What colour cushions do I need for my dining room? And how many? Just a couple on each sofa, or an abundance? I am the very model of indecision. Any advice on artwork for the plain walls also appreciated, as what we have no longer goes. Our house is a 150 year old cottage, which has been extended well beyond it's initial footprint within the last 10 years. This means that some rooms are traditional, with fireplaces and features - and we've decorated with a cottagey, shabby chic style in those rooms. However some, like the dining room, are quite... Continue reading

Running a marathon was never something in my bucket list. In fact, I remember clearly the first time I even thought of it. I had just graduated from the 'Couch 2 5K' programme, and I looked in the mirror and thought “if I carried on like this, I could probably run a marathon one day!” It was a sort of joke as, frankly, I was the most unsporty person I had ever met. Couch 2 5K was still a novelty and I was quite astounded that I had managed to complete it. I sort of started because I was curious... Continue reading

It amazes me to say this, like I’m having some sort of wonderful dream that I’m about to wake up from. But, the truth is that I have lost 101lb or 7 stones and 3 lb so far, in about a year. Little old me! Me who has been fat her whole adult life, and who has been on every diet going. Yet one of those endless tries at weightloss worked, even though I suspected they were all going to end in misery. Yay! Don't give up! Let me tell you, there is NOTHING special about me. If I can... Continue reading

The eagle eyed amongst you might have noticed by my Twitter feed that I've taken up running recently. It's true - don't laugh! Believe me when I say I was about as fat and unfit as they come. When I quietly mentioned that I fancied having a go at running to my nearest and dearest, around the end of December, no-one said much. You could see that, although they didn't want to be unsupportive, they were thinking "yeah, right! I give that a week!" I didn't post on here about it because, if I'm honest, I didn't think I'd keep... Continue reading

The baby plays on a carpet of handmade (some unfinished!) quilts Continue reading

During this tute you'll learn how to form the iconic granny stitch, and you'll make a teeny, tiny granny stripe blanket! I'd love to see pictures of your finished work, please leave comments either here or on You Tube, or the Facebook group (Mrs Bee's Emporium). As always, I'm happy to answer questions, give clarification or advice - just ask! Happy hooking! Claire x Continue reading

Here is the third video tutorial in the series - in this episode you finally get your hands on the yarn! Learn how to hold the hook and yarn, how to make a slipknot and how to make chain or foundation stitch. Don't forget your homework! Please let me know what you think in the comments below - I'm new to this and want to get it right! All suggestions appreciated. If you require further clarification I'd be only too happy to help too - and don't forget to share with me pictures of your work, so I can shower... Continue reading

My daughter's gorgeous chubby, doughy baby legs. All too often they're covered up with tights and babygrows, but today they get to go free. She loves them exposed because it means she can chew her toes. I love them exposed because, quite honestly, I think they are the loveliest, velvetiest things I have ever touched. Continue reading

Here we go! The second class in the series. I know, I know you're desperate to pick up your hook and GET ON WITH IT! But hold your horses. At some point over the next few days, I can almost guarantee you, you will go throught The Long Dark Night of the Soul. With crochet, its kind of the law. Lots of people say "I tried crochet and I could get the chain stitch, but then I got stuck" Well yes, the thing is with crochet that all the pain and misery is front loaded. That's why it's called the... Continue reading

Happy new year! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are buzzing with enthusiasm for 2013. All was lovely here - Florence's first Christmas was relaxed. We spent a lot of time with family and we also lazed around and ate far too much, but that was fab and just what the doctor ordered. Father Christmas bought Florence her first tooth, which arrived, without fuss, on the 28th. All I can say is "ouch." I'm still breastfeeding. Just. Since a lot of people like to take up new hobbies in the new year, I thought it'd be a... Continue reading

