Finding Inspiration :: Sock Yarn ::

With The Crochet Sock Collection very very nearly ready for release, I thought your stashes may be in need of a little filling, so I scoured etsy for you and searched out some super delicious hand dyed yarns to share with you.

1. Six colour self-striping sock yarn Autumn Rainbow by Laughing Yaffle Yarn

2. Hand dyed sock yarn 4ply finger weight superwash BFL and bamboo 100g. Pairs in Ziggy by The Wool Kitchen

3. Garden Delight, 100 grams hand-dyed sock yarn, Merino / Nylon 75/25% by Zanetto Yarn

4. Blue Lagoon Rainbow, unique hand-dyed 75/25 merino nylon blend sock yarn by Mothy and the Squid

5. Hand-Dyed Yarn--Wool Sock Yarn--"African Grey Parrot" by Dodo Yarns

6. 4 ply Sock yarn Rainbow sherbet superwash merino 100g 425 meters by Kate Selene

7. Blue Faced Leicester and Silk 4 ply Fingering Sock Yarn by Cariad Fibre Art

Yes my eye seems to have been drawn to the oh so very bright, I blame the horrifically dreary weather!

Finding Inspiration :: Desk Accessories ::

Since moving house I haven't really had a chance to set up a work space properly, I'm currently working at a hastily set up desk in the corner of the living room. Ideally I'd like a workroom all of my own, but to be honest that seems unlikely, for the time being anyways. So in the meantime I shall dream of a room of one's own and browse etsy for all the things I will adorn my desk with once I'm no longer living on a building site!

Here are some of my favourites all from UK based etsy sellers ::

1. 2016 Wall Planner from Sam Osbourne

2. Cloud Desk Tidy from PygmyCloud

3. Bretton Notebooks from Betty Etiquette 

4. Holy Shit Balls Print from Happy Cotswold Co

5. Origami Cactus from Joyful Array

6. Really Important Notes - Notebook from Efflorescent Ink Shop

7. Pencils from Papio Press

For more inspiration for desk attire from etsy sellers take a look at my pinterest board and the Etsy 'dress your desk' collection.

Finding Inspiration :: UK Indie Dyers ::

When I was searching through etsy last week to hunt out some gifts for the yarn lover in your life, I couldn't help but find a huge cache of gorgeous hand dyed yarns from UK etsy sellers. So many I felt that they deserved their own gift guide. I can't imagine any knitter or crocheter could think of a better gift than skien of delicious hand dyed yarn!

Here are just a few of my favourites, again this is pretty much a guide to what I would like for Christmas!

1. Fruit Salad (Aran weight, 50% silk, 50% merino) by Six Skiens
2. Nightcrawler (4ply, 100% merino) by Third Vault Yarns
3. Ghost (DK, 100% merino) by Yan Tan Tethera Yarns
4. Yorkshire Rose Smoothie  by Wharfdale Woolworks
5. Rumble (4ply, 100% merino) by Moonlight Yarns
6. Pastel Rainbow Set (sock weight, 100% merino) by Hand-Dyed by Kate
7. Oh Clouds (sock weight, 75% merino, 25% nylon) by Burrow and Soar
8. Scoobies (DK 100% Blue Faced Leicester) by Felt Fusion
9. High Twist (4ply 80% merino, 20% nylon) by I Love Pink Geraniums 

For more inspiration for gifts from UK etsy sellers take a look at my pinterest board. and the Etsy gift guide series

Finding Inspiration :: Gifts for Yarn Lovers ::

As Christmas begins to near, I've started to think of gift buying and thought I would revive my gift guide series from last year, featuring gift ideas from UK etsy sellers. There are so many fabulously talented UK based sellers on etsy that there is a lot to showcase.

Today I'm looking for gifts for the yarn lovers in your life, basically this is a list of all the things I would like for Christmas!

