Craft Life

I realise it may seem slightly peculiar to be talking about Christmas while many of us are still hoping for a decent stretch of summer weather. Trust me, I know. The last thing I want to do is rush anyone towards mince pies and fairy lights before they've had a chance to enjoy a sunny afternoon and an ice cream. But one of the curious realities of running a handmade business is that Christmas often begins long before Christmas appears on anyone else's radar. In fact, if I'm being completely honest, Christmas preparations sometimes begin while I'm still trying to...

I've always admired people who can walk into a room wearing a tiny pair of understated stud earrings and look effortlessly elegant. I am not one of those people. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a beautiful simple earring. I even make them from time to time. But whenever I sit down to design jewellery for myself, I seem to gravitate towards colour, movement and earrings that are perhaps a little larger than strictly necessary. The bigger and more colourful they are, the happier I seem to be. With Spring and Summer in full swing, I've found myself once again...

Some products quietly become part of the furniture around here. Not literally, of course. Though given the amount of crafting supplies that seem to migrate around my workspace of their own accord, I wouldn't entirely rule it out. Wedding horseshoes and of course all the horseshoe collections we've enjoyed, are one of those products. They've been a much-loved part of Parade Handmade for years, helping customers celebrate weddings, engagements, new homes and special milestones with a gift steeped in tradition and goodwill. If you've browsed my horseshoe collection before, you'll probably know that most of the horseshoes have come from...

There’s something very special about small handmade pieces. Not in a grand, over-the-top way - but in that quieter sense of detail, care, and the feeling that someone has really taken their time making something just right. That’s very much the case with the newest additions from Ditsy Designs - the velvet keepsake mushrooms - along with one last remaining felt cottage that’s just waiting for its new home. A Small Whimsical Keepsake Velvet Keepsake Mushrooms The velvet mushrooms are soft, light, and full of character - the kind of piece that doesn’t demand attention but brings a gentle charm...

A Little Burst of Colour (and a Cosy Layer Too) It’s that time of year again where you’re not quite sure what you need - a coat? a jumper? a blanket?… or all three at once. I always find myself reaching for something easy. Something I can throw on without thinking too much about it. Something warm, but not fussy. And if it happens to bring a little bit of colour into the day as well, all the better. That’s more or less where this little Funky Fleece poncho collection came from. Handmade, Colourful and Made Slowly I’ve recently added...