Highlights of 2015

It's 2016!  How did that happen hey! We thought we would reflect on our 2015 using our #2015bestnine as a starting point.  You may have seen many of these posts on instagram and so we were no different in wanting to find out what you guys thought were our best nine instagram posts of 2015.

What better time then to share some of our highlights of the year!

First up would have to be working with Mollie Makes on some great projects this year including Hot air balloons and fabric houses and Sammy got to do some great stuff with Simply Sewing for her shop Sew Crafty, did you see her Quick gifts to sew booklet? and look out for something else great soon - no spoilers!

Getting to go to Renegade twice this year was pretty cool too, all the craft fairs we go to are pretty ace, but I think I can speak for both of us when I say that Renegade has a special place in both of our hearts.  Just seeing all the very cool designer/makers work out there is brilliant and a great excuse for a few presents for us!  You seem to really enjoy our haul posts on instagram and so this just gives us the best excuse to keep shopping!

Our tutorials are also a highlight for the year, we have made some amazing things, even if we do say so ourselves, Unicorn hobby horse and Yoga Mat seem to be a couple of favourites.  We love to come up with new ideas and help you to make things of your own.  We have got some great ideas coming up too, so again, watch this space!

Our holiday to Barcelona was pretty epic too.  We had been as students way back in the 90's and so it was great to go back and explore.  Next up would definitely have to be a bit more of a relax holiday though I think.  We love cities, but sometimes you need a bit of time with a good book or 5!

We worked with some great brands this year too, from Paperchase and Zazzle through to B&Q and Turtle Mat to name but a few.  Some great bloggers worked with us too and these are all things that we want to do more of in 2016.

So, it looks like some of your favourite instagram posts match our highlights for the year, lets roll on 2016 and see what is in store for us.  Do let us know if you would like us to feature something in particular as we are always happy to find out what you want to learn more about.

H, xxx


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Make it: Ipad/Cookbook holder

I found this tutorial on A Bubbly Life's blog and so thought with my leftover copper after the candle holder tutorial, I would give it a go.  I love the idea of using this in your kitchen to cook up a storm either by using a handy You tube clip from Sorted food or getting out your cookbook from the cupboard to give a new recipe a go this Christmas.  It's such a simple thing to make too, only took about 20 minutes, so perfect for a last minute gift idea.

Make it: Copper Candle Holder

This year is all about Copper as we must all know by now and so I thought what better way to make a gift for someone this Christmas.  I was kindly sent a gift voucher from the guys at B&Q and there will be a few more treats to come, but I thought this was a good place to start!  What better way to get the table decorated this Christmas than with a candle holder for your centrepiece, or just to make as a present for a copper loving friend who is into the industrial look.

You will need: 15mm Copper Pipe, cut into 1 x 18cm, 1 x 13cm, 2 x 11cm, 4 x 4cm, 4 x 2cm.  2 x 15mm equal tee, 8 x 15mm elbow (I only have 4 in the picture, oops), 2 x 22mm x 3/4" female straight top connector, Glue (I used Gorilla Glue), Pipe cutter, pen, ruler, candles.

Firstly you will need to cut up all your bits of pipe.  I used a pen to mark the measurements of length I wanted and cut them all first to make sure I had everything.

Step 1: Glue 2 of your 4cm pieces into either side of the equal tee - do this for both equal tee's.

Step 2: Glue your elbow pieces into one end of the 11cm pieces and then the equal tee sections, making a square shape.  You will need to make sure your equal tee open section is upwards and straight so that what you connect into it points upwards.  You can of course make your measurements for this square base larger or smaller depending on your desired size.

Step 3: Glue one of your candle lengths to a elbow and then one of the 2cm pieces on the other end, before adding another elbow and 2cm piece to make a bend in the pipe.  You can now glue on what will be the candle holder, the straight top connector.  You can always get these without the nuts or take them off, but I decided to leave mine on.

