Category: Uncategorized

HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON…

Lots of us will dismiss even the idea of making their own presents, simply thinking that it is old-fashioned and far too much trouble.

Well, they are so wrong, and in these cash-strapped times it’s not something that should be sniffed at. Also something hand-made makes it that little bit special. During and just after the last war most people could only afford home-made gifts but nothing spoilt the day for the very young to the very old.

Why not try something as simple as a clip frame filled with family photos for grandparents or children can buy a ‘make your own’ calendar where they insert a different photo for each month of the year. 

Or you could make a book of vouchers for a loved one filling them with ideas such as a night in with you cooking their favourite meal, a film of their choice, or a night’s babysitting- things you know they’ll appreciate. 

Make your own jam or biscuits or fudge and use an old clear jar decorated with lace. You can buy jam jar lids from Lakeland and craft shops.

Cover some old shoe box’s with some gorgeous end of line wallpaper and fill with your own little choice of hamper goodies when it’s the buy one, get one free offers. I’ve nearly finished one for Dad with all his favourite treats that he would buy from the supermarket. Last year I gave him vouchers, but this is so much more personal.

There are lots of sites on the internet that can inspire you if none of the above ideas appeal to you.

 Not Another Bunch of Flowers have a unique way for gifts where you build your own box for any occasion.

A great book with more than 70 step by step ideas is Handmade Gifts by DK

Crafty handmade gift ideas to help you create presents at home

Handmade Gifts covers all the popular crafts such as sewing, knitting, paper-crafts, candle-making, and crochet, plus creating mosaics and baking, so you’re sure to find something that inspires you to get crafting.

Handmade Gifts contains over 70 craft projects with step-by-step instructions and photographs of the finished gift along with variations to ensure your item is unique and personal. From homemade soap and teacup candles to crochet, jewellery and chocolate truffles, it’s full of ideas for every occasion. Instructions for making your own gift wrap, boxes and bags, as well as how to present your handmade crafts are included.

Handmade Gifts is the perfect craft book for anyone who wants to make beautiful, affordable and unique gifts for friends and family. Gifting wine and shop-bought chocolate is out, homemade sweets and gifts are in!

Another superb site with lots of ideas is Arche Work which has ’21 Charming DIY Christmas Box Ideas for Magical Gift-Giving’. You can never start to early for Christmas.

Source: Not Another Bunch of Flowers Arche Work Amazon

BUTTONS AS A CHANGE OF OUTFIT…

 

You can change an outfit in a second with vintage buttons. They can have just the same effect as a lovely scarf and for half the price.

I’ve changed buttons on jackets, blouses and cardigans for years and have a number of different styles of black cardigans that come out each winter with different buttons on them.

You can purchasee vintage buttons on ebay or my favourite shop is Duttons for Buttons in Harrogate, which has a stock of over 12,000 buttons, they also do a mail order service.

I have also bought a cardigan in a charity shop for the buttons and put some others on it then given it back to the charity shop.

My jackets buttons change every year. This year the skin look was big and I got a number of different styles in it from a company on EBay and Amazon.

Plain coloured blouses, in particular white or black, can look so different with a lovely button on it even if you only change the top button and the sleeve buttons.

I’ve even changed a few buttons on my husbands shirts to give them a new look.

Source: Duttons EBay

NINE #BRITISH TRADITIONS TO EXPERIENCE IN THE UK…

According to ‘Hand Luggage Only’ blog, a brilliant blog written by two good looking guys Yaha and Lloyd who are mates from the University of Cambridge where the blog began in April 2014 on a warm afternoon in Yaya’s college room at Cambridge.

They say there are ‘9’ British Traditions which you should experience in the UK. Their number one experience is British Morris Dancing in the Summer. This type of dancing dated back to the 15th Century where ‘peasants’ would dance the evening away. They say you can usually find Morris Dancers at most Summer Fetes dressed in and dancing to impress the crowds.

Their number two experience is British Maypole Dancing on May Day ( something I’ve not seen for years) which is predominant in Britain and other parts of Europe. People traditionally dance around the pole on May Day or Whitsun.

The number three slot goes to the English Cheese Rolling in Spring. It is held every year at Coopers Hill in Gloucester where thousands of people roll and chase a 9lb barrel of Gloucestershire cheese down a hill.

Number four on the list is the very British Bonfire Night where we all enjoy a night filled with fireworks, bonfires, sparklers and toffee apples.

Their number five experience is Welsh Bog Snorkelling ( a first for me) which takes place in the summer from Wales where locals and visitors alike can be crowned a champion ‘bog snorkeller’!!!

Their number six choice is Cornish Hurling which is played only in Cornwall and is a truly unique past-time. Basically whoever ends up with the silver ball at 12 Noon gets to go to the town mayor and receive their 5 shillings (olde money) reward.

Their number seven spot is a Scottish Hogmanay which is celebrated each year on December 31st. Hogmanay is a Scottish tradition where you enjoy lots of music, whisky, street parties and singing to ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Number eight is the Scottish Burns Night which is held on January 25th every year. Burns night is to celebrate the life and works of the famous poet Robert Burns.

Finally number nine is the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge where each year during the summer solstice (Monday 20th June) upwards 40,000 people head to Stonehenge to celebrate the rising sun.

Amazing bit of British traditions don’t you think? You will find lots more on this on Hand Luggage Only website.