When I Grow Up

November 4, 2022

I don’t know if you had the same thing when you were at school, but once a week or so, we’d all be handed a card and we’d have to write a story about the picture on it. I remember it quite clearly because I’d look forward to that lesson and I always wanted to write an amazing story, but I was never inspired by the picture so I was always disappointed with what I wrote….

Coming home from Disney World

June 13, 2022

It is the weirdest feeling to come home after a holiday. It’s only been two weeks, but it feels so much longer than that. The house feels unfamiliar. And the smell when you come in…

Are you an artist? Am I?

June 5, 2022

When is it ok to call yourself an artist? Is it when you sell a few pieces of work? Is it when you make a full time living from it? Is it when you are represented by a gallery or when you’ve had a well-attended solo exhibition? Or is it simply when you spend time when you can, creating art because you love it?…

Creativity ideas #ourcreativeyear

February 21, 2022

This year, I thought it would be a good plan to try and encourage everyone to be more creative. Every month I’ll be writing a few ideas based around a prompt or theme to hopefully get you going! …

Why you should try gratitude journalling

February 14, 2022

Have you heard of the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon? Or perhaps you’ve heard it called ‘Frequency bias’? Have you ever looked around for your new car; chosen a make and model you’re interested in, and then all of a sudden you see it everywhere? It’s the car in front of you in the traffic jam, and then you walk past two more as you walk across the car park to the Tescos entrance. It seems like the universe knows you want that car, and decides to show it to you ALL the time…

A slow January

January 31, 2022

I just made it to the New Year, and then I got very ill indeed. It was nothing more serious than a fluey cold, but oh my god, I don’t remember the last time I felt that ill! I had hot flushes and chills (they were multiplying) and couldn’t breath lying down, so three nights of trying to sleep upright in the settee downstairs left me extra tired too. Anyway, the upshot is, even if I’d wanted to run into 2022 full steam ahead, I simply couldn’t. I was kind-of forced into a slow January…

Winter Adventures ~ Visiting Dartmoor, Dartmouth & The New Forest

March 3, 2026

Hello! Chris and I had a few days' holiday and went exploring! We visited Dartmouth and went to the Society House outlet shop; we drove around Dartmoor and took some photos, and we went to the New Forest for lots of walks. I obviously had a look in art galleries wherever we went! As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me: Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun

A Hawthorn Folktale - A snippet of my latest video

March 1, 2026

As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me: Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun

Tales and Folklore of Hawthorn in Winter

February 24, 2026

To see more details about my winter hawthorn painting, please go here: https://www.helenhobden.com/product/intertwined/ Some interesting folktales about the hawthorn tree in winter - two at the Scottish Borders; one in Ireland, and a legend of the Holy Thorn in Glastonbury, Somerset. Hawthorns do look particularly spooky in winter! As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me: Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun

The magic of Christmas decorations and beauty for beauty’s sake

December 16, 2021

This year our Christmas tree theme is pink, white and silver, and I have to say, it looks absolutely magical! A couple of years ago I was accused of doing themes and going all out to decorate the house just to impress other people – just to look good on Instagram. I couldn’t help but think, ‘Do you know me at all?!’….

Giving handmade Christmas cards

December 8, 2021

There’s something about sending handmade Christmas cards that’s loaded with all kinds of baggage. A few people will get it. My cousin will get it. My mother and sister-in-laws will get it, because I know they love to craft. Oh – I can actually think of two of my friends who are creative souls, but I don’t think the majority of people receiving my cards will fully understand why I do it….

Poldark country. (Visiting Cornwall)

November 29, 2021

Have you seen either BBC series of Poldark? If not, it’s a romantic saga set in Cornwall in the late eighth to early nineteenth century and was based on the novels by Winston Graham. The original TV series was made in 1975, but when it was shown again in 1988; that’s when it captured my heart…

Visiting Scotney Castle in autumn

November 3, 2021

A much-needed respite in the middle of a week exploring London; my Mum took me and the kids to Scotney Castle, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. This was near the end of September, so not quite at the right time to see the autumn colours at their best, but change was in the air. The odd branch of red leaves dangled over the moat of the castle, and a tint of yellow ochre brushed the borders…

October in England

November 1, 2021

Chris and I have been lucky enough to spend October in Connecticut a couple of times, and I have to say, New England does fall better than old England does autumn!…

A review of The Insta Retreat – a complete Instagram course by Sara Tasker, aka Me & Orla

September 28, 2021

It’s September again (I know – where on earth did that come from?!) and that means there’s a general mood of New Term, which means new stationary (any excuse) and new beginnings. The cooler air of autumn seems to bring with it an energy that encourages me to make a fresh go of things…

Vintage steam train day ~ Jane Austin fun in Bath ~ Abba Voyage in London ~ Glastonbury Fairy Fayre

February 17, 2026

It was a busy month! We went to the East Somerset Railway for a vintage steam train ride and afternoon tea. And then a birthday day out in Bath to see the Georgian house / museum at No.1 The Crescent, and eat another afternoon tea at Sally Lunn's Bun Shop. I went over to meet my Mum and sister for Abba Voyage in London, which was incredible! And I looked around the Avalon Fairy Fayre in Glastonbury. I hope you enjoy joining us! As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me: Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun

Painting Folktales in oil and mixed media ~ Deciding on Finishing Touches ~ Art Studio Vlog

February 10, 2026

Find art that will bring a sense of enchantment to your home: https://www.helenhobden.com/ This week I'm catching up on studio vlogs and the fairytale paintings I was adding to and finishing. Plus there's some footage of my cat Lyra playing and being cute! As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me: Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun

Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios ~ Autumn gardening ~ A windy day at Brean beach

February 1, 2026

Hi! Catching up on some vlogs! Here's a birthday windy day out to Brean Beach; visiting some open studios for Somerset Art Weeks; looking around a quintessential English village fair, and getting some home and garden jobs done for autumn. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by subscribing, clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) For extra free content, videos and behind-the-scenes updates, sign up to my newsletter here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/ To bring an enchanted world into your life with beautiful art on your walls, browse my paintings here: https://www.helenhobden.com/ If you would like to watch an extra 60 or so sewing and art videos, please go to https://www.patreon.com/HelenHobden Handmade by me: Browse for your unique bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/ If you'd like to know more about the online art course I took for a year and a half - the Mastery Program by the Milan Art Institute, please follow this (affiliate) link: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/SnsmCxWa/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to help keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun

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