Van life
August 11, 2021
In these last two years I have never been more grateful for owning a camper van….
I still haven’t worked out what to do when I grow up! I’m mainly a writer, an artist, and a fairytale dressmaker with various crafty hobbies! Here (and on YouTube) I share bits of my life, thoughts, and what I’m learning along the way. Let’s find magic and inspiration; join me for this creative living adventure!
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Poetry for ease of lockdown
May 18, 2021
Dance of the Butterflies
A semi-circle bay of liquid turquoise
as still as a deep secret
and barely a sound as the languid waves touched the pebbled beach.
It was so much warmer than expected; unneeded layers draped over our arms.
Merlin panting; concerning us for lack of fresh water
until we found a Jurassic filtered stream.
All of us excited for his first trip to the sea
All of us excited for our first day to be free.
I’d only thought yesterday I was yet to see a butterfly,
but as we walked the stony track to the car
we saw a pair of them,
unidentifiable by their urgency.
Enchanted by each others’ spirit
they were trapped in their frenzied jive of spring.
Unable to leave each other, or to leave the dance
Unable to be completely released; unable to take the chance.
Whispers of the Stones
Imagining recollections of the lives of here
The way they felt; the joy, the fear
The mundane, their day to day
The colours of spring, the winter grey
The salty breezes absorbed in their bones
Their secrets and memories whispered by the stones
I’ve started an art journal! And these are the words I wrote to go with the mixed media art I came up with. It was all inspired by the first time we were allowed to leave the house for actual fun! We went to Tyneham Village – an abandoned place where everyone was evacuated for the Second World War, and weren’t allowed back. A short walk from there is Worbarrow Bay; and with the sun shining, the sea really did look turquoise. If you’d like to see our day out, I have started back on YouTube again, and it’s in this week’s video:
Review of the Scentful perfume subscription box
November 12, 2020
I own a grand total of three perfumes. The first is CK One, and yes, I have had it since the nineties! And the other two are by Britney Spears, and were presents from my daughters. So you may not think that I’m the target audience for a subscription perfume service, but actually it’s the opposite. And here’s why…
My husband caught the Coronavirus – Lockdown diaries update
May 28, 2020
There’s a little bit of bitterness in me, that when I see people taking no notice of health guidelines; having visitors etc, that my husband Chris, who followed all the rules and took all the precautions, managed to catch the Coronavirus. And this is what the last couple of weeks have been like…
Lockdown diaries
April 29, 2020
Naomi Bulger from Naomiloves.com is making a collection of our stories from this time during the coronavirus. Please head on over to her website to add yours as it’s important that there’s a record of us ordinary folks. Here’s mine…
Ostara thoughts and news of Loki
March 20, 2020
Today is Ostara, the spring equinox, and it’s an understatement to say it took me by surprise. Having spent six weeks in America again for Chris’s work, I feel like I missed winter. Even though the temperature right now is still very wintry, I look outside and I can see daffodils and the blackthorn coming into blossom, and it makes me smile, even though I’m not quite ready for it…
Summer countryside in England driving in a vintage Landrover
August 27, 2024
A lovely summer vlog! A drive in a vintage landrover to a village pub for Sunday roast; a dog walk in the English countryside; lots of gardening and putting in a new garden arch. 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/ 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/ 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
Lots of mixed media fairytale art ~ A trip to the Kent countryside
August 16, 2024
I finish the fairytale painting of the figure looking at an owl. We spend a few days in Kent and love walking through the countryside on beautiful sunny days.; plus it's my Mum's birthday! And I paint another mixed media picture with a fairytale theme. 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/ 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/ 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
Celebrating my unbirthday! Visiting Lytes Cary Manor ~ A jumble trail ~ Garden tour
August 15, 2024
I have a belated birthday day! Beginning with looking round our village jumble sale trail, and followed by a visit to the National Trust property, Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset. One of my presents is an obelisk so while I'm out there, I do a mini late spring garden tour! 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/ 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/ 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
Back to Somerset, England and the stories of February’s Instagram photography
March 1, 2020
After six weeks away in Connecticut, America, we landed back in a drizzly cold England last week. It was cold there (-6 most days in February), but it never seems to drizzle – sometimes it’s sunny, sometimes it’s cloudy, and sometimes it’s chucking it down with rain, but it never seems to drizzle. Is it weird that I missed it?!…
Mixing casual with dressed up
February 26, 2020
It may be the usual thing when picking your outfit to wear, to go for either casual or fancy items; but I love mixing the two together…
How to dress more creatively (part 5) Be inspired by TV and film
February 11, 2020
If you really are in a style rut, why not take note of what your favourite characters are wearing in the television programmes and films you watch? Even if it’s set in Jane Austen’s times, there might be fashion details that you could incorporate into your wardrobe…
Handmade red dresses for Valentine’s Day
February 10, 2020
My husband and I don’t make a big deal of Valentine’s day, but if you know me at all, you’ll know I’ll take any excuse to dress up in accordance to the occasion / season / basically anything! So I thought I’d take a look around Etsy and see what dresses I could find that would make the perfect date night outfit for Valentine’s day…
Stories of the week’s Instagram photos
February 8, 2020
Come and find out the little behind-the-scenes stories of my photography on Instagram over last week…
In defence of the clothing haul
February 7, 2020
Oh I miss watching clothes hauls. I feel like the few have spoilt it for the many, like when the teacher at school says the whole class can’t go swimming because one kid was caught being naughty….
A peek at my Creative Journal ~ & Why we needed to clear the drive!
August 14, 2024
Another catch-up! We had to clear up the drive to make space for something special for Chris. And I give you a peek into some of the pages of my latest completed creative journal. I hope it gives you some inspiration. Also a look at some handmade decorative journal pages. 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/ 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/ 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
Starting a new painting ~ Clearing out the shed ~ Sewing ~ Gardening
August 13, 2024
I get started on a new painting, enlisting the help of Photoshop's AI to assist with my composition. How do you feel about that? We also tackle the shed and start to clear it out so the swallows don't nest in there. And do some gardening to tidy up the small courtyard. I also make a small adjustment to my dress so the straps don't fall down. I did warn you these videos might be a bit bitty! 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/ 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/ 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 sad one - it couldn't be avoided - sorry!
August 12, 2024
In this video I look back to spring when it was Mothering Sunday and we went pottery painting in Frome. We had Easter egg hunts, and there's some floral photography. I also have a little chat with you to say thank you! 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/ 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/ 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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