d got the fabric ready, chosen the dress style, cut out the pattern and was ready to make the first cut. Just like so many others around the world, I was making my first step into Sew It Yourself […]
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You’d be forgiven for thinking that we have gone back in time to our grandmother’s era, when shops didn’t sell off-the-peg clothes, and make-do-and-mend was a way of life rather than a quaint Pinterest board. But no, this trend is happening right now in the 21st century and tons of people are choosing to S.I.Y (sew it yourself). It’s […]
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Patient: “Doctor, doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains”, Doctor: “Pull yourself together”. So today I’m sharing my latest sewing achievement in my little vintage caravan project – I’ve made some curtains. And roman blinds too. The roman blinds came about by accident because I thought I’d ordered enough fabric to make curtains for all […]
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We all know that emerald is Pantone’s colour of the year for 2013 (here’s my blog post about it from January) and although we are 3/4 of the way through the year, this doesn’t mean that the colour is any less on trend. In fact, it’s really coming into its own for the festive season […]
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The theme for September’s Inspiration Challenge was bears – based on this cute image of 3 antique bears. We were challenged to make anything inspired by this theme and Abakhan Fabrics were kind enough to sponsor the challenge with a prize of this cute floral sewing kit: I made this teddy bear for my nephew’s […]
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I’ve finally started what I was most looking forward to doing with my little vintage caravan project – creating a lovely place to sit. Yes, it’s soft furnishings time! I’ve spent a couple of hours at the sewing machine and I’ve made my own covers for the bench seat pads using an old duvet cover that […]
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How are you getting on with this month’s inspiration challenge? The theme was antique bears and I’m so excited to see what everyone will come up with – maybe a cross-stitch, a greetings card, scrapbooking page, drawing or anything else crafty or stitchy! I’m delighted to say that my favourite haberdashery shop Abakhan.co.uk are sponsoring the […]
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Cabuchons are everywhere this year. I’d never even heard of the word until the start of the summer and now these little resin flowers, animals and bows are attached to every piece of jewellery, every accessory and even on mobile phone cases on the high street. I think they are cute and kitsch (I love anything plasticy!) […]
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I was delighted when Lucy from LucyLovesYa.com set such a lovely theme for August by sending in her vintage wedding dress photo as a starting point for our August makes. It was a very apprioriate theme seeing as we were at the height of wedding season in August and my favourite online haberdashery Abakhan Fabrics offered […]
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