Kitty & Polly’s blog

Last night was the final instalment in Kirstie’s Homemade Home series and focus moved outside to the garden. Like a lot of us, Kirstie was happy to admit that her gardening skills were limited so it was off to a local nursery, Petersham Nursey, for some ideas and inspiration. One idea she decided to incorporate into her outside scheme was a herb garden and I think she achieved this quite effectively by planting loads of gorgeous herbs into an old tin bath which she had picked up for a tenner. She also had a go at making a mosaic table (assisted by Emma Biggs, a mosaic artist – see link details below) and a multi coloured willow basket. Personally, I thought the willow was the star of the show..so many gorgeous colours and it just looks like such a lovely material to work with. I really want one of those baskets for my home ! As Kirstie was planning a lunch to celebrate completion of the house, the final craft she turned her attention to was decorating mini cakes with candy striping and red roses made from icing with edible glitter ..fab ! Then it was down to the finishing touches (laying the table, creating flower arrangements with the help of Judith Blacklock) before everyone gathered (family, friends and all the artisans) at Meadow Gate to celebrate with a nice lunch. It seems Kirstie has come in for a bit of criticism about the show (like trekking round the country in a 4*4 for example), but I for one really enjoyed it. It’s so refreshing to see a return to individually designed homes, homes full of character and interesting bits and pieces which just add to the charm. With so much doom and gloom around at the moment on the property front, it does remind us that our homes, after all, are for living in and that with a little thought, creativity and inventive use of secondhand pieces, you can really create something wonderful. I just hope there is a second series ! At least George Clarke is back next week to give us another interior design fix….

A view of the garden. Courtesy of IWC Media/Channel 4

Useful links
Emma Biggs Mosaic

Oops..sorry. I’m late again with my post on Kirstie’s Homemade Home. Where does the time go ? Anyway, last week’s episode at Meadow Gate was all about the bedroom – all 5 bedrooms in fact ! Kirstie took some time out to investigate some more crafts in her pursuit of finishing touches for the different rooms including quilt making, reupholstering and spinning yarn. Of course, only a few minutes are dedicated to each craft, which is a bit of a downside to the programme, but at least it gives you a brief insight into each craft and some appreciation of the skill, time and love involved in each of them. I can’t think of anywhere else on telly at the moment that does that ! Creative inspiration was sought from a number of sources including the home of Vanessa Arbuthnott, a fabric designer based in the Cotswolds (see link below). By the end of the show, as you would expect, all 5 rooms had been beautifully transformed. The stars of the show for me were the two quilts – one, for the guest room, bought in a secondhand shop for around £200 (expensive, you could maybe get cheaper on Ebay), the second, for one of the kids’s rooms, was made by one of the ladies featured on the show…I’m sure it must have taken her hours and hours but it did look simply beautiful.
In the meantime, I continue to have a go myself – a few cushions now completed, humble beginnings I know but at least it’s a start. And I’ve also taken delivery of a knitting kit from the Wool Sanctuary for the knitted doorstop featured in Kirstie’s show. I’ll post a pic when my lovely mum in law has finished it !

Gorgeous quilt for the guest bedroom. Courtesy of IWC Media/Channel4

View of handmade quilt in kids bedroom. Courtesy of IWC Media/Channel4

Useful links
www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk