Yearly Archives

2018

Pink fairytale dress

Making a flower fairy dress for Threads of a Fairytale

September 6, 2018

I haven’t shared my work for Threads of a Fairytale here for a while, so I thought it was time I changed that! I’m also planning on blogging more often and linking more blogs with videos on my YouTube channel. There’s something about September that feels like a new year isn’t there? Even though this is the first autumn neither of our kids are starting a new term! So this dress is perfect for princess flower fairies off to the ball or alternative brides who would like to wear pink on their wedding day…..

Vintage suitcases - planning emigrating

No longer living in limbo-land! 3 tips if you’re thinking about emigrating

September 5, 2018

I feel like I’ve been living in limbo for the last two years. If you watch my YouTube channel, you may have noticed the odd subtle hint of something big changing soon. That change was a move to America for a year. At first it was a small idea that went away again when we found that we couldn’t take our dog, Loki with us. However, after our trip to Connecticut last July, we looked into it again….

Tesco F&F dress worn by fashion blogger

Styling an end-of-summer summer dress

September 3, 2018

I’m slightly worried because I had another of those, ‘Yes I’ll just buy it without trying it on’ moments the other day in Tesco. I loved the mustard yellow colour (something that’s creeping into my wardrobe more and more lately) and the ditsy blue and red floral print over it was so pretty. The ruffles confirmed the purchase in my mind. Because, you know, I just love ruffles….

black and white photography project

What to do when your photos don’t match your Instagram! (A black and white photography project)

September 1, 2018

The use of Instagram means something different to different people, and I’ll write more about my feelings on that in another post, but briefly, I’ll tell you that my Instagram, @HelenHobden is fairly curated with some of my best photography included. However, whilst away in Connecticut, slouched on the hotel-room armchair, having a break from typing; I realised that the simple scene with my feet up on the arm would look great as a square-cropped photo in grainy high-contrast black and white….

Rogue theatre company review

Review of The Firebird by the Rogue Theatre Company in Cornwall

August 31, 2018

Imagine, if you will, being met by a fairy at the edge of magical woodland, and led down a secret pathway shaded by old twisted rowan and chattering leaves of beech, but lit by glinting lights strung through the branches. Each way you turn you’re met with strange and eerie settings of mysterious white princess bedrooms, strangely metallic baby clothes hanging on a line; gothic ravens adorning old books; abandoned tea parties disturbingly strewn with red; and odd antique paintings foreseeing the future; each with its character singing, dancing or otherwise performing as you pass. And that’s just the beginning…..

Book of Mormon on Broadway review

The Book of Mormon musical review – on Broadway, New York

August 29, 2018

Last week Chris and I were lucky enough to watch the musical, The Book of Mormon at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Broadway in New York City. We were staying in nearby Stamford for a couple of weeks for Chris’s work, and this was our treat out one night….

Floaty white dress worn by 30 plus fashion blogger

Styling the summer holiday white dress (Or winter portrait photography dress-up!)

August 28, 2018

This fashion blog post is going to be divided into two halves. We took some photos for this on our Greece holiday last year in the blazing hot sun; and then we did another photo-shoot in January by an ice-covered lake in America with a cozy blanket thrown over my shoulders! Anyway, better suited for this time of year, here is the perfect summer holiday dress….

Mirror reflection - challenges of self love

The challenges of self love

August 14, 2018

‘Do you think I’m pretty?” The nine year old girl asks eagerly. Her parents had just told her older sister she was looking pretty that day. It was a compliment she had never heard for herself, and is keen to be included. Her cheeks are pink from the uphill walk and her face clashes with her red tracksuit (bought for comfort and ease of washing). Her parents don’t lie. ‘It’s what’s inside that counts,’ her Mummy says….

Styling a blue floral 1950’s style dress

Probably the best thing about having a husband who is a keen portrait photographer, is the fact that he sometimes buys me clothes just so I have something new for him to photograph. How cool is that? And this blue floral 1950’s style dress was one of those items. You’re not getting any complaints from me!….

Styling a mustard yellow dress

Styling the summer 2018 trends: The mustard yellow dress

I don’t remember the last time I wore yellow. I don’t think I even wore it as a child, but the muse (or something) descended, and I was inspired to buy two yellow dresses in one day! The first was a paler yellow dress from Marks and Spencer – view the style post here – and then when I popped into Primark to buy a bra to wear with it, I spotted this mustard yellow dress and picked it up too!….

which cabin bag to buy

Finding the perfect carry-on luggage. 6 Things to look out for!

Chris and I have been doing a fair bit of traveling lately, and both of us have been on the lookout for the perfect luggage. While your main suitcase, is of-course important, I think it’s the carry-on that needs to function at its best in order to fit your needs. This is particularly so if you’re traveling with only the cabin bag and not checking anything into the hold at all. I think I’ve found the perfect one, and I just thought I’d tell you about it…

summer solstice sunrise at stonehenge

Summer Solstice at Stonehenge + 7 things you need to know for next time

Summer Solstice at Stonehenge is something I’ve been wanting to do for years and years. There’s one fundamental problem though: Glastonbury Festival comes right afterwards! And you’re tired enough at Glastonbury without the added exhaustion of being awake through the night before. I’ve never been one of those people (no matter what age) who could just stay up all night and not feel it for the following week! However, this was a fallow year for Glastonbury Festival so we decided to finally do it!…..