Monday Makery - Keepsake Treasure Boxes

Moving house from an adults point of view is without doubt a monumental exhausting task. But, seeing it from a child's point of view turns it into an adventure. Its a journey of re-discovery and  finding new shelves and toy boxes to put their beloved belongings is like a game. And then there's the fun on of the empty cardboard box and all its possibilities!
We discovered along the way paper bags full of memories of places we have been, countries we have visited and outings we have enjoyed. It seemed unjust to simply return them to their nondescript paper bags to be hidden in a drawer and forgotten about and we couldn't put them into our scrapbook as they didn't belong to the adventures of this current year.
So, we've been busy making keepsake boxes. These boxes are like catalogues of memories we can revisit and enjoy much like a photo album only filled with the ticket stubs, postcards and the paraphernalia we've collected with each experience.
They're easy to create and you can personalise them in any way you wish, making each one your very own treasure box of memories. They would make great gifts too and making them in advance of a trip would make the awaiting adventure all the more exciting as you collect things to put inside. I think they would make a great alternative to the plastic party bags and you could personalise them for each guest with a initials or a picture of the guest who'll receive it. If you really want to elaborate further why not cover your card with fabric.

Here's what you'll need:

• Card
• pencil
• ruler
• scissors
• glue stick
• decorations e.g map, stamps, labels

Here's how:

1. Begin by marking the outlines of your box: The size of the box you make will of course depend on what you intend to keep inside. Here the boxes were made to include a large postcard so the base of my box needed to measure 8" by 6".
2. To use the same measurements used here begin by drawing a rectangle 8" x 6". Then along each edge draw a further rectangle 2.5" deep and following the length of each side. Finally add on the flaps. 
3. In order to make the lid you first need a rectangle measuring the same as you base adding on a tiny amount to allow to fit over the box edges without squeezing. 8.1" x 6.1". Then as before measure and mark a rectangle along each edge. The ones here measure 1" deep. Finally add the flaps.
4. Cut out your templates
5. Score along each marked line to fold up each side to give the card its box shape.
6. Do the same for the lid. 
7. Glue the back of the flaps so they stick to the inside of the box pressing firmly and making sure each edge is at its 90 degree angle. Repeat for the lid.
8. Now to finish it off with your chosen labels, dates and pictures.

If you would like to create a 'pull out album' concertina strips of card using the same measurement as the base of your box. To make the concertina longer add a flap that can be folded and adhered to the end of each concertina end. As a delicate finishing touch punch a hole in the top piece of your folded album and tie a ribbon through.

Fill with memories and enjoy

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This is part of our Monday Makery; a weekly craft or recipe to make or bake.
Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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New collections arrive - I love gorgeous

ilovegorgeous has arrived made with rainbows and moonlit fairy dust sprinkles its has us dreaming of the  summer days ahead.

Inspired by the long carefree days of summer festivals, lazy days playing in the long grass and retro summer parties. 

The collection carries everything a girl dreams of. Beautifully finished party dresses, skirts in pretty and unusal prints, vintage inspired fabrics, and bouncy swirly carnival skirts with matching tops and the classic everyday dresses that have become synonymous with each ilovegorgeous seasonal story.

We've put together this seasons must haves for you.

View the collection here

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Come see our Monday Makery with ideas for things to make, bake and create. Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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Wednesday Woo - Love is in the air

There is a wonderful burrow behind a tiny hill-top where there lives a magical world of bunnies and rabbits. There are sisters and brothers, nephews, cousins, princes and princesses, a whole family.

Today, if you listen very carefully you may even hear the bells ringing. For today all the bunnies and rabbits on the tiny hill top are busy with wedding preparations. 

The bride will be dressed in vintage lace and she'll wear a pink floral crown, a gift from her sister.

Tonight the bunnies will dance under the pale milky moon and the sparkling starlit sky before waking up the sun for a new day and new adventures together.

Congratulations to the bride and groom!

bride - medium £36.50, Groom - medium £36.50, Prince - medium £36.50, Princess - medium £36.50, princess - small £17.75   , baby bunnies in christening gowns £12.50. 

