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…
Trouble with social media ~ Making a mermaid wedding dress ~ unboxing & swatching Mungyo oil pastels
March 31, 2026
Hello! Here is the companion blog post to go with this video: https://tinyurl.com/y8cz3nh3
This week I'm sewing a custom - made mermaid wedding dress in blue and teal, by upcycling beautiful luxury fabrics. I unbox and swatch a box of Mungyo Gallery oil pastels and give a first impressions review; and I style and take photos of my paintings for Instagram, which is somewhat ironic considering the meta bots have suspended me from all my linked personal and business Facebook and Instagram accounts! 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
How many notebooks do I need? #planners #notebooks
March 25, 2026
The full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi2sFHw6oiE&t=12s
A quick run through of all the notebooks I'll be using in 2026! How many do you have on the go? 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
Review of Watercolour Foundations watercolour course by the Milan Art Institute
March 24, 2026
Find out more about the Watercolour Foundations course here: https://milanart.samcart.com/referral/uuJOO44k/7Vqa9f6vKfq3WYcs
I've also written a companion blog post to this video with more info on the course here: https://helenhobden.substack.com/p/10-years-of-content-disappeared
Here's an overview of what to expect in this watercolour course by the Milan Art Institute. Sorry I didn't talk much - I had covid at the time! Which is why I also wrote that blog post if you'd like to have a look at that as well. 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
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….
Visiting Hogwarts! ~ Cosy winter vlog ~ Family Christmas
March 17, 2026
Better late than never! Here's our family Christmas! A winter vlog including Christmas markets; visiting Harry Potter filming location, Lacock Abbey and village; and Whitehall garden centre in Wiltshire; and seeing the lights at Wells Bishop's Palace. We decorate the Christmas tree and have family come to stay. This was so lovely to look back on! 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
Let's talk about Journals! ~ Making a new Creative Journal
March 10, 2026
I chat about how the way I journal might change while I make a new book using Jane Davenport decorative papers. How and why do you journal? I'm scared of forgetting everything! 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
Visiting wild magical moors and an enchanted forest. ~ Winter Adventures!
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
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