Creative Workspace

Morning! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  I have been busily ordering the last few things to make my new crafty kits this weekend and Lucy and I are planning to have them listed in the shop next weekend.  Whilst working away at my desk, in a  home office I share with my hubby and his online bookshop I spent sometime daydreaming about one day having a beautiful creative workspace.  I have regularly collecting dreamy workspaces on Pinterest for a while and with sunnier, warmer months hopefully arriving very soon I am definitely longing for a garden workshop.  So for todays post I thought I would share some of my favourite ideas as I am sure I am not the only one dreaming of a pretty place to make, create and work.

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Be sure to take a look at my Workspace board on Pinterest for even more inspiration.

Have a great Monday,

Zoe

xx

Designer Brunch - The Green Gables

Morning! I hope you are all having a fab weekend, even if it's raining.  I had planned to get outside and do some gardening this weekend but unfortunately the weather has other ideas!  It has been a busy week for me, especially as my husband managed to break two bones in his foot.  So I have been looking forward to a restful Sunday morning, with the papers and catching up with my favourite blogs.  This morning I am delighted to welcome Gabrielle of The Green Gables as my guest here on the blog for Designer Brunch.

Giftwrap from The Green Gables

Working from the beautiful Surrey countryside, Gabrielle left behind her daily to commute nearly two years ago to concentrate full time on The Green Gables. Having started by making plantable wildflower paper bunting Gabrielle quickly added stationery designs to her eco friendly business.   Her illustrations are often seen in magazines and her collections of notebooks, tapes,wrapping paper, greetings cards and bunting are reguarly being added to.  Earlier this year saw Gabrielle launch a fabulous new service for stationery lovers around the world.  The Eco Stationery Club is the perfect gift for anybody with a stationery addiction.  Every month they will receive a box of goodies from The Green Gables website, beautifully packaged to make one day a month a happy post day.  

The Eco Stationery Club

I first discovered Gabrielle's designs when I wrote regularly about weddings and parties and have since become friends on twitter and met in 'real-life', which is always fab when you get on so well with somebody you have met on twitter.  So please give a warm welcome to Gabrielle and find out more about her Sunday mornings.

Best drink to start the day 

Always tea! As both my husband and I work at home we start every day with a cup of tea in bed and the dog hops up to join us too.

Croissants or full English 

I do love croissants but rarely have them, not sure why! Weekdays I usually go for unexciting cereal but at the weekends I love a sausage (veggie) sandwich after a long dog walk.

Sunday paper or favourite magazines

I combine the two by reading the magazines that come with the Sunday papers! Before I started my business I worked on a youth newspaper so became skilled at skim reading newspapers at high speed and as a result the enjoyment has disappeared a little. I'm addicted to magazines (I only worked on children and teen magazines in my past life so grown-up magazines haven't been tainted for me!), I could merrily clear a newsagent of all their interiors and food titles just to pore over for hours, if I had the spare cash to do so!

Seaside Writing Set from The Green Gables

Favourite blogs 

There are so many but a few I really enjoy are brightbazaarblog.com, travelingmama.net, decor8blog.com,abeautifulmess.com, printpattern.blogspot.co.uk… I could go on…

3 songs for Sunday brunch 

This is a tricky one! I'll go for Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae, Photography by Jamie Cullum and Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder.

Favourite local shop or market for weekend shopping 

The Cornerhouse in my local town, Dorking, is a beautiful interiors shop, everything, and I do mean everything, in there is absolutely gorgeous and hand picked by the lovely owners Clare and Clara. If you're ever in the area be sure to visit! thecornerhouse.eu

To view more of the designs available from The Green Gables please visit -

Website : www.thegreengables.co.uk

Not On The High Street - www.notonthehighstreet.com/thegreengables

Thank you Gabrielle for joining me for Designer Brunch, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday.  There are three of my top music choices here and several of my favourite blogs too.  

Wishing you all a very happy Sunday,

Zoe

x

Workshop Wednesday - Get Hooked on Crochet

Morning! I hope you are all having a fab week and managing to enjoy some of this gorgeous, warm sunshine that has arrived here in the UK.  I've had a busy week so far, even more so than normal as my husband has broken a metarsal in his foot.  Something it's made me realise is how we take doing small things for granted. As it's Wednesday it is time to share another great workshop with you and this one I am particuarly interested in as I have failed to learn to crochet.  So I was thrilled when Ali from Get Hooked on Crochet got in touch to share her crochet workshops.

