Revival Creations

Do you love fresh baked bread?

I can honestly say I am a baker rather than a cook.  I love to bake.  There is nothing more therapeutic than mixing ingredients and creating something for everyone to enjoy.  I've baked from when I was young, starting with fairy cakes and progressing to Victoria sponges and scones, then mastering pastry.  A few years ago I found a recipe for olive bread and used to make that quite often.  Lately I've been baking banana and cherry cake which seems to be going down a storm. So when I saw a tweet from Revival Creations advertising a mediterranean bread making class, I knew I had to sign up.  So on Sunday,one of the hottest days of the year so far, I took myself of to Malt Klin in the Warwickshire countryside to learn how to make traditional focaccia and ciabtta bread.

Hidcote

Where do you look for your garden inspiration?

On Saturday I found myself with a whole day free due to all previous plans being postponed. I had been telling Mum about my change of circumstances and that I was wondering what to do with myself, when she suggested we visit another National Trust property.  Last month we had chosen to visit Upton House and Gardens, although we had got Hidcote on the list then, so with the glorious weather we are currently experiencing, the clear choice was Hidcote. Situated near Chipping Campden in the picturesque Cotswolds, Hidcote is a celebrated 20th century garden.  It is the work of an American, Lawrence Johnston, who started to cultivate the iconic gardens in 1907 and went on to develop a wonderful showcase of individual gardens that each tell a story.  The National Trust have returned these gardens to their 1930s heyday and I was looking forward to seeing them.

Lula Belle Meets Revival Creations

Are you championing independent businesses?


Through my feature, Lula Belle Meets, I'm championing independents businesses and finding out what drives people to be their own boss.

Lula Belle Meets, Steph Haines owner of Revival Creations, Warwickshire













I met Steph at a ladies lunch and was inspired by the classes that Revival Creations were offering.  With the revival of handmade crafts, through ambassadors such as Kirstie Allsopp, Revival Creations is at the heart of this, offering a range of classes to suit those insterested in traditional crafts as well as baking and jewellery making.  I'm excited to be attending a bread making class at the end of the month at a farm in Warwickshire, so ahead of this, I caught up with Steph to find out more about Revival Creations.

WNAA Heroes Run 2012

What's been your biggest achievement recently?

A few weeks ago I signed up to take part in the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Heroes Run.  I have been supporting the charity through donations in tins and various events for a number of years, but this is the first time that I have taken part in a planned event such as this.  The venue and the weather couldn't have been better.  This year the race was being held in Warwick Castle  and it looked glorious against the bright blue sky.  The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance provides helicopter emergency medical services and operates purely through donations.  So I, along with hundreds of others, was happy to do my bit in supporting the team.

Emily Jayne Image Consultancy

Have you ever wanted to go shopping with a personal stylist?

I had been looking forward to yesterday for quite some time as I had booked a *personal shopping session with Emily Jayne.  You'll know from have you defined your personal style? that I visited Emily Jayne back in November to really define my style and with the knowledge that I am a City Chic girl I have developed a wonderful A/W capsule wardrobe. However, I have always struggled with S/S clothes, never seeming to really get it right.  Also the fabrics do not led themselves well to my shape, always being too floaty, which is why I much prefer the materials, textures and colours of A/W clothes.  With this in mind I turned once again to Emily Jayne to help me create my Summer capsule wardrobe.  I was also in need of some validation from my previous session, as I had been scared off prints.  So the few pieces I have brought my self recently I have been playing it safe and buying stripes.  

Getty Images Gallery presents Marilyn

Do you have a screen icon?


I have been a fan of Marilyn Monroe since I was a teenager and I have my brother to thank for this.  As teenage boys do, he had a poster of Marilyn on his bedroom wall, but I can't exactly tell you when I started to become aware of her.  The more I learnt about her, the more I was fascinated by her.  I've watched her movies and have brought numerous books on her, been given memorabilia with her on, as I write this I am sitting drinking coffee out of a mug with a classic Marilyn photo on it.  To me she is the ultimate screen icon.  I am sure this has much to do with her story growing up in orphanages and the troubled life she led as a star, which was to become her downfall.  She became a star in the glamorous fifties and early sixties and having a perfect hour glass figure, stood out against the other starlets of the day.  So when I heard that there was an exhibition of Marilyn images and memorabilia, at the Getty Images Gallery in London, I had to make a visit.  I took the opportunity last week after we had taken afternoon tea at The Ritz.

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

Would afternoon tea everyday be too indulgent?
#3

Monday this week turned out to be a very special day.  It was the first time that my friend Michelle had taken afternoon tea at The Ritz. We took the trip with our mums, so it was a really girly day out.  The day was made better as it was the first, dry, warm sunny day we have had for weeks, which always makes walking in London much nicer.  As we were coming from different parts of the country we met outside of The Ritz.  Michelle had wanted to par take in afternoon tea at The Ritz for a long time, I had brought it as a present for her birthday, so it was so nice to be able to share that experience with her.

Bagservant personality types the flirty dozen

Do you have a handbag personality type?

You'll know from the perfect everyday bag? and do you wear or use your handbag? that I love handbags! Those who know me don't have to be told this.  Only this weekend two friends asked if I had a new handbag, it is actually a lovely DKNY black tote that I have recently re-discovered and I'm loving using again. Yesterday, for my day out to London, I chose my classic brown croc leather L.K.Bennett shoulder bag. Over the last 10 years I have been developing my handbag collection, starting off with mid range prices, I've got some lovely DKNY handbags that I'm not ready to stop using.  Within the last five years I have been able to invest in more high end designs and have brought a couple of classic Mulberry handbags.  I now feel that I have a handbag for most occasions.  I've found my handbags through inspiration in magazines and endless shopping trips.  However, I've recently become aware of Bagservant which is a shopping portal that takes all of the hard work out of finding the perfect handbag.  They search hundreds of luxury and designer brands, high street retailers and new designers so you don't have too.  Even better they are now launching a new service called The Flirty Dozen.  This is a personality handbag search based on your personality type. It works by finding out what makes you tick, what you love, what you wear and why you purchase what you do.