A fresh new magazine launch in the UK with Landlust, Spirit of the Countryside

I am so pleased to be able to share with all my UK readers that tomorrow, November 5th, a new magazine will be hitting our shelves, full of inspiring articles.  Landlust, Spirit of the Countryside has been loved by millions of readers for years in Germany and they have decided to launch a British edition for us.

Posted with permission of Landlust Magazine

I thoroughly enjoyed leisurely looking through the advanced copy of the magazine this weekend, featured around the winter and festive season, it is beautifully and clearly laid out with stunning eye catching photography (although my images do not do it justice).  It is full of tips, features and ideas on gardening, the kitchen, the home, crafts, nature and country life as well as delicious looking recipes to try.  And for all parents out there, not a mention of mobile phones or xbox's, total heaven!

Posted with permission of Landlust Magazine

There are clever homemade Christmas decorations in this edition which are extremely low cost to have a go at making.  Also included are a couple of diy projects for you to try, to aid your hobbies all with step by step instructions and very clear diagrams, my favorite being a very simple garden bench made from floorboards.  

Posted with permission of Landlust Magazine

  

 

Both images posted with permission of Landlust Magazine

My husband is the ever keen birdwatcher in the family so he especially enjoyed reading the falconry feature.

Both images posted with permission of Landlust Magazine

I mentioned the word inspiring above, why I hear you ask, well bearing in mind that haven't baked in a long time (always too busy) I made mental notes on some of the really tempting recipes throughout the magazine, shopped for the ingredients and spent all Sunday afternoon making them and it was total bliss.  I am going to feature a couple of the recipes, Paprika Goulash, Hazelnut Cake and Christmas Biscuits, in another post later this week.

  

All images posted with permission of Landlust Magazine

Another thing to mention which is a big plus point for any reader, extremely small amount of advertisements, it is definitely not one of those magazines where every other page is trying to sell you something and I hope it stays that way.

A wonderful magazine that will remind you of the traditional things in life without technology taking over.

Landlust is priced at only £4.00

Hits your shelves 5th November

Next issue will be available 22nd March

For more information you can visit their website 











Posted with permission of Landlust Magazine


Sharon x

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http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Helping traditional local crafters around the world @novica

I really wanted to bring your attention to a wonderful site called Novica, incase you still had not come across it.  Novica provide a wonderful way for local artists and crafts people around the world to showcase their homemade talents and beautiful quality items worldwide, without which they would only rely on local trade or tourism.  The best part is that there is no charge for them to display their items on the website.

I was really touched when I came across the site a while ago now as it reminded me of a similar purchase I made in Bulgaria.   We took a day trip into the REAL Bulgaria, away from all the tourist resorts into a lovely old small village where all the locals displayed their handmade crafts in front of their homes.   It was a beautiful place and we loved going round each stall looking at all their wonderful produce.  We decided on a small handmade rug which has been part of our home ever since and has always reminded us of the local folk.   Unfortunately some years later now it's looking a little worse for wear but I begrudge parting with it, which is why when I came across the Novica site I completely understood the importance of buying these special, unique and hard to find goods that you probably could not get unless you were again on holiday.

They sell a wide range of goods such as special gifts, home decor, paintings, clothing, jewellery and gift cards, but for me my first thought was rugs!!  It was quite simple to browse the rugs from the different sizes or rugs from different countries or from the curated collections.  That was something else I noticed, if you love Pinterest your going to love this, you can actually make your own collection boards for the products, designs or artists that you love by curating them and your collections can be shown on the main site, which can also be shared on your social media sites.

I chose a beautiful wool Inca Cross rug from the Andes (Titled "Cruz Inca" in Spanish).  I really liked the way the product page included information on the rug maker, Zosimo Laura, as well as being able to find other items made by him.

'Zosimo Laura was born in the department of Ayacucho, the capital of Peruvian handicrafts, on April 4, 1964. He comes from a respected family of weavers and, like his grandparents and brothers, he has learned the marvels of this art.

