When I Grow Up | A Style and Creative Living blog by Helen Hobden

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Visiting Salisbury Cathedral cloisters

Styling a hippy maxi dress

Buying a Neapolitan Mastiff

Visiting Salisbury Cathedral cloisters

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Styling a hippy maxi dress

Styling a hippy maxi dress

I bought this dress from a magic shop under the shadow of a pirate castle in Lanzarote when we were on holiday last year. By that I mean that it was one of those shops with a tiny front and a little plank door and you have to duck low to get inside. Then you find the shop is massive and goes back and back and back until it comes out onto another street entirely. Anyway, it was from there, but if you want to try and hunt it out out, the label says Elora…..

Visiting Salisbury Cathedral cloisters

Visiting Salisbury and Avebury in Wiltshire – the story of the photographs

A couple of weeks ago, when the weather was being kind to us, Chris and I went out for the day. It wasn’t as photography-centric as our days out usually are as I really wanted to see the city of Salisbury; and by that I mean I wasn’t whipping my clothes off every five minutes for a new outfit shoot, however this post still includes a fair amount of photos!…

Glastonbury Festival site panoramic photo

Glastonbury Festival site, Panoramic photo 3, 2019

It’s fun to see the second team of fence builders have started on the opposite side of the Glastonbury Festival site this morning – it amazes me how they manage to make it meet – I suppose they must stop at an entrance gate. Anyway, I’m a bit embarrassed to confess that the tall tower in my Instagram Story yesterday, I think is just an electricity pylon that’s always there! It just looked different from a different angle and in the evening sunlight! The scaffolding construction though is definitely new….

official Outlander outfit

Styling khaki check / tartan for spring – an Outlander outfit

Have you seen the Starz Outlander series on telly? Or read the books by Diana Gabaldon? Chris and I have watched the four series through twice, and have begun to listen to the audio books in the car on our little jaunts around the country! When a clothing catalogue from the company EMP came through the door last November and I was browsing through for Christmas presents for the kids, I literally squealed in delight when I saw a page full of official Outlander clothing!….

Glastonbury Festival site photos

Glastonbury Festival site, panoramic photo 2 2019

Apart from a very slight increase in traffic, there haven’t been many changes in life around the Glastonbury Festival site since my last update. But would you believe it – despite staring over there an hour ago, it wasn’t until Chris zoomed in on the photo that we realised the Glastonbury super-fence is on its way up!…

Buying a Neapolitan Mastiff

Owning a Neapolitan or English Mastiff

When you’re family is ready to buy a puppy, it’s important to make sure the dog breed is one that’s going to suit you; so if you’re thinking about getting an English Mastiff or a Neapolitan Mastiff, I’m here to help!…

Visiting Salisbury & Avebury + Easter fun *Vlog*

Chris and I have a trip out to Salisbury and see the famous cathedral! And then stop for photography at the Avenue and Avebury stone circle, and dinner at The Red Lion - apparently the most haunted pub in Britain. Then it's family time and the kids' Easter egg hunt! Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Should you buy a Neapolitan Mastiff? Owning an English or Neapolitan Mastiff

This is the blog post about what it's like to own a Neapolitan Mastiff to go with this video: https://bit.ly/2JDpNfO If you're thinking about buying a Neapolitan Mastiff or English Mastiff, or are wondering what Neapolitan Mastiffs are like, this video and blog are for you! Hopefully it will help you decide if this is the right breed of dog for you. Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

*Vlog* My birthday, decorating the house for spring & a mini craft haul

Hello! I'm back with a vlog - some pyrography, some speed spring cleaning and decorating the house for Easter. It's my birthday! And what I bought at a craft shop closing down sale. CLICK SHOW MORE Please subscribe for more videos :) Please consider supporting this channel by purchasing your gifts from byHelenHobden.etsy.com or your fairytale clothing from ThreadsOfAFairytale.etsy.com - all handmade by me. Thank you! x Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

setting up Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury Festival site, panoramic photo 1, 2019

Glastonbury Festival was sorely missed last year, and we’re well and truly ready for another one. There’s already a buzz around Pilton and the local area – lots of caravans are being towed past the house; and Shepton Mallet Tescos usually has more than its share of interesting vans in the carpark lately. If you’re new here; hello! Welcome! Hopefully you’ll find some other posts on my blog that interest you as well. If you don’t know me, I moved to Pilton eleven years ago, but have been going to Glastonbury Festival since 1995, and absolutely love it….

