Monday, 13 October 2025

Half-Term Dreams and a Hint of Autumn

Ha! So, it’s almost half-term here in my little corner of the UK — and honestly, I can’t wait. This year has flown by in a blur of plaster dust and paint fumes. Between redoing my bedroom and hallway and tackling a total kitchen renovation, I feel like I’ve spent more time with sandpaper than sunlight! Let’s just say my “summer break” didn’t feel very summery.

But relief is in sight — soon I’ll be heading off with my family to sunny Alicante for a much-needed week beside the pool. Just the thought of not having to clean up plaster dust for seven whole days feels like a holiday in itself.

Back here in England, though, the seasons are definitely shifting. The air has that early-morning chill, the fog rolls in now and then, and it’s almost dark when I wake up. You can feel autumn stretching its fingers through everything — the light, the colours, even the mood of the day.

Eleanor seems to have taken the hint too. She’s already dug out her winter wardrobe and is looking effortlessly chic in her new outfit: a jaunty beret, a thick ribbed jumper, and simple black leggings. The pattern is by Stickatillbarbie, a wonderfully creative designer whose work you can explore here.

Sadly, many of her patterns have been lost to time — but not completely. Thanks to the magical powers of the Wayback Machine, you can still find thousands of them archived. I’m planning to work my way through as many as I can… one cosy knit at a time.

So, as I pack my sunglasses and swimsuits for Alicante, Eleanor’s already wrapping up in knits and wool — and honestly, I kind of love that contrast. Summer may be over, but autumn has its own quiet charm… and a brand-new wardrobe to go with it.  







Thursday, 27 March 2025

Flower power crochet square :From Circle to Square: A Beautiful Crochet Block for All Skill Levels.

Grab your hook and yarn — today, I’m working on something fun and satisfying: a circle-to-square crochet block! ๐ŸŒธ

This project is perfect for beginners to intermediate crocheters who want to expand their skills and create something truly versatile. You can use these blocks to make blankets, cushion covers, bags, or even combine them into a stunning patchwork throw.

I’ll be walking you through each step, showing how a simple circle gradually transforms into a neat, balanced square — one of those magical crochet moments that always feels rewarding, no matter how many times you’ve done it.

It’s a wonderful design to learn from, with clear stitches and lots of creative potential for colour play and texture.

So, get comfy, grab your favourite yarn, and let’s crochet together! Whether you’re brand new to shapes or just want to brush up on your technique, this block is the perfect place to start.



Wednesday, 26 February 2025

What Makes JUNK Journal Art So AMAZING?

Week 5 of #HillsideHeartPrompts: Enjoyment and Clouds ☁️

Welcome to Week 5 of #HillsideHeartPrompts hosted by @CarolineontheHillside! This week’s theme is Enjoyment and Clouds — though, yes, I might have said it wrong again (lol). But that’s half the fun, right?

As part of this week’s creative challenge, I’m diving into something that always brings me joy — junk journal art.


✨ Discovering the Magic of Junk Journaling

If you’ve ever wondered what makes junk journaling so enchanting, this is the week to find out. It’s a world where paper scraps, old postcards, lace trims, and forgotten notes come together to tell a story — your story.

What I love most about junk journaling is how it blends freedom, texture, and emotion. There are no rules. You can stitch, glue, paint, layer, or tear — and somehow, it always turns into something meaningful and beautiful.

In my latest video, we explore:
๐ŸŽจ The history and evolution of junk journal art
๐Ÿ–‹️ Different techniques for layering and texturing
๐Ÿ’ญ Why this craft captures the hearts of so many creatives

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting your creative journey, junk journaling invites you to play, experiment, and express your truest self. Every page becomes a reflection of your personality and mood — whimsical, vintage, or totally wild.


☁️ Art That Feels Like Clouds

This week’s theme — Enjoyment and Clouds — feels especially fitting. Junk journaling, to me, is a lot like watching clouds drift by: it’s calm, ever-changing, and full of imagination. You start with something simple and end up seeing whole worlds form out of scraps and shapes.

So grab your papers, pens, and glue sticks — and join me in celebrating the beauty of creative freedom.

Let’s find joy in the process, embrace the imperfections, and fill our journals with clouds of colour, texture, and heart.







