Pom Pom Bag Charm

Have you seen all these adorable pom pom bag charms about lately? They remind me of an old Juicy Couture handbag I used to own!  As soon as I saw them I pretty much decided I had to have one! But of course I had to DIY it! 

I had already found the most adorable fluffy pom poms at Wool Warehouse! WW stocks a range of faux fur pom poms in various colours, the hardest part of this tutorial is choosing which colour to make! I finally settled on the Lion brand - Mink coloured pom pom (£1.49). It measures a fantastic 7cm in size so won't get lost on your bag or key chain! 

The pom poms come with a loop of elastic attached.  For this make I simply cut it off! 

As for the findings I had a check around the house for various bits to reuse! So the keyring was from a broken keyring and the chain from an old necklace I had lying around! But basically all you need is a keyring, 2 jump rings and a small length of chain. 

To fix the chain to your pom pom I sewed like crazy just using a standard needle and length of thread! I sewed mine in white thread but you can't see the stitches at all due to it's fluffyness! See..........................

And taaaa daahhhh! you have one super awesome fuzzy keyring! Ideal for tormenting kitties with, adding to your favourite handbag or simply accessorizing your boring keys! 

If you make one please share your photos to our social media pages and either tag us or use the hashtag #houseofwonderland :)

Have a fuzzy filled evening! 

Make your very own crochet teething rings!

This week has been a super busy week here at HOW HQ with lots of custom orders and potting and planning going on behind the scenes. (mwahhh ha ha ha) One of the makes from this week are these set of 3 wooden teething rings.

The teething rings are made from organic natural ash wood and coated in beeswax.  I sourced these from a responsible online retailer which plants another tree for everyone cut down. YAY!

So here they are....

fancy making your own? Scroll down for the free pattern :)

To make your very own you will need:
-Wooden teething rings,
-Oddments of DK yarn,
-3mm Crochet Hook,
-Scissors & Needle.

*This pattern is worked into the back loop only.*
1. Chain 31 stitches,
2. Skip the first stitch. Work 1 single crochet into every stitch across.(30) Chain 1.
3. Repeat row 2 for a total of 6 times. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
4. Hold your crocheted strip over the teether. (you may need to pull a little, you want a tight fit) Whip stitch closed to secure.
And ta dahhh! It's that simple.  I had a fiddle working this design in various yarns and hook sizes but found this method to give the best fit.   

These would make a fab little gift for any chomping little dude or dudette. Can't crochet and NEEEEED these? Then get in touch right here and we shall sort you out :) If you do make them send us over a picture as we love to see your versions :)

Have a glitter filled day Wonderlanders!
Tess x

P.S. Don't forget to head over to our Etsy store tomorrow to get our special easter bunny sale :)

New Year, Time To Organize!

Happy new year fellow Wonderlanders! 2015! WOW! Can you believe that? Last year FLEW by!  This year we have so many plans in our epic quest for worldwide domination.  So it seemed fitting that we get organised.  Every year I work through a new business planner.  Just something basic to give me little yearly goals and targets and make sure everything is in order.  So this year I created a simple downloadable business planner pdf.  

TA DAHHH! 

Included in the planner is:

-Simple Money 2015 Worksheet

-Simple Goals 2015 Worksheet (Monthly & Yearly)

-Simple Business Branding Worksheet

-Simple Weekly Timetable Worksheet

-Simple Inventory Worksheet

-Simple To Do Worksheet

-Simple New Product Idea Worksheet

-Simple Weekly Blog Post Worksheet

-Simple Social Media Worksheet (Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter)

-Simple Social Media Worksheet (Instagram/Google+/Youtube)

-Simple Social Media Worksheet (Tumblr/Blogger/Mailing List)

-Simple Advertising Tracker Worksheet

-Simple Discount Tracker Worksheet

-Simple Username & Password Worksheet

-Simple Sale/Return Worksheet

If you fancy getting your hands on one of these planners you can find them in our Etsy Pattern & Digital store right here! What's even better is you can download it immediately! 

I hope that it's of use to you! Have a great day!!

Tess xx

Make your own Custard Cream biscuit!

It seems that we have not had a free crafty pattern in a while :( -Boooooo! So I came up with this quick one for you crocheters to whip up! 

Are you looking for a quick and easy project to use up those yarn scraps? Then this one might just be for you. These simple crochet biscuits are made in just 5 simple steps. Add a brooch back to your badges to create a tasty accessory or make a few for your children's toy box!

So here it is....

I LOVE how fast these are to do! With my patience of a goldfish these are a super quick project.  You can grab the pattern for FREE on Craftsy right here

If you do make up these little biccies be sure to spam us with all of your awesome pictures!

Happy crocheting little Wonderlanders!

Tess x

A new pattern...

Well, firstly I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas?  Ours was fantastic, hectic and busy! Here are some of our highlights...

We have been back in the office today slowly getting back to work... and we have a brand new crochet pattern just for you! (whooo hooo!!)  So here it is a pattern to make these....

