Making Home Link Up #33: Win a Pair of Full Experience Tickets to Kirstie Allsopp's The Handmade Fair

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in and link up your own posts. The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post. 

It probably won't be a surprise to you that I am a big fan of Kirstie Allsopp. I have always enjoyed a bit of Location, Location, Location and Relocation, Relocation. When Kirstie ventured into the world of TV shows demonstrating her love and enthusiasm for crafting and 'handmade', I couldn't help but identify with her. Mostly the way she gets overly excited and enthused about the tiniest (but pretty/cool/lovely) things. It is very much like watching someone imitate my reactions! 

This September, I will be heading the The Handmade Fair to indulge in all things crafty and, well, handmade. You #CraftyBs can join me by getting your discounted tickets by using the your very exclusive #CraftyBs code which is valid until the 31st August 2016. Whilst you are here though, you may as well enter our giveaway to win a pair of full experience tickets! 

Kirstie Allsopp's 'The Handmade Fair' September 2016 and a Special Crafty Bs Offer

This September Kirstie Allsopp’s ‘The Handmade Fair’ is back and guess who is going? *waves arms frantically in the air *

On the 16th – 18th of September, I am going to be heading to The Green at Hampton Court Palace for a few days of crafting, perusing and probably a fair bit of eating! I want you #CraftyBs to join me so read on for your very special offer! Oh yes, you read that right…

What to Do in Birmingham with ICHF and Travelodge Hotels

Most of you will know by now that I like getting out and about around the UK. I can't claim to be well travelled across the globe but I love visiting places big and small across the UK especially when there is something going on the get involved in.

With the ICHF Craft shows at the NEC each year and with lots going on as the UK second biggest city, a trip to the City of Birmingham is a must. In the past I have visited the Bullring shopping centre, The Museum and Art Gallery, browsed the Christmas market and I am no stranger to the NEC.

Evolving Cities: How Birmingham Has Changed Over the Years

Top Notch Sleep With Premier Inn NEC

Whenever my family and I travel, we stay at a Premier Inn. We have always received good customer service, a delivery on the promise of a good nights sleep where other guests aren't so considerate and they are always situated in good, convenient locations.

This was also true of the Premier Inn, NEC. When I decided I would go to the ICHF Crafts Shows over three days, there was no debating where I would stay. Although it was a walk to the shows due to sheer size of the venue, the Premier Inn is pretty much on site. There were also shuttle buses if you didn't fancy the walk. Although I had travelled by Crosscountry trains, I did note that the hotel was off of a main road. This is always true of Premier Inns which is why they are so convenient and it never fails to amaze me that I never hear any traffic. EVER!

Getting to The ICHF Craft Shows at the NEC with Crosscountry Trains

I haven't travelled on the train for quite a few years! Having become a driver towards the end of university, no longer having lots of long journeys to do and having children, I've never really had the need.

When I decided that I would be going to the ICHF shows at the NEC, I thought that maybe driving would be a bit much; the traffic, navigating, parking etc, so I logged into my old Crosscountry account to find out whether I could get there by train.

Thanks Costa Coffee

Before offering thanks with reason, let me tell you a little bit about the struggles of 'The Big Move' and the effect on Baby B.

When we decided we would take up a job offer and relocate from Cambridge to Wales, we immediately told Baby B that we would be going to live in a new house in a new place. He was involved in looking at show homes and we spoke to him about everything, every step of the way. He named the new place 'the big house'. As the moving day got closer, Baby B started to say occasionally that he didn't want to move, so I followed his lead. If he seemed anxious or upset, I would reassure him and not talk so much about the move, just busy him with other fun stuff. If he wanted to talk about it, we would speak about our huge new adventure, what would happen on moving day and all the fun things we would do when we got there. 

Then reality hit. After Hubby B being away for 5 days a week over two months,  we moved mid October. We have had no internet since (it's a sad reality that we rely on it so much) and money has been a bit tight so we have not been able to go and do our regular outings like back in Cambridge and when I was working, like soft play centres and our regular trip to Costa! Baby B loves to go to cafes and his favourite is Costa because he can have a chocolate babyccino with marshmallows.

Real Cornish Pasties and Deadly Seagulls

During our recent trip to Cornwall, we decided that it would be acceptable to eat our weight in fish and chips, ice creams, cream teas and of course, Cornish pasties. The hunt began almost immediately for the ACTUAL best one. Actually we found a good one and stuck with it, but that version doesn't tell you about the evil seagull/s! So....

On a few occasions, we enjoyed setting up base on the beach in Looe which is a beautiful coastal town and fishing port in south-east Cornwall. On the first day that we did this, we scouted out the yummiest looking pasties from the numerous shops claiming to be making 'the worlds best Cornish pasties' . We pretty much hit the jackpot first time as we decided on an open front shop in an old fishing cottage on Buller Street which had a view to a couple of the ladies making up the pasties.  We left armed with a box of delicious large Cornish pasties (it was massive and filled me up for like two days!) and headed back to the beach. By now we had learned to hide from seagulls and we hid inside our little dome tents scoffing our faces with the yummiest pasties ever. 