Beautiful beginners crochet pattern, from, circle to granny square!

A Crochet Block a Month: January 2025 ๐ŸŒธ

One of the things I love most about the crochet community is how it brings people together — sharing stitches, stories, and inspiration from all over the world. This year, I’ve joined a wonderful group on Ravelry called “A Crochet Block a Month 2025”, and I’m so excited to be part of it!

Each month, we work on a new pattern, and this month’s beautiful design comes from the talented Desire Fourie. You can check out her blog here — it’s full of creative inspiration, patterns, and crochet goodness.


๐Ÿงถ This Month’s Project

This month’s block starts as a circle that gradually transforms into a granny square — a classic crochet shape that’s endlessly versatile. It’s such a satisfying technique to learn (or revisit!) because you get to see that smooth transition from round to square right before your eyes.

In my latest video, I’ll take you through the process step-by-step, sharing some of my favourite techniques and little tips along the way. Whether you’re new to crochet or a seasoned hook-wielder, this is a fun, relaxing project that adds a beautiful block to your collection.


✨ Why I Love Crochet-Alongs

Joining a monthly crochet-along like this one keeps me inspired and motivated — it’s a lovely reminder to carve out time for creativity each month. There’s something special about knowing that makers all around the world are working on the same stitches at the same time, each adding their own colours, textures, and style.


So grab your hook, some yarn you love, and let’s get crocheting! Watch as I turn this simple circle into a gorgeous granny square — and maybe learn a few new tricks along the way.



Friday, 31 January 2025

Watch as I turn my junk journal into a textured bird page!

 

I’ve just uploaded a new YouTube video, and I’m so excited to share it with you! ๐ŸŽฅ

Lately, I’ve been following Caroline on the Hillside on YouTube and taking part in her creative prompts — and honestly, it’s been such great fun! Each week brings a new theme that sparks imagination and gives me an excuse to sit down, get creative, and enjoy the process. It’s such a lovely way to stay inspired and connected with other makers.

You can watch my latest video here ๐Ÿ‘‡
๐ŸŽฌ Watch on YouTube


☕ Looking Ahead

Tomorrow’s shaping up to be another busy weekend (as usual!), but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Between projects, filming, and a little creative chaos, it’s always a full house — and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

If you’re following along with Caroline’s prompts too, let me know! I’d love to see what you’re making and how you’re interpreting each week’s theme.


✨ Until next time, happy creating — and don’t forget to take a moment for yourself this weekend.




๐ŸŽƒ A Little Halloween Throwback

๐ŸŽƒ A Little Halloween Throwback: My Spooky Mittens!

I’d almost forgotten about my Halloween mittens—though to be fair, I still wear them every year, even after all this time! They’ve held up beautifully and always bring a smile (and a few compliments!) whenever the spooky season rolls around. ๐Ÿ‘ป๐Ÿงถ Lately, I’ve been thinking it might be fun to design a few new Halloween patterns—something fresh to mix things up while keeping that same playful, seasonal spirit. I’ve got a few ideas brewing already...

๐Ÿ•ธ️ Featured on Crafty Websites!

I was thrilled to discover that my Happy Halloween Mitts pattern has been featured on a couple of wonderful crafting websites! Check them out here: ๐Ÿงก Craft with Meemaw – Free Pumpkin Knitting Patterns ๐Ÿ–ค The Knit Crew – 8 Creepy Knitted Halloween Mitten Patterns It’s always such a lovely surprise to see my work shared among so many creative makers—and it reminds me why I love this community so much!

๐Ÿงถ Grab the Free Pattern

If you’d like to make your own pair, you can find my free pattern for the Happy Halloween Mitts right here on Ravelry: ๐ŸŽƒ Happy Halloween Mitts – Free Pattern It links back to one of my older posts, but the pattern is still just as fun (and festive) to make.
Maybe it’s time to pull out some orange and black yarn and start working on a new Halloween design—stay tuned, I might just have something spooky coming soon! ๐Ÿ•ท️✨


Would you like me to make a version that’s formatted for WordPress or Blogger (with proper headings, paragraph breaks, and embedded links that fit your platform’s style)?



