Handmade

I was doing some research recently into craft projects and came across a ton of fun free apple crafts you can do. I thought this would be a fun way to teach kids about the value of apples, how they grow and how good they are for you. It's also a good way to highlight that apple production has changed a lot over the years - did you know that two thirds of our English orchards have disappeared since 1950? Or that there are 6000 varieties of apple on the official Apple Register, but only around a dozen are commercially produced...
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There are such wonderful DIY ideas shared on Pinterest every day that we thought we'd gather a few favourites and bring them to your attention. First up, a handy way to create a little herb garden in your kitchen. Simply clean up some tin cans and cut a short vertical slot in one side at the top to hand them on a simple nail. If you cut a slot this will allow you to lift them off and on for watering and replanting if needed. Stamped hangers Spotted on theSITSgirls.com, this is a fun and quick DIY to pesonalise your wardrobe. A sweet idea...
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Homemade Christmas ornaments are a great way to make your Christmas personal and special. Whether you spend an afternoon shaking glitter on things with your kids, or take some time out for yourself to be creative, you can craft some beautiful Christmas decorations which you will enjoy for a long time to come. For this quick Christmas DIY I’ve put together a selection of ornaments, decorations and craft ideas which you can do on a budget. Here we have four different ideas you can carry out with just a few select resources, most of which you may already have around the...
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We love finding those special items that our customers love. Homewares handmade by artists and artisans which give your home that unique flavour and character. With that in mind we are delighted to share our latest finds with you! First up, beautiful lamp shades handmade right here in the UK. We are extending our range of Orwell and Goode lighting as these lampshades are wonderful quality and very popular with our customers. These lamp shades are made from top quality linen by this talented Scottish design duo. The fabric is designed by Mrs O in her studio in the far north of...
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Spring always brings to mind yellow, from when the first daffodil and crocus flowers bloom through to the first rays of sun. So, I like to add a little extra yellow and a few other bright colours to my home at this time of year too. Here are 3 Spring finds that I think would help to amplify the light and energy in your home...hopefully bringing summer round early! 1. My Festival mug by Jansen & Co. Available from howkapow. 2. Kompotti chopping board by Marimekko. Available from finnish design shop. 3. Ceramic cellars by RossLab. Available from Etsy. And finally.... nothing says Spring...
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I think it can be really difficult to strike the right balance on Valentine's Day. It's tricky if you are in a brand new relationship and aren't sure whether you're "doing" Valentine's, how much you should spend, or what their taste is. But don't think you get off lightly if you've been together for ages either! Then you have to avoid the pitfalls of being too predictable or too mushy, too silly or too grown-up. You've got to try and sum up your relationship and the history of you two in one card and gift! With that in mind, we've stocked...
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We've got some great gift selections on the site, including some pretty neat stocking fillers - ideal for that little gift for a Secret Santa, or as a little extra for a special friend or relative. Here's our round-up of the best Pretty Dandy stocking fillers! Tea Towels All our tea towels are under £10, well-designed and a little bit decorative. This is a great way to buy a practical present that still has some personality and won't hurt your pocket! Here you can see our vintage design tea towels, which were first produced in Sweden in the 50's and have never gone out...
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20 Crafty Makes is a brand new project book created by artists and crafters in Nottingham, with contributions from all around the UK. It's a wonderful book brimming with fun, crafty ideas and tutorials and that's not even the best part! The best bit is that it is being sold in aid of The Stroke Association. So not only can you treat yourself, you'll be doing some good too. You can buy a copy for only £5 from their Folksy shop - and remember, all proceeds go to The Stroke Association, so really, you kind of have to buy one  ;) I...
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Oh my lord, where has the time gone? It doesn't seem two minutes since I decided we should do another Pretty Dandy Flea, and now it's almost upon us! I'm very excited for the next Flea (24th November!), not only have we got some of our wonderful stallholders from the first event coming back, but we've got more stalls and lots of new traders too! There is a fantastic range of different items being brought to our beautiful venue - everything from 1930's vintage to illustration and hand printed artworks to vintage clocks salvaged from boats! We will be featuring some of...
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Handmade cards have increased in popularity by a huge amount over recent years, and it's easy to see why. They offer the chance to give a unique, thoughtful and personal card to a friend or loved one, which is something we all like to do.   We all know the pleasure of seeing an envelope drop on the mat which doesn’t have a printed address. One which doesn’t have a plastic window with your name peeping through. An envelope which isn’t manila, hasn’t been franked and isn’t addressed “Dear Householder” either.   The joy in seeing a real letter pop through your door is...
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