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So half term is almost upon us. Is it just me or is time whizzing by at the speed of a top Federer serve?   If you are dreading the prospect of a week with the children, then fear no more.   Here is my list of possible activities that you can print off and store in your handbag. Call it an insurance policy. My pleasure...   Go bonkers with conkers. Paint, stick, jewelleryfy, but first of all go out and collect them!         Bake, bake, bake. A great way to get your children interested in food should you be struggling. Buy a simple children..

Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a thorough diagnosis when suffering from an ailment. However, when said ailment is broadcast to complete strangers, along with my name, address, phone number and CB radio handle...well I think I’d rather suffer in silence.   By the way, the following tale has nothing whatsoever to do with beautiful handmade to order children’s bedroom furniture, which we specialise in at Little Lucy Willow, but I thought I would tell you anyway...       The other day I was in the chemist thanks to a rather nasty bout of athlete's foot. I know you prob..

The evenings are getting longer and the air, crisp and cold. It’s that time of year when we relish climbing into our beds on those darkest of dark nights and getting wrapped up ready to sleep.   I love ‘nesting’ for the winter around now and to help me along - and you of course! - I have expanded our Little Lucy Willow childrens bedding range to include some simply gorgeous new products. If you’re anything like me you will struggle to pick out your favourite. I am still undecided.   Here are the girls contenders…   The Paisley Quilt with its beautiful striking teal and fuschi..

Whenever my children say something cute, interesting or funny, I fool myself into believing I will always remember it. But the trouble is, as parents, our lives are littered with so many of these memorable moments that we soon lose track. I considered writing them all down in a special notebook at one time but never quite got round to it. Oh how I wish I had now! Anyway, there are a few things that for some reason are stuck in my brain, never to depart, so I thought I would share them with you.       1 “Mummy, you are inviserable.” Yes, you read that right. in-vis-er-able. Pla..

I can’t quite believe it’s October already. Driving into work this morning I noticed the trees beginning to turn. Against a clear cobalt sky it was a sight to behold! Listen to me getting all poetic. Anyway I took a photograph of the glorious horse chestnut outside Heskin Hall, just next to our showroom, so you could share in its delight!         So back to the business of children’s furniture, or children’s sleep habits to be more precise...I read an article this week about super sleep nanny, Lucy Shrimpton, who professes to have some prize ideas on how to get your children..

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED   Ok, so Halloween might be a few weeks away yet, but we couldn’t resist launching our spook-tacular competition to get us all in the mood for mischief.   We have hidden a pumpkin somewhere on our website and to be in with a chance of winning one of these beautiful Little Lucy Willow bedspreads, all you have to do is find it!           When you do seek out the pesky pumpkin email us at [email protected] and tell us its whereabouts, along with your name. You have until midnight on October 31st to enter.   We will rand..

Calling all mums to step away from the bookcase! Step away from the bookcase!   It’s time to hang up your supermarket readers (little off-the-shelf glasses for those not in the know!) and let the expert take the helm. In other words, daddy.     Yes it’s official, dads are the best when it comes to reading children’s bedtime stories according to a new study from Harvard University. Apparently, they fire the imagination more than mums do...   Now I don’t want to stereotype or anything, but I think I am probably speaking for the majority here when I say that mums do most ..

Now that school is back in full flow and evening activities are too, our days are packed with car journeys, clubs and homework. As predicted in our house, study and commitments have escalated this year to such a degree that I am struggling to do my motherly duties and cram it all in!   However, my latest purchase for Martha has proved a winning idea. No, it isn’t a personal tutor, or a nanny or a maid (although I could do with all three). It is a simple bedside table.       I am amazed at what a difference this small, unassuming piece of children’s furniture has made to o..

This week I was invited to a wedding which got me thinking about my own nuptials all those years ago...I recall being madly in love. How amazing it would be as we faced the years together, hand in hand, cheek to cheek!   I was incapable of imagining life without my wonderful, funny, gorgeous, caring, romantic man.       Fast forward to the present day and mysteriously, I am finding it much easier to picture the same scenario...Hmmm. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my husband very much, but am more excited by spotless worktops and an empty washing basket these days. His ..

When you decide to revamp a child’s room, it can seem like an overwhelming task. After weeks of building yourself up to getting started, you gingerly open the door with the best intentions but having cast your eye over the mountainous mess, promptly close it again. Aaaaand breathe!   Children seem to accumulate so many useless things, so many small things and so many things that don’t seem to belong anywhere in particular. The latter usually reside in a pile in the corner, get crammed under the bed, or stuffed in a drawer and forgotten about forever! Bouncy balls, slinkies, paint-you..

When the school day is over you would be right in thinking that it’s time to relax, put your feet up and have a quick cuppa before making a lovely home cooked dinner...   However, for many of us, that cosy scene is permanently on hold as the busiest part of our day is about to begin.   Rather like Superman, or Wonder Woman, on the stroke of the school bell we are suddenly transformed into glorified taxi drivers, super snack specialists and all round fetchers and carriers. We rush from A to B, then from B to C and then back to A again before you can say Jack Robinson.   Some..

As the autumn term is underway and the threat of donning my cossie at a water park is no longer a reality, I have increased my snacking. It wasn’t a conscious decision, it just happened when I was least expecting it. Queuing up at my local coffee shop I ordered my usual latte then requested an Eton mess slice as if it was ‘my usual’. The words came out all by themselves. It was an involuntary reaction. I devoured it. It was totally delicious and as a consequence I have now sampled most of the freshly baked goods on display at said shop. And at other shops. And at ‘the last stand’ - the..

Autumn is almost here - if the increasingly horrible weather reports are anything to go by...   I am sad about the end of summer but am more than happy to welcome my favourite season with open arms. This slow burning beautiful season!   First we feel the cool morning air. Then we see our breath dancing before us and over the course of a few weeks, our second to biggest ‘big coats’ are out in force (we reserve the biggest coats for the depths of winter so we really ‘feel the benefit’ as my Grandma used to say…)   To ease you into the golden season let me show you some lovely L..

  It’s all over folks. The last lazy day has drawn to a close and we are now being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the autumn term.   I hope the rain didn’t stop you from enjoying yourselves over the holidays. It certainly didn’t stop me. But as a result of all those wet afternoons I am about to launch into the mother of all clean up operations.   That’s not to say I haven’t been keeping on top of the mess. On the contrary. I have happily tidied up at the end of each day and cheerily wiped the paint off the floor. I have gleefully unblocked the sink of chalk sticks and..