Maileg bunnies and rabbits from £12.50 

Come play on the tiny hill-top and dance with bunnies, tell them your favourite bedtime stories and
 share your adventures. 
 They love to run and skip and hop about, they love to be held but most of all they love to be loved

Hanging fabric hearts, butterflies and flowers by Maileg from £3.10 , pram £19.50 by Maileg, 

small princess rabbit by Maileg £17.75

Take a look at the wonder that is Maileg in all its charm and beauty. 

You can read 'The Story Behind Our Collections - Maileg' here.

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This is part of our Wednesday Woo blog post series where we present a selection of our favourite things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.

We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself. Because everyone can be creative.

The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas as well as tips on events and whats on for families

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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Happy Valentines Day

My Valentine's evening has consisted of eating a big heart shaped chocolate brownie with my 4 year old son and reading 2 of our favourite bedtime stories: Penguin and Lost & Found.  Both stories happen to be about the friendship between a boy and a penguin, and have the perfect combination of humour and heart-warmingness!

Full of love...

'Everything' Penguin, Polly Dunbar

When all hope seemed gone, the two friends finally found each other. Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers

Celebrate LOVE with 20% off all things full of LOVE

With Valentine's Day next week it gives us even more reason to celebrate LOVE with friends & family.  We have gathered together a collection of things that are full of LOVE, things that make us ooohhh & aahhhhh, bring a smile and a twinkle to the eye!

Maileg have some little sweetheart tins to hide sweet sentiments (only £2.00 each) , Rice DK have some decor gifts to add joy to your home, Belle & Boo is all about capturing the love and innocence of childhood, whilst the jewellery from Renaissance Life and hop hop hop, with secret hearts and lockets, is full of pure romance.  We are sisters who enjoy spreading love far and wide...so, for a long weekend dedicated to love we are giving you 20% off all things full of LOVE in the boutique.

Enter TOLOVE at checkout for 20% off 

(valid until midnight Tuesday 14th February 2012) 

Wednesday Woo - Blue skies on the horizon

featured above:  Beach ball in gingham print by Rice DK £3.50, Check baby dungarees by Little Duckling £34.90,  Voile yellow dress by Little Duckling £40.00, Felt Caterplillar by En Gry & Sif £43.00, Felt car bag by En Gry & Sif £36.00, 

Ok, so the weather outside may be pretty cold and the sky a little heavy with grey cloud but you can be sure that when the sky turns blue and the sun shines we'll be ready! With our new collections arriving we're already excited about the adventures we'll be having this spring. There are blue skies on the horizon.

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This is part of our Wednesday Woo blog post series where we present a selection of our favourite things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.

We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself.

The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas.

www.sistersguild.co.uk

Sign up for future news & offers:

Monday Makery - tea-towel pencil case roll

We're been packing our things as we're moving house and one of the last things to pack was the girls baskets of creative bits and bobs. I didn't want to pack everything and thought that we should at the very least keep some essential pencils and paper to hand. I knew once they were packed I'd have so much trouble finding them when it was called for and, I know I'm going to need them to have some sitting-still-and-keeping-busy-moments! This way I could encourage them to keep their pencils tidily all the while keeping themselves busy drawing at the table whilst I continued to pack everything else. 

Thankfully my sewing machine had not yet been packed and I found a scrap of felt and an old faded tea towel that would make a perfect pencil roll. These are great for travelling, make great gifts and they took (once I'd found all the things I'd need) 15 minutes to make! 

The girls of course love them and as it didn't take very long to make I made one for each of them. I might make another batch to use in party bags for Oona's upcoming 3rd birthday too. But not now..... I've got a lot more packing to do!

Here's what you'll need:

• Fabric
• ribbon or ric-rac
• pack of pencils
• scissors
• needle and thread or sewing machine
• tailors chalk or fine pencil

pic 3 & 4 show the second pencil roll I made but  on this fabric shows more clearly the guide

Here's how:

