Saying Goodbye ...

This week has not been an easy week for me as my dad sadly passed away on Tuesday evening. He was in a lot of pain for the last few days of his life and it was so hard seeing him like that. It still hasn't sunk in yet and it is so hard to get my head round the fact that I will never see him again. I try to gain comfort from the fact that he is with my mom again who passed away 20 months ago.

As a result of this I have done nothing crafty or painted my kitchen door with blackboard paint as was planned for this week.

I will be back soon with a few recipes for you and hopefully a picture of said door ...

In memory of my dad, Harold, who passed away on 25th June 2013

Out with the old and in with the new ...

Some of you may have noticed that it has been some time since I last blogged - quite a long time in fact - months even and I hang my head in shame. I have no excuse other than time has quite simply flown by and each passing month has blended into the next.

I have given my little blog some serious thought and decided to give it an overhaul and let it reflect what I am about and the direction that my life is taking.

So, with that in mind I have changed the name from A Handmade Lifestyle to A Natural Lifestyle as I try to live life as naturally as possible and I have a Facebook page with the same name https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Natural-Lifestyle/134840500025915. I am vegan and I eat a mainly plant-based diet and I am also an avid juicer. I have an abundance of recipes that I am hoping to share with you all and even if you aren't vegan you may want to give some of them a go. I am often asked what I eat as a vegan and I will be able to showcase this on my blog. I also want to share my up-cycling successes as well as the crafty things I make and sell on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/mandyjanegordon?ref=si_shop as well as Folksy http://folksy.com/shops/AudreysAttic.

I'm a bit of a free spirit and bohemian at heart and I like to give out positive energy as I believe that if you do it comes back to you in abundance. I love the outdoors and camping and love being at one with nature. I love making things and this could be anything from a bag to a cushion to a tub of gorgeous smelling body butter. I do not use any product that has been tested on animals be it toiletries or cleaning products. I try to buy organic where possible and locally in season produce.

I also love vintage and charity shopping not to mention a car boot sale here and there and I am in my element bringing home my wares to transform.

That is a little bit about me and my life and I do hope that you will pop back to see what I am up to and to check for recipes and crafty ideas etc. I do promise to blog more regularly from now on ... promise!!

Glastonbury, where I should be living!