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Pam ^_^ By Pam ^_^

"A’loha from Hawai’i! When traveling to this beautiful island don’t forget to bring your sunscreen, a good book and a project you’ve been meaning to get done (crocheting on the long flight sure makes time fly)." 


View Honolulu City Guide in a larger map

Shop

If you’re in Honolulu and need to stock up on supplies, prepare to do a bit of driving around. If it is fabric you need head over to Fabric Mart in Aiea. For specialty beading needs check out either Bead It! on Koko Head Avenue or Bead Gallery on Kalani. If you’re looking for just general craftiness your best bet would be Ben Franklin Crafts on Paa in the Mapunapuna area. 
If you want to do some real shopping just take a walk through Waikiki or go to the huge Ala Moana Shopping Center, you can’t miss it. It has everything from a Barnes and Noble to Cartier and Old Navy.  

Be Inspired


At the Honolulu Botanical Garden you can relax and enjoy reading about all of the tropical plants that are grown in the area, enjoy the live music, and explore the butterfly garden. Bring a project to work on while watching hula dancers or a notebook to write down new ideas. If you want to be inspired by the ocean instead go to Kuhio Beach Park, part of Waikiki Beach and lay down your towel. Don’t be discouraged by the crowds, you can always find a good spot on the beach because it’s just that big. 

Eat & Drink

For an out of the ordinary treat you can go to Chinatown’s meat market, where they have stalls cooking up fast and fresh food. If you go shopping at Ala Moana be sure to bring your appetite because they have one of the best food courts in Honolulu. They have Japanese, Korean, American, Italian and of course Hawaiian food selections. Another place to try out is The Shore Bird located inside the Outrigger Reef Hotel is a unique place to enjoy a laid back evening. When you order your meat entrée, it’s brought to you raw. They have huge grills where you season and cook your own food that they give you. They help you with tips, techniques, and supply all the seasonings and marinades for your dinner. It has a great bar and has a tremendous view right on the beach, what more could you want when relaxing with friends at the end of a great day?

 Craft

When it’s finally time to get down to business, you should have no problem finding a place to craft. The weather is always so lovely all year round that you can craft just about anywhere. With all the beautiful beaches and parks within walking distance of each other, you don’t even have to stay in the same place all day. If you want to get out of the sun to craft, you can sit in the shade of a giant banyan tree along the beach. 

See Something Special


If you’ve got the time there are three places I would recommend venturing outside the city of Honolulu for. First would be Hanauma Bay Beach Park, it’s a volcanic crater that sunk and filled in with the ocean, creating a beautiful protected bay. Historically it was reserved for Hawaiian royalty, but now it is open to the public. It is inexpensive to get in the park as well as cheap parking. You can bring or rent snorkeling equipment and go exploring. It is an awesome sight to see all the sea life up close. Keep an eye and it’s possible you’ll even see the state fish Humuhumunukunukuapua'a.

Second place you could go is the Valley of the Temples, where all the way at the back is the Byodo-in Temple Complex. It is a scale replica of the temple at Uji, Japan, which is a United Nations World Heritage Site. Lastly I would recommend hiking up Diamond Head Crater, an old volcano that dominates Honolulu’s skyline. The view from the top makes the grueling hike worth it, and as a reward you can buy yourself a nice Shave Ice when you get back down to the bottom.  

Pick Up A Souvenir


The International Market Place on KalaKaua Avenue is the best place to find little gifts for friends, there are so many little stalls there selling fun things. You can buy t-shirts, Christmas ornaments, Hawaiian jewelry, and beautiful beach sarongs, some famous Hawaiian Kona Coffee, and so much more. While you’re shopping for friends grab a delicious drink made right in the coconut from one of the many vendors.
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Craft Room Tour

Posted May 23rd, 2013 10:00


This week we get to take a tour of Violet from Blythe Ponytail Parade's charming doll-filled office in Indianapolis.

"I love how light the room is. I have pondered painting the walls for 2 years now and I don't think I ever will. I actually like the white walls with the white furniture. I have so many colorful toys and decor that adding color to the walls might make it too busy."

