The British Homemaker - One day at a time

Last July, I took the plunge and set up a simple blog to share the short stories that I'd written over the years. It wasn't until I was having a clear-out on my pc that I came across them. I have tended to write them, stick them in the folder and then forget them. So, over time, there has been quite a lot built up. Through July and August, I shared summer and generic themed stories, but with September already upon us, I have themed back-to-school and autumn stories to keep in line with the moment. As you may see a pattern setting here, I will also be adding Halloween, winter and Christmas stories through the rest of the seasons too. All the short stories I share on A Writer's Journey are free to read. They are also included in compilation books that are currently being added to Kindle Unlimited and Amazon. The books have extra stories, as well as there being longer stories. The current average word count for the regular free stories is around 5000 words, so it makes for a g...

If good intentions were as visible as the lack of posts here I'd have a pretty full blog! However, since the last post... all the way back to October last year (!!!) I have got lost in the fun, challenges and happenings of life. The diary I keep for this blog is still sat on the shelf next to me, loaded with things I've noted down or added to share here, but still they sit. At the moment I am working like a trojan getting orders out, preparing for my youngest to finish school for the summer and getting the caravan finished ready for us to take off on our travels. There is so much to share that I'm not sure where to start. When I started this blog I had so many hopes for it, so many things I wanted to share, experiences to lean back on and places I wanted it to go, a few years on my business has taken over much of my days, my health is up and down so I have to accredit that the time it needs to get back in control and I have a weakness for hanging out with my friend...

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...

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...

Week three and my little dude is still sick, week two and the teen is also sick... I am assuming that when they are both recovered I will be sick. I have an irrational fear of being ill. But that's for another day. On the 'up' moments with Charley he has been getting down and crafty with my cricut machine. He came up with an idea, I simply followed his directions... An A3 canvas board was covered with some thick fabric then Charley placed his strips of cardstock and numbers exactly where he wanted them. I added a bit of blitzy glitter glue to the push pins {he chose that way to secure them to the board} and job done! He's very impressed with his idea, I a so proud of him for getting something so awesome from his wonderful little mind! Forget the other two advents he has, this is the best....and if he says that over Moshi Monsters then that's the final word!!

I've been practising time management this last few weeks, I set out my to-do list, kept it real for this time of year and set out to achieve three things off the list per day... except Sundays. So far I am on target and I'm kinda proud of myself. Because I found a system that works for me I have been very blessed to have Christmas 'all wrapped up' as they say thanks to my seasonal craft sales... Handmade fabric wreath with a selection of accessories.  The popular wreath this year is silver. This mocha and polka is the second favourite. Handmade, lighted garlands. I do these in different sizes and they too have been flying out the door! I feel extremely blessed for the things I've been able to achieve this year, so very different to last year that's for sure :)

  The first week of the school summer holidays was fun. Friday: I ended the week cutting the grass, strimming, putting up new buntings and lights, getting plants repotted. This ^ is  how hard I worked! Saturday: The kids decided that poor Jake was going to get it again...this time as Baby Jake from a CBeebies programme! Why are these two even watching that channel??? Sunday: We went over to my sisters for dinner, hung out for the afternoon and most the evening and just chilled, ate and laughed. Monday: Kian {nephew} and Charley playing ‘fencing’. Kirsten and my heads were always in danger! Tuesday: We freeze our favourite drinks with a lemon or lime inside, ideal on hot days like today. Wednesday: Preparing for the online craft fair summer sale. Justo ne of the items I’m offering. Thursday was spent packing and travellin...