Thursday, 30 January 2025

I TURN TRASH INTO AMAZING JUNK JOURNALS!

 

This journal was made completely from junk — and honestly, it was such a joy to create! There’s something so satisfying about taking scraps, old papers, packaging, and bits that would normally end up in the bin, and giving them new life. Each page feels unique and full of personality — a little piece of creative recycling that turns “rubbish” into something beautiful.

I had so much fun experimenting with textures, layering, and adding small details like lace, tickets, and torn pages. It’s amazing how freeing it feels to make something without worrying about perfection — just pure creativity and play.

If you’d like to take a peek inside, I’ve shared a flip-through of this junk journal over on my YouTube channel. You can watch it here:
๐ŸŽฌ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4UZ5esOJOA

I’m already planning to make a few more of these, each one a little different from the last. It’s such a fun, mindful way to craft — and a great reminder that art doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to be meaningful.

 






Tuesday, 28 January 2025

Vintage 1976 Craft Magazine FLASHBACK!

๐Ÿงต Vintage 1976 Craft Magazine FLASHBACK!

Every so often, I stumble across something that feels like a true time capsule — and this week’s treasure is a vintage craft magazine from 1976!

Flipping through its pages is like taking a step back into a world of bold colours, quirky projects, and wonderfully retro design ideas. From macramรฉ plant hangers to crochet vests and embroidered wall art, every page bursts with creativity and charm. It’s a reminder of a time when crafting was all about imagination, patience, and using what you had at home — long before Pinterest boards or YouTube tutorials!

What really strikes me is how many of these vintage patterns still feel fresh and inspiring today. The styles may be different, but the spirit of creativity is timeless. 



I Found the Coolest Vintage Craft Magazine from 1976!

Golden hands flip through Parts 3/91

 Started videoing Magazine flip throughs, this is Golden Hands part 3/91. The magazine is from 1976 and has some really cool retro pictures and patterns, one I recall recreating myself! The doll on the back cover looks really simple , so I'm thinking of trying to make these at work. 

Heres my video link  https://youtu.be/jp9ckXXzao4

and links to The Golden hands Raverly page, where others have recreated the patterns!

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/golden-hands





Monday, 27 January 2025

40 year old Vogue magazine flip through, stunning and still on point, In places anyhow! #vogue #vintage

 So I bought some Vogue magazines from eBay  I think. This was for the sole purpose of using them for Gelli plate printing. Apparently, Vogue is proven to work, and I have tried quite a few different magazines with mixed results. So I bought some to prove to myself that I was doing something wrong. I don't recall the listing saying anything other than the Vogue magazine bundle, so I was very very excited to find a 40-year-old Vogue magazine in that bundle, and in pristine condition. Thankfully its the "wrong" type of paper to use as printing material, so for now it's just going to be in my image stash for my own usage. It was so interesting to see a lot of what is in there is still on point today. Here's my video link for a full flip-through! Aren't they beautiful images!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foTY1gsaDk0









Sunday, 26 January 2025

Updates and Turning painty papers into Grungy art tags.

 It's been a while, hasn't it?  So where am I? We moved out of the big town back to the countryside, having moved from a Victorian townhouse to a 50's village house. We live in a very old village near "The most haunted village in the UK". It's not, I don't think I've ever heard any locals with ghost stories!

I work in a school currently as an After school wrap-around care leader, I'm now also a DSL, (Designated safeguarding lead), a HLTA (Higher-level teaching assistant), I'm also part of the school Nuture program, having been in the background, loading and filling approximately 160 students. I also have obviously First aid, food hygiene, and MHFL trained. To also keep me busy Ha ha! I'm in my second year of Uni, Taking CYS (Child Youth Studies). I also help assist with the schools' Art programs, and I'm excited to put together a school-wide Art Expo next term, So it's all come full circle again!

As for my creativity, I've discovered a love for junk journaling and Youtube, I never realised just how creative making videos was, I certainly didn't appreciate the media arts for sure!

This is my first video, but It gets a little better as the days go on! See you soon!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HulhM56mICc










Half-Term Dreams and a Hint of Autumn

Ha! So, it’s almost half-term here in my little corner of the UK — and honestly, I can’t wait. This year has flown by in a blur of plaster ...