Hello Lovely Autumn

The sun may be shining here in Lincolnshire today, but there's no denying that autumn is nipping at our ankles... You can feel it in that little nip in the air (even when it's warm), and in the changing colours on the trees. I know I'm contrary, but every time a new season starts I find myself thinking, "Yes, this one is my favourite"! I think autumn holds a sense of something exciting coming... which I suppose is true, as Christmas is less than 100 days away now!

Things I love about autumn*:

🍂 Curling up on the sofa with a book

🍂 Putting throws out

🍂 Lighting a candle in the evening

🍂 Kicking leaves

🍂 Cuddling the cat

🍂 Enjoying a hot brew

🍂 Moon gazing (it's a supermoon tonight btw!)

🍂 Pumpkin gazing

🍂 Strolls in the forest

🍂 Wearing cosy jumpers

🍂 A cauldron full of stew!

* Just remember, that if you'd done most of these things 300 years ago you'd probably have been burnt as a witch... 😉🧙‍♀️

Hello lovely autumn...

The change of season also means a change on my website too - new colours and new items too! Here's a little glimpse of what you can find when you next visit:

Enjoy the new season!

Sarah :)

BRAND NEW: Personalised Halloween Gifts & Decor

The countdown to Halloween has started - a little bit of fun before the serious business of Christmas kicks in! And to celebrate the season of all things spooky and cosy, I've just added some lovely new Halloween-themed treats to the website for you!

Take a look at the PhotoFairytales website for more details - and if you're on my VIP mailing list look out for an exclusive discount code pinging into your inbox this evening!

Sarah x 

🎃👻🍁🍄💀

The Cabincore Trend

I'm sure you're familiar with the popular cottagecore aesthetic - and now that the weather has turned chilly and autumnal (very foggy in Norfolk this morning!), I thought it was the perfect time to tell you about another 'core' that's taking interiors by storm this season: Cabincore.

Cabincore is all about rustic, natural living, but where it parts itself from cottagecore is that it takes a step away from the pretty pastels and florals, and sets it's sights on a simpler, pared-back feel. Think wooden cabins in the woods, with roaring fires (and the lovely smell of wood smoke), fresh bread or a cake baking in the oven, warm blankets, wood panelling on the walls, natural wood floors with cosy sheepskin rugs, candles, organic cotton and linen. Picture sitting under a cosy throw beside a simple earthenware jug full of dried flowers, whilst sipping hot cocoa and making toast over the fire on a toasting fork after coming home from a hike in the forest…

I know, it may not sound like the actual place where you live - but there’s no reason why you can’t recreate this fantastically cosy look, or embrace the feeling in your life this season! You could even recreate it in your garden shed if you fancy...

A simple natural wood door hanger to show how much you love your home!
Available in a choice of colours, handmade to order - £10.99

Forget tartan and antlers though, this is a much simpler and organic look. Cabincore is all about simplicity: the interest comes from beautiful textures, natural wood (pale or dark, either works), simple colours, earthy tones. The colour palette is one that should bring warmth and depth to your room, so think moss green, russet and mustard shades, or a hint of cranberry, set against neutral shades of oaky brown, smoky grey, black and cream. There are hints of Scandi in the style, but more rustic and homespun.

A little Cabincore Inspiration found on Folksy.com

The cabincore keyword has got to be 'cosy' - it's all about nods to nature, pared down life, simplicity, and warmth. Perfect for this time of year! it works beautifully in the garden too - an outdoor fire bowl, logs stacked in a basket, lots of throws, twinkly fairy lights, and toasted marshmallows.

Embrace the cabincore look this Christmas with handmade natural wood decorations. Personalised Sign, choice of colours, designs and sizes - from £15.95

How to have a Cabincore Christmas: Decorate your home with natural foliage and plants, fir cones and wooden decorations. Keep your colour scheme within the soft cabincore colour palette, and choose handmade decor pieces that have real meaning. Dot your home with candles for that cosy glow, and use brown paper to wrap your gifts (or better yet, reusable fabric gift bags).