Ali teaches beginners, beginners plus, improvers and intermediates from her home in North Dorset.  Each class is for two hours and lasts for four weeks.  As with many workshops distance becomes an issue so Ali listened to potential pupils and started online classes via Course Craft. There are two courses for right handers and currently one for left handers, with the second currently being constructed.  Since starting these online crochet classes Ali has helped many people learn to crochet.  I have added these classes to my list for my summer holidays from uni.  

So if you would like to learn to crochet visit Get Hooked on Crochet website for more information -

www.gethookedoncrochet.co.uk

Have a fab day,

Zoe

x

Designer Brunch - Dots & Spots

Morning! I hope you are all having a lovely weekend and getting to enjoy some sunshine.  After a long winter I really do believe Spring has finally arrived and the promise of warmer, sunny days is very uplifiting.  Perhaps you are planning a family brunch or lunch in the garden today or a lovely walk on the beach or across the fields. Today I am very pleased to share this weeks Designer Brunch post with you all and thrilled to welcome Becky of Dots & Spots as my guest.

Dots and Spots Studio

Becky is a very talented greetings card and giftware designer whose designs are always colourful and cheery.   As her business name, Dots and Spots suggests, she uses these in all of her designs.  Creating collages with spotty papers Becky then uses her designs for cards, notebooks, magnets, giftwrap, mugs, decorative tape and more.  Having launched her business as a part time venture whilst still working as a primary teacher she has allowed her business to grow steadily.  After working from home initially Becky had to move to dedicated premises as trade orders flooded in aswell as orders from retail customers, via her website and Not On The High Street storefront.  Before long Becky left her teaching job and now focuses full time on Dots and Spots. This year has seen Becky expand into the party business with spotty party bags, invitations, spotty balloons, and party bag packs.  I always love to read her blog and hear about her new designs aswell as her life in the pretty county of Somerset.

Decorative Tape

I met Becky via twitter and have since met her in real life.  She really is a lovely lady and I am delighted that she has joined me for todays post.  So I shall now let Becky share her perfect Sunday morning with you.  

Best drink to start the day?

Black coffee every time!

Croissants or full English?

Warm Croissants with rhubarb jam

Sunday papers or favourite magazines?

Favourite magazines Country Homes and Interiors, Country Living, Homemaker

Party Invitation

Favourite blogs to read at the weekend?

I follow 100's and 100's - so catch up daily with Google reader. I'm too visual and scan images rather than read great chunks of text.

Sunday morning playlist - 3 songs for Sunday brunch?

The Corinne Bailey Rae CD on repeat for a chilled out Sunday brunch

Favourite local shop or market for weekend shopping?

Wells Market, Somerset although the Wednesday Market is best for food - fab breads, fresh meat and fish, artisan bakers, home grown fruit and veg, delicious jams and chutneys and sweet treat yummy fudge.

Find out more about Becky and Dots and Spots and to see more products visit -

Website - www.dotsandspots.co.uk

Not On The High Street : www.notonthehighstreet.com/dotsandspots

Thank you Becky, I hope you are enjoying a late breakfast in the garden. Corrine Bailey Rae is a favourite choice for Sunday mornings in my house too, well when I get to the docking station first!

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday,

Zoe

x

Workshop Wednesday - Angel Vintage Homestore

Morning! I hope you are all having a fab week so far.  The promise of the weekend always seems a little nearer by Wednesday.  I am very excited to share with  you today the first Workshop Wednesday post after a great response to last weeks post about my plans for Wednesdays here on the blog.  Todays workshops are in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside not too far from the city of York.  Angel Linens is a name I have been familiar with for a while and adore Kirstins beautiful linen cushions.  Aswell as designing these cushions she also owns and runs the Angel Lifestyle store, which moved to bigger premises in 2011, due to its enormous popularity. This year has seen Kirstin launch a fabulous programme of workshops in the new interiors workshop space at the back of her store.

Already proving popular customers have attended the workshops to make lampshades, crochet bunting and paper decorations.  Each workshop has space for 8 people and the different courses run reguarly to avoid people having to wait too long if a course is fully booked.  

