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…
Cornwall holiday part 2 Visiting Padstow, Trengwainton Gardens, Hayle beach, Fingle Bridge
August 8, 2023
More of our long weekend holiday in Cornwall. This time we visit Trengwainton Gardens, play on Hayle Beach and look for seals at Godrevy. There's more of the magical fairytale cottage we stayed in; we visit Padstow, and go for a walk at Fingle Bridge in Devon on our way home. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button, and subscribe for more videos. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) Sign up to my newsletter here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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:
Take a look for your fairytale bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
and your handmade gifts here: https://etsy.com/shop/byHelenHobden Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun Keep in touch!
Links about my clothing business:
Website: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
E-mail: helen (at) threadsofafairytale.com
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofaf...
https://www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFa... Links about me and my blog:
Blog: https://whenigrowupblog.com/
e-mail: helen (at) whenIgrowupblog.com
https://www.instagram.com/helenhobden/
Fairyland Cottage tour! On holiday in Cornwall ~ Walking to Nanjizal beach ~ Song of the sea cave
August 1, 2023
Going on holiday to Cornwall! (Part 1) We stopped at Knightshayes Court in Devon on the way, and found our airbnb - a cottage in a converted mill which felt like we were in fairyland. It was such an unusual house I thought I'd give you a tour. We walk to Nanjizal beach and see the famous Song of the Sea cave, and we spend the evening waiting for sunset at Botallack where Poldark was filmed. I also had time to do some drawing in my sketchbook. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button, and subscribe for more videos. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) Sign up to my newsletter here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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:
Take a look for your fairytale bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
and your handmade gifts here: https://etsy.com/shop/byHelenHobden Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund to keep this channel going, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun Keep in touch!
Links about my clothing business:
Website: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
E-mail: helen (at) threadsofafairytale.com
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofaf...
https://www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFa... Links about me and my blog:
Blog: https://whenigrowupblog.com/
e-mail: helen (at) whenIgrowupblog.com
https://www.instagram.com/helenhobden/
Sewing alterations to a fairy outfit ~ Sketching at Glastonbury Festival ~ Painting abstract realism
July 25, 2023
Hi! We've got some sewing - I alter a fairy outfit for Glastonbury Festival, and also make a couple of adjustments to my duvet cover dress! We've got some art - I make a mixed media abstract realism painting with the theme of water; and I discover the joy of sketching on location. I share the drawings I did in my sketchbook at Glastonbury Festival and what I took in my pencil case. I also have a haul of what I bought there. As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button, and subscribe for more videos. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) Sign up to my newsletter here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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:
Take a look for your fairytale bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
and your handmade gifts here: https://etsy.com/shop/byHelenHobden Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun Keep in touch!
Links about my clothing business:
Website: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
E-mail: helen (at) threadsofafairytale.com
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofaf...
https://www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFa... Links about me and my blog:
Blog: https://whenigrowupblog.com/
e-mail: helen (at) whenIgrowupblog.com
https://www.instagram.com/helenhobden/
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….
Making a fairy dress by upcycling sheets ~ A mixed media fairy painting ~ Gardening & other updates.
July 18, 2023
Hello! Catching up on what I've been up to lately, including sewing a festival fairy dress by upcycling my baby cot sheets and an old tunic dress. There's a cottage garden tour, and I make mixed media art of a flower fairy. If you'd like to look at my handmade beach cover ups, please go here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/collections/all/indiansummer/ As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button, and subscribe for more videos. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) Sign up to my newsletter here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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:
Take a look for your fairytale bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
and your handmade gifts here: https://etsy.com/shop/byHelenHobden Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun Keep in touch!
Links about my clothing business:
Website: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
E-mail: helen (at) threadsofafairytale.com
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofaf...
https://www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFa... Links about me and my blog:
Blog: https://whenigrowupblog.com/
e-mail: helen (at) whenIgrowupblog.com
https://www.instagram.com/helenhobden/
Glastonbury Festival 2023 Vlogs. Sunday, Day 5. Elton John, The Entitled Sons, a bit of Blondie.
July 3, 2023
The last day of Glastonbury Festival 2023. I take it a bit easy today, but I catch a full set of The Entitled Sons on the bandstand, and then I made the mistake of walking round the Other Stage field to get my food, with the intention of eating it whilst watching Blondie - but I got caught, almost unable to move in the crowd at the back of the Pyramid field. When I did finally meet up with our friends, we thought we ought to stay there for Elton John in case they stopped allowing people in. So I had a snooze while the next act were on, and then it was Elton John's final UK performance. The atmosphere in the crowd has to be the best I've ever known it!
I finish off the vlog with some tired chat about Glastonbury festival! As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button, and subscribe for more videos. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) Sign up to my newsletter here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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:
Take a look for your fairytale bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
and your handmade gifts here: https://etsy.com/shop/byHelenHobden Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun Keep in touch!
Links about my clothing business:
Website: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
E-mail: helen (at) threadsofafairytale.com
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofaf...
https://www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFa... Links about me and my blog:
Blog: https://whenigrowupblog.com/
e-mail: helen (at) whenIgrowupblog.com
https://www.instagram.com/helenhobden/
Daily vlogs at Glastonbury Festival! Saturday, day 4. Guns 'N' Roses, Lizzo, Generation Sex
June 30, 2023
Saturday at Glastonbury Festival and I just caught the end of Rick Astley doing the Rickroll! I spent some time in the Circus tent, and then watched Generation Sex - a mix of Billy Idol and The Sex Pistols. I wandered around the Green Futures field and did a little sketching in the Craft Field. Then it was Lizzo and Guns 'N' Roses on the Pyramid Stage- who were amazing!
It was a hot hot day! As always, thank you so much for watching and spending your time with me! Please support this channel for free by clicking the thumbs up and the bell notification button, and subscribe for more videos. If you enjoyed this one, please share the link with your friends. Thank you! :) Sign up to my newsletter here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/threads-fairytale-newsletter/ 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:
Take a look for your fairytale bohemian clothing purchases here: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
and your handmade gifts here: https://etsy.com/shop/byHelenHobden Tip jar! If you would like to contribute to my hard-drive fund, it would be gratefully appreciated. :) https://paypal.me/Oshun Keep in touch!
Links about my clothing business:
Website: https://threadsofafairytale.com/
E-mail: helen (at) threadsofafairytale.com
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofaf...
https://www.facebook.com/ThreadsOfAFa... Links about me and my blog:
Blog: https://whenigrowupblog.com/
e-mail: helen (at) whenIgrowupblog.com
https://www.instagram.com/helenhobden/
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