Month: Jul 2026

DIY Handmade Cards 2026 – 7 Designs – Birthday, Mother’s Day – Quilling, Watercolour

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been making handmade cards for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays of family members, and so on. I never grew out of it! But through the years, my cards became a bit more… professional? Not sure about that, actually. But I certainly learnt a thing or two! Every year, I share my creations on this blog. And guess what? It’s time for that annual post! Yesterday was the last family birthday of the year, and the cardmaking is now on pause for a for months. Here are my 7 unique handmade cards that I created in 2026, made with quilling and watercolours.

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Helvellyn Hike In Extreme Weather – Route From Glenridding Avoiding The Edges – Lake District Hike

Today, I’m taking you on an adventure I will never forget. I climbed Helvellyn, the third highest peak in Lake District, and the third tallest in the whole of England as well, sitting at 950 metres above sea level. And although I consider myself a seasoned hiker and have climbed plenty of mountains much taller than Helvellyn, it was a truly unforgettable experience… all thanks to the weather! Exposed to all elements, I spent half of that climb hoping that I don’t end up in the news that night… but, let’s start from the beginning.

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DIY Cross Stitch Set – Indoor Garden – Houseplants

Recently, I shared my previous cross stitch project, featuring colourful feathers. I liked the pattern so much that I ended up saving that set for a very long time. And when I finally picked it up, it didn’t turn out exactly as it looked on the packaging. It was cute, but the colours were different and not to my taste. So, I learnt my lesson: there’s no point in saving DIY sets for a special occasion! And for that reason, I decided to pick up another cross stitch set that I’ve been saving for a special day: one featuring four houseplants. Here’s how it went!

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A Summer Day Trip To Guildford From London – Countryside Walk, Watt’s Gallery, Guildford Castle

Today, I’m taking you on a summer day trip from London to Guildford – by public transport, of course! It was a balanced mix of a long countryside walk with nice views combined with visiting local landmarks – an art gallery, a stunning chapel, a local museum, and a castle with the most spectacular gardens. I blindly chose Guildford for my day trip without high expectations, and I was thoroughly impressed! Here is your inspo for a cosy day trip from London, off the beaten track.

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DIY Crochet Set – Owl

I feel like it’s been ages since I last posted about my crochet projects, so let’s fix it! My most recently completed piece is a crocheted owl, originally designed to be a key chain, but I left it as a small plushie. I bought this assorted kit quite a while ago – as per my New Year’s Resolutions 2026, I’m trying to limit purchasing new DIY sets and focus on completing the ones I already have. I procrastinated for quite some time when I got to the embroidery steps, but overall, I completed this project in relatively little time. Here’s my latest crochet piece, a cute owl.

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A Cosy Summer Day Trip To Rochester, England, From London – High Street, Cathedral, Castle

Today, I’m taking you on a cosy day trip to Rochester – a charming town south-east of London, easily accessible by train. I have previously written about Rochester Christmas market, but I never visited Rochester in warmer months, until recently. Technically, I visited Rochester in the spring – I mentioned it in my quarterly spring photo blog. However, with temperatures over 30°C, the day certainly felt more like summer. Here is how I spent a cosy summer day in Rochester on a day trip from London.

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