My nephew got married on the 19th of December, mainly because it was the best time for family from all over the world to converge on the Cambridge area. He and his then fiancee, decided they were going to do
Advent Challenge 23 – sunshine and sandals
When we were moving from America, back to South Africa, a child asked us this question: “When do you celebrate Christmas in South Africa?” As it was asked by a child, I didn’t unleash the sarcastic side of me (always
Advent Challenge 21 – in good taste
The Victorian Garden is a creative idea worth sharing. Lindsay Salthouse started the company, using recipes for skin care products found in a collection of diaries written by her great-grandmother. She started out small, and has since gone from strength
Advent Challenge 20 – Joan Aiken and friends
James Mayhew posted a link on facebook to a page on the website Illustration Cupboard, where some of Jan Peinkowski’s illustrations are for sale. It was like stepping into a time machine and being whisked back to my childhood. My
Advent challenge 19 – If you give a hoot, some might think you’re bats
Having written about the importance of so called “pests” in a previous advent post, I thought these guys needed a boost. Ecosolutions is a company that installs owl boxes and bat boxes in suburban gardens. It is run by
Advent Challenge 18 – Angela Smythe
It was one of those viral things, someone likes a page on facebook, and being nosy you go over to have a look and discover someone who tickles your funny bone. That’s how I found Angela Smythe who is based
Advent Challenge 17 – Don’t get sent to the dog box
Send the dogbox instead! My favourite wine people are offering this creative alternative to getting a puppy for Christmas… dog boxes. They consist of 10 selected bottles of wine and a large Endangered Wildlife Trust Wild Dog fluffy toy. The
Advent Challenge 14 – Down under
Today we travel Perth, Australia. There are quite a few fabulous designers and artists based in Perth. I found out about them by following Perth Upmarket on Facebook. How did I find Perth Upmarket? Haven’t a clue! Mokoh Design is
Advent challenge 13 – Christmas stockings
No artist featured today, but instead a creative idea with creative results. Getting socks for Christmas always seems like a bit of a cliche. Especially when the socks are for that man who is impossible to buy for. My father
Advent challenge 11 – Marguerite Brennan
For seven years, I played with clay at the New Jersey Centre for Visual Arts under the gentle guidance of Marguerite Brennan. Marguerite is a an incredibly creative ceramic artist. She specializes in hand building techniques so there is always