Just a quick post tonight, as its late and I am exhausted. Its been a busy day at the cottage. The baby fed, quite literally, all night and I woke with a sore back from twisting around her slightly in bed. Thankfully I feed her lying down an night, so I managed the odd doze. I awoke late, so Charlie was late for school and, because I'd had to wake her abruptly (and she hadn't had enough sleep either,) the baby was grumpy. Just as I'd poured myself the first cup of tea of the day, Jonny appeared and said... Continue reading

I do love making preserves. There's something about the alchemy, and how much nicer home made jams taste than shop bought, that makes me feel all domestic goddess. It's quite simple, really (but don't let on to anyone else...) As part of my Christmas series, I am making jams and jellies this year for my nearest and dearest to go in their stockings. If there is a secret to jam making, then I think it is this: use the right tools. My jams and chutneys have been a hundred times better since I bought a jam thermometer and use jam... Continue reading

Christmas has a touch of the Marmites about it, I think, you either love it or hate it. My husband hates it with a passion. He thinks its overpriced, enforced consumerism - which, I suppose it is. I tend to swing, like a pendulum, between the two extremes. I think it is important to punctuate the year with traditional celebrations, as they are cast-in-stone ways of ensuring that we keep up with our friends and family. I think I actually prefer the concept of Thanksgiving, though. I do not have a strong (public) religious belief, and I do not actually... Continue reading

Recently I was listening to a podcast of Radio 4s Woman's Hour in which a female historian (Mary Beard, I think) was talking about women in Rome. She made the point that women's lives don't generally make the history books unless they do traditionally male things, like start wars (Elizabeth I, Joan of Arc, etc). In fact the very word, HIS-story, excludes women. I knew this, but I hadn't thought about it enough recently. By total coincidence I did an unusual thing (for me). Someone contacted me about depression, and I read back some of my earliest blog posts. I... Continue reading

I must confess that, with a baby, I'm struggling to blog as much as I once did. I spotted a lovely feature on another blog I follow though, and I thought I might borrow it, at least until the baby is bigger and I have more time. The blog in question is Soule Mama - do visit her, if you get chance, as its a really lovely blog. I hope that you will, and then I shan't feel as bad about borrowing her style of blogging. Soule Mama just uploads a picture, that she calls {this moment}. I like the... Continue reading

Hello again! I thought I'd check in and let you see an article I recently wrote for a pharmaceutical industry blog about how I used social media to help me manage my depression. I think its an interesting area. I used blogging, Facebook, Twitter and various online forums instinctively, because they helped educate and inform me about depression. I also found it difficult to find accounts of other women's depression online, which was the impetus for starting this blog (that, and because I find writing cathartic, but whether that realisation came first, or whether the catharsis became apparent once I... Continue reading

I am a proud mother once more. Look! My beautiful baby girl was born at the end of June, on her big brother Charlie's 7th birthday. Here they are! Her name is Florence Daisy. She was 7lb 9oz at birth and she is an awesome baby. She is also an EXCELLENT reason to knit! This is what she looks like these days: It is a year ago tomorrow since I found out I was pregnant. A year. How quickly did that whizz by? It has been an amazing, joyful year. That said, November and early December weren't so great, to... Continue reading

The bump, 20 weeks. I've ummed and ahhed about writing this post for some hours. Most of the pregnancy blogs I read are witty, or wise or are infused with a sense of wistfulness, even rage. However, looking back at the path I have travelled, this blog has, at all times, been honest about my feelings. I don't see any good reason to change. I'm 20 weeks and 2 days pregnant. My scan is on Friday. Hopefully we will then find our whether our baby is a boy or a girl. I'm very excited about the scan, but I feel... Continue reading

It has been an absolute age since I posted here. I'd just like to say thank you to those of you who have checked back from time to time, and I'm sorry there hasn't been an update. I've been in a bit of a funny place. A private place. A place that needed a bit of time and reflection. I started this blog nearly 3 years ago. At that time, a perfectly nice and happy life had gone tits up, and chucked me into the depths of depression and despair. I can say this honestly now, but I honestly did... Continue reading