Guest Crafting Companion!

 

This post, I hope, will be the first of an ad hoc series called Crafty Companions, where I invite fellow crafters to tell the blog about themselves. I am delighted to say my first guest is the very talented Sarah Hobson from Hobson's Choice(Crafts). She has taken time out of her busy crafting schedule to tell us how she was recently featured in Simply Homemade Magazine. 

This wreath is one of my favourites of her creations. Love a good wreath any time of the year! 

 

Here is her story, and then why not visit her Facebook page and shop to see more of the wonderful choice of  crafts made by Sarah? 

  The day had started the same as most others then..... POW!!  

Hi, my name is Sarah Hobson and I am the founder of Hobson Choice(Crafts). From Humble beginnings Hobson's Choice was created in our lounge in the cottage 'up the lane'. Two years ago I taught myself to sew and now here I sit with a double page feature in a fabulous craft magazine under my belt!

I had dropped the girls off at school, made myself a cuppa then began opening my emails. Here I found the most amazingly jaw dropping opportunity from the Editor of  

Simply Homemade magazine !!

The email outlined that an interview with pictures of my work would appear in the next publication. 

WOW! Really? Me, Hobson's Choice? WOW!!!

With the submitting process complete it became an exciting waiting game for 

Hobson's Choice to be in print for the world to see. Publication date arrived and I nervously approached the magazine stand, fighting all urges not to rip open the edition and tell everybody in the queue -  "this is me!!!"

I am a normal Mum of three with all the trials and tribulations of everyday life and then some. I could never have dreamt two years ago that Hobson's Choice would have come this far. I am so proud of all I have achieved - it just goes to show what can happen with an idea and lots of hard work!

Thank you, Louise, for inviting me to write my first article be your first guest  

Crafty Companion.

Spring is nearly sprung!

Well, my countdown to Spring tells me we only have 13 days to go. Yee ha Grandma!!

I could not resist any longer! I have started to put up some decorations and Spring lovelies around the living room and kitchen. My banner is in pride of place on the mantle along with a couple of other little things I made. See here!

A closer look at the detail

 

And also, after seeing one of the gorgeous goodies available on  Lil Vintage Makes that inspired me, I have used a florist's collar, wrapped a spring garland of birds around it and now wait to buy some daffs or hyacinths to put in the vase!

 

Hope you enjoy decorating as much as I do and I would love you to share pictures of them with  Paper Craft Junkie!

Catch ya later!xx

The Aspirational Countryphile!

If it were possible I would languish amid the hallowed pages of Country Living magazine, truly I would. Given the choice I would spend my time yomping around in wellies and my apron, feeding my chickens, then gather my beautifully home grown flowers in a self-woven willow trug. These would be placed on my up-cycled tea table next to a delicious, home baked lemon drizzle cake. The final thing I am, fortunately, capable of producing.

I take inspiration for lots of projects around my home including a paper crafting obsession, hobby, and decorations for all seasons. (It has to be said that Christmas is not Christmas without my issue of Country Living, but it is far too early to discuss that even though I absolutely love the C word.)

My aspiration to be the perfectly styled, but shabbily chic, wife and mother is something I could turn into more of a reality, if only I could fit it in between the school run, my "hobby", Beaver meetings and Judo classes for my boys.

However, each month I wait with bated breath for the glorious thump as my monthly subscription of this perfect publication drops onto the mat. I make a fresh pot of coffee, plus warmed milk, and cut myself a slice of that home baked lemon drizzle and relish every page.

Country Living is described as “a lifestyle magazine for people who either live or dream of living in the country”. Me? I would be happy enough to just hop inside the pages and reside there in my wellies and apron.

Eeeek, guest blogger - again!

I have been lucky to be chosen as a guest blogger on Carol Oldham's wonderful blog Dormouse and The Teapot. 
When you have a minute why not take a look at what I have been rambling on about now!

 

  
Carol is a very talented lady involved in PR and promotions, vintage events and china hire, plus she is in partnership with her husband, Andrew, also a talented gardener and blogger with a second blog called Life on Pig Row.





 

Please do visit these wonderful blogs for a view of vintage life and some green-fingered fun and inspiration.x

Hey, thanks for stopping by!

To all of you who have taken time to look visit my blog very recently, thanks so much! I just love knowing you are seeing what I am getting up to  here at Chez Houghton!

My boys broke up for half term yesterday so I have been arranging play dates, thinking of activities to keep them happy and checking  which extra curriculas are still on over the holidays, like Beavers and Judo - may be a few less taxi trips for me and hubby!

I use this great planner from Netmums to help organise our days.  

Sometimes we don't stick to it completely, but at least it gives us a bit of an idea of what we can do, as this site gives lots of hints for days out, and in, over the school break.

I hope you find it useful and I am always keen to hear about ways you organise yourself and your brood! I am a bit of a fan, to say the least, of blogs and websites about home organisation. Here are a few links but some are included for inspiration here on my blog listings.

Organized Junkie


I Heart Organizing

 A Bowl Full Of Lemons

I hope you find some inspiration here.

Look forward to you stopping by again soon. Louise.xx 

Calling all bloggers! 

Just thought I would share this link from a wonderful blog called Sew Many Ways. 

If you are relatively new to blogging and are always looking for hints and tips to improve your posts, and maybe just the look of your blog, you cannot fail to get some really great advice from this page on Karen's blog.

Stop by when you have five minutes, I promise you will be hooked.

See you next time!x

A little early but what the heck!

I know that according to my countdown to Spring we still have 34 days to go, but what with the snow today I thought this may cheer me up. 

I love a wreath at any time of the year, and especially like this one. I originally made it a couple of years ago and it now goes on my front door each Spring/Easter. 

Can't wait to hang it really soon!