A handmade cottage

Thursday 4 April 2024

A Handmade Cottage - The art of crafting home THE BOOK!

Hello my lovelies,

Well, what a long time it has been since my last post ... it has been almost 5 years! Are any of you still there? I did intend to keep blogging once I moved to Norfolk, but being a new mum, working and running a home made it impossible. Thanks to instagram and facebook I was still able to stay in touch and keep posting from time to time so I didn't disappear completely.

I hope this finds you all well and looking forward to Spring. Are you still crafting away? All is well here, hubby is fine, Frankie is thriving (she has just turned 6!) She is such a funny, creative, mischievous little minx and she crafts even more than I do. Ralphy is still going strong I'm happy to report. He's 15 now and while he's grey, a bit blind and deaf as a door post he can still chase a squirrel as fast as any puppy!

In other big news, if you don't already know from following me on instagram and facebook, I have written a craft book! It is called 'A HANDMADE COTTAGE - The art of crafting a home.' It has been published by Murdoch books, and it's out in all good bookshops and online from today! :-)

A Handmade Cottage - The art of crafting a home

So what is the book about?

A cottagecore enthusiast's guide to sustainable upcycling, thrifty decorating, and achieving an eclectic and cosy home from Norfolk-based cottage crafter Jodie May Seymour.

It's possible to create a picture-perfect cottage frugally and simply with some creative ideas and a little DIY know-how. Jodie May Seymour shares her projects and ideas for every room in the house using simple craft and DIY techniques. Almost everything can be made by an absolute beginner, yet there are also inspiring projects that will appeal to the more skilled crafter. From candles and lampshades to dressers and curtains, there's a range of projects and an introduction to some of the most useful DIY techniques, such as sanding, sewing and painting.

Restoring old furniture, repurposing forgotten fabrics, decorating your home using whatever nature has to offer – you too can make a beautiful home that's uniquely yours on a tight budget.

Of course Ralphy and Frankie feature in the book too.

I'm so proud of it. I always hoped I'd write a book because I really wanted somewhere to compile all the things I'd learned over the years, so that I can refer back to it, as well as sharing it all with the big, wide world. You'll notice some of the projects have disappeared from this blog, and that is why ... they're now in the book! (I had to remove them from here for legal reasons.) I'll pop a link below in case you'd like to buy it, for yourselves or for your crafting buddies. I hope you love it, do let me know what you think.

As you know I'm not blogging as much as I'd like now so do come and find me on instagram and facebook for craft projects and suchlike, it would be lovely to stay in touch.

Jodie x

Available now A Handmade Cottage - click here to buy.

Ralphy Muss Muss - watching the birdies.

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Thursday 18 April 2019

A new life in the country ....

Hello friends!

Do you remember me? It has been so long since my last post you'd be forgiven if haven't the foggiest idea of who I am. I've missed chatting to you all, sharing news and creations. I know it has been so long since my last post ... are you still there? Ever since Frankie May's arrival I haven't been able to find time to blog. There always seems to be ten more pressing things that I need to get done first, and time just passes. There is also another good reason for my radio silence. Our little family has finally upped sticks and bought a house in the country! My Ma Larkin dreams have finally come true! Pheasants, deer and various wildlife often wander into the garden. I look out in the morning and can't believe I'm here ... I'm waiting to wake up. I think of all of us are still pinching ourselves that this is now home, Ralphy included.

It has taken some getting used though. Our old house was in a bustling market town, it was small and cosy, and while it had character, like many Victorian houses it was quite dark, and no matter how nice you dress it up, it could feel quite oppressive at times. Our new house has much more space and light, and it makes a huge difference to my day to day. It's an old house, with countryside all around. It was built in 1855 and the rear garden looks out onto arable farmland. It has everything you'd expect from an old house; wooden beams, stable doors, a farmhouse kitchen and crooked ceilings and floors. The thing I'm still enjoying most though is the light ... at early evening, golden sunlight floods the kitchen and it is my favourite place to be.

Thursday 30 August 2018

DIY Woodland nature-inspired baby mobile

Hey all, well it's been actual months since my last blog post. I've had so many projects lined up that I've wanted to share with you but my hands have been so full, literally, all day every day. I'm absolutely loving motherhood though I must say ... Frankie is such a joyful little soul. My days are all about soaking up as much of her as I possibly can. She's rolling over now and is full of smiles and chuckles. I'm now also incredibly good at doing things with one hand, and I can eat / drink at incredible speed if need be :-) but unfortunately blogging takes two hands hence the very long gap. So here is one of the things I made for Frankie. It's a baby mobile but it if you dropped the little creatures it could also be a lovely autumnal nature decoration!

