This week's blog post is a free printable! If you have a wedding or a party or any other event coming up, you can download this black and white bloomcore/floral invitation. All you have to do is click the link in the image above.

The invitation prints out two copies on a landscape A4 piece of paper, so it's easy for most printers, and when you cut the paper you will end up with two A5 size invitations. 

I made this invitation using Procreate, and you can see some of the process in my YouTube video below! 

Christmas is coming up - we are only a few months away now! There’s going to be a lot of Christmas content here in just a month or two, in the meantime, here is a short list to  start the ball rolling on Christmas planning, and it’s all about practical gift ideas.  I think most of us are trying to save money these days, and a practical gift is great, as it shows you are caring about someone while delivering a gift which is both thoughtful and useful. 

Read on for some ideas about small and practical gifts you can give to people you care about!
​Please note this article contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the links and purchase an item, I may receive a commission

1. Umbrellas - I go through quite a few umbrellas living in a tropical country. I often use theseinverted umbrellas with C shaped handles - they are actually very practical, as you can hang them on your wrist, and they close inwards, which makes getting in and out of cars is actually a lot less drippy! The size is generally very good also. If you are looking for a more compact umbrella, and one with UV protection, this umbrella may be the right size. For an umbrella which makes a statement, look no further than these beautiful umbrellas by Galleria, with cherry blossoms, Monet’s garden and Van Gough’s Irises. The last of this group - it’s big, it's not quite an umbrella, but more a shade for the beach –a beach tent! Beach tents are great for sun protection for a day on the beach, and make both a generous and very practical gift.

This week we are staying with the theme of tables, however the main focus is napkins! If you are hosting an event, you might be providing napkins or serviettes on your table, and an easy way to elevate the look is to fold your napkins in a certain style. If you would like to learn how to, you have come to the right place! Today’s article features a video where I show some different ways in which you can fold napkins – the six ways I have chosen are not too difficult, but still look elegant and will add to the impact your table setting makes. 
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Like tablecloths, napkins have their own interesting history. Spartans had an early version of a napkin, which was actually a ball of dough on which they wiped their hands. Ancient Romans had two different sizes of napkins  (this article has a very interesting history around paper napkins, do have a read!) They would also bring their own napkin out with them to dine, and then use it also to take food home.

You have sent me as a present … everything which you have received during the past five days; twelve note-books of three tablets each, seven tooth-picks; together with which came a sponge, a table-cloth, a wine-cup, a half-bushel of beans, a basket of Picenian olives, and a black jar of Laletanian wine. 
LIII. TO UMBER

Tablecloths have been around for centuries, or, to be more precise, millennia – the first known reference to tablecloths came from Roman times, when the poet Martial mentioned them.  The middle ages saw widespread use of tablecloths across all classes; while fabric varied depending on what the buyer could afford, the value placed on these items was high, and owners took real care with not only how they were cleaned, but also how they were folded and set on the table. Moving forward in time,  ‘Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management’ (affiliate link) describes how her rule regarding tablecloths applies ‘equally to mansion and cottage. However simple may be the meal, and however coarse in texture the cloth, it should be clean, free from creases, and arranged smoothly with the centre fold forming a true line the whole length of the table.’ 

What is the use of a tablecloth though, and why this widespread importance? For myself, trying to protect a wooden table from heat and water marks is the main reason I have been researching tablecloths recently, and in this article I will share three tips to help protect your table, including using and measuring the all-important tablecloth! 
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