1. Personalised Yarn Ball Keychain from Doodle Pop Designs
2. Wool Knitting Earrings from Max's World
3. Knitting Mug from Kelly Connor Designs
4. Knitting Needle Ring from Yellow Bear Wares
5. Wool Yarn Bowl from Little Wren Pottery
6. Silver Bird Pin from Ross and Ross

For more ideas for gifts from UK etsy sellers you can take a look at my pinterest board.

Finding Inspiration :: Easter Crafts for Kids ::

With spring equinox yesterday and the sunshine starting to warm up, I'm getting super excited for Easter now, with only 4 days of school left until the holidays begin we're thinking about ways to fill our days with springtime themed crafts. I've been spending a lot of time over on pinterest gathering ideas for activities for Milo and I to get stuck in to and decorate our home. Here are some of my favourites ::

Spring chicks made from egg cartons, by Typically Simple ::

Pom Pom tree by wayaiulandia ::

Salt Dough Eggs by Design Mom ::

Pom Pom Chicks by Crafts Unleashed ::

Shaving Cream Easter Egg Cards by Little Wonder's Days ::

Egg Carton Wreath by Homemade Serenity ::

DIY daffodils by Mend and Make New ::

Hatching Chicks from Little Foundations ::

You can see more Easter inspiration over on my Easter board on pinterest.

Finding Inspiration :: Gifts for Kids ::

I have more gorgeous finds for you today for my UK etsy sellers gift guide series. This time great gifts for children ::

Click the little pictures at the bottom to go directly to the listing, or click the big picture to see more gorgeous gifts from UK etsy sellers over on my pinterest board.

If you don't already have an etsy account, sign up here for a £5 gift voucher!

Finding Inspiration :: Gifts for Toddlers ::

Happy Saturday to you!
Here are some of my favourite items for toddlers from UK etsy sellers for my gift guide series. My pockets are really starting to feel the pressure of discovering all these lovely etsy sellers whilst compiling these lists I can tell you!

Click the little pictures at the bottom to go directly to the listing, or click the big picture to see more gorgeous gifts from UK etsy sellers over on my pinterest board.

If you don't already have an etsy account, sign up here for a £5 gift voucher!

Finding Inspiration :: Gifts for Babies ::

As Christmas approaches, much quicker than I would like, obviously my thoughts are beginning to turn to all the shopping that needs to be done.  I had high hopes, as I do every year, of making all the gifts, but I think I forgot what having a newborn is actually like...

Every year I try my hardest to do all my shopping from independents, as someone who's usually in the same shoes as these folks, I know how precious each and every sale you make is. The best place to search out wonderfully unique and beautifully handcrafted gifts, in my opinion, is etsy, but it can be a bit overwhelming getting started in your searches. This is why I'm doing a series of fabulous gift ideas which can be purchased from etsy sellers in the UK, because it's also nice to shop 'local' and as Christmas draws closer shipping times from international sellers can become a little to close to the bone.

I'm starting the series with 'Gifts for Babies' (this list could also serve as a Christmas list for Effie!).

Click the little pictures at the bottom to go directly to listing, or click the big picture to see more gorgeous gifts from UK etsy sellers over on my pinterest board.

If you don't already have an etsy account, sign up here for a £5 gift voucher!

Finding Inspiration :: Dressing Up for the Circus ::

Two weeks today we'll heading down to Lulworth Castle for this years Camp Bestival.  We're so excited.  I cannot wait.  We've never been before, but everything I've read about it so far just makes me more and more eager to go.

The dressing up theme this year is 'Circus'.  After sending Milo off to school this morning dressed as a spider for his 'Ugly Bug Ball', I got to thinking about his costume for Camp Bestival.  We've had a bit of a chat about it and I think at the moment he wants to be a clown, though there was some indecision over whether a lion tamer would be better.

I'll probably make his costume, but I couldn't help taking a peek over on etsy at some of the fabulous circus themed items they had over there.  Here are a few of my favourites.

Click the little pictures at the bottom to see the original source of the images above, or click the big picture to see more of my pins over on pinterest.