How to dress Cabincore: Think cosy wool sweaters, denim and corduroy, thick handknitted socks, fingerless gloves, working boots, knitted beanie hats and messy buns.

How to be Cabincore: Go for a hike in the forest on a misty day, and take a flask of hot tea or cocoa. Grab some blankets and head into the garden to sit beside an outdoor fire. Forage for mushrooms, autumn leaves or blackberries. Get cosy at home with some baking or book reading in your favourite chair (I can highly recommend The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey to get you in the mood!). Try your hand at knitting or crocheting, or head out on a clear night for some star gazing.

Cabincore to watch: While you're under your blanket you might as well stick something good on the telly... Here's some cabin-style related ideas: Sleepyhollow, The Shining, Twin Peaks, Secret Window, The Evil Dead, On Golden Pond, The Waltons, Harry Potter, The Hateful Eight, Misery, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Great Outdoors, Calamity Jane.

Get even more Cabincore Inspiration: I've created a gorgeous Cabincore Pinterest board for you, full of evocative images that will definitely get you in the cosy, cabin-lifestyle frame of mind - just click here to take a look.

Right, I'm off to snuggle under a blanket with a good book!

Sarah x

New Colours for Autumn

Every season I like to change things up a bit on my website, and now that autumn is officially/meteorologically here (I know, I'm a week late) it's time to put the autumn 'decorations' up on the home page!

So, it's out with the summery lilacs and pinks, and in with some soft deep greens, pretty pale terracotta and dusky dark blue:

I always spend a stupid amount of time working out a colour scheme - I usually try to work on about 3 seasons at the same time, so that I know the colours won't clash and I can make a smooth transition from one season to the next. 

I take inspiration from Pantone's colour of the year (2022 has been 'Very Peri', a vibrant shade of periwinkle), along with Etsy's own annual shade for the year (this year it's been Emerald Green), and also colours that I see setting trends and becoming popular. Including green was a given for this autumn, and the soft, chalky pale pinky-terracotta is a shade I've seen in all sorts of places from interiors to fashion. It's definitely a colour that's starting to be a hot shade this season, and makes a great neutral (it's surprising how many colours it goes with!).

The next change is going to be in time for Christmas... I'm thinking juicy dark cranberry red and hints of gold!

Hope you like the new look,

Sarah x

Be inspired by... November

This month is the one where the festive season can really start to kick in - and often make us all feel a bit stressed and over-whelmed. Before the chaos of Christmas begins, why not take some time to regroup and think about the joy this month brings? It's not just a gateway into Christmas: it's a beautiful month in it's own right. If you're feeling a bit jaded though, and finding it hard to find the joy of chilly November - especially during Lockdown 2:0 - take a look at my brand new Pinterest board this month. It's full of stunning images that really capture the beauty of the month and I know it will leave you feeling inspired - and maybe even ready to pull on your coat and wellies and head out for a lovely autumnal and atmospheric ramble through the countryside - or a stroll through the chilly, misty streets around your home?!

Now is a great time to grab a bit of 'me time' too - long soaks in the bath with a magazine, a glass of chilled wine, and a couple of candles (and a lock on the door!). Why not book an evening to yourself to enjoy the things you've been longing to do for ages? Cosy up and watch that film (don't forget the popcorn and Revels), or pick up that book you've been wanting to read for ages. Plan a lovely, relaxing Sunday brunch with the family - one where everyone just digs in and helps themselves, where the toaster is within arms length and you take time to read the paper or chat. Pause, and collect your thoughts before December arrives and we start to feel the pressure of Christmas.

Start thinking about the family traditions and rituals that make this season so much fun - you may have missed going out to a fireworks display this year, but you can still enjoy gathering your little family together with fun family games, and gorgeous 'picky' food that everyone can help themselves too.

Make November the time when you pause for a moment - take in the wonders of nature, the crispness of the air, the russet shades and bare tree branches, the mist gathering in the fields, the cosiness of coming in through your front door at the end of the day and sinking under a cosy throw and putting your feet up. This is a month all about YOU.

