Harvest Time!

I recently read that the Harvest Festival is in decline. I find this a very sad fact if it's true, it's always been such a big part of Autumn growing up that I would be truly upset to see it go.

Historically the festival we are all now familiar with started in Morwenstow, a small village in Cornwall in 1843. The Parson (Parson Hawker) invited his congregation to a Harvest service, he wanted to give thanks to God and his provision in a fitting way. This grew in popularity and is still with us.

He was also something of an eccentric, he loved bright colours, the only dull things he ever wore were reportedly his socks! He built a small hut from driftwood, this is now known as Hawker's Hut and is the smallest property in the National Trust portfolio.He also loved animals, inviting his nine cats into church and keeping a huge pig as a pet. Although one of the cats fell foul of his good gracing, having gone mousing on a Sunday the Parson apparently excommunicated the moggy.

Today we had a Harvest festival at my childrens school. Not only was it wonderful to see the tradition being acted out, it was also an important event for charity. All the children gave gifts of food that are being distributed to local families in need. I suppose it helps to remind us to not only be thankful for what we have but to be mindful of what others lack, a good lesson in old fashioned human kindness. From a parents point of view it would be a shame if the children of the future were denied these kind of events, another chance to shine singing songs and writing poems, plus the moral lesson it imparts. Has Harvest been forgotten where you live? If so do you miss it?

Autumn Watch

Keeping on my theme for the week, Autumn Watch starts this evening on BBC Two at 8.30pm. Time to start hunting for nature in your garden, making bird feeders and preparing for the season ahead.

It's also the time of year when I start wanting to eat comforting food whether savoury or sweet. My husband jokes that I'm trying to put on weight for winter, in reality the large jumpers and big fluffy coats means we're probably all a little less self conscious.

Our garden has been full to the brim with blackberries (or Brambles as my Dad calls them). I love this simple way of using them to decorate cupcakes. Just pipe a little cream, pop on a fresh blackberry and ta da you have a really yummy cake!

The dark evenings also drive me to revive hobbies that had fallen by the wayside during the summer months. Currently my knitting needles are getting a work out, keep your eyes peeled as this is to do with an upcoming tutorial!

From a work point of view we're gearing up for the festive season with new products, old favourites and more. We have launched another new craft kit online this week, our Cupcake Badge!

Season Of Mist & Mellow Mushrooms!!

Autumn seems to have arrived with a bang recently. It was only a few short weeks ago that summer was still with us and yet my children are now enthusiastically collecting conkers and mushrooms have taken over the garden!

I should probably call them toadstools but being in no way shape or form a mushroom/toadstool expert I'm a bit ignorant as to which is which.

Autumn is always a strange sort of time, I'm definitely not a fan of the increasing rain, or trying to judge if now is the time to pack away the summer dresses and resurrect the winter woolies. But it definitely causes an increase in colour, the streets are already littered with yellow/red leaves as they begin to fall. For us it has also meant the invasion of mushrooms in many shapes and sizes, from the little brown fellow seen above to....

This beast of a mushroom actually grew in my Grandparents garden, but just like it's smaller cousins it appeared in record time and to the amazement of all.

This rather odd looking one has been mostly eaten, but by what?!

I don't remember this many mushrooms last year so I can't help but wonder what has caused this sudden influx. If the trend continues then next year we'll be overrun!

Thankfully they are rather pretty to look at, even if some are probably deadly. They have even been a source of creative inspiration for us. You may remember me mentioning exciting new items on the horizon. Well we are expanding into craft kits! The first to make it onto the website is our Mushroom Badge.

They are £5.50 and so far have been very popular when taken to fairs. Everything is included (bar a sewing needle) to make your very own Mushroom Badge, it is perhaps preferable to the garden invading kind, and looks much prettier on a coat!