1. Cut your fabric to size. You'll need a rectangular shape that measures 13" by 15" (the larger length will depend on how many pencils you want in your roll). For each pencil you'll need an inch of fabric and then 1/2 and inch either side of the row. The one created here was for 14 pencils. Which means, 14 inches + 2 x 1/2  an inch = 15". 
2. You'll now need to stitch along the top and bottom of your fabric to prevent any fraying. The sides will be stitched last. As the tea towel I used to create this had no pattern or colour on the reverse I added some felt to the back to give the inside some colour. If you are doing it this way too then pin the fabric together making sure the colour you want to show is on the outside/facing out.
3. Fold up the bottom of the fabric to create a pocket measuring 4" from bottom to top and pin the edges together to prevent it from sliding.
4. Now, make your measurements for the pencil pockets. Measure 1/2 and inch in from the left and mark a vertical line up and down the pocket. Then mark a vertical line in one inch intervals leaving you with another 1/2 inch margin on the left side.
5. Sew vertically up your marked lines to create each individual pencil pocket. 
6. Now sew the entire vertical left and right side edges to finish off and to prevent any fraying of the sides.
7. Finally Flip over the fabric left to right as though turning a page of a book so that the outside is now showing. Take a length of ribbon and fold in half. Sew the mid point to the left hand side of your pencil roll half way up the side. This will allow you to tie the roll up and keep the pencil secure inside when you're out and about.
8. Load with pencils and its ready!

Of the two pencil rolls I made I much prefer the one I made using an inner layer of felt. Not only does it give it a quilted feeling and avoids the feel of the hard pencils once rolled up but I also love the flash of bright colour on the inside. If you would like to use only one piece of fabric to make them - I'd suggest using felt over a heavy cotton. If you love beautiful fabric like we do then do use it........it doesn't have to be a tea-towel!

Happy Making xx

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This is part of our Monday Makery where each week we bring you a recipe to bake, a craft to create and simple ideas for fun things to make with children. We know that sometimes the craft isn't about the final finish but having created something together and we want to encourage everyone to have a go. I am certainly a 'newbie' when it comes to making things and trust me I'll leave all baking recipes to my sister, you see the thing is my girls love it, they feed me with inspiration and I love that our home is a constant and evolving state of creating and creations.

Our daily blogs offer you a sneak preview in our 'once upon a week' where we give you an insight into a week with Sisters Guild, a guide to whats on, with places to visit and things to do with all the family in our 'Art of Living', on Tuesday we bring you a little closer to our designers and why we chose them with 'The Story behind Our Collections' and a little closer to the bloggers, crafters and friends of Sisters Guild with our fun 'Tell us its Tuesday', whilst on Wednesday we show you new arrivals and inspiring discoveries in the Sisters Guild Boutique. To find where we get our inspiration from take a look at 'An A-Z of Sisters Guild' ; a collection of images inspired by the words which express the meaning of what we believe.

Once Upon a Week - Are the bears coming too?

Oona walked into the sitting room where it was starting to look quite stark. With her favourite bears tucked under her arms she says; "Are the bears coming to our new house"? "Yes, of course they are" I said before sitting down and talking through what will be coming with us and all the fun of making a new home together.

"We can't have a home without the bears, and the bears can't be without a home!  With all our belongings being boxed up and their things slowly 'disappearing' there's an air of curiosity and puzzlement for Oona as the house is stripped of its character. "I think the bears might like to help us pack things to take to our new house. Why don't we pack a suitcase of all your most important things you'd like to carry with you."

So, we're moving house again!  Though I've envisioned how each room will look, what will go where, what pictures will be hung, Oona the younger of the girls has needed some help in understanding  it. So, with the all important suitcase packed (with the help of her bears) which is a mix of books, clothes and an eclectic mix of loved possessions, that makes me wonder what is going through her head the idea of moving has taken on a new excitement.

It is now, for the girls another adventure, its more boxes to make dens in and bedrooms to arrange as they please. Tours with the bears of each room and a chaos that invites them to be wild as we're busy re-juggling our lives.
For me its a nightmare of packing and labeling our lives into boxes and bags and living with stack upon stack of our possessions as we ready for the moving day. All whilst trying to maintain a sense of order. Discarding the feeling of being a little lost, exhausted and annoyed with the inconvenience of it all.
Perhaps I would be better able to see it as an adventure too if it was not the fourth property I'll be making a home in since Oona was born. She isn't yet three and I crave the stability of a family home. As a woman and a mother I feel I just want to nest and though we have never moved from the area we live in I'm a little tired of feeling as though we're in waiting. Waiting for our lives to begin...... again...... and again.......and again!