Here are the dates for the rest of April and I will be sharing the summer course dates here on the blog very soon.

LAMPSHADE MAKING
Make your own lampshade in this wonderful workshop with Georgia Wilkinson of Jorja Wilkinson Design. Bring half a metre of your chosen fabric, or purchase from a selection on the day*, and transform it into a professionally finished lampshade in a variety of sizes.

Time: All workshops run from 10 until 12.30
Price: £45.00 incl. all materials* & refreshments
Dates: Thurs 18th April, Mon 29th April


CROCHET BUNTING
The perfect project for beginners, ‘returners’ and old hands alike! Make your own crochet bunting in this fun workshop with Kirstin Hodgson of Angel.

Time: All workshops run from 10 until 12.30
Price: £30.00 incl. all materials & refreshments
Dates: Thurs 2nd May

FRAMES & FABRICS
Create a framed ‘work of art’ for your walls, using our wonderful range of chalk paints and some lovely vintage fabrics, in this workshop with Kirstin & Susannah from Angel.

Time: All workshops run from 10 until 12.30
Price: £45.00 incl. all materials & refreshments
Dates: Thurs 25th April


PAPER DECORATIONS
Make your own vintage flower pom-pom’s & lace bunting in this wonderful paper workshop with Kirstin & Susannah from Angel.

Time: All workshops run from 10 until 12.30
Price: £30.00 incl. all materials & refreshments
Dates: Mon 22nd April


Discounts available for group bookings.
To book call us on 01347 822044 or call into our store [10am-5pm Mon-Sat]
Angel vintage homestore 23 Chapel Street, Easingwold, YO61 3AE

website - www.angel-lifestyle.com
twitter - @AngelAtHome

So for which course will you be booking a place?  I would love to try them all, but especially the crochet bunting as I desperately want to learn to crochet!

Have a lovely day,
Zoe
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New in the Inspired Decoration Shop

Morning! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Today I am heading back to uni with my weeks split between lectures on campus and time at my placement hospital.  I cannot quite believe I am in the final term of my first year! This will be a hectic term for me and my children as exams loom, including the first of some of his GCSE's for Connor.  But I know that weekend trips to the beach will relieve the stress of the coming weeks.

Red & white stripy buttons - Mother of Pearl buttons

Orange & pink spotty buttons - Tiny buttons

Over the weekend I have been adding some more buttons to the shop and just wanted to share a selection here today.  I am also hoping to add more ribbon and trimming sets this week aswell as finalising some of my craft pack ideas.

I hope you all have a fab start to your weeks,
Zoe
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Designer Brunch - Snapdragon

Morning! Another lazy Sunday has arrived and sadly the last one of the Easter hols. At least we have some bank holiday weekends to look forward to next month and I'm sure the summer holidays will arrive quicker than we think.  Today I am excited to share another new blog series, Designer Brunch.  This new series has been one of those ideas that I have spent sometime pondering and have finally got it started! Designer Brunch is a short interview with fabulous British designer makers, getting them to share their perfect Sunday morning with you.  So let's get started and meet our first designer for brunch. A very warm welcome to Jane from Snapdragon.

Personalised Typewriter Tote Bag

Jane is a very inspiring lady, working in the beautiful Scottish location of Loch Lomond, designing and making a fantastic selection of gifts and homewares.  Having retrained in Horticulture and selling the flowers she grew on her land, but as a savvy business lady realised the seasons limited her business, so added machine embroidery to her skills. Her business, Snapdragon, soon grew and she now employs a team of talented ladies and her business has grown so much that this month saw the start of building work to extend the Snapdragon workshop.  This is definitely an exciting year for Snapdragon as Jane has also recently launched her new website, where you can register to gain access to the members area.  This special part of the website has tutorials and printables, the latest being a fab paper doll, which my daughters love.  Jane also keeps her blog up to date and her weekly newsletters are always a treat to find in my inbox.  

Personalised Camper Van Mug

I met Jane via twitter and am pleased to say I have since met her in real life.  She is a lovely lady and I am thrilled that she agreed to be part of Designer Brunch today. So let's now find out about Janes perfect Sunday morning.

Best drink to start the day?

