UPDATE - Using Our Talents To Help

Wow what a whirlwind the past 24 hours has been. Firstly I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has offered to donate prizes for the raffle.  The response has left me speechless, you are all amazingly generous.   I have also received offers of prizes from independant businesses that are not designer makers which is fantastic and offers of prizes from friends in the US aswell which is also amazing.  We now have jsut short of 50 businesses involved.

I have just spoken with Retail Trust, a charity working to support the 3 million people working in the retail sector in the UK.  I have confirmed with them that 100% of the funds we raise through the raffle will go directly to those retail staff and shopkeepers whose lives have been turned upside down by the riots.  This money will not go to the retail giants who can afford to rebuild and restock.  The funds raised will go to the independant shopkeepers, many of whom have also lost their homes as they live above their shop.  This money will also help fund counselling for these shopkeepers and their staff as many were held at knifepoint whilst their livelihoods were destroyed.

As independant businesses ourselves we can begin to understand the pain these people are experiencing and I felt that supporting Retail Trust was the perfect choice.  I really hope you are all in agreement and will continue to offer your support.

Now that a charity has been chosen I will finalise all the details of the raffle and contact each designer maker and small business that has offered a prize to confirm the exact prize and provide you with the full details of the raffle.  If you would like to donate a prize please get in touch before close of business on Friday as I would love to have everything ready to start on Monday next week.

Thank you.

Zoe
xx

We Can Use Our Talents To Help

I had a different post planned for today, but will save it, in light of the awful scenes that fill our TV screens as images of the mindless destruction are shown on many news channels.  I have cehecked with various Twitter friends in London that they are safe and that their shops and businesses have not been destroyed.  But I feel so helpless, sat here in at my desk in Suffolk. I want to go and help clean up the carnage, but I can't. And I know I am not alone reading tweets from friends around the country.

So I had a crazy idea, why not use our talents to help.  The clean up will take months maybe years as people are left homeless and have had their livelihoods taken from them.  My idea is to have a a big raffle or auction of donations from designer makers all over the UK.  I know there is not an official charity to help with the riot clean up and probably never will be as I know how much red tape there is to breakthrough in setting up an official charity. But maybe we could raise money for Shelter or the NSPCC or community charities in London to help them recover and try and rebuild their lives.

Between us we can help.  Our social networks are huge so we can spread the word for a raffle or auction which I am happy to manage on line through Just Giving or a similar website.  Now I just need to workout the finer details. In the meantime if  you would like to donate a prize please send me an email -

zoeanddrew {at} btinternet {dot} com (replace the words in {} with a sign!!) or send me dm on Twitter .  Thank you.

Take care, stay safe and let's pray that is the end of it.
Zoe
xx

Papercutting - Trying a new skill

I am a huge fan of Rob Ryan and dream of one day owning his 'Can We? Shall We?' papercut.  I also love the work of Kyleigh's Papercuts and Mr Yen, Cutture and Storeyshop, but had as yet never tried my hand at papercutting.  That was until this weekend!

'Can we? Shall we?' by Rob Ryan

I know it's sensible to start a new craft or skill with the guidance of a book or to do a course, but I was feeling brave on Saturday and decided to try out an idea that had been swimming around in my head for a few days.  I decided that I wanted to try a papercut style idea on patterned paper.  Usually papercuts are on plain paper or card.  With thoughts of seaside images lodged firmly in my brain whilst designing new things for Zoe & Drew I thought I'd try a crab on spotty orange paper! And here he is -

I also had a try at some lettering and what else to cut out but 'BEACH'!

So now I have taken my paper obsession to a new level as I am busy sketching out ideas to papercut. Armed with my craft knife, which is pants by the way so recommendations are welcome for a replacement, I am looking forward to trying to turn my ideas into papercuts.  Most importantly it is fantastic to just be trying something different. So what are you dying to try? Why not just give it a go!

Take care
Zoe
xx

Lemonade

The weather has finally caught up with the season and we are basking in gorgeous hot and sunny weather here.  Sitting in the garden, enjoying these gorgeous summer days makes me think of very cold, homemade lemonade.  So to help cool us all down here are some delicious recipes.

image source

Click on the links below to go to the BBC Good Food website for the recipes.