1. 2. 3. Awwwwwwww.... How completely sweet are these?  These adorable crochet baby booties are the perfect gift for that special new arrival. They are simple and quick to make and you'll find yourself with a collection quite quickly! Customize your shoes in different colours for either a girl or boy or use our suggested yarn to create a unisex bootie. You can find the pattern in our etsy pattern store right here for just £2!

If you do make these we would LOVE to see your pictures so send them over!! 

Happy crocheting little Wonderlanders!

Tess x

It's nearly Christmas!!!

It's been completely manic over the past month or so.  I can't wait to have a little rest and get on with some drawing and crocheting/knitting again! And it's already begun! You may have spotted my little baby booties about and a few of you have asked for the pattern for them which I will share below... So here are the little baby booties in question... 

Aren't they just adorable?  They are made for ages 0-3 months and are knitted in Sirdar Simply Recycled Aran yarn which is made up of 51% recycled cotton.  Fancy making your own? I found the pattern for these on Ravelry right here.  It took just one evening to do to! So is great if you need a 'quick fix'!

So before I head off and get on with my endless list of things to do I thought I'd remind you that over the festive holiday's we will be operating a limited service.  See the picture below for opening times :)  

^ ^ ^ It's during these times we will be here at HOW HQ cracking on with your orders, answering messages and making up pieces.  So don't fear if you don't get a reply instantly to your messages this is why ;) 

From everyone at HOW HQ we wish you a truly magical and glitter filled Christmas and a happy healthy new year.  Thank you so much for sticking with us!

Tess x

Santa Paws is coming to town....

With Christmas just around the corner Santa Paws has begun the EPIC search of perrrrrrfect gifts for one's feline companion.  Whist hunting around for the best gift it has come to my attention that gifts for cat's are hard to find! There seems to be so much aimed at dog lovers and not enough for our fluffy friends... So with that in mind I begun the great hunt for the most superb gift for a certain little playmate!

As an independent shop my first stop was other British designers.  Here are a few I discovered along the way...

Top left: Custom made cat dish from here

Top right: Candy Cane collar from here

Bottom left: Pack of 2 catnip mice from here

Bottom right: Hello Kitty cat bowl from here

And after discovering petplanet.co.uk I may have gotten a little tiny ikkle bit carried away and went on a spree! So I did manage to find some gifts for Dinah (I say some.... hummm... a few....) Well our little fluffball has been well and truly spoilt! BUT! I did find some other mention-worthy goodies that I have to share with you!.... Feathers & Tails... now they make the most ADORABLE little bows, collars and harnesses for cats and dogs! Be sure to check out their sale price for half price offers ;) Zukie Style is also a great stop for pet bandannas, collars and leads.  The Natural Pet toy company has the sweetest little gifts for your loveable friend.With a page dedicated to Christmas bits as well as stocking items for Cats, Dogs and even Rabbits! AND finally Norsvana have fantastic handmade pet toys made in the UK.  Go check them out!

So that concludes my great search.  I hope that helps.  If you know of an awesome pet gift give us a comment below!

Tess

My top 5 HOW products for spreading Christmas cheer

With Christmas fast approaching we are working hard to spread Christmas cheer over the lead up to the big day.  Over the past week or so we have slowly been introducing some of our Christmas goodies. So here is my top 5 ideal for spreading that festive feeling...

5.  SET OF 8 POLAR BEAR CHRISTMAS CARDS (£7)

Spread the festive cheer with our pack of 8 Christmas bear cards.  These cards each come with a rustic craft envelope and are printed in the United Kingdom.  The cards are printed on 300gsm cardstock and come bundled in string.  Get yours here.

4.  MAKE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS BEAR GIFT TAGS (£4.50)

Great for getting the kids involved this Christmas! Get your little Elf helpers to help you cut and decorate our gorgeous bear cards.  Each pack contains 25 tags which could also be used as Christmas tree decorations!

Find them here.


3.  SANTA TREATS MAT (£13.00)

Our special santa snacks mat is perfect for all ages this Christmas eve.  Made from a sturdy hardwood it truly is magical! With a special space for everything and a little checklist, this mat will last year after year.  It is completely washable and is made to order.  Order yours now.

2.  THIS STOCKING WAS FILLED BY ... BADGE (£2.50)

These are the perfect way to finish off the magic of your stocking and gifts this year.  Once the stockings are filled pin one of our Elf badges to it.  They are pretty much the equivalent of an Elf business card! These are sent at random by our magical unicorns.  Grab yours here.

1.  PERSONALIZED CHRISTMAS CHILDREN'S LETTER FROM SANTA CLAUS (£4)

And here is my top goodie for spreading Christmas cheer.  And what could be more magical than a personalized letter from the big man himself?  Each A4 letter can be either folded and placed in an envelope or rolled and tied up with string.  Quick, go get yours now.

Have a truly magical weekend

Tess

That Festive Feeling

At House of Wonderland we are excited for the festive season, the one time of year where a girl can make herself sparkle like the fairy on top of the Christmas tree. Low key fashion is for once shunned in favour of full of glamour.

