Giveaway // Name Art Personalised Gifts

Personalised gifts are such a lovely way to show you care and know the person for whom you are buying and Charis of Name Art has this idea at the heart of her business with names cleverly hidden within the picture being at the core of her work. 

I particularly love the personalised kids' items. My own children have their own personalised place mats and coasters. They adore these especially because they have their names on them giving them a sense of ownership and pride. 

The Name Art Footprint™ prints are a popular choice and make a lovely gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day or to welcome a family into their new home. 

There's a whole host of beautiful and personalised gifts on the Name Art website from mugs and coasters to clothing and prints for your home. Charis has it all covered included lovely gift ideas for teacher thank you gifts and wedding presents. 

Charis has very kindly donated an unframed 25cm x 25cm personalised print of your choice to one lucky winner. Entry is simple via the rafflecopter - good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you know someone who would love a personalised Name Art print? Then share this give away with them! 

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Inspiring Words // FREE Iphone wallpaper

Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle iPhone wallpaper

Hello my Sparkles, 

I was up early this morning and it wasn't my kids fault. Let's just say my husband wasn't the quietest getting ready for his early start for work today! Rather than grump or moan about it I carried on with some plans I have to improve my newsletter. You know, the one I rarely sent out and has been on an extended haitus?! Well, that is set to change after been inspired by the Oh My Handmade post on newsletters by Aeolidia  and I'm working on some fab ideas and exclusives for those signed up to the newsletter. Go on, click 'newsletter' in the menu bar at the top and get yourself on that list to be sure to be among the first to receive these exclusives! 

Part of my plans led me to photoshop and having a go at creating my own iphone wallpaper. I'm pleased to report that I did it! To celebrate I'm offering this 'Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle' wallpaper for iphones FREE! If you'd prefer a larfer version to add to your pinn board, then see the original Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle post. Otherwise click here to get your iphone wallpaper: 

This wallpaper is free to download and use on your mobile (it's set to fit an iphone, but may work on other devices depending on the measurements). 

To install on your iphone, 

1. download the jpeg and save to your iphone's camera roll. You can email it to yourself from your computer. 

2. Go to settings, then Brightness & wallpaper. Then select your saved image as your wallpaper from your camera roll.

3. Enjoy being inspired to 'Never let anyone ever dull your sparkle'! 

Feel free to share and pin this, but please link back here to the original blog post. 

Are there any other of the insipiring words series that you would like to see as an iphone wallpaper? Or would you like to know how to create your own? Perhaps I should do a tutorial? 

Keep Sparkling! 

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Fashion on a Budget // Thrifted Wardrobe finds

In a bid to reign in our clutter I'm gradually sorting going through the house to remove the things we no longer use, wear or have a use for. There's been a few trips to our local charity shop (Thrift Store for the American readers) and I can't help but take a look. Don't panic, I'm mindful of the fact I'm trying to de-clutter not add more! 

Last week I found a delightful swishy red and white skirt. It's a perfect fit and I have so many ideas for how to wear it - casual with a vest and denim jacket and ballerina pumps, smart with a white shirt and maybe even a little dressy with smart shoes. 

I returned again this week and couldn't help but have a look through the clothing rails again in case there was anything new. A few things caught my eye, sadly a few were in the wrong size, but I did score two lovely dresses. I love the bold floral one - not something I would normally buy, but at £5.99 it's worth a try. I'm going to get a big wide belt in white to define it more and then a bright pink twin set style cardigan in case I wear it when it's chilly. 

And the floaty dress from Topshop is on course to work hard! Cute in the Spring with a denim jacket, cool in the summer with sandals and layered up with tights and boots in the Autumn. Another bargain at just £5.99. 

If you're wondering where all the ideas for how to wear my new clothes came from, then it's the Putting Me Together blog. I had a read through of her Building a Remixable Wardrobe series and it really helped. I actually went and tried on a dress I bought in a sale ages ago that lacked shape and was about to hit the 'send to the charity shop' pile, popped a belt on and viola! Instantly it looked better and is now staying in my wardrobe.

Do you go thrifting and buy clothes from Charity shops? What are your top tips for budding thrifters?

Inspiring Words // Done is better than Perfect

I'm signed up for the Happy Start up mailer from Isa at the Noisette Academy. This week it was a beaut. And whilst it was aimed at creative entrepreneurs, there's a lesson for us all. 

How often do you put off a task because you will not reach the level of perfection you've set yourself?

