New Stockist: Eyam

ashley thomas
The Village Green is a little cafe in the beautiful Peak District village of Eyam in the Hope Valley.
Eyam is such a fascinating village full of history, it's one of my favourite places in the Peak District. (maybe because I got married there!)

Eyam is one of the best-preserved villages and is the famous 'plague village', which went into voluntary quarantine when the plague arrived from London in 1665. The village lies in Eyam Moor which is a beautiful area for walking, with good views across the Derwent valley and many Bronze Age remains and monuments.

With a legendary plague history, fascinating stories and a setting amongst the beautiful Peak District a day in Eyam is a day to remember. Make sure you stop by the Village Green cafe for lovely homemade food and fantastic gift ideas.

Find out more about them on their website...
www.cafevillagegreen.com

Spring 2016

Ashley Thomas at home
My spring/summer collection for Debenhams has started to appear online. My 'Bryony' duvet cover is one of my favourite pieces, I even have this bedding at home! Inspired by beautiful vintage, silk handkerchiefs. This design was a real challenge due to the nature of the repeat, but the results are gorgeous! I'm so pleased with it. It showcases my distinctive vintage-inspired style, featuring a combination of hand drawn bold and ditsy floral prints off set with a contrasting pale blue spotty border. The reverse print is a very sweet yellow floral repeat which offers a more subtle option.

Here's the product Details:
50% cotton, 50% polyester percale, Thread count: 180, Machine wash on a 40 degree cycle,
Suitable for tumble drying, Suitable for ironing on a warm setting





All products exclusive to Debenhams

 'Bryony' duvet cover from £40
Budgie Cushion £22 
'Love' slogan cushion £26

Scottie Dog cushion
'Bakery Shop' cushion £25  
Purple floral embroidered throw £100

True Love Shortbread

baking
With Valentine's day a little over 2 weeks away you may be wondering, what an earth am I going to get for my true love this year? Well if you don't know what to give your valentine there is nothing better than something homemade! These shortbread biscuits are super yummy, very easy to make and are very cute present. I made mine with my new cookie cutters and stamps which are now available from my Debenhams collection. Click here to shop the range.




You'll need...

My set of 4 cookie cutters,

My set of 3 biscuit stamps

175g plain flour,

75g caster sugar,

100g butter

Plus a little caster sugar for sprinkling



To make...

Measure the flour and sugar into a bowl and mix together.

Cut the butter into cubes, add to the mixture and rub in until it looks like breadcrumbs.

Squeeze the mixture together into a ball, add a small cube of butter if the mixture is too dry.

Roll out on a well floured surface to 1cm thick.

Cut into shapes using the cutters, and using the stamps press firmly into the dough to add decoration to each biscuit.

Preheat the oven to 160oC and bake for 10 to 15mins or until light golden.

Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Fill a cake tin and give to the one you love or keep them for a little treat for yourself! 

Add these items to your collection, click to shop... 
Pink floral and gingham apron £14
Set of four metal assorted cookie cutters £6
Set of three silicone heart biscuit stamps £10

Set of three pink floral and gingham tea towels £14

Be my Valentine

Ashley Thomas at home
With Valentine's Day is on it's way bring a little love into your home with my new heart collection for Debenhams. Collection the whole range of kitchen storage, printed textiles and heart shape accessories. This range is inspired by retro kitchens, vintage lace and ditsy prints. The perfect excuse for a spring clean and give your kitchen a new look.



  
Photos curtsey of Vintage Frills

New Cushions

ashley thomas
To start the year off I've launched three new cushion designs. My cushions are printed in England and handmade by me on my little sewing machine. They are limited edition and come with my signature rosette. They also have a envelope opening for easy cleaning and include a feather cushion pad. You can wash them on a normal cool cycle in your machine too. Guaranteed to cheer up your sofa and ease your winter blues.



DIY Gingerbread House Tags

Christmas wrapping ideas
These gingerbread house inspired gift tags are a cute way to add a special touch to your presents this year. They are a little time consuming but and worth the effort.
They are really easy to do and if your not very creative yourself then just follow my tag designs and you'll be really pleased with the result.


You'll need...

Brown kraft card
White marker pen
String or wool
A needle
Scissors

To make...
  1. Cut the kraft paper into small rectangles approx 6 x 8cm
  2. Cut the tops of the rectangles diagonally to form a pointed top.
  3. Take your marker pen and doodle a gingerbread house, start with the outside and work inwards. The more detail the better. Feel free to follow my tag designs as a guide.
  4. Let it dry and then taking the needle and string, pierce the top and thread through some string.
  5. Cut at desired length and attach to your pressies.

How to: make a tissue pom pom

Christmas wrapping ideas



How to make your own Tissue Pom Pom

These tissue pom poms are perfect for decorating presents and also look great in a table setting on top of napkins to make your Christmas table really have the wow factor.

1. First decide what size you’d like your pom pom to be.
The pom pom will be slightly smaller than the width of the strips you cut.

2. Cut four strips the width you’d like your pom pom
(about 35-40cm long).

3. Next take an edge and fold it over approx 1-2cm.

4. Repeat the folds, back and forwards into a concertina, ending up with a thin strip of folded paper.

5. Take some string and tie around the middle of your strip, tie a double knot one side and then the other.

Cut the excess string, leaving a long piece to tie around presents or for easy hanging etc.

6. Cut the edges into a semi circle, either side of the strip. The corners should be rounded.

7. Starting with one edge, fan out one side. Start with the first layers and separate each of the four layers, bringing them toward the string in the middle. Do this carefully so not to tear the paper.

8. Repeat the other side, separate the layers bringing them outwards to form the pom pom.

9. Shape the pom pom filling the gaps and carefully twist the middle sections to hide the ribbon in the centre.








Top Ten Christmas Gifts

Christmas
Christmas is only a month away!! That came around quickly. Here's my top ten Christmas Gift's from my Debenhams Collection to help with some ideas for under £25.

 
Handwash gift set £15

 
Bird house candle £15

 
Glass sign £12

 
Travel Mug £10

 
Strawberry Jar £6
Fill with Sweets to add a personal touch
 
Russian Doll Dishes £20

 
Tea for Two set £22.50

 
Biscuit Tin £16
Fill with wrapped Biscuits to add a special touch


 
Mixing Bowl £18
Fill with baking ingredients and a recipe


Swallow Feature Wall

DIY


I've just finished my swallow feature wall in my house, I'm really pleased with the result and it was easy peasey to do. Here's how to do it in your home.

You'll need... 

  • Patterned papers, I've used my own signature patterns from my new card collection of course. But you could use vintage wallpaper, thick gift wrap or any patterned paper (the thicker the better)
  • Scissors
  • A pencil
  • Swallow template
  • A camera
  • PVA glue or wallpaper paste
  • Medium sized paint brush
  • An old tea towel

How to...

1. Save the swallow image below and print it (make sure you set the scale to fit an A4 page)

2. Cut out around the line, this is now your template.

3. Gather your collected patterned papers and using the swallow template draw around it on the back of the paper.

4. Cut out your swallow and repeat until you have your required amount of swallows.

5. Lay out your swallows on the floor to get the composition right and take a photo as a guide.

6. Make sure you choosen wall is free from dirt and dust, then take your first swallow.
Paint the back of the swallow with glue or wallpaper paste and position it on the wall.

7. Rub with an old tea towel to help smooth it out

8. Use your photograph as a guide to help position the swallows in the right place.