Sarah x

Be inspired by... October

Ah, October - lovely, leaf changing, crisp morninged, shall we put the heating on yet, beware of witches, October...

Autumn is well and truly with us now - but before we get bogged down with the bossy Christmas season, let's revel a bit in the glory that this month brings!

I always think it's quite exciting when you wake up to the season's first frost - or even one of those crisp, foggy mornings. Our first day of October here in Norfolk is a tad dark and damp, but I'm holding out hope for a good frost snap soon (if only to discourage the spiders that seem to have taken over the house!). If you're struggling to enjoy the cold, dark mornings though - and you're pining for the warmth of past summer days - I think my brand new October inspiration board over on Pinterest will help you feel the joy for autumn! It's packed full of gorgeous images that should leave you feeling inspired and in love with this month:

With Halloween on the horizon it's tempting to go all out with the orange pumpkins, but this isn't necessarily the only way to bring a touch of autumn glow to your home this month. Why not look at more muted tones that echo the season: soft browns, warm taupe and neutral creams and greys, gentle sage greens and blues... When you start planning your Halloween decorations, think about perhaps grouping some mini pumpkins and gourds into a bowl, swap floral displays for simple and striking grasses, introduce some beautiful linen and natural wood elements into your home, light some candles for maximum cosiness in the evening too. It's a season for adding warmth, layers and texture.

Scandinavians actually think of this time of year as one of the very best seasons - they'll be marking Brittsommar on October 7th, a day to celebrate that late summer/early autumn warmth, and named after Saint Bridget of Sweden. In fact, as a nation the Danes burn more candles than any other - so why not emulate them? Make lighting a candle in the evening part of your daily routine - a candle is for any day, not just special occasions!

There are a few fun old folk-lore sayings based around the month of October, such as "Rain in October means wind in December", "When berries are many in October, beware a hard winter", and the very charming, "If ducks do slide at Hallowtide, at Christmas they will swim; if ducks do swim at Hallowtide, at Christmas they will slide."

The word 'October' comes from the word 'octo', meaning eight, and dates back to the ancient Roman calendar. It's a month which the Saxons called Wyn Monath... or Wine Month, which sounds a very reasonable way of cosying down for the chilly nights!

Whenever you head outside this month remember to take your phone with you so that you can take some snaps to capture the beauty of the changing seasons: the golden leaves, the early frosts, the low sun - even the beauty of a steel grey sky and that beautiful soft light that it brings.

Now is the time to bring the warmth and sun indoors: take a moment, pause, light some candles, and... relax.

Sarah x

Be inspired by... September

September is a strange, transitional month - we notice that evenings are getting darker sooner, and even though the sun still feels warm there can be a little shiver in the air every now and then... I love the months that bring a change in the seasons, and September is the gateway between summer and autumn.

I've created a special Pinterest board for you, full of stunning images inspired by September - they're sure to get you in the mood for welcoming in this glorious new month, and I know they'll leave you feeling totally excited about the changing season. Click the image below to view the September board, or click here - and while you're there, don't forget to follow my account of course!

Whilst you may not be ready yet to pack away the shorts and garden chairs, and you still hold out hope for a last minute barbecue in the sunshine, it's quite exciting to think of the chilly days ahead (or is that just me?). No more being hot and flustered, now you get to wear that favourite jumper, treat yourself to a hot chocolate without people looking at you strangely, and wonder if the central heating is going to work after all these months being switched off... actually, that reminds me I need to book in the annual boiler checkup... where was I? Oh yes, waxing lyrical about the coming autumn!

And to be fair, I think lots of us enjoy autumn a lot - even the sun worshippers! (And we may even be lucky enough to experience one of those autumn sunshine weeks - the Indian Summer - when the weather is warm and the leaves on the trees are showing their golden colours in all their glory.)

It's a time to start bringing those cosy autumnal colours into your home too - swap flowers with dried grasses and flowers, pop a cosy new cushion on the sofa, treat yourself to a new print for the wall to introduce a fresh touch to a room... little touches that mark the beginning of an exciting new season. Create a little hygge corner in your home and welcome in the season in all its glory. 