Isa realised that her own perfection issues were starting to show in her kids and that was her wake up call. I witnessed similar, in the same situation as Isa, when J was unwilling to even attempt to draw something for fear that it wouldn't be any good. And now, we don't have any nonsense or talk of not being able to do something. We have a go and we have fun having a go. I even pulled my dad up once for replying to the kids request to draw something that he couldn't draw. Ok, so he's no artist, but we can all hold a pencil and we can all doodle or squiggle on the page. Turns out my dad does a pretty good basic bicycle once he was given a push and made to pick up a pencil. 

Done is better than perfect is my new mantra as I look at the things I need to do. Rather than feeling a bit lost as to how it will turn out I'm just getting on and doing it. Done is better than perfect. Better to complete the task than put it off or spend an eternity trying to reach perfection. 

Please download and print this FREE quotation for personal use - for your home and business, just don't package it to resell. 

For best results, download the file and save to your computer and then print from the saved file. 

Please feel free to share and pin this quotation, but link back HERE to this original blog post. 

What are you going to get done rather than worry about whether it will be perfect? 

Have a lovely Sunday, 

Bespoke Sparkles // Rose and Crystal Jewellery

Although this bespoke jewellery set does incorporate birthstones in it (Rose for October and Crystal for April) it is not 'Birthstone jewellery', but a lovely bespoke commission for a lady who wanted a beautiful pink set of jewellery. 

I love the simplicity of this wearable set. One of my favourite details is the tiny Swarovski crystals accenting the clasp. I love making necklaces like this building it up from silver components and having the ability to add those little extra details. 

If you'd love to have something bespoke made for you or for someone special, then drop me a line (use the handy email icon to the top left of the sidebar) and we can start work on something unique. 

Green Fingers // Growing a herb garden and Flowers

What a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK. I loved that extra day especially as it came with extra sunshine and it was great enjoying some family walks as well as my first Magnum ice cream of the year!  I even wore shorts! I apologise to those who witnessed my bright white pins! Pass me the fake tan! 

Knowing how unpredictable our sun can be I decided to extend my weekend a little further and once Miss P was at preschool I decided to spend yesterday afternoon in the garden and complete my to do list in the evening. 

I've wanted to grow my own fresh herbs for a while now. I routinely use fresh coriander for homemade curries and would love to start using fresh instead of dried herbs more often or buying fresh herbs from the supermarket - I'm sure home grown will taste better as well as being cheaper! 

Whilst doing my weekly food shop this morning I spotted some herb and flower seeds and decided that it was about time I made my herb garden happen. I'm a bit impulsive sometimes. 

I'm not a gardener, so it's probably best you look elsewhere for some proper tips on how to grow a herb garden. I simply popped some compost in some pots, sprinkled the seeds on and then lightly covered the seeds with some more compost. I did the same with the flower seeds. I intend to water my little seeds and maybe even talk to them a little to encourage them to grow. I'm already impatient and want to start seeing some action. It's going to be a long couple of weeks waiting for some little shoots to appear! I really hope my 'chuck them in a pot and cover with soil' approach to gardening works! I'll let you know! 

Any gardeners with tips for growing a herb garden?! 

Inspiring Words // Seize the Sunshine

Obsessing about the weather is something we do well here in the UK. Probably due to the fact that we seem to get more than our fair share of rain and less sunshine than we would like. Knowing that having a hot and sunny summer is not a guarantee makes me determined to enjoy the sun when we do have. On Thursday knowing that the blue skies and sunshine might not last I took Miss P and her unicorn (as you do) for a walk at Stannah Park - one of our favourite local places to go for a walk. It was lovely. Fresh air, blue skies, sunshine and open space. And I'm so glad I did as the next day we were back to it being overcast and a temperature drop. So, seize the day and enjoy the sunshine. 

When I thought of this week's quotation it did get me thinking that it applies to life in general and made me think of all the times I've not seized the day and the happiness or sunshine it possessed. It can be all too easy to coast along waiting for something totally wonderful to happy and failing to recognise or celebrate the happiness and sunshine that is there in the everyday. So, let's seize the day and embrace the sunshine everyday even if there are a few clouds.

Please feel free to download and print this free printable quotation for personal use - for your home, gifts or business and give aways. Please do not repackage to sell. 

For best results, download and save the file to your computer and then print from the saved file. 

If you would like to pin or share this printable, please link back here to the original blog post. 

What's been your sunshine this week? And did you have some real sunshine? If you did I hope you managed to get outside and enjoy it. 

Have a lovely Sunday,