I have lost count of the number of times I have listened to a song called ‘Children‘ produced by Joe Goddard, from his album Electric Lines. It was thrown at me by Spotify in one of my discover weekly, and I have been hooked to it since. There is something mesmerising about this song, it… Continue reading Catharsis
Is happiness a craft?
Can we design our happiness? Can we get ‘better’ at being happy? Paul Dolan, known as ‘Professor Happy’ at the London School of Economics, says that we can – and we should. I recently came across his book ‘Happiness by Design‘, which promises to guide you through finding purpose and pleasure in everyday life. The… Continue reading Is happiness a craft?
Serendipity
Next week my office will be hosting ‘learn and be well week’, a really lovely initiative where any members of staff volunteer to host a workshop or share a craft with their colleagues. The programme is packed with fantastic activities, with some people offering yoga lessons, massage, car maintenance skills, meditation…the list goes on. So… Continue reading Serendipity
Discovering Margate
We could have picked a warmer, less windy day, but it was probably for the best that we experienced Margate under the most unfavourable conditions. Gales force 11, hanging onto our hats, smiles frozen in the process of exploring town. I loved it. And it can only get better in summer. Most shops were closed,… Continue reading Discovering Margate
Made in Clerkenwell
I’m fresh from a visit to Craft Central Studios, for their bi-annual open studios event Made in Clerkenwell. I’ve been there before (remember my post about Katherine Elizabeth Millinery?), and I really love their location at the heart of Clerkenwell in London. I find St. John’s Square, and St John’s Gate, a beautiful historical haven… Continue reading Made in Clerkenwell
How to make your own fascinator – in 5 steps!
Whether you have a fancy dress party or a wedding, making your own fascinator can be a lot of fun. You’ll have a piece that will perfectly match your outfit (as you are choosing the materials) and it will be a great talking point. Don’t get me wrong though, a professionally-made hat, skillfully crafted by… Continue reading How to make your own fascinator – in 5 steps!
Crafty men, pulling faces, and cool hangouts in SE London
I always find it hard to decide how to entertain guests visiting me in London, mainly because these days my life in the city is limited to the office commute, and back. I love my local hangouts, trips outside of London, hunting for some antiques, gardening and the occasional craft workshop. Ok, ok, it’s not… Continue reading Crafty men, pulling faces, and cool hangouts in SE London
Forays into teaching: infographics, fascinators…yoga next?
May has been an incredible month, busy and stressful at times, but also full of new experiences and excitement. To cut a long story short, I ran my first ever webinar, and also taught a group of 19 excited hens how to make their own fascinators. On both occasions I was surprised at how calm… Continue reading Forays into teaching: infographics, fascinators…yoga next?
Late night hat making
It’s late in the day, so forgive any spelling mistakes. Just wanted to share a quick update on my milliner adventures. I made this simple fascinator today as a refresher before a workshop I will attend this weekend. This time as an assistant to the teacher! We will be teaching a group of people… Continue reading Late night hat making
Zio Pippo
It must have been July or August, it was hot and sunny, as it would be in Sicily at this time of the year. I was about 10 years old, wearing a white t-shirt with pink stripes and a jeans skirt that my gran had made especially for me. I was happy. I went to… Continue reading Zio Pippo
