DIY Autumn Wreath

I've slowly started working my way through my autumn bucket list. The easiest one to get through was making the autumn wreath. My friend and I had already made the wreath base last Christmas and all I needed to do was source flowers and herbs from the garden to give it an autumnal look. To make the wreath base, I suggest you follow the photo example from this Christmas post.

I fill the wreath I suggest using  herbs such as lavender, rosemary, bay leaves, flowering mint and sage (I used all of them but you can choose a couple instead depending on what is available) along with autumn roses, marigolds,  rose hip and sweet williams. I also added a few sprigs of Hebe to produce added interest. And that is all it takes!

I recommend reviewing and updating the wreath every week as the flowers don't tend to keep for long, unless you do want a dried flowers wreath. This is such an easy craft project and I hope you give it a go too! Ann x

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Autumn Bucket List

Those living in this part of the world will share my post-summer blues; England is far far too cold and wet right now! As I find myself so much more productive when the days are lighter and the air warmer, I felt the need for a focus list to keep Autumn blues at bay. Add to that, there are a lot of changes afoot in our personal lives that bring with them their fair share of stress and anxiety. I'm hoping that a happy wish list will help mange those anxious emotions too! 

1. Make an autumn wreath: Last year, my friend and I made a gorgeous Christmas wreath. The base for that wreath works as a perfect foundation for seasonal decorations. I'd like to create an autumnal version full of bright seasonal foliage, flowers and fruit.

 2. Create delightful preserves for winter: I have a two-pronged strategy with this particular item. I'd like to make something useful out of all our allotment produce ( grapes, crabapples, apples, jellies, pears etc) and, I'd like tasty homemade jams, pickles and jellies all through the winter!

3. Brush up, re-learn or learn a new crafty skill: Perhaps I'll take my crochet skills to the next level, or learn to knit properly or maybe I'll find a whole new craft to get into! Basket weaving perhaps? In any case, I'd like to up-skill myself in the crafty sense.
 

 4. Visit a beautiful city that I haven't been to before: Lets face it, when this weather is dreary like it is now, all one wants to do is cuddle up in bed. However, there are so many lovely places out there waiting to be explored. I'd like to discover at least one such place this autumn.

 5. Make a beautiful item of clothing: I am no expert seamstress- quite the contrary really. However, I think there is great joy and satisfaction in making your own clothes. I get so many compliments for my kanga shift dress that I once made (inexpertly) and wear with so much pride. I'm reading The Sewing Bee at the minute and dreaming up a piece of personal couture.

6. Visit Paris (again): Oh I do love Paris! Wandering Champs Elysees and checking out terribly expensive fashion, exploring St Germain, appreciating Monet, drinking really lovely yet inexpensive house wines, warm pain-a-chocolats for breakfast from the local boulangerie, hanging out near Monmarte and Scare Coeur soaking in the art and music, there is so much life to enjoy in Paris! The Eurostar cheapie fares are a godsend!

7. Create autumn inspired fashion: I love taking inspiration from nature and the changing seasons ( see hay bales and rapeseed fields ) and would like to take that through into autumn. Spoiler alert: I have a feeling it may involve Hunter wellies ( thanks to the weather!)

8. Visit a museum that I haven't been to before: I'm not really a museum geek. However, every so often, I like to take in a bit of knowledge,  history and culture. With working from London so often, perhaps I must stay late in the evening and explore some new museums? I hear the Natural History Museum is quite cool?

9. Do an eco-friendly autumn deep clean: The flip side of gallivanting all over the place with work is that I don't tend to find as much time as I'd like for housework. I recently discovered eco-cleaning (vinegar and bicarbonate of soda!) and I'd like to do nasty-chemicals-free deep autumn clean of the house

10. Make applesauce or toffee apples: We have an apple tree in our garden and another on our allotment. We have lots of lots of apples over the autumn that need speedy consumption or conversion. I fancy making some applesauce or even giving toffee apples another go for bonfire night. The latter took on a scary dark shade last year due to the caramel getting overheated :o

 Have you got a bucket list too? If so, I'd like some more ideas please! Ann x

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Hay Bales and Breton Stripes

Recent travels up and down the east coast, passing through beautiful countryside, have been rather inspiring. I've always loved the sight of wheat fields; the vast golden stretches of aesthetically pleasing harvest-ready crops fill me with warm happy feeling. End of season hay bales, beautifully dotted across the fields with geometric precision, are one my favourite sights. You probably think I'm barking mad but I do find great beauty in these seemingly mundane arrangements. So much so, I even drew fashion inspiration out of them.