British blogger over 40 plowing out birthday candles

Monthly Memoir – April 2019

I hope you don’t mind if this post is rather photo-heavy and word-light – I’m just absolutely knackered! My sewing machine is away for repair, so I’m finding myself doing all the household tasks that have been piling up over a long time, and now I’m too tired to form many sentences that make sense. So here’s a mainly picture account of what I got up to in April!….

Styling a lagenlook outfit

It’s cardigan season! Styling a khaki linen dress with a waterfall cardigan

This black waterfall cardigan was a charity shop find, and I love it! Not all waterfall cardigans are made equal – I like the shape of them, but some have too much fabric around the back of the neck, and some don’t have enough fabric at the front (do you balance the waterfall bit on top of your boobs, or let it fall to the side of your boobs?), but this one, originally from Marks and Spencer is perfect!….

Hashtag Authentic by Sara Tasker book review

Hashtag Authentic by Sara Tasker – a book review

I absorb all of Sara Tasker’s content – her blog, her Instagram and her podcasts – maybe in the hope that some of her talent, style and confidence will rub off on me. So I thought I would have already heard most of what she has to say on the subject of photography and Instagram, but bought the book, Hashtag Authentic anyway to support my favourite blogger….

Hurricane Ophelia orange sky

Why ego is the thief of joy

Do you remember the day when Hurricae Ophelia hit the October before last and the sky turned orange and the sun turned red? Well I’m writing this on that day (though no doubt I’ll edit it and make it a bit more coherent in a few days time! (edit: a year and a half later!)). It was the most bizarre kind of day – the clouds were a dark steely grey, yet there was not a drop of rain. The sun was red and the sky was pink like sunset, yet it was noon, and the wind brought down any leaves or branches that were dead or dying. It was no wonder many people had thoughts of the apocalypse occurring. As I reached the top of the hill on our dog walk, I had a bit of an epiphany……

Styling a black smock dress

A plain black smock dress

This time last year Chris and I had our first campervan trip of the season to Cornwall, and it turned out to be a lot warmer than we expected! I feel that at the moment we’re in that hit or miss time – completely unpredictable – often looking warm and sunny, but then you find there’s a freezing cold wind, which stops at 2pm and then it becomes quite hot! Anyway, the black dress I’m styling for this blog post is ideal for now – as long as you have a cardigan handy!…

Making a bohemian fairy dress with tropical leaf print & upcycled fabric - boho fashion

Sharing a boho fairy dress I made for Threads of a Fairytale using tropical leaf print and upcycled fabric. Perfect festival fashion, bohemian clothing, jungle fairy dress! *Click SHOW MORE!* (The dress hasn't been listed yet, so please keep a look out on my Etsy shop if you'd like to know more info or see the photo-shoot.) Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

A spring look-book - lace-up dress, velvet jacket, ditsy floral smock dress, hippie boho fashion

A little look-book for spring. Please click SHOW MORE for links to the blog posts with all the info about each outfit: Black lace-up dress: https://bit.ly/2G2IlCI Dusky pink velvet jacket: https://bit.ly/2Uabj8R Green ditsy floral smock dress: https://bit.ly/2Ist1Cs Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11

Tidying up & Organising my Sewing Room and Fabric

A massive tidy up, sort-out and organising of my sewing room and all the fabric in it! *CLICK SHOW MORE* The links I mentioned: Organising my crafting stash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fEwIKF-Bi8&t=2s Desk tour and tidy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPbQ8JSEV3U Fabric haul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVvU9JVnYh8&t=8s Fabric stash tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hty_Ee8Em6k&list=PL6TW74gx8f2gSzvUyvKaOWHUz_mINxnww&index=7 Tidying up the sewing room 3 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unlvH01h1og&list=PL6TW74gx8f2iZOxdMvJOWgQxwWTg7-pH1&index=8&t=0s Sewing room tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKCJJgMNPa4&list=PL6TW74gx8f2iyjpdRlEiIu8R9i5Ono0wG&index=17&t=0s Please subscribe for more videos :) Keep in touch! (Links about me and my blog:) Blog: www.whenIgrowupblog.com e-mail: helen@whenIgrowupblog.com instagram.com/HelenHobden twitter.com/HelenHobden www.facebook.com/whenIgrowupblog Links about my clothing business: Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/threadsofafairytale Website: www.ThreadsOfAFairytale.com E-mail: helen@threadsofafairytale.com www.instagram.com/threadsofafairytale www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFairytale Rain's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainiepie Jude's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/starstone11