I decided to customise a multipack of plain white t-shirts rather than buying individual designs – not only was it cheaper but it’s also fun to personalise a t-shirt so you know you’ve got something completely unique. Embroidered rainbow I am not a great sewer, but I can manage the basics and as Ez had recently been doing some sewing projects that used back stitch, I thought I’d show her how she could use that stitch on a t-shirt. She’s a big fan of rainbows and unicorns, so we just used six colours of embroidery thread to sew a rainbow… View Post

After the completely incredible Just So Festival being a firm fixture in our family calendar for the last five years, we were absolutely gutted when we realised we weren’t going to be able to make it there  this year (unless we sacrifice our summer adventure to France in the camper van, and I was tempted, believe me). Maybe it was fate because right at that moment, the fantastically talented event team behind Just So, Wild Rumpus, announced a brand new festival for 2018 called Timber, that promises to have the same small, community feel and creative approach. ‘Timber is an extraordinary new festival… View Post

We have a new arrival in Casa Young! Allow me to introduce Lyra, our nine-week-old Hungarian Vizsla puppy, who joined us just a couple of weeks ago. She’s gorgeous, has ears that feel like velvet and loves cuddles. What’s not to love?! The decision to get a family dog has been nearly 20 years in the waiting, as Ben has wanted a dog ever since I first met him. Every so often he’d bring it up, but the conversation has been getting more and more frequent over the last couple of years. Then earlier this year I offered to dog-sit… View Post

Due to the recent arrival of a puppy (sooo exciting, will share pictures very soon), I’ve had to put aside any ideas of making a DIY advent calendar this year. Luckily I have plenty stored away from previous years to fall back on as there’s no way I’m going to give up our family tradition of daily Christmas advent activities (and the kids wouldn’t let me, even if I wanted to!). I’m going to re-use the DIY copper advent calendar that I originally made in 2014 (pictured above). It’s my favourite of all the advent calendars I’ve made, and luckily… View Post

This year was our fifth adventure with Just So. Half of me can’t fathom how quickly those years have flown by, the other half can’t imagine a year without the Just So Festival knitted into the fabric of our family life. Five years in, I know my way around, I recognise the same volunteers, the same festival goers, the same costumes. We’ve got our festival rhythm down pat, but that feeling of magic, of being swept up in a glorious weekend of pure joy, has never faded. I still have those skin-tingling moments when you suddenly look around you and… View Post