My Mother's Day Gift Guide Featuring Sellers From Not On The Highstreet

It's Mother's Day in the UK on Sunday 15th March and I've been searching Not On The High Street for inspiration for a lovely present for my Mum. I've put together this gift guide of the best foodie, floral and jewellery gift ideas I've come across on NOTHS- my faves are the chocolates shaped liked biscuits, the cake slice club and the plantable wrapping paper, such good ideas!

Foodie Gifts

Set of 2 Cupcake Jars by G Desserts/ Biscuit Shaped Chocolates Set by Chocolate On Chocolate/ Cake Slice Club by The Cake Nest/ Flowering Tea Sampler Five Blooms by The Exotic Teapot

Jewellery

Engraved Initial Stacking Ring by Merci Maman/ Bird Brooch By Silk Purse, Sow's Ear/ Rose Gold Precious Heart Necklace by Naturally Heartfelt/ Personalised Sterling Silver and Leather Wrap Bracelet by HurleyBurley

Floral

Amethyst Vintage Style Flowers Bottles by The Flower Studio/ Wild Flowers 100% Plantable Wrapping Paper by Eden's Paper/ Floralicious Gourmet Edible Flower Growing Kit by Plant and Grow/ Mini World Diver Terrarium Kit by London Garden Trading

On Instagram in February

February is the shortest month of the year but I tried to cram lots in. Here's a look at what I got up to via my Instagram photo roundup...

Mr Writer and I visited Greenwich as I've always wanted to go and check out the market. It was bloomin' freezing but the views across the river were amazing. Just love London. Ooh and we visited the Cutty Sark!

Lunch times at the day job often look like this for me

I'm kept company on lunch at the day job by this lovely lady, Mellow the work dog who lives upstairs. I used to have a lovely Black Lab and Mellow reminds me of her. Really hope to have another dog one day

I bought this plaque from Tigerlilly Quinn and I love it. An important sentiment to live by I think

I made this Chocolate Malt Cake with Nutella icing from What Jessica Baked Next. The icing is to die for! Check out her blog, she posts very tempting recipes!

Still on the cake theme, I had tea and scones with a good friend at my favourite cafe. There is a vintage shop upstairs so a visit here is a double treat!

Leave a bag or a box unattended for a second and Nelson will climb in!

He'll also help you with any craft project you have on the go!

But it's ok because if you're this sweet you can get away with anything!

Some new Liberty fabric off-cuts- the one with the animals on is my fave. I'd like to create a Liberty fabric jewellery collection because it's all so beautiful

Working on this How To

At the Minories in Colchester there was a fab exhibition by Clare Sams on throughout February. Clare created a knitted recreation of the true story of a yarn shop in Cumbria that was devastated by floods in 2009. Flood waters broke the window of the shop (called Knitting Fever) and the wool inside flowed out and through the town. Such a clever exhibition

I wear something handmade every day. I knitted this jumper a few years ago in beautiful Colinette yarn and I love to wear it with handmade brooches

If you'd like follow me on Instagram, you can find my by clicking on the Instagram button to the side of the page

What did you get up to in February? Wishing you all a great March!

The Small Project Challenge- The Flo-Jo Knicker Making Kit!

Back in January in this post, on a mission to be organised and reduce the amount of half finished projects I have on the go, I shared my goal of completing one small crafty project each month in 2015. I've called it The Small Project Challenge! For the challenge in February, I made knickers!

A while back I was searching for quirky craft kits to try and I discovered the Flo-Jo Knicker Making Kit from the Flo-Jo Boutique.

The kit contains everything you need to make a pretty pair of knickers, from the pattern (in size 8-18), pretty fabric (there are lots of pretty prints to choose from, including Liberty), frilly knicker elastic and ribbon for a bow. The great thing as well is that if you trace the pattern off you can keep the pattern to make more pairs!

Although the pattern recommends cutting out the fabric using pinking shears to prevent fraying, I don't have a pair so I used regular fabric scissors. I'll definitely invest in a pair to use when I make some more knickers as I think it would give a neater finish

As a first attempt, this pair is by no means perfect- the elastic is a little over gathered in places and the finish could be neater (I really need those pinking shears!)- but I had a great fun afternoon making them and that's the main thing! There was something very therapeutic about making them and I'm excited to choose some fabric to make some more. I'm hoping that practice makes perfect!

Have you discovered any quirky or unusual craft kits? Do share!

DIY Fabric and Chain Tassel Garland How To

I came across this heavy gold chain in a craft store and instantly felt a How To coming on! I love the trend for tassels at the moment, so I have combined the chain with fabric tassels (a good way to use up long, thin fabric scraps!)to make this fun garland. Here's how...

1) You will need

Long lengths of lightweight cotton fabric in your choice of colours (I chose three blues), heavy weight chain (from a craft store or up-cycled), fabric scissors, metallic embroidery thread and a large eyed needle

2) Cut the fabric strips along their length aprox 5mm wide, to minimise fraying 

3) Decide how long you'd like the tassels to be and cut the long fabric strips into pieces of this length. My strips were 40cm long, meaning the finished tassels are 20cm long

4) Place 5 fabric strips (or more for a fuller tassel) underneath the chain and fold the fabric strips over the top of the chain

5) Secure the tassels with embroidery thread at even lengths along the chain. Trim the ends of the fabric tassels if needed

6) Ta-dah! A lovely garland to cheer up any space

Happy making! If you make a garland don't forget to share your photos, I'd love to see!

Tartan and Leather Button Brooches and Rings. #WIP

A little look at what is going on behind the scenes today- some work in progress! This is something I've wanted to try for a while- combining off-cuts of traditional Scottish wool Tartan with stitched leather pieces to make Button Brooches and Rings. I'm adding a Rose Gold coloured Swarovski Crystal to them too.

I'll be adding these to the Etsy Shop soon (still practicing with my camera) so I'll be sure to show you when they are all finished!

Louise Dawson Design on Google+!

Mr Writer and I are working on my blog revamp today so I'm excited to be able to reveal the new look blog soon!

In the mean time, I just wanted to let you know that you can now find me on Google+! I'm still learning how it works but I'm loving being part of the Google+ community. The way I'd describe it is that it's a bit like a micro-blogging site, so it's really easy to share info and connect with people with similar interests. Yay for discovering new crafty blogs and beautiful photos of peoples makes! You can find me here- if you're on Google+ too I'd love to add you to my Circles!

Sign Up for the Louise Dawson Design Newsletter!

One of my goals for 2015 was to create a regular newsletter, so I'm pleased to say that I've done it (yay for getting organised!)! 

If you would like to receive monthly news and offers from Louise Dawson Design, you can subscribe to my mailing list using the sign up tab on the right hand side of the page and keep up to date! This is how January's Newsletter looked...