For Laura, his greatest inspiration is the pleasure his work produces in others. He intends to pass down the techniques used since ancient times by creating captivating products of superb quality.

Like many other residents of the Ayacucho countryside, Zosimo and his family were forced to abandon their homeland due to turmoil and violence. They moved to an urban center where they faced innumerable obstacles. However, Laura's dedication has allowed him to succeed in a new city. He says that soon he will teach his children the textile art, although they are still in school and too young to begin.

Zosimo utilizes alpaca, sheep wool, and cotton in the fabrication of his pieces, while both natural and synthetic dyes create the enthralling blend of colors. The two-pedaled loom is his primary tool.'

When the rug arrived it was wrapped so beautifully that I had to take a picture to show you.

I also received a lovely small gift card with the makers information and rug details as well as a postcard showing some alpacas. 
 



'Precisely woven of virgin wool, the Andean cross was a sacred emblem for the Inca. Zosimo Laura combines brilliant colors for this beautiful scatter rug. It is edged with hand-tied fringe.'
 






The rug itself is absolutely beautiful, so well made and soft to the touch.  
 

I was quite surprised by the rugs thickness.  The colours of the rug really stand out and what makes it so much more special is knowing that it has come from traditional methods from a local crafter that will be helped with the purchase, just like I would have bought if I had been on holiday there.

Whilst on the site I also had to take a look at the jewellery section, there are some gorgeous pieces of jewellery available from Amethyst Dangle Earrings ,  Garnet Dangle Earrings ,  Amber Earrings  , to  Silver Pendant Necklaces   and Silver Cocktail RingTake a look at the Novica website, you will not be disappointed.

You can also follow them on

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"My treasured Bulgarian rug full of wonderful memories."

Sharon x

   

http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Getting Crafty with the Kids through Creative Steps Magazine !!

When the children were younger we used to attend a parent and child craft session held every Saturday morning at our local community centre.  I loved going, it was such a special time where I could spend quality bonding time with them, making all sorts of fun things.   Every Christmas I still hang our baubles on the tree, with pride, that we made.  Sadly, due to funding, the local council had to stop these sessions and our time doing crafts together slowly reduced.  It was great getting inspiration from the teacher, she was full of ideas and seeing them gave you all the incentive you needed.

I've now found that inspiration again through Creative Steps Magazine, a fantastic magazine that will just blow you away with all the crafty ideas and projects that's inside.  What I especially love, as my children are that bit older now, is that the crafty fun is divided into three age sections - 0-5 years, 5-7 years and 7-11 years and templates are included in the back of the magazine for you to cut out or copy as many times as you like.
(For the grown ups - you will love to hear that all the projects and activities included in Creative Steps show you the skills and subjects that will be improved by doing the activity.  So you encourage the aims of the Early Years Foundation Stage for the 0-5 years and the older years is linked to the National Curriculum for KS1 and KS2 subjects.)

     

It is absolutely full of bright, colourful, fun and easy craft projects and activities for even the most hard to please child to jump up with excitement to start !  Even includes tips and alternatives for them. It certainly grabbed my attention after just the first couple of pages and I can just imagine how many parents, grandparents, playgroups, schools etc can benefit from this.  Here are some of the crafts I picked out from the latest Spring Magazine.

  

Great free giveaways are easy to enter by simple filling in one coupon to enter all!!  Each age range also has a Reading Corner, giving you some great ideas for the next books to buy.  The Group Activity badge makes it easier for you to identify, therefore saving you precious time.  They've really thought of everything very carefully and I just love it !  

Follow Creative Steps through their Website   Facebook    Twitter 

Special Readers Discount - 25% OFF Annual Subscriptions both online and printed versions!!
Annual Online Subscription with discount costs only £13.50 (GBP) or $22.50 (USD) - use discount code KARDIG25 and email info@creativesteps.co.uk
Annual Printed Subscription with discount costs only £22.35 (GBP) for UK customers or $63.75 (USD) for US customers (including postage) - use discount code KARMA25 and click here

Read more Creative Steps reviews here

I received this product through Karma Media in exchange for my honest review.