Take inspiration from the low setting sun, enjoy the shadows cast over the garden, relax and find the calm and comfort in your home: it's been a refuge for many of this over the past few months and now is the time to enjoy the shelter it gave us and be thankful for the coming new season.

Why not make the most of the last of the summer sun and head out this weekend to explore? Go for a walk at a time of day you wouldn't normally think of: first thing in the morning before anyone else is awake, or just as dusk is settling in (it's a great time of the day to glimpse into people's windows as you walk past by the way... just saying...). Start remembering all those cosy meals you only cook in the colder weather: no one really fancies a salad in the autumn, so start planning some cosy stews, tasty homemade soups, and gorgeous roast dinners! 

So, release that inner child and when the leaves do finally fall of the trees head out and give them a good kick - go on, you know you want to!

Happy autumn,
Sarah :)

 

Your Autumn 'To Do' List

I'm on the mailing list for a certain DIY chain that sends out emails telling me the jobs I need to do in my garden that month... and I must admit, I usually cast them to the bin. I mean, I don't really need to be told I should be out raking up leaves or top dressing the grass - especially when I'd much rather be doing pretty much anything else!

So, I thought I'd create my own 'Jobs to do this Autumn' list, but something a bit more fun - full of things we'd all enjoy ticking off!

Top 12 things to do this Autumn, simple, cheap, fun and cosy

Top 12 fun things to do this Autumn

1. Re-read an old favourite book - got a book that you read many moons ago, that you remember fondly? One that you've read a few times already perhaps? This is the time of year for sticking your nose in a good book, so why not dig out an old book that you know you loved the first time around? I'm planning on revisiting 'Wuthering Heights' again - I loved it when I read it in my teens, so it will be interesting to see if I still do!
2. Get the blankets out - it's all about being cosy at this time of year. It may not be quite cold enough to turn on the heating properly yet, so having a couple of gorgeous throws in the living room that you can snuggle under will be perfect.
3. Candle Power - we had a power cut here at home last weekend, which meant we had to dig out the candles and it was so cosy! It was actually secretly disappointing when the power came back on... maybe we should schedule in a pre-planned power cut every now and then? No telly, the low glow of candles, and a card game with the family, or swapping ghost stories!
4. Leaf kicking - I mean, who doesn't enjoy kicking the leaves about at this time of year?! Fun for all the family!
5. Fall down a Pinterest rabbit hole - figuratively speaking! Anyone who's ever spent so much as 2 minutes on Pinterest will know how easy it is for one click to lead to another. Why not plan an evening or afternoon of pinning and creating a few new boards? Ideas for the garden for the spring, storage ideas, gorgeous bathrooms, a new haircut, creative things to do with toilet rolls, whatever - you'll be inspired! Make a start by visiting my own Autumn inspired board on Pinterest by clicking here.
6. Bake a cake and have some hot chocolate - we've been good, we've spent the summer eating salads and drinking plenty of water, so why not take a day off and do some baking? Coffee & Walnut, Lemon Drizzle, Brownies? Dig out the recipe book or have a Google and get your mouth watering...
7. Start (casually) thinking about Christmas! It might be a bit early for some, but if you have a few hours spare why not grab a notebook and start planning? Get ahead of the game with gift ideas, recipe planning, dates for your diary, and a spot of online shopping!
8. Watch an old movie - something black and white or in glorious technicolour! An old favourite that isn't demanding, doesn't bear any relation to modern life, and will whisk you away to a different world for a couple of hours.
9. Invite friends or family round for Sunday lunch - stick a joint in the oven, get everyone to bring a side dish or dessert (and bottle of wine), and have a relaxing time full of good company and banter.
10. Visit your local park - the trees look amazing at this time of year, full of colour. Go for a stroll or a bike ride and enjoy the colours. Head to your nearest city and have a wonder around the park. Or failing that maybe you have an arboretum or some woods near you, or perhaps a stately home with grounds open to the public?
11. Visit the seaside - I know it sounds weird, but in my opinion the BEST time to visit the seaside is in the autumn and winter! Wrap up warm and go for a bracing walk along the prom. You might be lucky and find a kiosk that's still open and selling freshly made hot doughnuts rolled in sugar...
12. Go stargazing - the earlier nights are perfect for star spotting. You may need to head out into the countryside to get away from the glow of lights, but pick a clear night, bundle up warm and take a flask of something warming - and maybe a slice of that cake you baked in step 6...

