Beautiful, budget nursery!

Heather's budget nursery

I am delighted that my first post for Kiddicare's new-look website: Bump, Baby & You has now gone live! I wrote about my experience in creating a gorgeous nursery on a budget, as I know how costs can really add up at this time. 

I passionately believe that the most beautiful baby nurseries are designed with love, and filled with items that mean something. The great news is, they don't need to break the bank! Read my post here at Bump, Baby & You: 

http://blog.kiddicare.com/2014/04/beautiful-budget-nursery/

Wrapping gifts beautifully- #pindoit for Olive Dragonfly

I was delighted to write a guest post for Bex at The Olive Dragonfly while she's away enjoying a fabulous holiday in Thailand... lucky thing! 

I love the idea of #pindoit, as I have so many wonderful projects marked on Pinterest, and never get round to doing them. As luck would have it, this is a busy gift-giving time for me, so I chose to try a series of pins, on creative gift-wrapping ideas. 

My beautifully-wrapped offerings!

Wrapping a gift thoughtfully can instantly add luxury, giving the "wow" factor to the smallest of presents. You needn't spend much money either- these wrapping methods actually cost less than buying gift bags and fancy wrapping paper. For my #pindoit projects, I used brown parcel paper, costing only 50p for 3 metres, bits and bobs from my craft stash, and recycled materials.

Pop over to The Olive Dragonfly to see more pictures, find the original Pinterest links, and read about how I created each of these wrapping styles. 

Owl cushion tutorial: Guest post for Scot Bloggers

For those of you who enjoyed reading about the peacock outfit I made for my daughter for Hillary's Blinds competition, the full tutorial for the friendy wise owl cushion was featured on Scot Bloggers website yesterday. Scot Bloggers is a great website, showcasing the diverse range of blogs from writers all over Scotland. 

Wise owl cushion

Pop over to the Scot Bloggers website to find out how to make your own! Here are some photos from the tutorial...

Adding details to the owl.

A perfectly owlish eye!

Make your owl cushion as plump as you like!

My finished owl on the sofa.

Writing for Scottish Fashion- Online Magazine

I'm delighted to announce that I am now a contributor for Scottish Fashion- a new online magazine reporting on Scottish Fashion news. 

In keeping with my blog philosophy, I will be writing about Scottish fashion on a smaller budget- including a monthly spotlight about up-and-coming Scottish designers, seeking out undiscovered crafting talent, and highlighting the best from independent shops. I'll also be exploring what I think Scotland's fashion scene does really well- its wealth of vintage and second-hand clothes shops. 

My debut article for the magazine went live this evening, which is very exciting. My article introduces a small, independent designer, Mercurio Millinery, and her beautiful range of clutch bags. I chose this particular designer because I was drawn to the range of fabrics she uses, and the affordable luxury of her brand. 

My favourite bag from her range- isn't it stunning? 

You can read the full article here, and stay tuned for more pieces on what I love about Scottish fashion!