Explore 52/1

Hey, so it seems that everyone is about the 365 or 52 project and I thought why the heck not join in. I am in no way disciplined enough to stick with a daily project so I'm going with the weekly option and I am going to use good old instagram to do it.
I feel that my project should reflect my 'resolution' for 2013 to explore life more and appreciate my city and what it has to offer. Therefore, my photographs are going to document those places around Bath that I have always known but not always appreciated, the places that sometimes get missed by the hoards of tourists or just things around my town that catch my eye.

I also realise that I am a week late in starting my project so here is an instagram I took a few days ago (technically still in week one of the new year!).

This is possibly my favourite coffee house come bar in Bath and it is kind of my local. There is a small chain of Lounge bars now, but The Velo Lounge on Moorland Road is one of the first and still full of independant charm. Each of the bars has a different pre-fix to it's name, often relating to the building it's in and the Velo Lounge used to be a bike shop - get it?
This is the place I go to meet friends, chill out with a cuppa and a book or grab an evening of great food (tapas and burgers to die for), scrabble by candlelight or a pub quiz. It is a cosy hangout with a friendly atmosphere that isn't on the tourist radar, happy days!

Where is your favourite hangout?
Join in my instagram project with #explore52

After the Birthdays and Bunting Came the Crafting

OK so I have been really lapse at posting anything recently, life has been just too exciting so I've had no time to turn on the old laptop. What with Olympic torches, Jubilee celebrations and a birthday or two I have been up to my ears in bunting, flags and cake. However, here I am with a cup of tea by my side contemplating what to do with all of those greetings cards that my friends and family have lovingly sent me. They are so pretty and the notes written inside don't deserve to be discarded lightly, a few even have drawings and greetings by the little people I know practising their handwriting.
Right, what to do with them? All too often they end up in a shoebox and forgotten about, so I was looking for some ideas on line and found a blog or two with some great ideas.

simplemom.net

Turn them into a book, simply punch holes and bind them together. It doesn't have to be just cards, you could keep bits that remind you of a particular person, like letters and ticket stubs. Add little notes and dates if you want and use it as a kind of picture diary for the year.

The Pink Sewing Machine

Grab a tag shaped punch from your local craft store and make beautiful gift tags from old greetings cards.

Atypical Type A

Frame it! Add your fave or sentimental cards to your gallery wall. Make them pieces of art, even the greetings on the inside can look beautiful framed in the right way.

Let me know if you have any ideas yourself.

Have fun x

Funky Placemats

Over the last week I have spent a fair amount of time with my lovely friend Hayley, she has been very supportive in getting my work out there to the public. I am very excited to say that a beautiful gallery in Salisbury has taken a selection and it looked great amongst all the other arts and crafts. If you are in the area check out the Gallery at Fisherton Mill.
Anyway, I digress, whilst spending time with Hayley she has mentioned several times that she needs some place mats for her new dining room, see where we're going yet? I started looking on line for some fun and funky ideas to make your own, and here is what I have found. As always, use these to be inspired and come up with something unique for you (get your craft hat on and get making, I have!)...

House of Ficek

Fossil

Free printable from The Pretty Blog

Pocketful of Dreams

Sian Berry for EggMag

Creme de la Craft

La Maison Jolie

Sweet Tidings

Have fun xx

Snapshot Candle Holders

This weekend I took a trip to the coast and snapped these pics of what to me sums up the Great British seaside (that and a sandy picnic & 99 ice cream!!). I was going to print them off and put them on a shelf, but then I remembered seeing some cute ideas for votive candle holders when I was putting together my post about how I heart paper lanterns. So here are a few cute ideas of how to show off your pics without resorting to a standard frame. They would make lovely gifts too, so economical if you recycle old jars and glasses.

Inspired Ideas 

Oh, there are one or two other ideas for lighting your mantle which I couldn't resist including too.

fellow fellow

fellow fellow

Hers and His

Have fun xx