My office is on the second floor of my home. It's one of the bedrooms that wasn't being used :) I love it because it has a nice big window that brings in tons of sunlight during the day. It's not very big, it's a standard bedroom size, but it holds everything I need it to! When I'm being bad, it's my "junk" room. I am trying to keep it in better order these days though. My husband would never want to work in there. It's far too girly ;)


Is this also your work space?
Yep, I do crafting in the room and any other small projects. I will be taking my iMac up there soon so that editing photos/blogging will be done in there too. Blythe customization is the main craft I do in the room mostly. My desk is pretty much set up with all my sandpaper, screwdrivers, eye chips, glue, etc. that I need to work on my Blythe dolls. I want to customize them more often. I rarely get to it these days!

What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
Adding beautiful, but childish things that I love...like Kewpies, colorful garlands, dolls, stuffed animals, stickers, frames and photos. It's definitely a fun room and really relaxes me.

How do you keep organized?
I'm MESSY. VERY MESSY. My works in progress....honestly just get scattered around the house :P No advice there. All my fabrics, glues, paints, etc. are stored in bins that slide into my expedit shelf. I also keep some of my blythe customizing things in my desk cubicles. I'd say I have a lot of everything. I came from a VERY crafty/artist home so there are always an abundance of art supplies here.

Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
Those storage cubes that slide into my expedit (can be seen in the pics) are seriously amazing. They hide and organize. I'd say, invest in good storage bins or shelves!

Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
Hmm, my dollies are my favorite items in the room. They seriously make the room what it is. I just love their eyes and their outfits and everything about them. I am quite obsessed. But if I was naming a craft supply, my glitter stash is quite important. Excluding my dollies (some of which are custom by me), I have a few of my own creations. I have a lot of other people's crafts on display in that room actually! My mom made the colorful garland that wraps around the ceiling. I have drawings and paintings by friends....I love handmade things! 

How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
My computer. I actually email myself links/ideas/images and then store them in folders so I can find them all again easily. I use pinterest a little bit too! 

Where do you look for inspiration?
I google things. I come up with an idea and then I see if anyone else has done anything similar. That's my go to way. If I am just searching for something to do with no real idea in mind, I venture onto pinterest. 

If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream craft space?
More dollies, a chandelier hanging in the middle of the room (though I might hit my head on it :P :P :P), and hardwood floors. :)

Check out Violet's blog at Blythe Ponytail Parades to see more of her and her lovely dolls »

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Annika G. By Annika G.



DIY The Look is back with a bang and we're asking you to play celebrity stylist by putting together looks for your favourite stars! This week Annika recreates the style of musician, Kreayshawn:

"Kreayshawn has that original mix of hipster and cartoon, that makes everyone just go 'wow', and just stand there, figuring out all the little components of that amazing outfit."


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1 Comic Lipstick Earrings
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2 Diy: Lens Today, Gone Tomorrow
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3 Minnie Mouse Ears
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4 Nyc Crop Top Tutorial;
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5 Gil Elvgren Makeup
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6 Fake Tatoo W/ Markers
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7 Update Your Jeans: Diy Studded & Frayed Shorts
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8 How To Make Your Own Comic Shoes
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9 Sailormoon Tights
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10 Spiked Crystal Ring
See the list »

Who would you like to DIY The Look of? Get in touch to make your own and be featured on the blog!


Sherri B. By Sherri B.

Outfit details:

  • Wavy Hair - DIY (See below)
  • Shirt - By Epique Moi, purchased at S.Y.L.K 
  • Jeans - By Hudson (Krista Super Skinny)
  • Shoes - Christian Louboutian
  • Bracelet - Urban Outfitters

DIY Sexy Wavy Hair

Recreate the look with Sherri's Sexy Wavy Hair tutorial:


How would you describe your style?

My style tends to be on the casual side though I love throwing in some effortless chic touches. Think V neck tee shirt, skinny jeans, and a pair of Louboutin pumps ;) 

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

I recently bought a James Perse long sleeved blue shirt. It's pretty casual, but can easily be dressed up. It is the softest and coziest shirt I own. Worth the hefty price tag.

Who are your style icons?

Love Rachel Bilson and pretty much always admire her style. I'm also often inspired by wardrobe and styles from the 70's. Love me some Farrah Fawcett. 


