Crafting is a fantastic way to unwind, express yourself creatively, and even make beautiful handmade gifts. Whether you’re a seasoned hobbyist or a complete beginner, there’s a craft out there perfectly suited to your interests and skill level. Here are … Read More
Use Baskets to Decorate Your Home Baskets are one of the easiest and most effective ways of adding the country touch to your home. Bleached blond, naturally tawny, and dyed or painted lovely warm shades, baskets are one of the … Read More
How to Create Succulent art By PENNY SWIFT The vast array of succulents that grow in open gardens and pots provide an incredible opportunity for living art. So, if you’re looking to create something special for your patio or a … Read More
How to Make Candle Lampshades Step-by-Step Candle lampshades covered with decorative card or fabric shades are very much in vogue at the moment. There is almost always a drawer full of unused candles somewhere in the home, usually kept at hand … Read More
How To Do Macrame, the Art of Decorative Knotting by Penny Swift We show you how to do macrame with a handy YouTube video. Macrame is known as the art of decorating with knots, macramé has been in and out … Read More
Decorate Your Walls with Stenciling Stenciling is designed for you home decorators who want to Decorate Your Walls with Stenciling and create original schemes without taking the risks that accompany mural painting. With stencils, you can have some idea of … Read More
Get Confidence With Using Color Words by Penny Swift & Pictures by Janek Szymanowski © We show you how to get confidence with using color. Color is an enormously powerful medium and a major consideration in modern home decorating. It … Read More
Studies of Nature and Landscapes by Mariota Percival “I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.” Walt Whitman Mariota’s heart lies in life studies of nature and landscapes in their changing light. From the intricate … Read More
Keep Your Keys All Framed Up With a Wire Keys Frame Keep all your keys together and within easy reach on a wire keys frame smart key holder. This one costs almost nothing to make if you have an old … Read More
Art Born Out of a Long-lasting Fascination of World Architecture Mariota Percival’s interest in world architecture, ancient sites and different styles of houses was sparked during her history of art studies, and has grown during her travels. The media she … Read More
How to Make a Simple Fabric Headboard If your headboard is a little old and worn, or clashes with a fresh color scheme, you can quickly give it a new look with a tie-on or slip-on fabric cover. Simple fabric … Read More
Fabric Design Inspired by Life and Living Mariota Percival’s love of color, pattern, shapes and themes are combined into creations that use paint, collage, recycled scraps of fabric, applique embroidery. Her inspiration is derived from her travels and her view … Read More
How to Make An Elegant Tieback For curtains By catching the curtains back at just the right height, tiebacks pull the curtain fabric into an attractive sweep and allow natural light into the room. Wide, full curtains drape into deep … Read More
Unique Cards and Book Illustrations by Mariota Percival Talented artist Mariota Percival specializes in unique beautiful cards and book illustrations. She has illustrated three children’s story books and provided a number of illustrations for Shuter & Shooter Publishers school … Read More
How to Make Magic Lanterns Easy magic lanterns Easy magic lanterns – you can take a set of plain glass tumblers and turn them into stunning magic lanterns. They’ll sparkle and shine for evening meals during warm summer nights in … Read More
Make Your Own Lace Covering For Windows Looking after lace When making lace window curtains then you must treat lace fabrics in the same way as you would other home furnishings by laundering according to fiber content. Most heavy lace … Read More
Mariota Percival Art – Artist of Many Talents Available for Commissions The Mariota Percival art paintings and designs are inspired by the environment in which she has lived and traveled. She grew up in a creative family, in the gentle … Read More
How to Make Fabric Covered Plates Fabric covered plates, grouped together on a wall, make a magnificent display. They are also a perfect way of giving odd or slightly damaged plates a new lease of life while showing off your … Read More
How to Make Flower Motif Lavender Bags These delightful little lavender bags, decorated with a range of charming cross stitch flower motifs, are quick and easy to make. Filled with aromatic lavender, they can be tucked between freshly laundered sheets … Read More
How to Make a Cut Paper Tablecloth A paper tablecloth with straight edges often looks dull. A cut-out border around the edge will instantly make it look more attractive. If the tablecloth is then laid over a slightly larger one … Read More
How to Make a Rose Stenciled Tray Painting a stenciled tray can give it a new lease of life, it also makes an attractive and very useful accessory to display in your kitchen. This stenciled tray is made from wood, … Read More
How to Make a Pleated Paper Lampshade Paper lampshades are attractive accessories which will fit into most decorative schemes. They are fun to make yourself and require no sewing skills, so you don’t need to be an expert to have … Read More
How to Reupholster a Drop-in Seat You can reupholster a dining chair with a drop-in seat easily and smarten up and made to match new furnishings with a change of cover. Choose an elegant damask or needlepoint fabric for a … Read More
How to Make Double Frilled Cushions Perfect Gathering 1 – Heavy fabric If for your frilled cushions you have chosen fabric that is medium to heavy weight, the long gathering threads may break when they are pulled up. Stitch the … Read More
How to Make A Frilled Cushion Cushions, and a frilled cushion are the most versatile of home furnishings. They are synonymous with comfort, color and style. Wherever they are placed, cushions have an immediate softening impact. Yet by trimming cushions … Read More
How to Make Seaside Candles Light up your home on warm evenings with these original seaside candles using shells and rope. All the designs are quick and easy to make, so they are ideal for a special occasion, especially if … Read More
How to Make a Nifty Notepad A nifty notepad you say! Well even in this smart techno rich world today keeping track of appointments and memos with pencil and paper should not be a problem in any busy life. There … Read More
How to Make a Cockerel Collage Collect your fabric scraps together, and create a colorful cockerel collage of a farmyard favorite. Our lively rooster, set against a background of bead-strewn millet and blue sky, looks larger than life and ready … Read More
How to Make an Embroidered Gingham Tablecloth Lay the kitchen table with a stunning embroidered gingham tablecloth and give mealtimes a lift. The fabric is a red-and white-check, which is perfect for a country style home, with an embroidered zigzag … Read More
How to Make a Webbing Cushion Here is how to make a webbing cushion cover. Just a hint of color peeps out from between these bands of simple cotton webbing, providing an understated, but stunning webbing cushion cover. The natural … Read More
All About Treasure Trove Display Boxes Treasure Trove Display Boxes Display treasure trove boxes are useful and appealing. If you have a prize collection of trinkets or memorabilia hidden away in the back of a drawer or cupboard, now is … Read More
How To Make New Cushions From Old Clothes Favorite old garments that have become worn and stained in parts, or simply outmoded over the years. They need not be thrown away, but can be recycled to make a range of … Read More