Our final day in Looe was again marked with a visit to 'Sarah's Pasty Shop' where I took a picture (my sister included, NOT a stranger) of the shop. You can't quite see their lovely Cornish blue display! Following this picture, we headed back to our beach base and decided, as I had a cup of tea, to sit on the wall. In our naivety, and despite our conversation about seagulls pooping on your head en route to the beach AND having an near miss with such poop during said conversation, we were completely oblivous to the evil blighters circling above our head and as Hubby B screamed "WATCH OUT" we did the girliest scream ever as a seagull dove straight at my sister snapping the food bag out of her hands followed by us chasing it down the beach. Can you say free entertainment? 

So the moral of this blog post, well, there are a few points really. Firstly, visit Looe, it's fab. Secondly, visit Sarah's Pasty Shop on Buller Street and enjoy a lovely freshly made Cornish Pasty. Thirdly and probably most importantly, watch out for those bloody seagulls!

Here's a picture of a little sign we acquired for the cloakroom door in our new place. It's in the utility which is the only room that already has a theme decided for it. Can you guess what the theme is? 

Mrs Crafty B

*This was not a sponsored post. Sarah's Pasty Shop did not ask for or request this post and all opinions are my own. I certainly did not get a free pasty (but if they want to give me one on our next visit, I guess that'd be ok).

Mr Bumble Visits Burwash Manor

This weekend, we busy B's headed to the beautiful wedding of some of our friends over in St. Neots. We had a fabulous day which ended with me coming home with Baby B at around 9pm and passing out before finishing a cup of 'recovery tea' followed by Hubby B in the early hours.

On Sunday we had a family day. This normally consists of lazing in pyjamas just enjoying the company of each other, the sofa and the TV and just pottering about or having snoozes, until we see fit to get dressed and perhaps head out. This might be just out to the garden, for a swim, to a garden centre somewhere or in the case of this weekend, to a local event.

Once we had decided we were all awake enough to venture out, we headed out to Burwash Manor which is just a couple of villages away from us in Cambridgeshire. At Burwash you can find 15 independent shops including a day spa and a tea room. These are housed in a collection of converted farm buildings which in itself adds to the experience and the atmosphere of each visit.

Burwash Manor holds a number of events throughout the year, one of which is a plant fair. We turned up quite late last year and missed some of the stalls, but this year Hubby B managed to have good natter with some experts on their stalls and we acquired a couple of additions for the garden including a rose bush which produces white roses with an apricot centre. White roses are my favourite type of flower and I can't wait to see how these grow.

Heres Mr Bumble with our rose bush as it is at the moment.

Once we arrived at Burwash, it was conveniently time for lunch. The downside here was that the cosy tearoon was filled to rafters and we only just managed to get a table outside which meant sitting in the unfortunately windy weather. We warmed our cockles with a warm pot of tea and some food. When we arrived we had spotted that someone was eating something yummy (dangerous game) so we too ordered a portion of rhubarb crumble and custard, yum yum.

Here is Mr Bumble with our tea (which I later realised was served in a teapot from a shop next door) and our dessert.

After lunch, I took Baby B off to the toy shop where he was thoroughly entertained by some tables set our for children to play on as well as telling Mummy about all the stuff that he wanted. Luckily, we managed to escape without unnecessary additions to our toy collection. The same could not be said for me who found an unnecessary but desired addition to my craft collection. I went with the intention of looking for a ball of twine suitable for a project I have in mine and I was lucky enough to find this ball of jute twine which I think will be perfect. Here is Mr Bumble to show you the colour.

Baby B enjoyed the plants with Daddy whilst I went to have a look in my favourite shop at Burwash, Nest. I had never really noted the name of the shop till this weekend and just know it as 'the shop that sells all the old and new stuff'. This shop has such an eclectic collection of 'stuff' but unlike some places like this, it is set out so you can see everything. It's like hunting for your treasure without the hard work. 

What I love most about this shop is the old printer drawers which you think might be for display purposes but on inspection you realise the drawers contain lots of old printing blocks. Oh how I which I had unlimited cash and space for things like this! I would also treat myself to one of the old sink basins that I spied in the shop, to use for a succulent garden. I am always looking for the perfect container for this project but can never justify the cost.

If you are local I would highly recommend a mooch around Burwash and a nice cup of tea. They appear to have lots of future plans for the site so I will continue visiting for sure. (I look forward to the next apple fair!) 

I did get to work on my jute twine yesterday evening and I shall be continuing that at tonight's crafty meet.

Mrs Crafty B