‘Some people like to play golf or go football, I genuinely like to sit down and cut things out,’ laughs Stacey Solomon, as we’re chatting with her one cold winter morning.
We’re catching up with Stacey about her BBC One Christmas crafting show, and we ask where her love of all things DIY and organisation came from. Stacey explains that crafting, for her, is all about a sense of escapism, and letting yourself having that mindful moment when everything else feels chaotic.
Stacey explains that crafting, for her, is all about a sense of escapism, and letting yourself having that mindful moment when everything else feels chaotic.
‘I really enjoy DIY and making stuff,’ says Stacey. ‘I think it’s one of those things that you can, in my opinion, lose yourself a little bit in. Life in general for most people is really fast paced and busy, but when you craft, your mind has to focus on the task at hand, not everything else that’s running around in your head,’ she says.
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Stacey on social
If you follow Stacey's Instagram or TikTok, you’ll know that she has a real talent for all things crafty. She’s made everything from pampas grass wall art to upcycled bedroom accessories, and she’s even installed all the wood panelling in her home, Pickle Cottage, herself. In her new show, she shows viewers how to make Christmas crackers, homemade gonks, and - her personal favourite - a bauble wreath.
Her tutorials are so clever that we ask where the singer-turned-TV star gets her fabulous skills from. Stacey explains that her dad has had a huge influence on that side of her life, and his guidance, along with lots of practice, have made her skills what they are today.
‘I don't think I ever just woke up and thought wow, I'm pretty crafty,’ Stacey laughs. ‘DIY is 100% something you have to do a lot to get better and better, and consistency is key.
'My dad was really, really adamant when we were growing up that we had to know how to do DIY. Me and my sister were the two older ones, and he didn't want to have two girls who moved out and had to rely on everybody else to do stuff. We were really privileged that he taught us all the basics, and even now, I'll ring him up to help with projects. I'm really lucky.’
My dad was really, really adamant when we were growing up that we had to know how to do DIY.
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Crafting at Christmas
Stacey has DIY projects on the go throughout the entirety of the year but, for her, crafting at Christmas is extra special. She loves to forage for foliage to use as natural decorations, and she’ll often spend time on Instagram and Pinterest to look for project ideas that she can recreate at home.
While crafting during the festive season is something that brings Stacey relaxation, she also acknowledges that Christmas can be really stressful, so all of the projects she shares are minimum effort, maximum impact.
‘I think that it's alright to get frustrated with things,’ Stacey says. ‘I know that everyone wants to be calm and relaxed this time of year, and that is nice, but I think the idea of a perfect Christmas is a bit make believe. This morning, for example, I started cutting out pieces of cardboard for a project, and Rex and Rose just ran all over them,’ she laughs. ‘I was like, that took me ages!, and then I kind of just let it go, because, it is what it is.’
I know that everyone wants to be calm and relaxed this time of year, and that is nice, but I think the idea of a perfect Christmas is a bit make believe.
Stacey continues: ‘Zachary is going to be 15 next year, so I've done 15 years of Christmas with kids. And I think every year you learn that there's that whole perfect Christmas that you envisage, but actually things go wrong. The things that kids love the most is us being off work, because we're there, and we're present, and they're spending time with us. They remember the funny silly things that don't take any time.’
Christmas craft inspo
How to make a foliage Christmas wreath
Fancy learning how to make the most of the greenery around you this year to create eco-friendly Christmas decorations that are kind to your purse, too? In this tutorial, expert florist Lucy Silverthorne will show you how to make a Christmas wreath using natural greenery that you can gather for free.
Stacey's BBC Christmas tv show
For Stacey, having the opportunity to share her love of crafting with the British public has been like a dream. ‘I think the opening line of the show is me saying something like, I actually can't believe this has been commissioned, because it’s literally me, having loads of fun making crafts, and being able to give things to people that I see all the time in our community,’ she says. ‘It’s just loads and loads of fun, and I can't believe I got to make it.’
With Christmas set to be tough for many people this year, we ask Stacey whether she thinks her new craft show will bring a bit of magic to the festive season. ‘That's a weird one,’ she says, ‘because when I think about things being important, I think the most important thing genuinely is just to support people through this time of year. I think it's hard anyway, for loads of people, for lots of different reasons.’
Stacey's festive hosting hack
‘I cheat my cakes!’ says Stacey. ‘Basically, I'll buy a basic store cake for really cheap, and I'll just re ice and decorate it here. It doesn't have to be perfect and it doesn't have to be neat, but they look so effective!'
‘I mean, it’s a craft show, so I'm not saving anybody's life,’ she adds. ‘But if someone sees something on the show, and then goes and makes it and has a really good time, that’s wonderful.’
'Ultimately, I think the most important thing we wanted to get from the show was to give people a chance to get lost for a minute, because there's so much rubbish going on in the world right now. There's so much to worry about, and so much to think about, that maybe that hour of Christmas joy that doesn't put any pressure on anybody might just be a really lovely thing for people to enjoy.’
Ultimately, I think the most important thing we wanted to get from the show was to give people a chance to get lost for a minute, because there's so much rubbish going on in the world right now.
You can watch Stacey Solomon’s Crafty Christmas on BBC One and iPlayer at 8pm. And if you're a Sort Your Life Out fan, don't miss our chat with organising guru Dilly Carter.
Main image credit: BBC/Optomen/Sean Valentine
