Meet the Maker - Elaine Hardy, Love and Buttons

Difficult to imagine that a pile of buttons could be used to create something so beautiful and delicate.  But Elaine manages it with ease,  making the most beautiful embroidered pieces which incorporate these vintage and ceramic buttons.  

She also makes the most adorable hand stitched mice and bunnies.

Elaine is mum to 2 children,a little black dog & a very large guinea pig. As well as taking commissions, she has a shop on Folksy and you can find her on Facebook too.

Truly scrumptious - Deli on the Quay, Poole.

Stuck for something to do on Saturday morning, as we were unconvinced that the sun shine held any warmth, we decided to brave the coast, but in the shelter of a cafe, should it prove as cold as we had been warned it might.

Poole Quay has some lovely lanes crammed with interesting cafes, bars, boutique and art shops but the obvious attraction is the harbour and the sun didn't let us down but provided us with enough warmth to eat al fresco.

Deli on the Quay will not disappoint you at any time of day.  As it was mid morning, Shaun decided upon a pecan meringue whilst I plumped for the white chocolate and butterscotch brownie, along with our skinny cappuccinos, I know, bit redundant given the calorific content of the food!  We were not disappointed - my brownie was stunning and I will never be content with the rather mundane brown chocolate variety again.

The Deli has been open for 5 years and offers simple down-to-earth cooking and great coffee.  The selection of homemade bread, soup and famous Dorset apple cake along with all the salads, pasties and treats will cause a few dilemmas, but you won't be disappointed.

Book Worm - Guest Contributor Melanie Bugler-Mitchell

I'm a bit of a book worm and my secret read is one I read recently and think is a must for anyone who has boys in their household.

It's just hilarious and I think it has prepared me well for bringing up multiple boys!  Even if you don't have boys, I’m sure you’ll find this book highly entertaining.  It’s called 'How Do You Tuck In A Super Hero? And other delightful mysteries of raising boys' and is written by Rachel Balducci.

Rachel doesn’t need to look far for material. Her subject matter can be found climbing through the window, hanging on to the edge of the roof, and always at the refrigerator. Here she chronicles the exuberant, awesome life of boys through conversations overheard, rules she's been forced to make, and the many episodes of boy behaviour that continue to mystify mothers worldwide. From the care and feeding of her team, to travels out in public, to their wide-eyed adoration of Walker, Texas Ranger, this laugh-out-loud celebration joyfully explores the sweet and wild side of boyhood.

Rachel lives in the States where she is married to Paul and together they are the parents of five wild and crazy boys and one sweet little girl.  Somehow she also manages to find the time to be a writer and newspaper columnist!

Getaways - London City Break

A rare escape to the capital meant a little indulgence was in order.  We treated ourselves to lunch in the Oxo Tower where we enjoyed a set lunch (3 courses) for £36.50. We treated ourselves to a few extras but were also treated to fantastic views over London including nearby St Paul's Cathedral.  The food and service were amazing.

As we browsed through some previously unexplored parts of the city and agreed that Borough Market on the South Bank is great for foodies. Lots of artisan bread and cakes, fresh fish and other produce as well as lots of cooked goodies, ready to eat, too.  Ironically I brought quails eggs fresh from the West Country which is exactly where they’ll be returning to when we head home.

So pleased to see that all the museums in London are free and there are some great less well known ones too.  We went to the National Army Museum and were just in time to see the exhibition about the book and film War Horse which has sadly finished.

And for a final bit of indulgence where better than the flicks.  And Electric Cinema is just fab. Brilliant for couples -  huge leather sofas.  All very glam.