Whether you’re new to quilting or an avid fan The-boomers have teamed-up with those wonderful people at Craftsy to introduce you to the myriad of on-line courses built to improve your quilting craft. Quilt-making questions answered by quilting instructor and author Laura Nownes, all in easily accessible on-line video lessons. Watch Laura's advice for : Selecting a pattern Tools Fabric After this you then discover how to cut fabric of all dimensions accurately and efficiently. After covering those fundamentals, Laura...Read more

New research shows nearly half of workers would stay in their work- if offered improved flexibility by their employers in later life. An interesting fact that 47% per cent of (older) workers responding to the latest British Social Attitudes Survey (BSAS) indicated they would happily work longer before retiring providing their employer were to offer more flexible hours. This would mean older workers keep their skills up to date, continue to earn an income and free up some time to...Read more

Craft holidays for the over 50s Are you contemplating a trip where you can not only relax but hone your talents towards your favourite arts & crafts? A craft holiday is a terrific way to meet new friends and perhaps turn your hand to new skills, whether a novice or experienced in your chosen craft there are plenty of options open to you. Home or overseas, duration of stay, individual craft or taster courses? Here are a few to consider....Read more

Click on the link below to read The Spectator on 'The secret brilliance of Prince Philips gaffes' http://www.spectator.co.uk/2015/11/the-secret-brilliance-of-prince-philips-gaffes/  

65 plus age group employment rates are at their highest levels since 1984 According the latest statistics issued by DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) the over 65s have never been working longer. The report issued last week cites ‘In 2015, there were over 1.1million individuals aged 65+ employed – an employment rate of 10.2% which is more than double the rate in 2001 (4.9%)’. Putting these recent trends in employment into context we should perhaps consider the increases in...Read more

Papercutting The best in papercutting. Have you seen an advert for a new car company called CarWow, it looks like a great idea for buying a car but what struck us was their fabulous ad. The advert features a spinning wheel which revolves to take you through the most stunning papercutting art to explain how the company works: carwow.co.uk ‘Wheel-o-trope’Director: Richard Chaney Papercutting has evolved at an incredible rate over the last few years with arts ts now producing the...Read more

We can thank legendary French crooner Sacha Distel for the schoolyard favourite of the 1950s ‘Scoubidou’, the art of knotting plastic strips together to form colourful bracelets. Distel's hit song Scoubidou coined the name originally adapted from the US song  ‘Apples, Peaches and Cherries’. Scoubidou also know by other names including boondoggle ,gimp, lanyard, scoubi, scoobie, and rex-lace originated in France in the 1950s and became quite the fad in 60s Britain. The art is enjoying a renaissance however many of...Read more

Over 50s colouring books-don’t go over the lines! Do you recall colouring-in during your childhood? , what resonates is if I was ever colouring-in within a team there be a constant reminder ‘Don’t go over the lines’ more testament to accuracy than discipline perhaps? Adult colouring books are all the rage, perhaps the resurgence is partly due to Black Sabbaths Ozzie Osborne-a keen colouring fan. I recall several years ago inadvertently watched a reality show about the Osborne’s and found...Read more

The Queen's 90th Birthday let the Celebrations Begin Today The Queen will become the country's first nonagenarian sovereign celebrating her actual birthday (the Queen’s official birthday is to follow). Events to celebrate the occasion will be taking place in April, May and June, some of which are free though some of which are by invitation only and include The Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday 10th June. The Service also marks the Duke of Edinburgh's 95th birthday,...Read more

The Great British tea cosy With the resurgence of baking and all things to bake it’s great to see the most British of institutions making a welcome come back, afternoon tea. As we’ve been slowly morphing into a nation of coffee addicts the tea brigade has remained steadfast in their determination to keep the great British cuppa pouring. A new generation of tea drinkers are looking to serving their tea correctly, a tradition which our grandparents adhered to but perhaps...Read more