The British Homemaker - One day at a time

I don't get to post here as much as I'd like just now, with two businesses to run I find I am excelling at time management! However, I do have some fun posts in draft that I just need to edit the photos for which are on my to-do list (around #33) but for today I thought I'd offer a little freebie... please feel free to share and link back to me. Blue cupcake topper flags DOWNLOAD HERE Debs

Working on some new projects for my business I was rather surprised how often I’m asked if I sell individually cut fabric letters. Eventually I got the message, so now I’m adding a new range to both Design my Room Uk and Design my Party Uk (website still being re-built).   So till 30th June I am offering free Uk postage, basic rate for Eu and everywhere else. These are available in sizes from 1” up to 12” in a wide range of colours and patterns and ideal for any kind of personalising, cushions, buntings, clothing, blankets and more. This offer is only available if this blog post is quoted! Hop over to the blog linked above for more information. Debs

I love being organised, I love colours so put the two together and I probably go a little overboard! I've put together a few of the simple things I've invested in that saves me heaps of space as well as time looking for things. Of course, there's the added bonus that the kids will put things where they belong, ok there's hope! ;) Cutlery drawer. Upon the insistence of my daughter, I was happy with my pretty tins on the window but I must admit, this does kinda look better :) Having just 4 drawers in my kitchen I am hell bent on limiting what goes in them, I admit I do feel the need for a junk draw but it's not this one, nope, its one full of manuals, menus and other paper products 'just in case' and I'm ok with that! This draw sorts the most used things and a teeny tiny little pot for small junk ;) I was so fed up of washing powder leaking over the worktop so I had a brainwave. This 3 drawer unit is perfect. Each drawer holds approx...

I haven't done any kind of tutorial for such a long time so when I saw something on Pinterest that I fell in love with I knew it was time. Fabric from Nortex Mill Any ideas yet? Ok, here's a clue! I'll be showing a full tutorial when I've made it. Debs

I still cannot believe so much time has gone by since I last posted here. What is also amazing is all the good and not so good things that have happened in a few short weeks too! The biggest and best news I have is my youngest child, my lil dude was finally baptised into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints! He's so badly wanted this for a few years now but its customary to do so when a child turns 8, however with one hiccup after another it wasn't meant to happen so when one of the sisters popped by with the sister missionaries they were determined to make it happen. Belated Halloween photo but good grief he was awesome in his self made part! Photos will come shortly {computers off to have a make over today cos usb/s and other bits don't work} but it was a really awesome day with one happy little man hugging me oh so tightly come bedtime thanking me for making it happen. I really can't take the credit for it. I'm so proud of my doodlebug I can b...

Last year was the only year I've really liked Halloween and that's because Charley got into it and wanted to do something slightly ever so scary but even though it rained it still turned out to be a great evening round here. This year I'm adding to our Halloween goodies and was looking for some ideas, {these are not credited to the rightful owners but I'm happy to if anyone knows whose they are} So lets begin....  1. Any old jar with what I assume to be a small candle inside. Raid your first aid kit for bandages {99p shop will also have some I'm sure. Add a couple of googly eyes and off you go. I'd be inclined to add some wire round the top to form a handle. Naturally not suitable for young kids. 2. Sausage mummies. If they make it to the table I congratulate you! 3. A collection of cakes, sweets and cake pops. Who wouldn't love these? 4. Yep I'm craving the sweet stuff this year. 5. I bought a baby pumpkin just for this purpo...

Day 4:  What is your craft/s? What is it about this craft/s that floats your boat so much OR Craft something that has a flower theme Hmm again, Kairen has put some good thought into these prompts. I'm going to talk a little about crafts and why it 'works' for me. You see, I love all kinds of crafts, from scrapbooking to altering items, from sewing to woodworking and more. However, I always come back to working with cardstock, fabric and spray paint. Those three key items are the inspiration and solution to many things in my life and home. There is not much that we cant create/recreate with the above mentioned. I've taken old fashioned furniture and transformed it with cardstock and spray paint, saving a few quid on buying new stuff. I've made curtains, blinds, table cloths, cushion covers, car sorter holders, table mat sets, bags, wording a whole lot more that has served as much appreciated gifts as well as decorations in my home. I love the chill out time of...

Day 2:  Tell us all about your favourite craft gadget and why it’s just the bees knees OR Craft something that has a summer theme This one is a tough one to decided between, in short my favourite craft gadget is my sewing machine, Kitty. She is easy, fast, modern and just never lets me down! Once Kitty and I get started we are lost in our own lushness for hours on end :) I decided to hike with the summer theme though, simply because I don't have photos of Kitty but I do of the one corner of my garden right now... Just in case you missed it, I love colour! Having such a long winter meant I had to enjoy the British weather as much as I could while I could...so out came the spray paint! Nothing was spared left out :) The old wrought iron parasol stand got the green... bright green! A metre of lush fabric from Nortex Mill and the table looks happy! Since I took these photos the rotary washing line is now a bright purple and I've decided to paint the p...

I can't even say the title without laughing out loud! There was a time I was avid at blogging, always looking for something fun, tip worthy and/or humourous to share but for a while now I have been focusing on the business. With setbacks attributed to the arthritis and other life events I have focused more on the real life of creating party collections than I have online, in fact, I sit here, at the computer for the first time in two weeks. Seriously! However, when it was suggested in one of my groups about getting daily blog ideas for the whole month of June my brain done somersaults! I knew I had to take Kairen up on this and I got all hot and dancy! ;) So from today....come join us....that link up there on the right.... see it? Hop on over to join the fun...oh and link up too, we'll all join you on your blog as well :) Last but not least, I have added a page {up top} to list anyone who is joining in....so link me your blog in the comments and when I've commented...

I raise this post from a couple of years ago as this is what I a working on this week. I wanted some quick and easy but effective blinds for the two front bedroom windows for my daughters room in our former home, after a few ideas I came across this style on one of my favourite blogs which hit me perfectly upside the head! I knew they were perfect. As I a considering how I want to dress the two windows in my room this style keeps jumping around in my head, only in red and white {they are my room colours} I would just swap the black for the red but the style would be exactly the same. The best thing about this style is you simply sew the two fabrics together once cut to size, add three tabs to the bottom to fold over and hook onto three stitched on buttons {I used black buttons with red flowers hot glued on top of those} Because the fabric is polycotton it is lightweight so you don't need a drill or nails double sided velcro is perfect for hanging. I would suggest, for hea...

I meant to post this on 1st December to see if it could be added to and/or altered for other fun crafts. My teen isn't huge on crafting but the dude is, he will sit for hours making, drawing, designing, writing, colouring and creating something from almost nothing. Add that to the fun of Christmas crafting and it makes for a happy mommy! Every year we have our own little routine in preparation for Christmas, quite simple really and it keeps the kids happy on the colder days and longer nights. Goes something like this: 1st - Tree goes up and decorated 2nd - Decorations around the house From here on we have a rough sketch of what we want to do each day up to Christmas Eve: Make window decorations paper chains operation Christmas child boxes {between 2 ad 6} paper bunting felt ornaments bread and pastry goodies soap/hand lotion gifts teacher/church teacher gifts salt dough decorations personalised baubles chocolate and marshmallow chocolate gifts cookies, cake...