Autumn vibes..... Tips for getting ready for the chillier months

Local Milk

Ashley neese

Autumn (fall) is on its way...

 I was recently asked by Nyde to write three tips for the transition from Summer to Autumn, and it has got me feeling really excited about all the things I get up to in the colder months.

So I thought i would do a little list of three things i have been up to to prepare now i know Autumn's on her way

1) Incense
Although I love my incense in the summer months i seem to prefer just the open windows and the noise of the wildlife/ city outside to the thick smell of incense. This morning however, it was pouring down and a bit chilly and I dug out my incense box, lit my nag champa and instantly felt so relaxed and snuggly. This season I really want to try some Zenbunni Holy Smoke incense, it has been on my list for too long!!

2) A thick Rug
As I have begun focusing a lot more on my yoga practice (and am considering doing my teacher training) I have been cleaning out and decluttering my home, trying to get my home to feel more relaxing and more well, yoga!

We were also selling (and sold it but then decided not to move, but that is another story) so we decided to neutralize (why do we sellers do this) a little to get some interest so brought a huge cream rug it was the Adum one from Ikea ( sadly I couldn't afford a Beni Ourain). Although usually a thrifty, second hand loving mama, this rug has actually really lightened my sitting room and is so cozy under my toes. Perfect for my always bare feet in the colder months!!

3) Food
I am so happy that it is nearly stew and soup season! Again i adore all the beautiful colourful fruit of the summer months but there is nothing more magical than a warming bowl of hearty vegetable stew and chunky bread......

Roll on Autumn!!

What are your favorite things about Autumn?

Spotted: DIY Vintage Rug Runner

During my searches this week I found this awesome DIY Vintage runner tutorial over at Wit & Delight.  Sadly I haven't got beautiful wooden floorboards to surround such a runner but I will be keeping this in my Pinterest 'future home' folder for further reference...

I just love the colours in these rugs, looks so good with the crisp white walls and wooden floors.... swoon!!

Check out the tutorial over at Wit & Delight

The stained Glass cabin of... Neile Cooper

This fabulous stained glass cabin is the work space of super talented stained glass artist Neile Cooper from New Jersey.  Neile sells her hand made stained glass item on etsy.... which she makes is her beautiful stained glass workshop in the woods behind her house in Sparta New Jersey.

Neile became a stained glass window maker but when the recession hit and the work dried up Neile instead decided to make jewellery

 “Part of the inspiration for doing this cabin was that I missed doing large scale work," she says. "I wanted a big project that I could really immerse myself in. If no one was going to hire me to make windows, I would just make them for myself.”

The windows were salvaged by Neile and her mother from craigslist and car boot sales and her partners dad helped put the construction together....

Neile spends her first hour and a half of the day in the cabin doing yoga and drinking coffee..... Perfect!!!!

To see the original article visit Etsy here

Ceramics: Kinska

Spotted Mug by Kinska

Isnt his spotty mug awesome?

I have two which I had commissioned by Kinska a few years ago and I have been so worried about braking them I had hardly used them until recently... but mugs are for using right?

Check out her online shop here...

Tea and Me....

Saffron Buns with Rhubarb and Ginger Jam

I am not really one for taking seflies and posting them on my Instagram , as among other reasons I am really tragically un-photogenic......

... but scrolling through my feed this morning I discovered one thing I do seem to like doing is taking tea selfies, especially since I stumbled upon my new hand made mug in a local charity shop!

The last couple of years have been super hectic since having a child, and my tri-daily ritual of having a cup of tea is one of my greatest but simplest pleasures in life. A moment to relax and reflect, even if that means (being a naughty mummy) and giving my little one the ipad for a couple of minutes whilst I do so, because I really do NEED my cup of tea.

What are your daily rituals that keep you sane?

Olivia Clementine Tea and My new Chakki table

Small Jungle Style Gardens

Small Jungle garden: Nicola Stoken Tomkins

My garden is, like my house, tiny. Being an inner-city garden it is also overlooked  (which I Will never get used to) and as I have an energetic toddler, currently a bit of a state. The people who lived here before us kindly (not) planted bamboo which grows out of control very quickly if not contained. So some drastic action is required on my behalf....

So my current obsession is finally creating the jungle garden I have been dreaming about for a couple of years. The images I have used here are my current inspiration!

Small urban jungle garden

Jungle garden

Balinese jungle style garden

Tea: Olivia Clementine

Licorice Spice Tea

I have to be honest I am a total sucker for good packaging and Olivia Clementine teas win in both label and on the corked lid glass jar front..... but they are not just pretty packages the teas are also totally yummy!

I have tried both Olivia's Chaga (you can see my Wild Chaga hot chocolate recipe here) and her Moonrise Tea and they didnt last long... so i was especially happy to find out that Olivia has a new range of teas, including Chamomile and Lavender, Ginger Citrus and Licorice Spice.

Olivia Clementine Teas can be found over at Olivia Clementine

Chillin in the kitchen....

Source

Anthology Magazine

Sarah B, My New Roots

Chilling in the kitchen

Kitchn

Laila cooking up a feast

source

Spell: How to Host a Bohemian Dinner Party

 Low level seating, terraiums, hanging flowers, a Taco bar, Lychee martinis and fairy lights..... the girls at Spell sure know how to throw a Bohemian Dinner Party...

How To Host A Bohemian Dinner Party
Images by Mel Carrero
Styling & Concept Lucy Ewing
Styling Assistant Lisa Smith