How to make homemade Christmas crackers

November 21, 2018 The Ordinary Lovely

I was talking to the Laura Ashley team this afternoon about writing a festive post for their blog in a couple of weeks time and it reminded me that I never actually shared the one I put together for them last year. So here it is. Quite a bit late, yes. But in plenty of time for this Christmas.

Making your own crackers is not a new thing. In fact, there are plenty of kits on the market that you can buy. You simply need to pop in your own gift. However, I’m pretty sure that most us have off cuts of wallpaper or wrapping paper lying around and they’ll do the job absolutely perfectly.

Infused with colour: meet Yvonne Coomber

November 14, 2018 The Ordinary Lovely

When it comes to interiors, one thing I tend to leave to chance is artwork. I like to stumble across the perfect painting, print or poster rather than setting out to buy something for a specific wall or space. It means that I buy individual pieces because I genuinely love them and not because they fit a certain space or scheme … although they inevitably do because they nearly always feature pink, green and sometimes, blue. I might not be consistent in the style of art I opt for, but I nearly always am in colour.

Roaring and rugby playing with Rosie & Cooey

November 12, 2018 The Ordinary Lovely

It could be because they’re growing up or perhaps it’s due to them developing my aversion to the camera (see if you can spot me in any of the footage from the recent Interior Blog Awards … no, it wasn’t because I was crying in the corner at not winning, instead I managed to hide behind Jess whenever I saw a photographer approach), but trying to capture my two boys has become increasingly difficult lately. Even candid shots where they’re busy doing other things and I try to sneak a snap or two, they have a sixth sense and immediately turn their back to me. It’s rare for me to get a half decent photo of them any more unless bribed with sweet treats and cool wooden toys from Great Little Trading Co.