A large pot of coffee - strong and black

Croissants or full English? ( or Scottish of course!)

I love to start every day with porridge - salty with cream- it really sets me up for the day. But on Sundays, if they are laying, I might have a couple of boiled eggs from our hens instead.

Sunday papers or favourite magazines?

Sunday mornings with the paper are very special- in fact the weekend papers tend to last all week.

Embroidered Floral Cushion

Favourite blogs to read at the weekend?

I love blogs which show off people's obsessions and journeys - at the moment I am enjoying http://www.gonewiththewynns.com the tale of a mega campervan trip and Donnie Mackay's beautiful photo blog of Skye http://hebphoto.blogspot.co.uk/ somewhere we intend to visit this year.

Sunday morning playlist - 3 songs for Sunday brunch?

(At the moment) Edie Brickell Long Lost Friend for dancing round the kitchen

Mary Chapin Carpenter Why Walk when you can Fly as its kind of the family anthem

Victoria Vox &Pat Macdonald Out on the Rails - a recent discovery & love

Favourite local shop or market for weekend shopping?

When I get the chance I love to go into the West End of Glasgow and buy cheese at Ian Mellis cheese shop. 

Find out more about Jane and Snapdragon and to see more products visit -

Website : www.snapdragononline.co.uk

Not On The High Street : www.notonthehighstreet/snapdragon

Thank you Jane, I hope you are enjoying your Sunday morning today.  The Sunday papers last all week in our house too and I love that my older children now sit and read them too.  

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday,

Zoe

x

Suffolk Saturdays - Orchard End Books

Hello again, I hope you are all getting to enjoy some sunshine today.  We have  blue skies and sunshine here in Suffolk and it's warm enough to pop to the village shop without a coat or jumper.  Suffolk is always at it's prettiest this time of year as flowers start to bloom, trees look less stark as they bud and blossom and there is a warm glow across the fields.  Having moved here twelve and half years ago, I always feel blessed to live in such a pretty and peaceful county and I thought it was about time I celebrated the place I call home here on the blog.  So I now plan to introduce you to independent businesses, that of course relate to the blog, based here in Suffolk aswell as some of my favourite places to visit in a weekly series called Suffolk Saturdays.

Starting today I want to introduce you to my husbands new business, Orchard End Books.  With a freelance career as a writer and being a historian he has a love of old books so decided to open a second hand bookshop online.  Searching local auction houses for fabulous stories bound in dusty covers to list in his virtual bookshelves is for Andy the ideal job.  He has also added a Props & Collectable department to his store this week, which is already proving popular.  Vintage lovers, stylists, photographers and wedding planners will love the old typewriters, Super 8 camera, records and suitcases aswell as the vintage Penguin paperbacks.  Book collectors around the world are becoming regular customers and I can see a business that is going to grow rapidly.  

So if you love books or are looking for something to style a photoshoot or wedding I am sure we will be adding you to our client list very soon.

Have a wonderful afternoon,

Zoe

xx

The Roost Tribe

It's Friday!! We've made it through another week and the promise of a warmer weekend here in the UK beckons.  Time to catch up on some gardening or to sit in the garden with a cup of tea reading my favourite blogs or magazines.  Today I want to share with you one of my favourite blogs, Going Home To Roost.  I have been reading Bonnie's blog for the past three years and love the way she writes and the content she posts everyday.  It has also been lovely to watch how Going Home To Roost has developed and how Bonnie has created a wonderful business.  As well as being a fabulous blogger she is a surface pattern designer and shared the fantastic news this week that she has designed her first collection for Art Gallery Fabrics. Of course I will share this amazing collection with you at a later date, closer to launch but today I wanted share another part of Bonnie's blog.

Going Home To Roost

The Roost Tribe is a membership that brings you monthly goodies, including a set of printables, an Adobe Illustrator video tutorial, two seamless repeating patterns, ten graphics that you can use to beautify your blog or scrapbooking.  As if that wasn't enough there is also an occasional e-book and you also get some great e-books in your welcome pack, including how to write product descriptions, growing your blog and Going Home To Roosts creative journey.  Also included in the membership is a private facebook page, which has been great for meeting other members, a community pinterest board, a bookclub and monthly challenges.  This really is a community that I love being a part of and for $5 a month (about £3.25 here in the UK, less than most magazines) it is a wonderful investment. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Be sure to pop back over the weekend for two new features, Suffolk Saturdays and Designer Brunch.