So, as ever you turn things around to see its positive. So now, I'm using this time to remove the clutter from my life. The clutter that sits in each drawer, nook and cupboard. The things you supposedly need but in actual fact had forgotten you had it! It feels as though I might too be starting a new adventure now. And for the first time I feel excited. A new home will be born and we will fill it with our chaos of love, laughter and Oona's favourite bears!

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This is a new series - Once Upon a Week - where we give you a glimpse into the lives and times behind the scenes of Sisters Guild.

We also publish other series in our blog including our Monday Makery, Tuesday brings the closing of our series 'The  Story Behind Our Collections' inviting you to take a closer look at the designers we house and the beginning of a new series 'Tell Us Its Tuesday'.  Wednesday we show you our favourite seasonal pieces and Thursdays is dedicated to the 'Art of Living' in which we share ideas and inspiration from places to visit, things to see and articles about things that enrich our lives.


www.sistersguild.co.uk

The Art of Living - Lost in a book

From The Incredible book eating boy - by Oliver Jeffers. 

This week Sophia has been celebrating reading week at school; there has been a school assembly, a book swap and tomorrow a dressing up day where all the children dress up as their favourite characters from literature.

It got me thinking about all the books we have enjoyed over the last (almost) 6 years. The stories I have read and reread, the ones I still know off by heart and the ones we revisited from my own childhood.
I started to feel a little nostalgic in remembering our early bedtime reads, the books that Sophia devoured, sometimes quite literally, the books that helped to give her a voice and the books she now reads to her little sisters Oona.
There are books on our shelves that are worn and tattered through their lives lived in ours and so many that almost feel alive, as though the words are still heard without being opened.

We're going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

Some books seem to me like a right of passage, a milestone in a child's life, memories made and adventures enjoyed together. Here are some of the books I would recommend for any bookshelf. Books that may begin the love of reading, books with great imaginings but more importantly books that can be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere, every day.
Though I've given a rough age guide for the books it is only a rough guide and only you know your child, so follow your own instinct - it'll always prove you right.

First books

Guess how much I love you - by Sam McBratney, Peepo! - by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, Each peach pear plum - by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and The very hungry caterpillar - by Eric Carle I would recommend all of the books by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and also those by Eric Carle; The illustrations are always wonderful and the stories focus on the simplicity of everyday and more often the humour and pattern found in it. They are reassuring, wholesome whimsical stories told with clarity and satisfying sounds.

Great books for 2 year olds

ABC - by Brian Wildsmith, Goodnight moon - by Margaret Wise Brown, Rosie's walk - by Pat Hutchins  and The Gruffalo - by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler The images in Brian Wildsmith's book are so incredible that when I discovered a second copy in a charity shop I decided to create a framed picture with them all for the girls room. They are images we could never tire looking at. We have loved goodnight moon and we could spend so much time looking at each individual page and their cosy intimate illustrations. I think this book will stay by our bedside forever!

Wonderful books for 2 year olds

Brown bear, brown bear, what do you hear? - by Eric Carle, Lost and Found - by Oliver Jeffers, The Shirley Hughes Collection - by Shirley Hughes and The tiger who came to tea - by Judith Kerr. Its funny how some children's books almost become theme tunes to the day, We'll often be bobbing along through our day reenacting these stories and almost singing their words. All of these books have great rhythm to them and are great for helping with children's language. 

Great books for 3 year olds

The Incredible book eating boy - by Oliver Jeffers, Where the wild things are - by Maurice Sendak, The heart and the bottle - by Oliver Jeffers and The enormous Crocodile - by Roald Dahl I'm a huge fan of all the books by Oliver Jeffers and of course no childhood could go by without a dose or rather a huge dollop of Roald Dahl. 

books for 4 year olds

The Giving Tree - by Shel Silverstein, Leon and the place between - by Graham Baker Smith, The Little prince  - by Antoine De Saint Exupery and Charlie and the chocolate factory - by Roald Dahl  The giving tree is a story of the relationship between a tree and a boy and is perhaps the first book that brought tears to Sophia's eyes. It started a long conversation about love, selfishness and sacrifice and remains a firm favourite. Leon and the place between is a book who's story leaps off the page through its words and illustrations with such effect it is almost overwhelming. It was an instant hit!

books for 5 year olds

Alice's adventures in wonderland - by Lewis Carroll, The Lion the witch and the wardrobe - by C. S. Lewis, The magic faraway tree - by Enid Blyton and The sheep pig - by dick King-Smith I don't think I could count the number of times we have read Alice's adventures in wonderland. We have dozens of copies this way, that way and the other way all over the house and it has inspired birthday parties and our own made up stories and pictures too. Discovering Narnia with Sophia has been amazing and now hiding in wardrobes and cupboards in games of hide and seek has taken on a new meaning!

