Melissa Mabbitt

Dec 1, 2024 | rhs.org.uk | Melissa Mabbitt

For friends and family who seem to have everything, the gift of a unique homemade hamper is a sweet solution. The personal touch goes a long way; foodie gifts made with love are a sure-fire way to warm the cockles of your recipient’s heart. Treats made from fruits and veg you’ve grown in your own garden will doubly delight. Cook up crops that are a bit different to the norm to give your hamper that extra gourmet appeal.

Feb 4, 2024 | moderngardensmagazine.co.uk | Melissa Mabbitt

These glowing tealight holders are magical yet surprisingly quick and easy to makeConcrete has been a garden trend for some time now, and these gorgeous tealight globes give the look a new twist. The rough-hewn edge gives them a natural feel while the smooth, reflective interior creates a sophisticated sheen. The contrasting result is magically timeless, like a sparkling geode or fossilised egg.

Jan 2, 2024 | moderngardensmagazine.co.uk | Melissa Mabbitt

Banish the January blues on frosty days with these feel-good candleholdersThe warm flicker of candlelight is the perfect antidote to cold winter evenings. It may be chilly outside, but these easy brick lights will turn your garden into an inviting place and all the more atmospheric for enjoying a steaming hot mug of cocoa on your patio as dusk draws in. They’re made from engineering bricks with three holes in the centre, painted with some positive affirmations to lift your spirits.

Dec 5, 2023 | moderngardensmagazine.co.uk | Melissa Mabbitt

These cute Christmas keepsakes are created with garden-gathered leavesUse a simple salt dough recipe and sprigs of your favourite garden plants to make these gorgeous gift tags. They can be left plain white for simple Scandi style or you can pick out the lines of the leaves with a little green paint for a stronger botanical look. The salt dough will last indefinitely if it’s kept clean and dry, but if you want your tags to withstand wear and tear forever, seal them with a clear waterproof glue.

Nov 6, 2023 | moderngardensmagazine.co.uk | Melissa Mabbitt

Add magic to your winter garden with these glowing glass lightsChilly and dark afternoons in your winter garden needn’t be dreary. As the nights draw in, it’s an opportunity to add some enchantment with quick and easy-to-make glowing jam-jar lanterns. Any jars with tight-fitting lids will do for this project but those with a little character such as pickling or Mason jars have that bit of extra charm. They will also need to have lids that are deep and wide enough to house the lights’ battery packs.