See you soon,

Zoe

x

A Really Good Night In - Macmillan Cancer Support

Hello again! Following on from this mornings post I just wanted to let you all know about a great way to help raise money for a charity close to my heart, by having a night in.  Macmillan Cancer Support are asking for everyone to organise a really good night in on Friday 26 April, my sisters birthday, sorry Fay you'll have to stay in!  This new fundraising idea asks for you to donate the money you and your friends would spend on a night out and all stay in together instead.  So I thought this would tie in perfectly with the new book Girls Night In.  Macmillan offer a huge support to people and their families whilst coping with cancer.  We are lucky enough to have a Macmillan Radiographer in my placement hospital and I know how amazing Macmillan Nurses are as I am sure many of you are too.  I reguarly use the Macmillan website for my studies as a starting point in understanding the oncology and treatment part of my course.

A Really Good Night In is an easy way for you to help raise money for a fantastic charity.

Have a lovely afternoon,

Zoe

x

Girls Night In Book Launches Today!

Morning, its a busy day ahead here, more stock to add to the shop, emails to read in response to yesterdays Workshop Wednesday post and children to supervise, nevermind some studying aswell! But I wanted to pop in and post about an exciting book launching today.  Girls Night In by Hannah Read-Baldrey looks to be a fantastic book and the perfect excuse to get friends together for cocktails and crafting.  Now that sounds like my kind of party! To celebrate the launch of her new book Hannah has a fab competition for you all on her Girls Night In website, where you can win a Vintage Hamper crammed full of wonderful things.  All you have to do to enter is share a photo of you and your girlfriends having a night in, with one of you preferably holding a copy of the book.

I am sure some of you have recognised Hannah's name.  She is aso the co-author of Everything Alice and Everything Oz. I reviewed Everything Alice a couple of years ago, whilst working as blog editor for Les Enfants  and am sure Girls Night In will be even better! Hannah's new book promises to help you and your friends have the perfect night in.  Complete with ideas for crafting, cakes, cocktails, party games, decorations, beauty and much more I feel this book maybe our new bible for many fun girls nights in.  I also highly recommend making a nice cup of tea and taking a look around the Girl's Night In website.  There are tutorials and videos and even a playlist put together by Hannah and her friends.

So what are you waiting for?! You can purchase Girls' Night In: Crafts, Cakes and Cocktails for the Ultimate Party from today from Amazon.

Have a fab day!
Zoe
x

Workshop Wednesday

Morning!  The middle of the week or hump day is here again and whilst the promise of the weekend is nearer it still seems a little far away.  Whilst planning my new shop I also have spent some time thinking about this blog and ways I want to develop it.  I have always been keen to promote the work of designer makers here in the UK and from around the world, which I will continue to do in various ways.  But I also wanted to encourage us all to be more creative in our everyday lives and after much thought I came up with Workshop Wednesday.  I reguarly see courses mentioned on twitter, in magazines and in general conversations so thought I would dedicate Wednesdays on the blog to sharing great ideas for craft and design courses, mainly here in the UK.  Workshops and courses are a great way to develop our skills, indulge in a new hobby, spend some quality time with a friend or our mums or even our grandmas.  There are even workshops for hen parties to make things for the wedding, champagne and sparkles sound like a good combo!

This is where you can all help too.  Perhaps you run classes or courses and would like to be featured in Workshop Wednesday. Or maybe you have been on a fantastic course and would like to share it here? Whilst I write about courses I find or maybe even attend, (oh to have the time to take a screen printing class), I think it will be great for you all to be involved too.  So please do get in touch, my email is inspireddeco@gmail.com.  I shall look forward to hearing from you.

Have a lovely day
Zoe
x

Inspired Decoration on Etsy

Hello, I hope you all had a fab weekend and managed to get outside and enjoy some sunshine.  We certainly did with lots of gardening, cleaning cars and a trip to Rendlesham Forest.  Today I am very excited to finally share with you all a new venture for me.....Inspired Decoration now has an Esty shop!