There are so many books I am looking forward to reading with the girls as they get older, these are (for us) the ones whose stories remain silent, whose adventures have not yet been told. They are our part of our future adventures together.

books for 6 years and up

The secret garden - by Frances Hogdson Burnett, Swallows and Amazons - by Arthur Ransome, The happy prince - by Oscar wilde, Treasure Island - by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Hobbit - by J. R. R. Tolkein,  and Watership Down - by Richard Adams, 

Reading is without doubt the best free thing to do with children. The words we read have the magic to create worlds, people, creatures, legends, they feed our imaginations and help voice our own lives. With local libraries supplying us with row upon row of free adventures be it knights fighting dragons, Big friendly giants, a wardrobe that acts as a portal to another world or a caterpillar who spends an entire week feasting before his metamorphosis as a bright butterfly, there's a whole universe of words and pictures to discover. So, hop along to your local library, grab an armful of books and give them a go.

"By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life"

- Jean Baptiste Girrad

Oh and 4th Februray 2012 is

 NATIONAL LIBRARIES DAY 

So its the perfect time to become a member of your local library!

I know there a thousands and thousands of books that could/should/would be on the list.... tells us your favourite books too.....

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This is part of the Art of Living series of posts that bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas.

In our Wednesday Woo blog post series we present a selection of things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.

We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself.

Monday Makery - Fabric covered books - 'my autobiography'

These are our new fabric covered scrap books. Our own personal books, covered with our chosen fabrics we love. Made to fill with our memories of the year. Be it flowers picked on a journey home, pressed and stuck inside, favourite drawings, photo's, stories, postcards of places we go and all sort of things we begin to treasure.

This is such a simple craft to put together and one I had intended to start at the very beginning of the new year. Its a tradition that I've kept going each year since the girls have been born, but  they've been more my involvement and choreography and enthusiasm than theirs. Now they're a little bit older I feel as though this is something they could now 'write' and enjoy as much as I have and it'll be all the better because this time for the first time they are their books; not the flowers I pick on the way home and stick inside or the ticket stubs from a theatre trip I chose. They are now the authors of their lives and so this should be the their autobiographies.

Here's what you'll need:

• Scrapbook - you can find these very cheaply in pound-shops and supermarkets
• Fabric - you can find old fabric in charity shops even if its just a nice print on a T-shirt or pillowcase
• 'Heat 'n' Bond' - an adhesive for fabric projects in principal double sided sticky tape.
• Scissors
• An iron

Here's how:

1. Spread your piece of fabric right side down so the pattern faces the table and open out your scrapbook on top.
2. Measure the size of fabric needed to cover the front and back of your scrapbook. I wanted the books to have a truly luxurious feel and so covered the inside of the front and back pages as well as the front. If you're intending to do it this way too fold over the fabric into the book and cut it where it meats the  inside spine.
3. Next you need to secure the fabric to the book. This is where 'heat n bond' comes in handy! Put the book to one side leaving your fabric (now cut to size) right side down. Place the sheet of 'heat n bond' over the top of the fabric and iron over the top to adhere. (instructions are clearly written on the packet).
4. Peel off the paper backing and line up your scrapbook in the centre. Fold the fabric over the front cover and on to the inside cover page. 
5. Iron over the fabric to adhere. Repeat the process on the other side.
6. Trim the edges of the book and you're done.

I'm looking forward to all that this year brings and now the girls can keep a record of the changing seasons and their ever blossoming selves. It'll be interesting to see what they choose to put inside, the things they deem 'treasure', the things that make an impression upon them and the days they don't want to forget. This is the beginning of a new chapter, a new year and a new adventure about to begin.