Do you have any favourite designers?

No designer in particular. I love buying bits and pieces from all over and generally don't care about the name on the tag.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

I find THE BEST stuff at Urban Outfitters. People are always shocked when I tell them that, but my eyes see random pieces when shopping there and you can create really fun and unique outfits there. They also have great accessories for an affordable price too.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I wish I was talented enough to make my clothes! The closest I get to customizing is wearing pieces that shouldn't be worn together, but somehow making them work. Sometimes a hat, belt, or a pair of shoes can really transform a potentially not cute outfit.


Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?  

For starters, you need to bring your confidence to the table when personalizing an outfit. People get timid and too afraid to try something different, and then admire the others who dared to do it! Almost every time I wear colored skinny jeans or funky hats someone tells me they wish they could "pull that off". I believe anyone can rock this stuff, you just have to do it!

Follow Sherri on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her website, Sherri Does Hot Hair »




Kirsten Nunez By Kirsten Nunez

Outfit details:

  • Dress - DIY
  • Shirt - Thrifted
  • Bag - DIY (see below) 
  • Shoes - Audrey Brooke from DSW

DIY Lace Panel Purse

Recreate the look with Kirsten's Lace Panel Purse tutorial:



How would you describe your style?

Edgy, but a bit girly. Or the other way around, perhaps? I love to mix fabrics such as leather and lace.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My denim and leather jacket that I made for a Studs and Pearls project, in 2011. 

Who are your style icons?

Drew Barrymore and Alexa Chung.

Do you have any favourite designers?

Rebecca Taylor, Kate Spade, Alexander Wang and Rag & Bone are some of my favorites.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

Thrift stores..always!

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I do, often. A majority of the items in my closet are embellished or handmade.

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone with different combinations or outfits. You never know what you might come up with!

Check out Kirsten's blog, Studs & Pearls »


Heidi By Heidi

"The best things here are to me: the sea, the parks, all the different districts with their own characteristics, being able to cycle around in the summer and all the non-commercial "happenings", like Restaurant Day!" 


View Helsinki City Guide in a larger map

Shop

The top place for craft supplies I think is Sinelli, located in the city center at Simonkatu 10. They have two shops side by side, one specializing more in cute wedding and scrap book stuff and papers, the other, my favourite, on everything else: beads, shrink plastic, jewelry parts... If I need something more elaborative, I'll visit the quite large Hobby Point on Fredrikinkatu 61. They have everything from miniature railways to dyed wool.

For selling your own crafts, there are several possibilities! Once a year there are design fairs at Korjaamo in the district of Töölö (very trendy fair with their own DJ), the eco friendly design festival called Recycling Factory at Kaapelitehdas, the Ofelia Market at Kulttuuriareena Gloria, (punk, burlesque, vintage vibe), to name the biggest occasions... And of course before christmas the city is packed with all kinds of craft sales, I prefer the one at Vanha Ylioppilastalo. At summer you may sometimes come across some interesting modern crafts at the main market square Kauppatori, right next to the strawberry and fish stalls...

Be Inspired


I love art, and I often find inspiration in the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma at Mannerheiminaukio 2. They also have a nice little shops with all kinds of books and imaginative modern design items. My other favourite is the Amos Anderson Art Museum, that actually used to be the late Mr. Anderson's home, but was turned into an art museum after he passed away. The home is interesting in itself, with its own chapel, but also hosts changing exhibitions ranging from classical paintings to contemporary art. 


For taking photos, (besides all the places I mentioned before), I think an interesting site would be the old part of the district of Vallila, where old wooden houses are preserved and a home for lots of people. Once overlooked, the area is now very popular, but still very peaceful and pictoresque, with lots of colors and natural crags. Also the fortress island Suomenlinna, where you can go by ferry, is interesting. It has old stonewalls and caves (bring a flash light!), but also pretty houses and a ton of tourists on a picnic. :)

For something not craft related, I recommend getting to know some of the districts and picking your favourite. The Kallio area is for you, if you like cheap beer, rock music and bohemian people. If you're into fashion, check out Punavuori and all the little boutiques and café's (you can get a map titled The Design District to navigate more easily), if you're into nature go to Keskuspuisto, the central park. It's really more like a wild forest than a park, a favourite for joggers and horse back riders.