Inspired Decoration on Etsy

I know it seems a little empty at the moment, but fear not, I have plans.  This shop will be me indulging in  my love of haberdashery and I will also be adding crafty kits that I have designed aswell as embroidery patterns and kits.  For the past few months this idea has been whispering to me but I just felt like I couldn't do it, not now, not when I'm studying.  But the idea just wouldn't go away so I started taking it a little more seriously, looking into suppliers, planning kits and curating packs.  Suddenly I realised I could do this, in between everything else I can do this! As many of you will know I love curating things, I love making things and love sharing ideas for making things.  This shop is me, pure and simple, no frilly packaging, although my parcels will be pretty.

So the next few weeks, months, years, will be busy as I add to stock in the shop and build this blog, alongside everything else, but do you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way!

Have a lovely afternoon,
Zoe
x

DIY Fabric Frame

Morning! It's Friday and we've made it through another week.  It's certainly been a busy one here.  I've busily been working on something in between being mummy and keeping the children amused as the weather has thwarted many plans for the school holidays.  But I am hoping by Monday I will be ready to share an exciting new venture for Inspired Decoration. Perhaps you have seen some sneaky peeks from me on Twitter or Instagram this week? Right back to this mornings post!  As it's Friday I wanted to share an idea for a diy project for you to try this weekend.  Maybe you will be spending the weekend trawling charity shops, flea markets or auctions and come across some sturdy picture or mirror frames but want an interesting way of upcycling them.  Well how about using some of your fabric scraps stash to adorn your frames?  This fab tutorial to make a fabric covered frame from Moda Bake Shop has all the details of how to do this.

Fabric Frame Tutorial on Moda Bake Shop

Be sure to share your projects with me as it's great to see people trying out the diy ideas I've shared here.
Have a fab weekend,
Zoe
x

Crafting Kits for Children

Hello again, I hope you are all enjoying the school holidays. Kitty and Amber have braved the windy cold garden to practice roller skating again, having customised their retro style skates earlier with fabric glue and sequins! I have always encouraged my children to be creative and reguarly have crafty afternoons with my three daughters.  Sadly my sons are no longer interested in glue and paint, but are great at helping in the garden.  A few years ago I ran and taught craft sessions for preschoolers and then for children aged 3-11 in the school holidays.  I always loved planning these as much as running them and spent hours cutting out templates for some of the activities.  Perhaps you are not lucky enough to have sessions like these near to you or actually just want to stay cosy indoors making and creating with your children.  There are many tutorials available on the internet for childrens crafts but today I wanted to share some crafty kits for children.   The ones I have chosen are probably aimed at older children rather than preschoolers, that allow them to practice sewing.

1. Paper & Stitch  2. Gemima Craft Kits  3. Sparks Living 

4. Clothkits  5. Cupcakes For Clara  6. Sophie Tilley Designs

7. Kitty Kay  8. Sock Creatures 9. Random Nicole

This is just a tiny selection but I am sure will inspire your children to get sewing and making.  Be sure to share photos of any items stitched and sewn by your children with me on Twitter or Instagram.

Have fun

Zoe

x

Mollie Makes Handmade Wedding

Hello lovelies, I hope you have all had a fab Easter and got to indulge in some delicious food, family time and maybe even some crafting too.  We made some very cute easter egg garlands from card, tissue paper and pens, which I have shared on Instagram over the weekend. They were very easy to make and it was really fun to sit with my daughters and get creative.  Also over the weekend I was very excited by an email from the lovely Mollie Makes team about their latest publication, Mollie Makes Handmade Wedding.  I have sat and looked at the preview available here on Issuu and cannot wait for the printed edition be available on 4 April, just three more sleeps!  I was also thrilled to see a very dear friends wedding featured.  Emily Quinton of The Start Up Wife is a very talented lady, busy juggling a young family, teaching photography courses, writing a gorgeous blog and expectantly awaiting the arrival of baby number four any day now.  Her wedding was full of many handmade features and I look forward to reading the full feature later this week.

So if you are busily planning your wedding or helping your sister or best friend I am sure this magazine will be a very welcome addition to your plans.  Personal touches and beautiful handmade creations really do make your day extra special, quirky favours or decorations created by you and your family and friends will make it truly a day to remember. 

Enjoy the rest of the bank holiday weekend.

Zoe

x