My Cos Breton stop, a summer sale acquisition from one my favorite brands, exemplified French (and English) country style with its comfy fit and brown sleeves. I teamed with my hay coloured corduroy skirt to further develop the theme. The Cos top seem rather generously sized ( I wore a small and it was a very loose fit) and so I sought inspiration from Japanese fashion via an Obi belt that complemented this inspired theme in both style and composition. A Lonchamp tote ( an absolute savior for carrying life around in English weather) and some funky brogues were all I need to complete the look.

 

Ed and I were going about our usual ( and often well planned) weekend routines when we passed by these beautiful wheat fields just outside Peterborough. I was terribly excited at the prospect of an outfit with these beautiful countryside blobs that have so strangely inspired me of late. Thankfully, we didn't have any farmers objecting to a bit of traipsing around their end of season fields!

Have you been similarly inspired of late? Or am I the only strange one that seems to be excited about silly little things? Do let me know ;) Ann x

Wearing Cos knit top, Joules skirt, Asos Obi belt, Chocolat D'or shoes via Yoox.com, Longchamp Le Pliage Aquamarine tote bag and Givenchy sunglasses

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Unsung Towns: Cleethorpes

There is a stoic melancholy about Cleethorpes; as if it were making the most of the 'now' whilst reminiscing of past glory. Back in the Victorian days, Cleethorpes was marketed as a popular seaside town, especially for those in nearby Yorkshire. Whilst tourists continue the come across the Humber even today, it hasn't quite made it to the popularity levels of some the more southern seaside resorts. However, there is an certain authenticity about Cleethorpes that is strangely captivating.

We are up north every so often to see family and a walk down the Cleethorpes promenade is a popular routine. I love the Sunday market near the pier has some great bargain 'seconds' from the likes of Karen Millen, Minuet Petit etc . The views of the tide coming in and out, the picnic parties braving the chill winds for some fresh seaside air, children on crabbing expeditions, horseback rides along the beach, Cleethorpes seafront life is the epitome of making the most of whatever is on offer.

 Like most English seaside towns, Cleethorpes has its share of attractions. The light coast railway and the Lollipop road train rides, slot machines, fish & chips and ice cream vendors, giant snakes & ladders and hopscotch, and the usual load of fun 'tat'. I'd also recommend checking out the Captain's Table restaurant for some really good quality seafood. If you are a geek like me, you can even browse through 'technical' details of the fish species on offer before you make your choice.

Cool late summer walks by the seaside call for weather-appropriate fashion. I'm wearing a favourite sequined t-shirt (borrowed many years ago from my little cousin and surprisingly still fits), along with a pair of black jeans and my go-to blazer from H&M to keep off the chill. I believe that not-so-sunny days require a strong dose of happy-colour to make them better.

I'd love to hear about other unsung towns that you frequent and your happy outfits too! Ann x

Wearing boutique SRC t-shirt ( Made in India), Zara jeans, H&M tailored blazer, ASOS leopard flats and Marc Jacobs crossbody bag.

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Highlights of Summer 2013

 

I've said this many times before but I really am so very grateful for the summer we've just had.  In an attempt to capture the essence of summer 2013, here is a collage of the season's favourites. There was a lot to look forward to this summer, whatever the weather. We decided to get some early summer sun in Italy, assuming there wouldn't be much to expect in England itself. Those two weeks spent gallivanting around  the boot of Italy and isles of Sicily were so good for the soul. It was our first proper holiday in over two years (not counting a few weekend breaks and India which isn't really a holiday for us)  and we made the most of it with good food, good company and lots of culture.

