My Visit to York’s National Railway Museum

During my trip to York, I visited the National Railway Museum. It is a brilliant place to explore, even if you are not a huge train enthusiast.

The museum is filled with historic trains and interesting displays that tell the story of Britain’s railways. One of the biggest highlights is Mallard, the world’s fastest steam locomotive. Seeing such a famous and powerful engine up close was an amazing experience.

I enjoyed walking around the Great Hall and looking at the different trains from throughout history. The museum shows how railway travel has changed over the years, from traditional steam engines to more modern trains. There is plenty of information to read, and the size and detail of the locomotives are impressive.

The museum is suitable for people of all ages and would make a great family day out. There are also interactive activities, places to eat and a gift shop to explore. Admission to the museum is free, although booking ahead is recommended.

I would definitely recommend visiting the National Railway Museum⁠ if you are spending time in York. It is educational, interesting and a lovely way to discover more about railway history

York is a beautiful historic city in the north of England. It is famous for its cobbled streets, medieval buildings and the impressive York Minster. One of my favourite areas is The Shambles, with its narrow streets, charming shops and old-fashioned atmosphere. Walking around York feels like stepping back in time, but the city also has plenty of modern cafés, restaurants and places to shop. Whether you enjoy history, sightseeing or simply exploring somewhere new, York is a wonderful place to visit.

I am so excited to finally reveal the brand-new logo for Rose Crafts!

The rose has always been special to me, so I wanted my new logo to reflect both my name and the love and care that goes into everything I create. The soft pink colours, delicate roses and elegant design perfectly represent the handmade and personal style of Rose Crafts.

This new logo marks an exciting new chapter for my small business, but the heart behind Rose Crafts remains the same. Every card and handmade item will continue to be created with care, creativity and attention to detail.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me, purchased my cards and encouraged me along the way. Your support means more than you will ever know, and it has helped Rose Crafts continue to grow.

I hope you love the new logo as much as I do! Here’s to a fresh new look and an exciting future for Rose Crafts. 🌹💗

What a Year It Has Been

Hey everyone, I haven’t written on here for a while. What a difficult year it has been. Not being able to see our family and friends has affected us all deeply.

Being a key worker during the pandemic has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, but choosing to remain in my role is also one of the best decisions I have made. I am proud that I carried on working and helping others during such an uncertain time.

My mental health has been affected a lot, but Zoom parties, daily phone calls with friends and support from the people around me have kept me going. It has now been a year since we stood outside our homes and clapped for the NHS and key workers. To everyone in the NHS: thank you. You worked incredibly hard, cared for so many people and made us all proud.

Getting COVID-19 myself was frightening and certainly wasn’t a pleasant experience, but thankfully, I am feeling much better now. Going for walks around my local area has helped me, especially with my best friend by my side—the one who wags her tail as soon as I walk through the door!

I also rediscovered a hobby that became more important than I ever expected. With the card shops closed, I started making my own cards. Before I knew it, I was busier than I had ever imagined!

Making cards gave me something positive to focus on during a very difficult time. It supported my mental health, kept me creative and gave me a real sense of purpose.

This is what kept me going.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to every single person who bought one of my cards, supported me and encouraged me. Your kindness meant more than you will ever know.

Thank you to our NHS, our key workers, my family, my friends and everyone who supported my card-making journey. We got through an incredibly difficult year together.

Thank you all. ❤️ xx

I’ve just come back from London after visiting the VM & Display Show, and once again it was such a great experience. As someone who has always had a passion for visual merchandising, retail design and creativity, being surrounded by people working within the industry was really inspiring.

One of the things I love about visiting an industry exhibition like this is seeing just how much visual merchandising continues to change. There are always new ideas, technologies and services being developed to help people working in the industry. It reminds me that visual merchandising isn’t just about creating a beautiful window display — there is so much happening behind the scenes to bring an idea to life.

Walking around the show, there was so much to take in, from mannequins, props and graphics to lighting, fabrics, printing, Christmas decorations and display services. I loved being able to see everything together under one roof and speak to people who actually work within different areas of the industry.

For me, it is also about learning and getting inspired. You can discover new trends, find out about different companies and learn more about how businesses create displays that attract customers and bring their brands to life.

Spending two days at the show is definitely worth it because there is so much information to take in. You don’t realise how many different skills, companies and creative ideas are involved in visual merchandising until you see them all together.

The industry is incredibly competitive, so I think experiences like this are important. You have to keep learning, developing your ideas and understanding how the industry is changing. Seeing new technology especially made me think about how different visual merchandising could look in the future.

It also reminded me why I became interested in this career in the first place. I love creativity, retail and seeing an idea develop from something on paper into a real display that customers can experience.

Every year the show feels different. There are new exhibitors, new products, new technology and new people entering the industry with their own ideas. That’s what makes me want to keep going back.

I came away from London with new ideas, inspiration and even more excitement about visual merchandising.

I already can’t wait to see what next year’s show brings! ❤️

Until next time, London — and roll on the next VM & Display Show!

Visual merchandising is the practice in the retail industry of developing floor plans and three-dimensional displays in order to bring in sales.

Both goods and services can be displayed to highlight their features and benefits. The purpose of such visual merchandising is to attract, engage, and motivate the customer towards making a purchase.

Photo by hermaion on Pexels.com

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

It has been years since I left university, and so much has happened since then. Life has taken me to different places and countries, giving me memories that I will treasure forever.

This blog is somewhere I can look back on my journey and share the special moments along the way—from holidays and adventures to friendships, celebrations and everyday life. Some experiences have made me laugh, while others have helped me grow stronger.

Life moves quickly, but photographs and stories allow us to keep those precious moments alive. I’m excited to share my favourite places, unforgettable trips and all the wonderful memories still waiting to be made.

Here’s to looking back, moving forward and enjoying every new adventure!