DIY: quick autumn garland

Wasn’t Sunday the most gorgeous autumn day? I took a walk through Crystal Palace Park in the warm sunshine and gathered a few handfuls of turning leaves, hips and berries to make an simple garland to bring some of that autumn beauty into my home.

This autumn garland is so easy it’s a bit of a stretch to call it a DIY really. All you need are a length of ribbon or twine, some mini wooden pegs and the pick of nature’s bounty!

{all Decorator’s Notebook}

I choose some vibrant red and yellow just-fallen leaves and berries so I don’t think the colours will last long, but they’ve really cheered up my living room. You could try pressing the leaves or using completely dry ones and it would last all winter.

If you go down to the woods today

A former editor of mine once informed me that only stylists have picnics.

Of course I disagree… but an autumn picnic on a hanging table with real glasses and silver candlesticks in the middle of a woodland glade?

Yeah ok. I’ll give her that one.

Whimsical yes, but tell me you wouldn’t want one of these in your garden?!

{Chia Chong via Salted & Styled}

If you’re into food blogs I highly recommend you check out Salted & Styled*. It’s new to me and they’ve done something that feels really innovative by using one star ingredient as the springboard for a week’s worth of recipes, profiles, styling ideas, lifestyle photography, illustration and video.

* A warning to the vegetarians / squeamish amongst you… this link contains some cute bunnies shown in a way you might not enjoy so much!

Earth laughs in flowers

I came across the dreamiest blog last week. To me it seems to perfectly capture the beautiful sadness that accompanies these last fading days of summer.

Emerson Merrick is written by New York florist Amy Merrick. However her most inspiring posts come not from the Big Apple but from Elmwood, her tumbledown country escape in New Hampshire.

It came as no surprise to read that Elmwood recently played host to Kinfolk (my latest obsession) who did a photo shoot there this summer for a future issue of the magazine.

There’s such a wonderfully languid feel about all Amy’s photographs. And very lovely flowers, as you’d expect. What I would give to have my own rural retreat like this!

{all Amy Merrick}

Visit Emerson Merrick to get lost in daydreams of Elmwood yourself… be warned, you might never want to come back!

Ps – poetry lovers, the title quote for this post is taken from the poignant Hamatreya by Ralph Waldo Emerson – read it here.

Scandi envy

Oh, to be dancing drunkenly around a pole with flowers in my hair right now.

{via Honestly wtf}

For those who need clarification, I mean this kind of pole, rather than this kind of pole. That’s a whole other story.

Happy Midsummer Scandinavian friends!

Reasons to be cheerful

It’s the winter solstice today, which means that as soon as the clock strikes 12 we’re officially on our way out of winter and into spring! I really struggle with the long nights and short days so this is one of the most cheery turning points in the year for me.

{all The Developing Photographer}

These beautiful winter sunrise photos were taken by my talented but mental brother (aka The Developing Photographer) during a dawn surf in the freezing North Sea last week. I mean, why would you?

Sloe progress

Having bought up a few gallons of too-cheap-to-drink gin, I was a bit concerned about my failed expedition to pick sloes last weekend. What a difference a week makes…

{all Decorator’s Notebook}

It’s been so lovely and mild there’s hasn’t been a frost yet so the berries are bagged up and in the freezer. I have so many I think I’m going to need to buy some more gin. It’s a hard life ; )

Have you ever seen an Indian summer?

It’s about now – the middle of August when the rain is pouring down, the evenings are already drawing in and the leaves are prematurely falling from the trees – that people begin to utter those fateful words:

“Perhaps we’ll have an Indian summer…”

I’ve got a feeling it might just be one of those myths we Brits perpetuate to try and make sense of our unpredictable climate, like red skies at night, mackerel clouds and cows lying down.

In fact, I’m not sure, in my 27 years, that I’ve ever seen an Indian summer myself. But if I did, I’m pretty sure it would look a little something like this…

{via Pinterest}

{Gypsy caravan cushions, £17.50 each, Graham & Green sale}

{Jewelled espresso spoons, £22 for 6, Cox & Cox}

{via Pinterest}

I love these rich-yet-sultry colours. Here’s hoping all our late summer dreams might come true this year!

Ps – Pinterest is playing up again and isn’t showing the original sources for some of these images. I’ll try and update the links when it’s back up and running…sorry! Oh Pinterest, you do drive me mad but I love you so much I can’t break up with you!