Here House of Wonderland put together our ideal Christmas party outfit, chosen for the girl who wants to shine!

The Little black dress is the centre of any outfit, allowing your accessories, makeup and natural beauty to shine. HoW loves this Cosmic Sparkle Maxi Dress from French Connection, in sequin which are perfect for reflecting those glittering Christmas lights.

The plunging neckline makes this a great dress for wearing with a statement necklace, such as this striking Amethyst Gemstone Necklace from HoW. The darkness of the dress will bring to life the vibrant colour of the necklace, making a bold statement, suitable for a girl who’s ready to stop an entire room as they turn to look at her. In this dress you will look like a siren from a Hitchcock film, and you could even wear HoW’s earrings, with a Silhouette of the famous director, a subtle nod to the old school glamour to which you are paying homage.

Team with a Smokey eye, as seen in this tutorial by celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge,  and high heels  (HoW loves these Polka Dot ones also from French Connection) but remember to bring a pair of flat shoes in your bag, because life isn’t fun unless you can dance.

Talking of flat shoes HoW loves these Ruby Slip ons from Pretty Ballerina, as they remind us of the Wizard of Oz, a pair of shoes you can click together to take you home for Christmas. Continuing with the fairy tale theme, these would be beautiful worn with House of Wonderland’s  Black Silhouette Peter Pan and Wendy Earrings.

 The Romantics among you could float through a starlit city in this pale blue dress from Monsoon, teamed with these Love Tattoo Swallow Stud Earrings from HoW, bearing the word Love.

I've been drinking Watermelon...

So as you may of guessed lately I have become OBSESSED with crochet! It's so addictive... You might say I'm hooked (HA HA HA! Sorry :D :()

So as I have recently listed some more patterns in our Craftsy and Etsy pattern store I thought it was time for a little freebie. And this one is so simple and fast you can make a full set in one evening! and what are we making I hear you ask?...

How about these gorgeous little watermelon coasters? These little Watermelon coasters are perfect and piratical. Brighten up your home and protect surfaces at the same time with the colourful little delights.

Get the FREE PDF pattern in our Craftsy store here

Don't worry if you can't crochet!; I have recently opened an Etsy store for all of my one off personal makes which you can find here.

Hope you enjoyed this pattern! Post your photos on our facebook, twitter and instagram!

Tess

New From HOW, From a New Perspective!

Ahoy there fellow Wonderlanders!

I am sorry to say that Tess has been bogged down with so much work lately she hasn't had a chance to post a new blog. So, instead, you are stuck with me! Arrr!

I'm told that I am to talk about any new stuff that's been going on here at HOW HQ and not talk about my brand new pirate ship :( I guess I'll get straight into it :)

Lately Tess has made these FANTASTIC paper cuts! She has made a brilliant Studio Ghibli based one, with a little help from me, and some nagging to put more Chibis on it.

After a bit more nagging from me, she made this Dr Who one!

Then, after locking me out of the room (no idea why!), she made her favourite one yet, DISNEY!! Which I think is made perfect by little Timone :D

You can buy all of these on ebay for now:

Studio Ghibli Papercut: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331212835842
Dr Who Papercut: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331213757137
Disney Papercut: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331213671618

Lastly, Tess kept her hands busy by making this amazing little Eve from Wall-E! Unfortunately, she isn't for sale, despite how much everybody loves her :P But hopefully, one day she'll have her Wall-E to keep her company :D

This blog has been brought to you by the much respected and feared,
Steve the Pirate
(Fighting the seven seas since I built my imaginary boat)

I am Ironman...

There were great battles here at HOW HQ at who wanted what mittens... So I thought I would hide away for a moment and share this awesome pattern with you to make your very own!

Pretty cool! Huh? You can find the pattern for these little babies here in our brand new Etsy Digital shop!

Make yours tonight and upload your awesome pictures to our facebook page!

Tess

Bat Minion Mittens!

So last night I had an awesome idea! What about making little crochet mittens inspired by Batman vs Minions?! So I dug out my yarn and came up with these...

Arnt they fab? Inspired by 60's batman these are great for the little ones!

So, fancy making your own? Well you can! You can find our pattern in our new HOW digital shop here

If you are new to Etsy don't forget if you sign up via this link click here you get £5 off your first shop! Not bad huh? So what you waiting for? Got make some bat-minion mittens and get your FREE £5!

If you do make these up we would love to see your pictures! Be sure to post them on our HOW facebook page :)

Tess x

Your Awesome!

So recently we added our gorgeous Gentlemen's Etiquette posters and prints to our store. We love these! Perfect for fathers day gifting! Well we thought it's about time we had a NEW printable for you! And why not one to match our awesome new poster?

So here it is...

Make your very own 'You are awesome box'! These are perfect for filling with candy, chocolates, little novelty items and even mini cupcakes! Get your copy of our printable pattern here

If you decide to make one why not share yours on our facebook, twitter or instagram pages!?

Enjoy!
Tess