Your grandchildren will love you for it...

Just in case you’ve a spare ten seconds on your hands (unlikely, we know, but read on anyway) here’s a book that will inspire you to create heartfelt and stunning family heirlooms. They’re the sort  of things that granny used to whip up, in between putting 43 sheets through the mangle and darning 11 socks. Homemade Gorgeous Things to Make With Love, by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson, is right on the money (or lack of it) with its make-do-and-mend philosophy. You’ll find 75 projects, some of them perfect for the wannabe good lifer who doesn’t really have a clue (wire ribbon heart, tin can tealight holder), others that require a little more proficiency (hand-painted Advent calendar, enormous crocheted blanket). The idea is all about giving precious time, rather than reverting to cash, to make someone feel special. Not that the ideas aren’t things you’d be thrilled to receive – homemade, in this instance, doesn’t mean homespun; everything in the book is instantly covetable, and would cost a fortune if you found it in a interiors shop in Holland Park. Bring out the bunting (you’ll find tips on making it in the book); we can see into the future, and it’s looking crafty.