Saturday 23 June 2018

Introducing my little girl - Frances 'Frankie' May

Frankie May

Hello all. Well it certainly has been some time since my last blog post. You may have noticed my posts have been a little sporadic since the autumn. Well I can now tell you it's because I was pregnant with our little girl ... and Frances 'Frankie' May was born on 24th March 2018, weighing 7Ib15oz. Those of you that follow me on Instagram and Facebook will already know all of this because I've been bombarded my followers with many a piccie of her :-)

One day old

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Armchair makeover - before & after

Hello all. Well you may have noticed that it has been a little quiet on the AHC front. To be honest it has been a hectic year for me and I've been struggling to commit to all the things I have balanced in the air, which is why crafting and blogging have taken a back seat lately. So please don't think I've lost heart in this little blog of mine - blogging and interacting with you is something I really enjoy doing. I just have to accept I can't do everything. So while I may not post as often as I'd like too, I will keep it ticking over as best I can ... starting with this armchair makeover!

You may remember me sharing a piccie of this chair a couple of years ago. Suffice to say it is no ordinary armchair. It once belonged to hubby's lovely grandparents, who are no longer with us sadly. When they passed away we were asked if we'd like something of theirs to remember them by - and straight away we thought of this chair. Granny often sat in this chair and everything about it reminds us of them and their cosy, welcoming home.

Tuesday 17 October 2017

A crafty tea basket with Fortnum and Mason

What a treat. I recently received this gorgeous tea basket hamper from Fortnum and Mason - who are the quintessential British company, founded in 1707 and still located in London's famous Piccadilly. Specialising in fine teas, jams and hampers (amongst many other fine things) F&M sent me this delightful hamper and asked me what I might use it for once I'd devoured all the delicious goodies inside ...

Thursday 12 October 2017

The joys of autumn & foraging for a seasonal display

I've been thinking a lot about autumn lately (or 'fall' for my overseas friends) and I've been trying to put my finger on what it is about autumn that warms our cockles so. Many of us have our favourite season but autumn seems to be such a firm favourite for so many. While we know it is a rich and beautiful season visually, it also fills many of our other senses - it brings warmth to our bellies, our homes and even to the clothes we wear. Essentially, Autumn is one big giant hug! I don't know about you but when the trees start to change to hues of amber, red and gold and the fires are lit I crave slow-cooked stews, as well as pumpkin soups, apple crumbles, chai lattes and hot cocoa. (FYI I never said I was good at making any of the above, but I am very good at eating them!)

Tuesday 3 October 2017

A month in pictures - August and September

Hello readers. Well it's a chilly Monday afternoon here in Hertfordshire, and Ralphy and I are snuggled under a blanket in front of the fire surrounded by tissues because I have a cold! Boo :-( Autumn is here, and how lovely it is too (colds aside.) I know I've been quieter than usual on the blog front recently - life & work has been pretty full on recently. However I still have some lovely things in the pipeline for you in the next month. In the meantime here's a look back over our adventures the last couple of months ...

Wednesday 20 September 2017

A tree house in the wilderness - Bee's Bower, Herefordshire

So remember I recently shared our glamping getaway in Mimi's tree yurt in Herefordshire? well after Mimi's Yurt we spent the second half of our glamping adventure in another incredible dwelling on the same site, which we also booked through The Cottage Co. But this place was like no other I'd ever experienced before - part tree-house, part-cabin, part canvas tent, Bee's Bower is an extraordinary place in every way. Perched at the top of corpse it stands alone, completely private overlooking the beautiful valley which surrounds it. The tranquil location and the incredible craftsmanship which has gone into this building really does make this a special place. Here is a glimpse into our getaway at Bee's Bower.

Sleeps: 2

Where is it: Herefordshire

How much: From £289 for 2 nights

Pets: Up to 2 well behaved dogs welcome

Note: Suitable for babes-in-arms but not suitable for toddlers.
I also wouldn't recommend to those who have difficulty walking.

Wednesday 23 August 2017

The joy of journalling + a handmade leather journal by Central Crafts

I really enjoy writing in my journal, but I find it almost impossible to keep a daily diary now - the days fly by far too quickly and there is no pleasure in writing just because you feel you should. I used to write a diary daily when I was a little girl, until the very worst thing happened ... my big brother discovered it and threatened to tell my mummy that I'd written a rude word in it! Well of course I was mortified, and what I had written was something like ... "In the playground today Dennis Gilbert said I was bloody rubbish at throwing!" Now the truth is my mummy probably would have just laughed to herself had she read it but my serious 8 year-old-self was taking no chances so I destroyed it - and all diaries from that day forward had padlocks! I continued to keep a diary into my late teens, which also makes for a very funny / tortured read ... "no one understands me and I'm DEFINITELY running away tomorrow" and the next day it read "didn't run away, went to cinema with Tara instead, went McDonald's after, was nice" :-) Those were the days when I wore motorbike books and dressed like Madonna in 'Desperately Seeking Susan' ... and no I'm not showing you any pictures!

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Thursday 4 April 2024