Just Released -Treat Mother's Day Crafternoon

treat your Mum to treat, cake and vintage stitching crafts in the beautiful setting of Pickford's House Museum, Derby

Hello,

I am really excited to announce a new class for Spring 2015 for Mother's Day. 

Bring your Mum along on Mother's Day for a treat of a Crafternoon.

We are making pretty postcards out of fabric and threads in the Derby at Pickford's House in the Georgian kitchens.

All Mum's will receive a gift and we promise lots of tea and cake for the afternoon served on vintage china.

To book email info@crafternoonteahostess.co.uk or leave me a comment below.

Happy Crafting,

Samantha

Space For Creative Thoughts...

Dear Blog,

The last week has been a blogging silence as I've been on the mend after a little operation. So this post is about the time and space I had for creative thoughts and why I've found it great to take (unplanned) time out.

 It has been the first time since I became a Mamma that I've needed to look after myself and someone else to look after my little one. Very strange, emotional and really missed being a Mummy, it really was like I had lost my right arm.

My favourite things; blues, patterns and china

So this post, is me sharing some inspirational photos from a few days on my own and unearthing new creative opportunities.

Taking time out makes you see the little things

So, whilst I've been getting back on my feet, I've been drinking lots of tea, dreaming of Spring days, planning holidays and gaining inspiration from the little things around me. I'm one of those people who loves loads of projects on the go, lots of creative ideas... I am sure I am not the only creative blogger out there like this.
 


Whilst, I was spending time on my own, I started to read the A Beautiful Mess Happy Home book. It's full of pretty doodled art on china and textiles plus many more really creative retro inspired crafts. A must buy! It inspired me to pick up my pens and doodle and sketch with the idea to put these sketches next on mugs or aprons.

 I used to sketch loads when my little one was sleeping (the pre-blogging days). I shared my love of Friday (and seeing my little one again!) over on Instagram with these pretty roses my lovely Mum bought me to say, 'get well soon'. 

This time away from day to day life made me realise that I'm not painting and illustrating like I used to do and I need to find some time to bring this back into my life. I love it and I am going to find space to paint and draw again.

It's a really interesting thing to do, to have time out, mine was not intended but it's made me realise that some tiny little creative things could be included in my crafting time.

Spring flowers in happy colours

There will still be place my other things in my life, like flowers, vintage collecting and spending time working on creative projects with my Little L. I think this time has made me think about what I love and am not doing. 

I love the picture below of my little helper in her cat fluffy slippers helping me pot on primroses in china cups!

With my fluffy kitten slipper wearing healper

I love flowers and now Spring is on it's way I want to start floristry again, even if it's just making flower decorations for Crafternoon tea party tables.

Here is my last post picture. This is where my love of flower decorating came from. This Parisian flower shop near my old offices in Paris. I used to love working in Paris just to see this shop! I want to make it into an embroidery ...one day when I've made my sketched mugs and flower bouquets!

Flower dreams

I hope this post has inspired you to take some time out of your crafts, take some time looking through books, Pinterest and creative blogs for some new found styles, crafts and inspiration.

 I am also grateful for all the lovely words from my caring followers over on instagram and facebook you are the best!


Bye for now,

Samantha

Why I love #stylingtheseasons

Inspired by chilly days, cosy nights in and blues and greens of the Spring

I love Styling The Season's hosted by Katy from Apartment Apothecary and Charlotte from Lotts And Lots. Each month the girls suggest a theme for you to take a styled photo of. Sounds fun? 

The reason I take part, apart from my love of bringing pretty things into the home, it let's me take photos using different objects. For my business, it's generally craft items and people crafting and for home it's my lovely family. So I like the challenge.

#stylingtheseasons

                   


Also (before I tell you a little bit about my photo), I love creating a little corner of the home which is a homage to the month. I talk about it with my little girl and she asked me questions on the colours, what I have used etc, etc. That part for me is a big factor, talking about something new in the home with my little lady. Just priceless.

Follow other beautiful styled shoots on Instagram on #stylingtheseasons.

pretty china from Burleigh and my Gran's old lamp stand.

This is my seasonal shot, a beautiful pale pink hyacinth in a dainty cup with a 1960's lamp stand to the right with a lamp shade I had from my twisty fabric pleated shade I was gift (from buying days).

To the left a black metal tea light stand which we use whenever we can have a 'date night' in and light some candles and enjoy dinner together. 

The cup is a burleigh cup and saucer. Burleigh make the most amazing, gorgeous all over print china here in England. I totally adore all the patterns and love they are made only fifty miles away from home. True English style on your doorstep!