Sarah x

Theme of the Week: Back to Nature

September... it's a funny old month... according to meteorological types the 1st of September heralds the first day of autumn, but the shift from one season to the next is always tricky. Not least in the wardrobe department: what to wear!

Is it going to be cold? Hot? Can I wear a jumper yet? Do I still wear my shorts? Yes, us Brits often find that transitional time a bit hard (she says, wearing a summer t-shirt and fluffy slippers).

So let's not say goodbye quite yet to summer - let's enjoy those last few warm days (possibly wet, yes, but at least vaguely warm), and postpone moving indoors completely for a little while longer.

My theme this week is all about nature: except spiders, they're a nightmare at this time of year!

Here's a few of my picks for this outdoor/indoor time of year:

1: Bee's Knees canvas design, from £18.95 - part of the new canvas collection

2: Bespoke Wooden Plaque, from £10.95 - add any wording of your choice, choice of bow styles

3: Berries personalised mug, £13.50 - lots of other designs also available

4: Farmyard personalised board book, £25 - handmade to order, other designs available

5: Forty Winks fantasy photo portrait, from £24.50 - created from your photo, other designs available

6: Garden personalised embroidery hoop print, £19.95 - handmade, other designs available

So, which is your favourite season - summer or autumn? Are you looking forward to cosy nights in and frosty lawns, or will you be missing the long hot days and lazing in the garden? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!

Sarah x

Smashing Pumpkins!

Halloween may well have finished at midnight last night, but rather than turning into a pumpkin I thought I'd share some truly amazing carved pumpkin images with you. Now our efforts at home weren't a patch on these, but I think next year I may be feeling a little more ambitious after seeing these...!

The first two images on the left come from the granddaddies of them all when it comes to pumpkin carving: Villafane Studios in the USA - their work is breathtaking. Yes, breathtaking pumpkins I tell you! (And when you check out the website - which you absolutely and completely have to - take a look at their amazing sand sculptures too...). I could fill this page with their images, but I've got a few others I want to show you too:

The first two images below (cat and mouth) are from another incredible pumpkin carving artist: Scott Cummins at Pumkingutter.com - he has been creating and designing pumpkins, many based on famous faces and characters, for years and you really must take a wander through his gallery of work, you won't be disappointed I promise.

Bottom left is an incredible carving made by the super talented manicapumpkincarvers.com. It's based on Vincent Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' and was gifted to the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2011. And finally, that lovely witch (bottom right) - this is almost one I can see myself attempting next year! I found this via artsmart4kids.com and I love the idea of turning the pumpkin on its side and using the stalk as part of the design don't you?

So, are you feeling fired up and inspired for next Halloween too?!

Sarah :)

Things to love about Autumn...

There's no denying there's a nip in the air now and Autumn is well and truly here - yes, it is chilly but let's celebrate all the great stuff about this season:

1: Hot Chocolate - this is definitely the time of year when a mug of steaming hot chocolate comes into its own (with a choccy biscuit to dunk of course - or if you're feeling really decadent, a Cadbury's Flake!)

2: Halloween and Bonfire Night - two events that literally demand you stay up late and eat sweets and/or hot dogs!

3: Beautiful misty mornings - when you open the curtains and see the mist, or frosty white grass...

4: The Clothes - dressing for warmth and cosiness, and being able to hide under a coat when you need to nip out on the school run!

5: The Colours - spotting awesome autumnal trees with red and orange leaves.

What do you love about Autumn?

Sarah x