I love the feel the fabric gives to each book and how instantly it cheers me up see them. With more notebooks to cover (I never have enough pretty notebooks) and no more 'heat n bond' I went on to cover some notebooks using fabric glue. Though the finish wasn't as professional looking as it was with the magic 'heat sheet' they look just as beautiful. 

I think I've discovered a new habit and am now searching for more books in the house to cover.... any excuse; battered spines, gruesome covers, photo albums with faded covers they're all going to get the fabric treatment.

Happy Making

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This is part of our Monday Makery where each week we bring you a recipe to bake, a craft to create and simple ideas for fun things to make with children. We know that sometimes the craft isn't about the final finish but having created something together and we want to encourage everyone to have a go. I am certainly a 'newbie' when it comes to making things and trust me I'll leave all baking recipes to my sister, you see the thing is my girls love it, they feed me with inspiration and I love that our home is a constant and evolving state of creating and creations.

Our daily blogs offer you a sneak preview in our 'once upon a week' where we give you an insight into a week with Sisters Guild, a guide to whats on, with places to visit and things to do with all the family in our 'Art of Living', on Tuesday we bring you a little closer to our designers and why we chose them with 'The Story behind Our Collections' and a little closer to the bloggers, crafters and friends of Sisters Guild with our fun 'Tell us its Tuesday', whilst on Wednesday we show you new arrivals and inspiring discoveries in the Sisters Guild Boutique. To find where we get our inspiration from take a look at 'An A-Z of Sisters Guild' ; a collection of images inspired by the words which express the meaning of what we believe.

2012 - a year of new discoveries

Happy New Year to you all. We hope you have enjoyed some good holiday time with friends, family and places you love. We had a busy December, which involved a trip to New York for Carla and a relocation from Sussex to Somerset for Bekka. Whilst London will remain a creative hub for Sisters Guild, the practical operation of the business will now be happening in the lovely little town of Frome. We shall be introducing a new 'sister' to you next month who will be learning the ropes and getting to know you all. AND March will bring a new baby for Bekka. So, 2012 looks set to be a year of new discoveries for the sisters and family.

It is with much excitement that we give you a glimpse of the pattern, colour and detail of collections that are coming to the Sisters Guild Boutique in 2012. It is such a pleasure to look at these images, especially in the grey of January. For SS12 ilovegorgeous is full of delicious colour and playful design, whilst Maileg brings us a new collection to oooh and ahhhh over, En Gry & Sif has some Easter delights and Rice DK has extra zing for your home....with many more collections to be revealed in the coming months!

In the meantime, there's the Winter Sale to shop with up to 60% off. Pop along to the sale here

The blog will continue to bring more ideas and inspiration from all quarters. If you would like to do a guest blog or send in any ideas we would really welcome them....as you ARE all part of Sisters Guild too!
Discover the Monday Makeries here

Here's to 2012 and a year full of love, laughter, wonder and new horizons.

Carla & Bekka
xx

Have a wonderful festive holiday!

We have had a marvellous year and we are very thankful for all the enthusiasm you have shown for the Sisters Guild Boutique & Blog.  The New Year will bring many more exciting and inspiring collections.  We look forward to discovering and sharing so much together in 2012.

Meanwhile, we shall be enjoying some time off for celebration, chatter, play, rest, relaxation & family time (not forgetting some yummy food and quality BBC Drama)

We hope you all enjoy the same with an extra sprinkle of magic!

With warm smiles

Carla & Bekka
xx

If you do feel the urge to shop the Winter Sale  - with some relaxed browsing time it's always a pleasure isn't it! - you can still place orders & they will be dispatched after 9 Jan 2012

Holidays plans for 2012 with Baby Friendly Boltholes

Baby-Friendly Boltholes is a website I go to when I have escape on my mind.. There are some seriously desirable family holidays that are firmly on my wishlist - a Tuscan Villa, a Greek Boutique Hotel or a Devon Retreat. Next year will take some extra planning for me with a 4 year old and a baby arriving in March, but I already feel quite relaxed at the idea of a holiday with all those thoughtful and family-friendly extras.