Really Easy Lemonade Recipe

Pink Lemonade

Ginger Lemon Fizz

Enjoy!

Zoe

xx

Fabric Friday - Boden

I have been sidetracked a couple of times this week by one of my favourite distractions, Boden.  Whilst I do not have a budget that allows to indulge my love of Boden to the extreme I would probably allow, I am lucky enough to own several fabulous items from this fantastic British company.  Also at the fear of my bank manager Drew and our children also have a love of Boden clothing.  But why do we love it so? For me it's the patterns and colours.  I think this is also the reason my daughters love Mini Boden.  My sons thinks it's just cool and were thrilled to see the launch of Johnnie B in the past year or so as they headed in to their teenage years.  

I need this coat for my collection!

Great British Tweed Coat

This week I have been perusing their website to investigate the new Autumn collections and I have not been disappointed.  The past couple of collections seemed to have lost that Boden sparkle for me, maybe the colours had been muted or the patterns not quite so bold.  Yet this week I have been pleasantly surprised.    The colours have been restored and the patterns are as bold as when I first fell in love with Mr Boden's clothes, (as Johnnie Boden is affectionately know in our house).

This skirt belongs in my wardrobe!

Printed A Line Skirt

I have also been giggling with Drew at the Dancing Dad film, whilst Lucy cringed at the similarities of  her own dancing Dad! The Johnnie B movie was like watching Connor, our eldest, and his mates messing about and the Mini Boden movie made me long for a Volvo Amazon even more.

We need Boden homeware.

Image source - Boden

However I have been feeling there is still something missing from the Boden brand.  Whilst Mr Boden makes us want to wear his fab clothes with fun movies, great colours, bold patterns and quality you will not find in cheap high street stores, I believe he is yet to complete the Boden family.  I appluade him for finally listening to my pleas for shorter trousers, thank you, I can now wear Boden trousers! I thank him for my delicious choice of coats that are waiting for me in my wardrobe this Autumn.  But please Mr Boden just one more thing, we want, no need, a Boden homeware collection. Tthe above picture shows just how fantastic Boden fabrics would be on a sofa or a lampshade. So please, please, please can we have Boden cushions, lampshades, duvets, melamine paltes for the little ones and so much more.

Have a fab weekend and I hope you'll join me in my crusade for a Boden homewares collection!
Take care
Zoe
x

DIY Tutorial - Salt Dough Nautical Decorations

I saw this tutorial a few days ago on Bird's Party and have been meaning to share it with you.  These salt dough starfish would be perfect for just about anywhere in the home or for a nautical or beach themed party or wedding.  Personally I'm planning on making them to have sat on the windowsills in the hall when we eventually get around to giving it a much needed makeover.  I'm planning a very beachy themed hallway complete with seagrass flooring and would love deckchair striped curtains!

So if you're looking for a fun project to do with the children this summer or want a cheap but stylish accessory for your home then head on over to one of my favourite blogs to find out how to make these fabulous starfish and shells.

{Bird's Party}

Have fun!

Zoe

xx

Windbreaks - Essential for British Seaside Adventures

There have been many times when we've been sat on the beach when the chilly sea breeze could have been avoided with a windbreak.  I actually think if you are going to be spending a lot of time on the bach in the UK then it is worth investing in a more expensive windbreak rather than the questionable effort that can often be brought from seaside shops! My favourites at the moment are from The Reefer Sail Company, who upcycle old sails and adventure sports equipment in to unique lifestyle products, including windbreaks.  I plan to write about The Reefer Sail Company in the near future so won't say too much more now, but here are some examples of their windbreaks as a little taster.

Images   - The Reefer Sail Company

So my next stop was Etsy, Folksy and Not On The High Street and other fantastic British websites to see if I could find some other fab windbreaks to share with you.

Pearl & Earl

Hazy Daze Windbreaks

Buy The Sea

Wight Sails

Crabtree Lane