Hello,

A big, warm welcome to this week’s newsletter!

We’ve had a super fun week out and about with friends and family in the woods, and on the beach. One afternoon we gathered with friends by the fire and made these gorgeous leaf watercolour paintings.

I've been so into making things lately, and have my eye on making an epic animal with Iris. For some next level crafting, check out the wonderful resources available to tie in with climate-awareness, moving art installation, The Herds. Fancy making your own pangolin? Also, check out the diary and get along to an event in the next month to witness life-size puppet animals travelling a 20,000km route from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle.

Also… proud mama moment - I’m sending this from Bristol where I’m hanging out with my two eldest kids. My middle daughter has her end of year show tonight. She’s just completed her degree in Fashion and Textiles at UWE, and her creations are AMAZING!

Here's What We've Been Up to This Week

Making Our Own Daisy Balm

The grassy banks in our local park are filled with daisies right now. We’ve got a fair few in our garden too, which is what we used to make this super simple balm.

Here’s a simple, natural recipe for making your own daisy bruise balm at home using common daisies (Bellis perennis), which have traditionally been used for soothing bruises, bumps, and sore muscles thanks to their anti-inflammatory and skin-healing properties.

Daisy Bruise Balm Recipe

What you need:

  • 1 cup fresh daisy flowers (unsprayed, picked on a dry day)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil (or other carrier oil like sweet almond or sunflower)
  • 1 tbsp beeswax (pellets or grated)
  • Optional: a few drops of lavender essential oil (for extra soothing)

Instructions:

Make Daisy-Infused Oil Gently rinse and dry the daisies (ensure no bugs remain). Place them in a clean jar and cover with the oil. Let them infuse for 2 weeks on a sunny windowsill, shaking daily.

Quick method: gently warm the daisies and oil in a double boiler or slow cooker on low for 2–3 hours.

Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve to remove the flowers.

Make the Balm In a heatproof bowl or double boiler, gently melt the beeswax into the infused oil. Stir until fully melted and combined. Add optional essential oil (3–5 drops). Pour into small, clean tins or jars and let cool and harden.

How to Use:

  • Apply gently to bruises, bumps, or sore muscles as needed.
  • Suitable for adults and kids (do a patch test first).

Check out Becky O'Cole's recipe for Daisy Balm, plus lots more recipes here. She took the beautiful photograph I've used for today's newsletter!