Beautifully bespoke lampshades

Bay Design makes a unique collection of ribbon wrapped and hand finished lampshades.

Inspired by the elegant lines of French and Scandinavian design, each of these pretty lampshades offers a simple way to make lighting a focal point throughout your home.

Let's nest!

It doesn't take too many autumnal days before I'm starting to feel the need to nest. The promise of a new season and lots of inspiration within magazines, shops and even in nature, will fill any consumer with a little excitement.

So let's have some fun and enjoy all of the wonderful things that talented people in the UK design, make and sell. Take a look at From Britain With Love for just some of the very best!

But let's not also forget to pick the blackberries, make some jam, stock up on squashes, apples, pears and plums and fill up the log basket before lighting the first of many cosy fires.

It's the little things that count

I don't think anyone can ever underestimate the big impact that the little things can have, especially when they're unexpected. Take for instance a day last week when a small parcel arrived from Plum & Ashby. Beautifully wrapped and tied up with string, the addition of a gift label which read "Your Piece Of P&A" brought a smile to my face and gave me a warm feeling inside. If ever there was a simple, cost-effective way of making me feel special and encouraging me to become a repeat customer that's it. And my new bistro-style water glasses are rather good too. Thank you Plum & Ashby, I'll definitely be back!

Simple Things

The relatively new magazine, The Simple Things is fast becoming one of my favourite monthly reads.  

Full of encouraging features about how you can live and love the simple life, whether it's food, interiors, gardening, travel or wellbeing, I would challenge anyone not to feel inspired and relaxed after reading it from cover to cover.  

One of my favourite articles this month is about 'Tomatoes' with expert, Paul Thomas sharing his knowledge of how to take this ripe fruit from vine to plate.  

Simply delicious!

Lovely Lavender

Lavender is one of my favourite plants. It evokes happy childhood memories of, what seemed like, a huge bush in our garden as my sister and I played, but it also seems to be the one scent that helps me to unwind.  Needless to say, I have rather a lot of Lavender dotted around my garden, including a mass of purple flowers scenting the air outside the shed.  Perfect for inspiring you on a Monday morning!

This is Your Kingdom - Back Britain!

If you're looking for fabulous things to do close to home or indeed around the UK, I recommend taking a look at www.thisisyourkingdom.co.uk

TiYK is an insider's guide to lovely local things to see and do in the UK and as if that's not enough their 'Back Britain' campaign is set to herald all of those things we love about our country!

So why not take a look and don't forget to tell them why you love your kingdom!

The smell of Christmas...

...has filled my kitchen as I've just made my mincemeat!  It's filled with apples, cranberries and lots of other fruits, and it smells (and tastes) delicious.  It's a shame that the majority of it will be given away as gifts - what lucky people they are!