Here is a Christmas Wish from Baby-Friendly Boltholes:

Baby-Friendly Boltholes, the online little black book of stylish yet child friendly cottages, villas and boutique hotels, is a big fan of Sisters Guild and would like to wish all its users and their little ones a magical Christmas and a fun-filled 2012. To help with the fun next year BFB would like to offer everyone a £20 discount off a break booked online at www.babfriendlyboltholes.co.uk on or before March 15, 2012.

Simply enter BFBSISG when making a booking. One per booking. Not valid with any other offer.

Last Day for Christmas Orders TODAY!

TODAY is the last day to place a UK order for Christmas - please place your orders before Midnight tonight!  Then the sisters and elves shall be on holiday.  You will still be able to place orders over Christmas & New Year, to make the most of the Winter Sale, but orders will not be dispatched until after 9th January 2012. Thank you.

www.sistersguild.co.uk

The Art of Living - Winter Wonderland

Every year we've put on warmest winter layers and headed off to Hyde Park in London to enjoy the delights of Winter Wonderland in the cold crisp evening air.
Approaching the park is exciting in itself, seeing the twinkling lights in the distance and then the rich spicy aromas floating through the air of delicious warm food feels instantly like Christmas. There is something quite special about being out with the children after dark. This is especially true when headed out for an evening of fun, frolics and food in the park once the sun has left the sky.

First on our things to do will be some ice skating. This year both the girls will be old enough to put on some blades and dance across the ice rink so there will be our very own version of skating on ice. Well, perhaps it'll be more of a cautious crawl with a few tumbles but to them it'll feel like dancing! I'll be well prepared for the falls and will be sure to take some extra clothing or better yet some waterproof bottoms.

There's a 50 minute performance by Zippo's Circus with trapeze artists, jugglers and acrobats I know this is where i'll want to sit and enjoy my hot chocolate and watch the girls faces light up with the thrill of it all. Once home I think the girls will try to replicate their performance just as they did after cirque de soleil and having said they'd like to join the circus we had weeks of balancing acts and dancing through hoops. We've had to buy stilts and a giant hoop for their enthusiastic acrobatics!

There's also Zippo's Circus Extreme with dare devil acts and what looks like a whole lot of flames and 'The Motorbike Globe of Death' this might be one that the dads and the boys will be thrilled to see. I think i'll have to avoid this one for fear that the girls won't follow the 'don't try this at home' rule.

Whilst I'm quite terrified when it comes to heights daddy and the girls are sure to want to soar 60 metres into the sky to get a beautiful birds eye view of the lights over London. I'll happily watch from the ground.......

or.....time for me to enjoy another hot chocolate! Unless 15 minutes is enough time to do a little shopping at the Angels Christmas Market. Yes, there's shopping too. You'll find an array of stalls with little nic nacs and some delightful wooden toys too.

There are lots of rides to enjoy from the traditional carousel to the more heart stopping stomach in the mouth ones. The carousel is surely the ultimate of all rides. Nostalgic and beautiful horses riding and rising up and down whilst the riders imagine they might really take off and gallop across the star lit park.

If you can get there before 5pm you may like to go and say hello to Father Christmas. He'll be waiting to hear your Christmas wishes between 10am and 6pm. He's been very busy over the past years and so we've not often had the chance to see the magical man himself but even knowing he's there and getting a glimpse of his deep red coat seems to be a thrill in itself despite not getting any closer.

When tummies start to rumble, and with the smell of so many delicious choices rumble they will, there's a host of places to grab a bite. With real log fires at the 'the house of st nicholas' live bands at the famous bavarian village or cosying up in a booth at the spiegel saloon, you'll find something that'll satisfy everyones belly.

There really is something for everyone, every age. Though its best enjoyed once the sun has set for those of you who turn into pumpkins the afternoon will be just as magical.

So, grab your hat, your scarfs and your warmest gloves and come and join in the fun. See you there....

I'll be the one hugging the hot chocolate gazing up at the big wheel... or if that's not me I'll be on my bum (a lot) on the ice rink!

images courtesy of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland  

www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

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This is part of the Art of Living series of posts that bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas.

In our Wednesday Woo blog post series we present a selection of things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.

We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself.

And for a glimpse behind the scenes of Sisters Guild we have the A-Z of Sisters Guild here 

www.sistersguild.co.uk