 

I love the Winter afternoon sun catching on the white wall.

 The lamp was given to me about six years ago when we did a house clear out for my Gran. Sad times, so I kept it as a memory of what she loved and displayed in her home.

I like that the three items are together, I can talk about them with my little girl and they are all make up my personal style. I am lucky my little one doesn't want to touch and grab. So for a little while they will stay in my little styled corner of the home.

Do let me know what else might fit in the theme?

If you have a #stylingtheseason post, please do leave a comment as I love to see other photos on the same theme.

Happy Thursday,

Samantha x

Creative Post Round Up

This week, I've been reading a mix of home and craft blog posts with the odd social media thrown in.

I've been clicking on a lot of Valentine blog posts which have inspired me to create some heart shaped love-ly bakes,it's my lovely husband's birthday around Valentines too so double celebrations. Cake, cake, cake!

One for Love Birds

Firstly, as it's nearly Valentine's a pretty sweet treat make...

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I love these abstract art macarons from Sugar and Cloth, To paint your macarons sounds so simple but why doesn't anyone do this? If you know of some other posts do tag me in. Gorgeous! They look beautiful and such an amazing gift.  

Also, it's worth checking out the Youtube video (so romantic)write on your sweet treats too and wrap them all up. I love following this blog, it's fresh, inspiring and all the make are really achievable.


One for homemakers

 

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I also love reading Holly Becker's Decor8 blog. I can easily loose half an hour just looking at all the inspiration for my own home and style.

Here is my favourite image this week from the site from a blog post entitled Motherhood and Messy Homes! 

OK, Mamma's this ones for you! Holly talks about being a Mummy to a one year old and not loosing your own home style. This is something I can really identify with, wanting to make over a home with a little one who wants your love, time and wants to play. I am sure I am not alone.

                           
Holly features some amazing styled shots with a real Northern Europe pastel and black and white edgie feel to them. It's great to discover new updated looks. Do take a look.

And for the crafters...

Join #craftblogclub for 2015 challenge

 Want to start a new craft for a new year and have fab support from other savvy crafters? Join the girls at Craft Blog Club this month, this is a great challenge to get yourself better at your chosen craft or start a new one.

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Follow @craftblogclub on twitter or join in the chat every Tuesday 7-9pm GMT #craftblogclub

As you know I think my social media community are fabulous, if this is you *waving from my laptop*. If you want to join me find me at #teacakecraft. I love a twitter chat, so if it's crafty or creative...tweet me at @createirsam.

And finally your best friend...

Make your best friend for Valentines this super quick and stylish necklace from Mrs.P.  Stylish and easy to make you are giving the gift of your creativity,time and style. Oh yeah!

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Have you got some favourite posts from the last week? Do share in a comment below.

Cheers for now,

Samantha x

Snow, Crafty Makes, My Picks of 2015 So Far...

Even with a little bit of snow on the ground, it's time to wave by to January and onwards to the warmer days. The snowdrops are out in our local wood and the days are a little longer. We've all been a little poorly here, so onwards and upwards to a new month.

So here's what has been happening so far in 2015.

A jolly good sort out to stop the January blues

This month has been about organising, decluttering and preparing for the busy Summer of Crafternoon teas. After Christmas, it's great to do a bit of craft Spring clean and prepare for the year ahead. 

If you are a creative business, it's a delicate balancing act to know when to grow, when to stop and when say yes to the next amazing project! This month needed to be a sort out and it feels a happier place.

This month saw me back at Derby Museums, with a workshop 'Creating  Vintage Memory Boards', it was a chilly January day, so we all needed a few cups of tea to start the class. 

We used chalk boards as our base and applied pretty fabric handmade flowers, lace, buttons and stamped personalised messages on our boards.

Chalk board memory making

Click here to book on our February and March courses in the same beautiful venue.

January was also a month to plan my sewing for the year ahead. With the #vintagepledge project now up and running for 2015, now is the time to plan a realistic number of makes. Find out more about my sewing year here a have a scroll through these beautiful old patterns.

Sew, sew, sew! Join in on the #vintagepledge

Preparing for a Junior Crafternoon

Another highlight of January was hosting a Junior Crafternoon tea party making these pretty little felt purses. Seeing the girls sort through the beads and ribbons and then create a purses, gadget cases and wraps was amazing to be part of. It's great to seeing the next generation embracing stitching in such a fun way. As a Mamma, it was emotional too as I can't wait for my little girl to start to sew.

What have you been up to so far this month?

Bye for now,

Saamntha