Italy (and Sicily in particular) was absolutely fabulous and I seemed fall in love with the place a little more with each visit. The Aeolian Islands including touristy Lipari, the magnificent Stromboli volcano, hip and automobile-less Panarea offered new and exciting adventures. The people were so engaging and that made Italian travel all the more entertaining. Back in England, the weather was getting balmier and we began indulging in typical English summer pursuits such as afternoon tea in the garden, exploring local attractions, gardening and making shed loads of jam (and macarons, Eton Mess etc.).

The Queen's diamond jubilee and the birth of Prince George gave us more reasons to celebrate and indulge in a some British style revelry. After-work explorations included trips to favourite London establishments such as Liberty, the V&A, Laduree etc and whilst Wimbledon was on, we took some of that in as well. Liberty stocked some truly fabulous British-style fabrics ( think Big Ben and toy soldiers) and I look forward to sewing them into loveliness over the coming Autumn. Another reason to celebrate was my blog being shortlisted the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 in the top 7  'Craft' category. There were 43K nominations this year so getting into the shortlist felt like a real achievement! A big thank you to all of you who have supported by little blog!

To make sure I was worthy of the award nomination, I blogged more regularly about crafty pursuits.  As such, an antique chair that had been waiting for months to be loved, old serving trays and used jam jars were beginning to get the attention they deserved. I made lovely soy wax candles at home, a nice break from the more expensive favourites such as Diptyque and Rituals. I also finally learnt to crochet properly and that has opened up a whole new world of crafty goodness. Other adventures included making bubble tea, exploring local Michelin style restaurants on the cheap, day trips to nearby Cambridge and Elton Hall, trips to see family up north including visits to the seaside and enjoying fresh produce from our allotment. I wish all our summers were this sunny and productive!

I hope you all had a lovely summer too!  I'd love to hear about your summertime adventures too. Ann x

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Exploring Elton Hall

Until a year or so ago, Ed and I were National Trust members for a while. We liked making the most of our membership and hence every weekend break, local holiday or camping trip included visits to various stately homes and such like. I got bored of this routine after a while, especially as my knowledge of English history was limited and I struggled to get enthused about which Tudor or Stuart king did what. That changed recently after we started watching episodes of The White Queen upon Ed's request. The history, names etc. started to click and I once again started taking interest in local historic pursuits. Nearby Elton Hall was open over the bank holiday weekend and following my newly revived interest in English history, we decided to pop over for a nosey.

The Elton Hall estate (like those of most English stately homes) is magnificent. The manor is part Gothic and dates back to the 1500's. The manor also housed an exhibition of the King James Bible that weekend which was interesting. The things that stuck with me from that exhibition were that Henry VIIIth had bad writing and couldn't spell! We enjoyed wandering the house, admiring its grand (yet slowly decaying) interiors, imagining the fabulous dinners that were hosted in the grand dining room over the centuries and also checking out more recent photos of the Proby family (lucky people!).

The Proby family continue to live on the estate and use parts of the manor house. I was hugely envious of their wonderful and ancient library housing books relating to Oriental arts and classic literature. I could lose myself in one of those rooms for hours. Outside, I noticed a horse carriage that was once used by Lord and Lady Craysfort at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Isn't it grand how the other half lived (live)?

After taking in the house, we roamed the vast and beautifully kept  gardens with quirky topiaries and vast stretches of echinacea and lavender. I was so grateful to have enjoyed such a lovely sunny day in late summer, given how the last year turned out. For these historic exploits, I wore a quirky shift dress from Shoppers Stop in Bangalore, a much loved purchase from our last trip to India. Its cheerful juxtaposition of bright prints, button embroidery and pom-poms has made it a summer favourite. Also, for the very first time, I wore my DIY Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats!

 

It was lovely way to conclude a very busy bank holiday weekend (that started with the Peterborough Beer Festival, included trips up north and lots of housework/garding etc). What did you do over the long weekend? Any places that you'd recommend exploring? Ann x

Wearing: Shoppers Stop Dress (you can find similar styles of Etsy), DIY shoes, Marc Jacobs Cross-body bag and Givenchy sunglasses

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Photography by Edward Chandler