Prepare for Picnic Season

Looking out of the window on this warm Saturday morning, it’s easy to be deceived into thinking that it’s picnic weather. The reality is that we still have the heating on and I always seem to be wearing the wrong coat. After the longest , wettest winter, I think we are all desperate to get out into the fresh air : Our local woods are bursting with bluebells, the birds are twittering and all of nature seems to be welcoming us outside.

Spending time outdoors in April does seem to require some planning in the form of layered clothing and appropriate snacks. Whilst a picnic may be too ambitious you can’t really go wrong with a hot flask and a chunk of cake or sandwich. I plan to find myself a mossy log, drink my tea and let the wind blow away the winter cobwebs.

In preparation for proper picnic weather, our tablecloths make magnificent picnic rugs. Handmade from durable European linens, they will withstand the unpredictable weather and can be thrown into the washing machine and tumble dryer. Order yours here before we run out.

Tablecloth made with Seaside Stripe Linen. Image @charlottejacklin

Large Linen Tablecloth in Granny Smith. Image credit @deecampling

The Lean Years - Mothering Teenage Boys

I feel a strange unease around Mother’s Day. While I’m incredibly fortunate in my family life, there’s a disconnect between the Hallmark version of motherhood and the actual experience of raising teenagers, which requires a stoic level of resilience that a simple card or bunch of flowers can't quite capture.

Toddlerhood felt like a high-stakes hostage situation involving two tiny Vikings and a lot of wall graffiti. It was exhausting, but the 'bounty' made it work; those hilarious stories and sticky cuddles are a powerful antidote to total burnout. No matter how much they destroyed during the day, a cuddle and a bedtime story always managed to fill my tank.

By contrast, mothering teenage boys is the ultimate "long game" where the rewards are often invisible and the feedback loop is a series of low-frequency grunts. It’s a peculiar, one-way contract. You’re a 24/7 concierge offering reassurance, cash, and a private taxi service, yet you’re treated like background noise unless the Wi-Fi cuts out or the fridge is empty.

I am starting to see glimmers of appreciation from our eldest son who is living away from home. Now that he’s out in the world, a home-cooked meal has been upgraded from a "basic human right" to a "high-end luxury," and I’ve been promoted from being part of the furniture to the hero for a hot minute. It’s a slow, quiet recalibration, but I’ll take the small gains and bank them.

This period is sometimes referred to as “potted plant parenting,” when parents are quietly available while their teenagers navigate adolescence and independence. How utterly brutal ! This neglected and rather desiccated cactus will be giving herself a great present this Mother’s Day — and if you find yourself in the barren lands of parenting, I strongly recommend you do the same.

Bedding made from Liberty of London Fabric ‘Annabella Blue’

Pick of our summer sale

Here we are in week #322 of the summer holidays and definitely in need of.a little treat. It has been a glorious summer but boy has it been long! Anyway if there is anything left in the pot after endless icecreams not to mention school shoes and all the other stuff, here are my top picks from our sale.

Our tablecloth in ‘Marmalade’ will bring you joy and sunshine long after the clocks have changed. Handmade from 100% Oeko Tex Linen, it comes in a generous size (140 cm x 240 cm) and will make tea time much more fun (I promise).

Grab yourself a bargain with this ‘one off’ quilt handmade from Liberty fabric ‘Annabella’ and candy stripe linen. The quilt is large enough to cover a single bed or use as a throw accross the bottom of larger sized bed. Filled with two layers of cotton, this beautiful piece will keep you cosy throughout the cooler months.

The queen of cushions, our Big Top is finished with piping and a generous ruffle. Featuring a wide stripe in sage green on high quality cotton duck fabric. The soft green is very versatile and sure to behave nicely with your other soft furnishings.

All of our products are handmade in Cornwall by our team of skilled seamstresses using top notch materials. Free Shipping is available until midnight GMT on Monday 25th August just use the code AUGBANKHOLIDAY at the checkout.

Wishing you all a well deserved cuppa in the later summer sunshine.

Sophie x