Eat & Drink

When you get hungry, check out Vegeburgeri. They have two little vegetarian/vegan burger joints and a portable kiosk, and they're open almost all night. For a great vegetarian lunch, try Zucchini at Fabianinkatu 4.

The city is full of cafés, both exciting and ordinary, but two interesting ones you should try are called Regatta and Sinisen Huvilan Kahvila (=The café of the Blue Villa.) Both have excellent sea views, the latter is only outdoors and open only at summer. At Café Regatta you'll find delicious cinnamon buns, an open fire for grilling sausages (a very Finnish thing to do!), a rowing boat for rent, and an ice sled on the frozen sea at winter... All this in a tiny red cottage. Oh, and they'll pay you back five cents for every refill cup of coffee... If you're just a little peckish, try a savoury "karjalanpiirakka" at almost any coffee shop :)

I also have to mention the Restaurant Day, a phenomenon that started off in Helsinki. It's a day every few months, when anyone can set up their own restaurant at their home or at the street, basically anywhere. The days are always great, and you can get great food too!

 Craft

For both inspiration and a place for crafting, I recommend all the parks with a sea view, like Kaivopuisto, Sibeliuspuisto, the little island called Tervasaari... During winter (and rainy summer days), Talvipuutarha, "the Winter Garden", is the place to go, sit, craft, and maybe eat your own packed lunch. The building is a gorgeous 19th century glass house, and it's free of charge.


I'm not a member in any craft club, but I've noticed there seems to be quite a few knitting clubs around. There's even a knitting club in the library bus, that takes books near your home. Some yarn shops, like Villavyyhti on Kangasalantie 4, have their own clubs and courses on knitting etc. Dodo, an environmental organization, holds work shops for upcycling and "tuning" old things, that might otherwise be considered as trash.

See Something Special



If you're looking for quirky, they say Finland is the place for you... Allthough I think the quirkiest things you'll find outside of Helsinki, we have some too. The Finns love their saunas, which are very hot and where you go naked (ok, you can wear a towel if you must! :)) There's a new interesting, eco-friendly public sauna in Merihaka, designed by two artists. The best way to enjoy the sauna is to first go swimming in a hole cut in the frozen sea at winter. Swim a lap, run to the sauna and feel incredibly refreshed! You might think it's awful, but it's actually the best feeling, and gives you amazing resistance against the flu and sore throats! 

Pick Up A Souvenir

Take home with you a lovely Moomin plush toy, chocolate by Fazer, drinking glasses and cups by Iittala and something colorful and hand printed by Marimekko - a purse or maybe a dress!
Do you live in an awesome city? Get in touch with us about writing your own city guide!

Craft Room Tour

Posted May 16th, 2013 14:00

We're off to sunny San Diego in California today to take a tour of Debee's colourful studio. We love her sleek white furniture matched against pops of bright color from her supplies!

"My favorite thing about my studio is how bright it gets. The contrast between the white walls + furniture + floors really brightens up the colorful supplies and hobby items I love. It really is my little corner of the world that makes me happy. :)"

My craft space is one of our 3 bedrooms and is located in the sunniest corner of our home. The studio measures approx 10ft x 10 ft. kind of small but I'm very happy to have a wee space to ponder in :) My space is also home to my online shop Inspire Lovely on etsy.



Is this also your work space?
My studio space is my primary office "work" space but the rest of our home is fair game. I crochet, scrapbooking/paper art and graphic design in the space. A little bit of designing on the computer at the desk, some crochet in front of the telly and lots of paper punching spread around the kitchen table. A beautiful mess everywhere :)

What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
I have surrounded myself with several things i really love: my collections of ribbons, yarns, and thrifted finds. They all bring so much beauty and life into my "work" space. I love looking around at things that inspire me while I create. It makes it fun to get creative and not think of it so much like "work".

