Heart Garlands

So this Christmas I’m really into making homemade gifts and this is a really cute and easy one to make!

It’s really versatile as you can use any leftover fabrics and ribbons that you have- or its really cheap to go out and buy some cheap cuts of fabric.

First you need to cut out a template for your heart and then sketch it twice onto your fabric.

After this cut them both out and cut out a loop of thin ribbon. If you are doing this for the first time it is best to put a quick stitch in the ribbon to attach the ends so they get sewn into the heart.

Place the ribbon upside down on the outside of the fabric and then sew the 2 hearts together inside out.

Leave about an inch unsewn down the side so you can stuff your heart.

Make small cuts around the circular sections and then cut off the point at the bottom to make it easier to turn inside out.

Turn inside out, stuff the heart with wadding and then sew up the small hole on the outside with similar coloured thread.

Create a few and then attach the hearts to a longer ribbon with a small stitch.

Dinner

It really doesn't have to cost a lot to make a really cute Christmas meal- with a few quick home-made touches you can create something really lovely.

Snowflakes

We found that paper snowflakes were a really fun way to decorate our communal room on a budget, they are the simplest thing to do- just cut out a square of paper, fold it into as many triangles as you want and then cut patterns out of it, open it up and voilà!

I also did some paper cut snowflakes which are a slightly more complicated but very rewarding

Candles

Candles and fairy lights are a really cute way to set the mood and using old wine bottles is a really clever way of creating cheap and recycled candle holders!

By adding these cute little touches to an otherwise bland room it makes Christmas dinner just that tad more special!

Thought I should include a photo of the chickens-
even though I don't eat them my flat mate Hema was very
proud of her first roast!! (as was I of her)

Secret Santa

Some of the best and cheapest presents are home made or altered things.This year I have got a lot of inspiration for handmade presents and I'm really excited to get baking, sewing and decorating!!

The first is a Secret Santa present for my flatmate Lizzie- on a small budget I have decided simply customise a blanket for her as she has been chilly and admiring mine!



To make:
1. The first step is to find a blanket- I bought this cute owl print one because I thought it would be sweet and quirky for her room.

2. You need to decide what to sew onto the blanket, I decided on her name as it was a personal touch, however if you bought a plain blanket you could take a more labour-intensive route and fully decorate it by sewing or appliquéing designs onto it. 

3.With a pen or chalk lightly sketch your design.

 3. Remove the foot from your sewing machine and lower the teeth so you can easily guide the fabric through your machine. (Your design can simply be hand stitched if you don't have a sewing machine)

4. Holding your fabric taught with both hands and guiding it slowly stitch one running stitch over the entire pattern, then work the needle back and forth to build up the thickness of the pattern.

5. Finally dot the I's and cross the T's and you are done!

To the end of the 'e' I embellished a heart- a cute touch if you feel confident with free sewing on your machine!

Warming Winter Broth

This is my new favourite soup at the moment because it is so yummy and warming for winter with lots of cumin and spices! You could use various vegetables for this so don't be afraid to add or takeaway elements.

To make it, cube your vegetables, soften some chopped onions and garlic in a pot, then add in the potatoes and carrots. 

Sorry my spinach looks strange- its frozen and was donated by my lovely flatmate Hema as I had no Kale!

Next cover the veg with almost double the amount of hot water and throw the in spices with a pinch of salt. After about 5 minutes put in the rest of the vegetables and taste the broth to check the balance (I usually use about a tablespoon of cumin and 2 stock cubes for this amount of veg).

Simmer until the carrots and potatoes are soft and enjoy!

I add crackers or croutons to the top to add some texture and soak up the broth with some fresh French bread!

The (Second) First Fall of Snow

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?

J.B.Priestly

So I admit, this is not the first snow I've experienced this winter in Edinburgh (the first was also at about midnight a few days ago which me and Tally embraced with our earmuffs and wellies!). However, this is the first when I have had a blog, so I thought the (second) first fall of snow would be a fresh place to start it off!

Welcome to DIY projects, fashion and art inspiration and general musings.

This little guy is from the first snow and is currently sitting in the flat's freezer waiting to melt at an art exhibition tomorrow!