Step 4: The last thing to do is glue in both of your tall lengths into the equal tee that is pointing upwards and you are done.

This is quite a simple version, you could of course add more equal tee's and make the whole thing larger to introduce more candles.  Perhaps some straight holders and some smaller ones, so that it had a large candelabra effect for decoration.

I like the simplicity of this one as I have just the perfect person to give it to.  It would look great with other candle holders and decorations too for all other times of year.

How would you make yours?  If you make one, don't forget to send us a picture and #livelovemake on Instagram or twitter so that we can see what you make.

H,xxx

Please note: The materials were bought with a B&Q gift voucher but they did not recommend products or have any influence on what I made with it. Thank you B&Q!

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Simple Styling: Dining Room with Parrot Uncle

This month's Simple Styling post is Sponsored by Parrot Uncle, who are a lighting company based in the US, but they ship to the UK, so it's all ok people, we are not sending you somewhere you can't get something for yourself.

They asked us to take a look at some of their products and see what we thought.  As you already know by now, H is organising her place, so some new Interior ideas can never go unnoticed.

As you may already know by now Sammy and I met at Art College and we were part of a course which had Interior Design as a big part of it and so laying out ideas and planning what we could do, was the really fun part of it.

So, I thought a little room set-up would be good for this post, as my dining area is also my desk and so you have seen my set-up.  But if I had an area to myself, then this is what I would do with it.

The Geometric shaped Light is from the Parrot Uncle selection of discount wooden light fixtures and there are so many fun designs to choose from, I went with this Converse Diamond Design, as I think it goes with my favourite style of Interiors.  It's Modern but has that Retro edge to it.  I also really love the industrial look and so the Cement Shades are great too.

As for all the rest of the room: Print from HAM, Dining Table and Chair from Made.com, Crockery from Anthropologie.  Also did you know you can get anything matched by the guys at Valspar for your paint colour at B&Q, this is my new favourite thing to play with!

Which light would you pick from Parrot Uncle?

H, xxx

Please note: This post was sponsored by Parrot Uncle, but they did not ask us to review any particular product.  We have not bought anything from this company and so are unable to give any recommendations.



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Makers Month: DIY Dreams

Well hello there!  We are getting towards the end of our Makers Month here, booooooo.  So I thought a little selection of other DIY's that H particularly has been really wanting to make recently.  Probably all to do with having my own place and starting to run out of money to do all the fun stuff.

I found all these great DIY's online and so I will share where I found them.

From Top left; Fall for DIY is definitely a favourite of ours to look at for inspiration for all kinds of tutorials and this Copper Magazine rack does not disappoint! It's the colour and finish of the season, copper and makes a great place for all the Mollie Makes and Simply Sewing magazines that seem to stack up!  Magazine addict anyone!

Top right is over to Flossie Teacakes and this cool rope bowl.  We all need lots of storage space and why not make this great bowl to match your decor and of course have some fun in the meantime.  I can see fruit bowl, key bowls and just bowls for bowls sake in my future.

Bottom left, well just look at it!  I found this amazing succulent dish on Little House on the Corner.  We all know that succulents are just the coolest thing ever and that we need somewhere to put them.  I love the idea of having a little garden of succulents, especially as I live in a flat and don't have a garden of my own.  Now, just to not kill them!

Lastly, but by no means least I found this tutorial on Hester's Handmade Home to turn a book into a Tablet holder.  I met Hester briefly at a B&Q Masterclass with Charis Williams a few weeks ago and have been a little obsessed with her tutorials and You tube Channel.  She also has a book called Furniture Hacks, which has some great ideas.

I think that might be enough to get me started, I also have some Valspar paint from the B&Q masterclass event that I am itching to paint everything I own with!

What's on your wishlist to make at the moment, have any of these DIY's given you an idea of what to make next?  Let us know in the comments below if you have made any of these or there is something you have on your wishlist to make. Check out our Pinterest board DIY Dreams for some more inspiration.

H,xxx


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