How do you keep organized?
I would love to say that I am super organized but I'm not. I have so much stuff I constantly have to clear the mess off my desk and start over. It often happens when i start one computer design project, then start another scrapbook project and have a crochet project I'm itching to start all at the same time. I keep most of my pending projects in specific bins that i like to move around with me either on the go or to another room to be with the family. My husband always refers to me as a gyspy hauling all my stuff around with me hehee. I like to be prepared for some crafty time. I do have a big supply stash and most of it is stored away in storage.I have a large bin for each color of the rainbow.

Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
I keep my large bin supply sorted by color then by kind ( all buttons together in a bag, all ribbons together etc) in clear plastic bins. It's become so much easier for me to find things and create new things for my shop this way.

Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
I love my old sewing machine Nena. She's not top of the line, but she's pretty awesome. I love adding crazy sewing lines to my art projects and she always delivers. I also love my oversized typewriter I got for free a while ago. I love that it types scattered and funky. Kind of like me :)

I do make things and live with them for a while, then sometimes I like to give them away to family & friends or end up in my shop shelves for all my lovely etsy customers to love.

How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I find that it helps to just do what you love. I will keep a virtual sketchbook ( folder ) on my desktop and add photos i've taken on my phone from shopping adventures. Most times as my tastes change i go back and delete photos.

Where do you look for inspiration?
I love color inspirations from the yarn aisle, the paper store, gazing into store front windows etc. Everyday beauty is what I'm looking for.

If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream craft space?
I'd love to wish for 1) a WHOLE wall just for yarn from top to bottom
2) A larger seating area with a huge rug and comfy couch to sit and create
3) gustav klimt's "The Kiss" hanging on my wall :) It's so beautiful and oh so inspiring!

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Law1sfab By Law1sfab

Outfit details:

  • Cardigan, hat and shoes - Charity shop
  • Top - c/o Clothing At Tesco
  • Jeans - New Look
  • Necklace - Primark

DIY Spike Studded Shoes

Recreate the look with Laura's Spike Studded Shoes & Heart Patches tutorials:



How would you describe your style?

I'm like an Andy Warhol painting when it comes to clothing, you may see familiar things but in a different way it's bold and punchy. I like to keep my style playful, I don't like to take it to seriously, life is to short not to have fun with fashion. I love colour, so if it's bright and patterned it's going in my wardrobe.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

A charity shop granny style cardigan, it's a massive chunky knit and multi coloured. It's so stupidly crazy and bold, but fabulous pieces it makes me feel like if I can make this work I can rock anything.


Who are your style icons?

There are so many, I love looking at photos of my mum in the 70's she had such great style back than. I admire so many people from mainly the music scene, No doubt (back in the 90's) Gwen's hairstyles were so cool and I love her ever changing clothing style. I adore Bjork, she's wears what she wants and I adore that. I also love Karen O from Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs again she has this bold, raw style. Grace Coddington is a fashion legend, she's so talented when it comes to fashion styling and was the reason I use to buy Vogue growing up! Cher in Clueless, I remember when it first came out and thinking that I needed knee high socks as soon as I finished watching it.

I'll stop there as I adore so many in fashion, music, TV and film.

Do you have any favourite designers?

I adore Christopher Kane, his first ever collection back in 2006 with the bandage dresses is still one of my all time favourites. His collections are alway playful and very creative. For classic it has to be Jean Paul Gaultier from his divine corsets, to making the breton top cool. His one of the greats and the costumes he made for the film 'Fifth Element' in 1997 are still to this day beyond cool.


Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

I am a high street girl, so for me H&M, Primark, River Island and New Look. I also love ASOS for online shopping, but to be honest I'll shop everywhere. I think it's good to keep an open mind, I love vintage shops like beyond retro and also charity shops to mix it up a little.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I have two young boys, so when I get time I do. Before the kids I would always be doing something creative to my clothing, this year I plan on working on more projects as it's fun and de-stressing.


Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

You can wear things you have in a different way, I'm always wearing long skirts as dresses in summer by pulling them up and belting at the waist. Or adding a heap of brooches you have to a beanie hat for the new 90's trend. If you have old clothing that needs a new lease of life, go on You Tube or craft sites like this one and get inspired. Turn jeans into denim shorts, use a cool fabric and sew it down to one side of the shorts and why not add some studs (I stud everything). Easy, cheap and upcycling things you already have in the house. Plus when people ask 'where did you get that?' it's a great feeling to know you have made out of things some people would just throw.

