I had a picky tea last night – quiche, potatoes, salad, boiled eggs – you know, that summertime tea that only really works in the nice weather. To me, that signified that summer is well and truly on its way. I know that it’s colder today but I refuse to give up on the fact that we’re nearly in summer. It’s the end of April, nice weather has to be around the corner – doesn’t it? With the better weather on its way and lockdown restrictions continuing to be eased, I am sure many of you are looking at new things to try this summer – after all, last summer was a bit of a washout wasn’t it? [Read more…]

Give Up Smoking – With 2021 fast approaching, many of us are starting to think of New Year’s Resolutions and things that we would like to do differently next year. 2020 has been a challenging one for all of
us, so there is no doubt that most of us would like to see a very different year next year – fingers crossed eh? Have you been looking at ways to give up smoking?

If you are someone that wants to break a bad habit or change something in their lifestyle, then you’re probably considering the new year a good time to do this. Lots of us look to the New Year as a fresh start for something and therefore now is definitely as good a time as any. Although this article looks at giving up smoking, really the tips can be used for any habit
you want to break – or adapt for any new habit you want to start. [Read more…]

While spending more time at home, you have a fantastic opportunity to pick up a new hobby. Sewing is a great way to use your hands, and at the same time create your own clothing or house interiosr. Regardless if you are a beginner at sewing, or are skilled with the sewing machine, this article will bring you some tips and tricks when you get started with sewing.

Sewing machine and supplies

Crucial for getting started with sewing is a sewing machine and sewing supplies. If you are deciding on buying a sewing machine, doing proper research is always recommended. There are a lot of great brands and machines out there, but you should make sure to find one that suits your needs. If you are planning on using your sewing machine alot, and working on big projects, it might be worth investing in a more expensive sewing machine. With that being said, there are also a lot of affordable brands out there that will work great for your sewing projects. Research is key! For any crafters looking for their next big project, check out these creative sewing patterns by Design Bundles, the leading digital marketplace for creatives.

When getting sewing supplies, a great tip is to only get the most necessary items first, such as fabric scissors, seam ripper, sewing pins, tape measure, pattern paper, chalk or washable markers. For basic projects, not much more is needed – and once you get more experience you can invest in more supplies.

Sewing patterns

The most fun part of getting started with sewing is to find a sewing pattern for your projects. Sewing patterns can be bought physically or digitally. The digital sewing pattern often consists of a printable PDF (which can be printed at home), and instructions on how to make the garment. There are lots of sewing patterns to choose from, and easy beginners sewing patterns can be downloaded for free.
The scrunchie is a perfect beginner sewing project. If you sign up for the free Yarnie newsletter, you will receive 7 different sewing patterns for free.
Yarnie’s The Needle Craft Newsletter is a great resource for anyone who is interested in quality free sewing patterns. It’s completely free to sign up and every newsletter features a free pattern, alongside inspiring articles with talented needlecraft creators and designers. You will also be able to widen your sewing skills with the tips and tricks included in the newsletter.

Free quilt patterns and sewing patterns are included in the Yarnie newsletter.

Fabric & thread

A good fabric for beginners is a fabric that is easy to sew with, but also isn’t so expensive. You shouldn’t worry about making mistakes. In the beginning, you might use up a bit more fabric and this is part of the learning process. A light or mid-weight woven fabric, such as cotton, linen or cotton-linen blend is a great fabric to start out with, as it won’t stretch or slip while sewing. There are a lot of fabric and thread manufacturers to choose from, and the possibilities to shop online are endless. If you prefer to go to a physical store to buy your fabric and thread (to also get a feeling of what it looks and feels like) you can visit your closest craft fabric store, or visit the local market.

If you want to be sustainable in your selection of fabric, then repurposing an old thrifted fabric is a great way to upcycle a sewing project. In thrift stores, there are a lot of second-hand fabrics, such as old tablecloths, bed linen and much more.

Have fun sewing and learning a new craft!

Guest Post by Georgina Grogan of She Might Be Loved. One of the perks of having chronic pain and having to spend a lot of time in bed is that I’m great for Netflix recommendations. I’m the go-to person for my friends and family to tell you all about the latest releases and what you  should be watching. Usually, I’ll watch something the day it comes out and even when I’m working, I’ll split screen a series or film.

[Read more…]

 As someone who doesn’t have children, it can be hard to know what to buy the young ones in my family. I’ll admit to often taking the taking the easy way out and just asking their parents for ideas on what to buy them. I love buying gifts for people, but I am keen to make sure that what I buy is something that people are likely to like – so asking their parents just makes sense.That said, when it comes to buying for children, the internet is full of fantastic toys, gadgets and gizmos that everyone would like. I’m a fan of toys that can be used for either gender (which is all toys to be honest but you know what I mean) and also electronics. My favourite toy as a kid was a robot – hence why I have a robot tattoo!RC Stunt Car – £21.99

How cool does he look? Suitable to aged 12, I feel like this a gift that a child will remember receiving and that’s a really good thing. He can go in all sorts of directions and even flip & spin – so hours of fun to be had!

RC Racing Car – £23.99

He might not have the same stunts as the stunt car about, but with speeds of over 10 miles per hour – he’s going to be lots of fun. Suitable for similar ages to the above car, these could be great presents for families where there are two children and you can buy them one each.

RC Robot – £21.59

Obviously I am a bit biased, but how cool does he look? I love that he looks like a generic robot and has loads of really cool features. If you have a child that seems like they already have everything, I feel like this is a unique gift that would really go down well. He can sing and dance, sense gestures and be programmed to do up to 50 commands, I’d love one of these I don’t care if people say I am too old!

RC Dinosaur – £49.99

I’ll be honest with you, the fact that he wags his tail when you stroke his head is a winner for me. It would be like giving a kid a pet dinosaur and presents don’t get much cooler than that. Of course, he can also roar, battle and dance so he’s pretty much an all rounder!

Robot Dog – £22.99

If you’re after a robot toy that comes with a side of cute then Robot Dog is perfect. He’s got loads of cool features including the fact he can bark and wink!

What I love about all of these is that they’re available on Amazon Prime – and as someone who sees my Amazon delivery driver a few times a week, that’s really handy for me! I am a fan of shopping local and have been trying to support small businesses online too, but when it comes to things like this, often Amazon and its next day delivery can’t be beaten!

Which robot toy would you choose?

Debz xx

*Collaborativepost