Red Heart Collection

Ashley Thomas at home
Transform your Kitchen and Dining room with my Red Heart collection at Debenhams.
Inspired by fifties prints, retro kitchens and old romantics. 
This range is perfect to add a classic retro style to your home without having to buy second hand products. Team with vintage wooden crates, this range looks stunning in cream shaker style kitchens.
Start your collection online... Click to shop




 


New Stock to NCCD

nccd

I've just delivered some lovely new homeware to the The National Centre for Craft & Design.
The NCCD is the largest venue in England entirely dedicated to the exhibition, celebration, support and promotion of national and international contemporary craft and design.
Under one roof, their five gallery spaces showcase up to 20 world-class exhibitions every year from the most innovative, challenging and accomplished artists to new and emerging talent.
They also have a glorious cafe in the gallery and now lots of gorgeous new things of mine including handmade cushions, British made fine china and handmade journals.
Visit them at...

The National Centre for Craft & Design
Navigation Wharf, Carre Street
Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 7TW
(NG34 7DW for the car park)

FREE entry
Open from 10am to 5pm daily

New stock at Shire Hall

news
New stock of mine is now available at the Shire Hall Gallery in Staffordshire.

The Shire Hall is a beautiful public building in Stafford, England, built in 1798 it was formerly a courthouse, but it now houses an art gallery. This building is full of history and the court rooms and cells themselves are still in tact!

Visit them at: Market Square, Stafford ST16 2LD


Bunny Collection

Ashley Thomas at home
Perfect for the Easter weekend, introducing my Bunny Collection for Debenhams.
Add a spring feeling to your home with my new kitchen textiles and ceramics.

Rabbit Salt & Pepper Shakers £12
Printed Bunny Apron £12
Set of three Bunny Teatowels £12
Printed Spring Oven gloves £12
Ceramic Floral Cups £7

Available only at Debenhams
Click here to shop online

Spring Clean: House Detox

ashley thomas


Spring is officially here! I've blitzed my house top to bottom over the weekend. There's nothing better than a house detox, here are my top five tips on having a good spring clean.

Make time
The main reason why my house gets into a state is because of the lack of time. Pencil a whole day to get on top of things. It might seems like the dullest thing to do in the world but actually once you've had a spring clean you suddenly feel great about everything. It real helps your well-being and is definitely worth investing some time.

Start in one room
Sometimes it's so hard to know where to start! Focus on one room at a time and start with an easy room to get a warm, satisfying feeling which will spur you on to do the next room.

Declutter first
When you have too much stuff and not enough storage space the house starts to look a real mess. Remember less is more! Organise cupboards and drawers by throwing out the rubbish and sorting things to go to charity shops. If you haven't used it for 6 months do you really need to keep it?

Don't cut corners!
Strip back all your home decor, clear shelves, sofa's and floors and thoroughly clean the room from ceiling to floor. I like dusting with my hoover attachment to completely clear every surface. Once you have a clean slate put the room back together.

Make a DIY list
As you get close and personal with your home you often discover more jobs that need doing. Make a list of all these things so you can come back to them another day. Don't divert from the cleansing job onto touching up paint or mending a floorboard as before you know it the day is over and you will have loads of half finished jobs and upside down rooms. Chaos! Remember one step at a time put in on the to do list and tackle it another day.

Hot cross bun recipe

baking

I've never actually made my own hot cross buns before, but always have them over the Easter weekend. This recipe is honestly super easy and they fill the house with the most amazing smell when they are baking. They are ten times better than shop brought buns. Give them a go yourself...

You'll need...
450g strong white flour
50g caster sugar
1 tsp salt
1tsp mixed spice
1tsp ground cinnamon
1/2tsp nutmeg
7g fast action yeast
50g butter
150ml milk
4 tbsp water
1large egg
125g mixed dried fruit
Apricot jam

To make...
Mix together the flour, sugar, salt, spices & yeast.
Melt the butter in a microwave and add the milk, water & then the egg. Beat together.
Add the liquid to the flour mixture along with the dried fruit and mix well until it comes together into a dough.
Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 mins. Leave the dough to rise in a oiled bowl for
1 ½ hours in a warm place.
The dough should have doubled in size. Knead again for 2 mins then divide into 12 pieces and roll into balls. Transfer to a greased baking tray and cover with oiled cling-film. Leave to rise again for 30mins.
Make a cross in each buns using a knife and bake them at 220oC for 20 mins or until brown.
Brush them with Apricot jam straight from the oven.


Spotty sandwich platter, £10
Bunny Teatowel, £12
Spring Flowers Oven glove, £12
Watercolour Floral clip jar, £8

All exlusive to Debenhams
Shop online here!