Follow Laura on CO+K to keep up with her projects and check out her blog, That's So Yesterday »


Libby W. By Libby W.

"The best thing about living in Cardiff is that there are so many different areas within the city and they all have their own character. It’s almost like living in more than one place!" 


View Cardiff City Guide in a larger map

Shop

For sewing supplies my first point of call would be City Rd. Butterfly Fabrics (79-81 City Road) can only be described as a fabric emporium, they have every type of fabric that you can think of, plus a big table at the back where you can peruse patterns. Only a few doors down is the cutely named Crafty Sew & Sew (67 City Road), which has a great selection of sewing notions as well as some yarns, fabrics & ribbons. The charity shops on city road and Albany Road are also always worth a look for a good bargain. For paper crafts, artist supplies and general crafting miscellany check out Inkspot (The Old Church, Clifton Street) which is in a converted church. The City Arcades also host some great bead shops like Claire Grove Buttons and Crystals & Ice Bead Shop.

Milgi (213 City Road) run a craft/vintage market on the 1st Sunday of every month, that’s great for when you first start selling. They also run a £1 jumble sale on the 3rd Sunday of the month, if you need to clear out to make space for more craft stuff. 

Be Inspired

The Arcades are a warren of little independent shops and cafes in the heart of Cardiff. Castle Arcade is particularly pretty with its high arched glass roof. I love getting lost in here and stumbling on a quirky second hand bookshop or vintage shop that I haven’t seen before. Cardiff Fashion Quarter (CFQ) is also great for inspiration, it’s been open since Christmas and as well as having a great graffiti frontage, has loads of stalls selling handicrafts and vintage clothes.


It’s pretty compulsory to have your photo taken in front of Cardiff Castle and under the Welsh flags on St Mary’s Street. You can also strike a pose with a Dalek and Homer at rhe fancy dress shop in Duke Street arcade. Cardiff Bay is also great place for photos; you can snap the Wales Millennium Centre (Bute Place) with its imposing writing as well as the Norwegian Church (Harbour Drive) and any boats on the Bay. 


Cardiff has loads of inspiring architecture. The city is peppered with beautiful buildings like Cardiff Castle and the City Hall, which is guarded by a dragon! Next door to the City Hall is the National Museum Cardiff, where I always take visitors to gaze at the basking shark and other curiosities in the natural history section. 

Eat & Drink

There are so many great restaurants in Cardiff it’s hard to choose! I love the handmade falafels in pittas from the Falafel Café (38 Woodville Road), for tasty food on the go. I also always take visitors to Mina’s (43 Crwys Road) to try out the Lebanese food. When I’m shopping in the arcades I go to Coffee Barker (55 Whitchurch Road) for delicious handmade soup, which comes with a door step sized wedge of bread.

 Craft

Cardiff has a thriving crafting community. I’m a member of Cardiff Crafty Crew, we meet every Tuesday evening in 33 Windsor Place for knitting, crochet and a good natter. There are loads of other craft groups in the city who you can find through a quick search on Facebook or Ravelry.

Cardiff has loads of great parks. Bute Park is great to chill out in on a sunny day, you can sit on the grass and craft with great views of Cardiff castle. Or if you get bored, walk or cycle up the Taff trail and watch the salmon jumping at black weir. 

Calon Yarns (380 Cowbridge Rd) run workshops on everything from spinning to alterations and have sofas in their shop where you can hang out and craft. Milgi have also been known to run craft evenings or just chill out and eat tasty vegetarian food in their cute yellow café.

See Something Special


Any Doctor Who fans will have to make the pilgrimage to Cardiff Bay. See ‘The Hub’, Torchwood’s secret head quarters and the shrine to Ianto Jones.

Stroll along the bay to visit the Doctor Who Experience and have your photo taken with the Tardis. The bay also has loads of restaurants and bars for when you’re tired out after all that site seeing.

On the outside of Cardiff is St Fagan’s - The Museum Of Welsh Life. It’s an outdoor museum, so on a nice day it’s gorgeous to stroll around, looking at the historic Welsh buildings and working farm. You can also chill out with a picnic in front of St Fagan’s Castle.

