Ridgeway Cottage anyhow

 This year I wanted to do something a little different for advent. I know the children love them, but I do find it a challenge to get excited about the chocolate advent calendars they have pestering me for since the end of Halloween. I feel like our advent should be a little more creative, possibly even challenging and although Josie's idea of a murder mystery is a bit gruesome for the festive season, I think there are elements that might work. my husband is even keen to get involved. Last month I had a lot fun posting photos on instagram as part of #amonthof from #mycreative space so I am having a go at this months project , starting with the letter "A" which in our house was for advent, angels and art. I intend to make a little stocking each day and place a clue inside for the advent mystery along with a Christmas related activity or challenge. Today's stocking was a granny square crochet one and inside was a clue that read "In a cold dark room sit...

For the last week, all my spare time and energy has gone into crafting for the Christmas Fair. This is the second year that I have joined forces with my lovely and very creative friend Michelle to peddle our wares at the infant school's Christmas fair. Of course it is supposed to be fun but that doesn't mean to say that I don't get just that little worried because I never seem to have enough time to get all the products made that I want to. I guess it is the curse of a creative mind, as suggested by a friend last night, that causes panic about everything not be finished and ready. Despite my reservations about how much I had done and how much I still wanted to do, our stall did look rather pretty. That is probably the best thing about having a craft stall, it just looks so fabulous to see all of our beautiful things there together. I rather liked Michelle's crochet reindeer and snowmen this year which were very popular and I do believe that she practicall...

The more I craft, the more I read and blog about craft. One of my favourite crafty magazines is Mollie Makes . If the world were just like an edition of Mollie Makes magazine then I would be very happy. It is just filled with the most deliciously fabulous craftiness and super talented people. I really do look forward to every copy dropping on the door mat each month. Recently life has got even better because the makers of Mollie Makes now produce a weekly online interactive magazine called Gathered. Once again it is full to the brim with beautiful loveliness and is out every Friday with all the best ideas to keep you busy over the next week. I do love it so and even better than all of that, this week one of my photos has been included in the Show and Tell collection. I was so excited. It's a photo of my crochet African flowers stacked up ready to make to make a Christmas stocking that you can see here and I am hoping to sell at the school Christmas fair on Thursday but i...

It is no secret that I love flowers so last night's Floristry workshop by the very talent Hannah and her lovely students from Canterbury College at our monthly WI meeting was completely up my street. When it comes to table decorations for Christmas, the traditional red, white and green colour scheme is a classic for a reason. The foliage smelt amazing and the simple combination textures and shades of green looked fantastic in Hannah's Christmas wreath, especially with a little sprinkling of another one of my favourite favourites; glitter. Of course I know not everyone is as much of a glitter fan as I am and that not everyone lives their life by my motto of if in doubt wear glitter but it does look so pretty and you can always leave it out if you don't like it. I discovered a new spray adhesive called Tack 2000 which is specially designed not to harm flowers. At the moment I don't have any spray glue. It is definitely something that is missing from ...

When both Josie and Charlie were tiny babies, we took them out daily for walks. Josie was not so keen at first to spend time in her pram preferring to be carried in a pouch but Charlie was quite content lying there looking at the leaves, branches and sky whilst I explained which tree was which and why I liked them. At this time of year, I am always enchanted by the luminosity and beauty of silver birch trees. They hold on their delicate golden yellow leaves right up high in the sky and their white papery trunks glow in the pale Autumn sunlight. With the sky so blue, the contrast of the yellow and mellow orange hues is the perfect backdrop for the tall spindly silhouettes of wintry trees. Charlie is still an upward gazer, checking out to see where the best colours and shapes are, watching for patterns and suggesting what would make a good photo. It's a love we share as a family but Charlie and I particularly like to watch trees change through the seasons. Posted wit...

When I was younger I fell in love with the granny square blanket my Nan had made. It was in her tiny little Welsh cottage near the mountains and was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. So many colours and combinations of colours, it was just truly amazing. I'm not sure if it's the happy childhood memories or my ever increasing passion for crocheting, but granny squares (and doilies) are something I could fill me life with. Even more delightful are the variations on granny squares. Star burst blanket, which used to be my favourite, but I have recently had a go at African flowers. They are quick and easy to make and so very pretty. Thanks to the brilliant free pattern that I found here , I have managed to make a little crochet Christmas stocking made out of 16 1/2 motifs. I am happy with the how the little Christmas stocking turned out and am now rather fond of African flowers, star burst and granny squares, well actually, all...

Ten years ago I was an expectant first time mum. I had absolutely no idea what was install for me over the next decade. I didn't know how much life with children would alter my whole world forever. There is joy and hilarity in every single day. We've raised our children to be independent free thinkers and are now living with two incredibly strong characters. They fill my days with mess, intelligent observations, more noise than I ever believed could come from little things, loving cuddles and the opportunity to say things I never imagined. Today, as with every day, has included a number of classic examples: "No Irish dancing at the dinner table!" I shouted this at Josie whilst she jigged around the kitchen with her "Choccy Philly" on toast. (Yes chocolate spread, another thing I never imagined would be part of my life) "Go and wash your hands and take your filthy trousers off and why is your tummy covered in mud?" - did I really think that Ch...