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

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should you work for free?

a blue summer maxi dress

Wickes bathroom renovation

Is Premium economy on flights worth it?

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should you work for free?

Should I keep working for free? (Creative business advice)

September 11, 2019

Sometimes I am reminded why husbands can be a good idea to have around. I was telling him about how I’d got caught in the sales funnel of yet another Women In Business stream of emails. I’d clicked on one with a video called 5 ways to reclaim your time and how I had to watch it twice incase I blinked and missed the advice. It was just a video of pointless waffle of no practical help, but if I wanted more, I could naturally buy her course…

a blue summer maxi dress

The funny story behind styling a blue summer maxi dress

September 3, 2019

I know some fashion bloggers are happy with a few snaps in the car park; standing by their house, or in front of the nearest garage door to get their fashion blog photos. Not me, oh no! I take my blog outfits to the other side of the world to get mine!…

Visiting the Colosseum in Rome

Rebecca in Rome

August 28, 2019

Rebecca had planned her trip to Rome since she was eighteen. Her degree was in ancient civilisations and the Roman empire captivated her imagination. Friends were supposed to be accompanying her, but their lack of money; lack of time; lack of interest, meant that she took the journey alone; her first time abroad….

styling a strappy summer dress

How to be stylish while sightseeing

August 27, 2019

Sightseeing in a new place. You want to be comfortable; but you also want to look a bit cool, then all you need to do is this: add a pair of trainers or plimsols to a summer dress. It couldn’t be a more perfect outfit – the trainers somehow make a normal dress look so much more trendy, and yet they are super comfy too!…

New Forest Fairy festival 2019

The New Forest Fairy Festival 2019

August 21, 2019

I’ve had a Threads of a Fairytale stall (apart from last year) at the New Forest Fairy Festival since it began, when it was little more than a small fairy market and a few volunteering bands on a tiny stage. Now it has grown into an amazing summer festival, however, I’m still somewhat traumatised by this year’s one…

nautical outfit

Nautical summer style with a twist

August 19, 2019

Today I’m sharing an outfit with you that I’m calling nautical style with a twist. The blue and white striped trousers are very much nautical, however the twist is the pattern on the white vest top I wore them with…

Making a boho fairy skirt; upcycling silk trousers

September 13, 2019

See more of this skirt at Threads of a Fairytale: https://etsy.me/2mf2WxE I upcycled a pair of purple silk trousers to begin making this fairy skirt with a tropical leaf print fabric and frills and ruffles added. 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

Visiting the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival *Vlog*

September 4, 2019

We have a few days away in Gloucestershire and visit the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. This vlog includes an air bnb tour and a haul of what I bought at the fair! 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

Citroen Relay Camper Van conversion update - sound dampening & fibreglass

August 30, 2019

Our next stage in the Citroen Relay camper van conversion - this time we take out all the walls and ceiling interior panels; swap the double front seat for a single; give the inside of the van a good clean; stick on sound dampening and patch the holes with fibreglass. 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

Is Premium economy on flights worth it?

Is it worth upgrading to Premium Economy? – Comparing Norwegian Airways, Hi-Fly and Virgin Atlantic

August 16, 2019

This is the question I’ve often pondered, but until you fork out the money to upgrade, you’re not going to know are you? Last year I flew three times to America accompanying Chris on work trips and the company has kindly paid for our return journeys to be Premium Economy. It was so exciting that first time! We all have wildly varying opinions as to what we spend our money on and what we save it on, but if you’re not sure if it’s worth paying extra to fly premium economy, then hopefully this will help….

styling a boho chic outfit

Styling boho chic for sightseeing

August 13, 2019

I love bohemian style fashion at any time of year, but there’s something about the romance of summer sightseeing that makes it even more perfect. And if you were to think of a boho brand, then Free People would probably be it…

styling a blue summer dress

Is the holiday ‘Magic Dress’ really magic? (Will it fit any size?)

This design of dress can be seen in many an independent clothing shop or hanging at a market stall in many tourist destinations. It’s often advertised as ‘The magic dress’ because it will fit any size. I decided to put that claim to the test!…

Making a bohemian tropical print fairy dress

Today I’m sharing with you one of my recent makes for Threads of a Fairytale; a bohemian fairy dress with a tropical leaf print….

Styling a Cath Kidston spotty bag

Styling a linen dress and my new Cath Kidston bag

I still call it my new bag, but my Cath Kidston blue spotted shoulder bag, and matching purse, was in fact a kind birthday present from Chris’s family for my fortieth last year. It goes with everything I own for spring and summer, but I thought it worked particularly well with this casual linen tunic dress…

Wickes bathroom renovation

Bathroom renovation diary – stage two. The Wickes bathroom going in

I’ll be honest, I’d hoped to tell you about the whole thing in two parts, however the bathroom is still not finished – we’re a bit stuck on the decoration. In the mean time, I’ll fill you in what happened after stage one!…

Sorting out all my bags - Dressing room declutter part 2 - Complete bag collection

August 21, 2019

Continuing my dressing room / closet declutter, this time I'm sorting out my pile of bags; finding out what's inside them and choosing which to keep. I declutter on top of my wardrobes and organise all my bags neatly! 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

Making a bohemian fairy ball gown / boho fairytale dress

A sewing video today! I patchwork loads of different purple and green fabrics together to create a fairytale bohemian dress. It would be a lovely alternative boho wedding dress or fairy dress for a special occasion. Sign up for Threads of a Fairytale newsletters here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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

Citroen Relay campervan conversion update - taking out the minibus seats

Our first little update beginning the conversion from a Citroen Relay minibus to a camper. This one is mainly about taking out the seats and the floor. 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