Autumn Leaves

I love this time of year - its that half light and beautiful Autumnal trees that makes you want to get outside for a long walk, wrapped up in a warm coat.
Ok, it was partly an excuse to get outside for half an hour - I popped over to Compton Verney this afternoon, to pick up some of the lovely Autumn leaves. They compliment our Ochre textiles so well - I just had to get my camera out, and do a few pics. Our beeswax candles have been doing so well recently, I thought it would help give people ideas how they could "decorate" them for their dining tables.
It does also feel like you are on a bit of a countdown to Christmas from here on in -especially as I need to start fine tuning the Christmas gift guide and newsletter.
I hope the Riverford Organic offer on the October newsletter has spurred a few of you on to try one of their veg boxes - it will certainly make for more adventurous menus!
I'm meeting up with the lovely Kim from Lavender Ladies later in the week - our new Lavender bags have arrived in the lush Rouge Venetien, so I'm going to pick up the stuffing!! It will be a nice fragrant job filling the Lavender Bags.

New Goodies

I really love it when we add new stock - as a buyer you are always looking forward to a new season, new colourways, and just something new to look at and photograph!! So it's been a great week this week, as not only did I pick up our new pure beeswax terracotta candle pots from the beekeeper this morning, but our new leather placemats also arrived!
As the Doug, the beekeeper lives over in Gloucestershire we tend to meet halfway - this time we met in the carpark of the Air Balloon, by Gloucester. We must have looked very shady, as I pulled up next to his landrover, and I loaded up the boxes of the sweet smelling honey pots.
Just after I got back, the leather placemats and coasters were dropped off - so once we had checked off the stock -I could set to and photograph them. See the results online now!
I love real leather - one of my first buyerships were I really cut my teeth was mens leather jackets, and I learnt alot about the different skins and markings. I also learnt about some of the more dodgy curing processes involved in hides from India, hence I was paricularly keen to get British leather, as the animal has had a good life and would be humanely killed, and you ge excellent quality hides. I love the fact you get stretch marks, just like humans - it all adds to the character of the skin.
The timing of the new deliveries was perfect for the show this weekend - it will be the first time anyone will have been able to try our honey hand wash and hand lotion as well - so fingers crossed for a good response. Have a great Bank Holiday!