Pick Up A Souvenir

A welsh love spoon is a very unusual and pretty souvenir or gift. They were originally given to girls as a symbol of intent to marry, kind of like an old fashioned engagement ring. Now people give them for all sorts of occasions such as Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and christenings. And of course if you visit Cardiff you must try out Welsh food. Welsh cakes are like wonderful sugary flat scones. Get them warm from fabulous welsh cakes in Cardiff Bay.


Do you live in an awesome city? Get in touch with us about writing your own city guide!

Craft Room Tour

Posted May 9th, 2013 23:47

This week we head to Hamilton, Ontario to take a tour of blogger, Love Elycia's gorgeous and trinket-filled office and craft room.

"My favourite thing about my craft space is the wall directly behind my desk. I put photos of friends, prints and paintings I love as well as any little thing that makes me smile. I even have some old Strawberry Shortcake airfresheners stuck to that wall."

My craft space is on the main floor of our home in the back bedroom that overlooks the backyard. I don't know the exact dimensions of the room but I would say that it is a medium sized room, not too big, not too small. The room doubles as my office. It is my favourite place to work from because it gets a lot of light all day long and the way it is decorated keeps me happy and motivated.I share my space with my three kitties. They think they are very helpful while I'm working and like to sit or lounge on top of whatever I am working on.


Is this also your work space?
As I mentioned, this is also my work/office space where I do most of my blogging, email answering and drawing. I really love working out of this room but I can sometimes be found crafting in the living room, on the bed in the other spare room or sometimes at the kitchen table. It really depends what I'm working on, what type of day it is and what else I have going on while crafting. I mostly use my craft space for sewing and I will occasionally embroider, crochet or knit in there as well if I don't feel like sitting on the couch. 

What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
To make my craft room a space where I love to spend time I painted the walls a really happy turquoise-y colour that I am crazy about. I have collected a lot of odds and ends throughout the years and I love displaying some of my favourites in my craft room to keep me happy and inspired. I go crazy for colour so the more colourful my room is the better!

How do you keep organized?
At times I can get a little crazy and become a messy crafter but I have a really hard time staying productive and excited in a messy craft space. Don't get me wrong, I love making a good crafty mess but I prefer to clean it up as soon as possible.  For knitting/crochet works in progress I either keep them in a bag (if it is a portable project) or in my little project basket. For sewing, I like to leave the project out on my table until it is complete and for embroidery I have been hanging unfinished pieces on the living room wall to remind me to work on them. My supply stash is pretty big! I have collected most of it from thrift stores because it is really hard to pass up something awesome that you might someday need for something at the thrift store. I store most of my fabric, embroidery supplies and paint in blue bins on my big shelving unit and my yarn has it's own special box that is buried somewhere in my messy closet at the moment. 

Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
If my supplies are especially pretty I like to use them as decorations while they are being stored. My prettiest fabric is displayed out in the open on my shelves and crewel thread that I love the colour of is usually in some kind of bowl on the shelf. 

Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
I have a really hard time picking favourites of anything but I really love the embroidery that Lucky Jackson did of me. I love Jen's work and it made me feel very special that she choose to embroider me! One of the pieces on my big wall of art is made my me. It is an embroidery piece of a ball of yarn. Oh and there is a cute little amigurimi bunny that I made peeking out of one of my bowls. There might be more but that's all I can think of at the moment. 

How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I try to write down all my ideas in a notebook because my common attitude of "this idea is so great, there is no way I will forget it" has failed me many times. Sometimes I have a problem remembering which notebook I wrote my great ideas down in but I always find them eventually. 

Where do you look for inspiration?
One thing that I have learned about myself is that I have a really hard time looking for inspiration. It just has to hit me when I least expect it. I get inspired most by colours, beauitful days and good smells so it can really hit at any time, I just need to be ready!

If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream craft space?
Wish number one, I would change my furniture from black to white. I really wish I had have bought white furniture.

Wish number two, I would add a few more windows. My craft space does get good light all day but it could definitely use more. You can never have enough natural light!

Wish number three, I would have one of those huge cat tree things that goes from floor to ceiling. I would love to look over and see my kitties hanging out on that!
You can keep up to date with Elycia on her blog »

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