Gifts for all occasions

Can't quiet believe it's November already? Us, neither!

Heading into the penultimate month of the year can only mean one thing - it's time to start thinking about the gift giving season ahead.

Whether you have a difficult dad, or a mother whom has everything, take a peek through our favourite gift sets - we're sure you'll find just the thing.

For her

For him

For the budding chef

For the tea lover

For the present drawer (just in case!)

For plenty more ideas, head on over to our Gift Sets.

Frightfully Fine Gifts

Whether you’re planning some trick or treating next week or not, why not get into the Halloween spirit and deck the house out with Rory Dobner’s eerie illustrated tiles? Each ceramic artwork features one of his beautifully crafted ink drawings that you can hang or frame. You could even decorate your doorway with 'Haunted House' - perfect for the witching hour!

Sunday Strolls

This weekend our wanderings took us to Spitalfields market and Brick Lane. Coffee's, brownies, people watching and a pop into the brand new Blitz shop (which claims to be 'London's biggest vintage department store') were the order of the day.

The sun was dazzling bright and it was a glorious afternoon for an amble down east. Here are a few snaps of the Blitz store, and some of the beautiful pieces we found while on our rather lovely Sunday stroll.

Baking Week - Lemon and Almond Cakes

It's National Baking Week, and to celebrate we're going to make sure we indulge our favourite cakes, pies, breads and crumbles.

We've been busy baking too (what an excuse!).

Here's our recipe for delicious Lemon and Almond Cakes:

Ingredients:

250 g Unsalted Butter

60 g Flour (we use Gluten Free)

250 g Ground Almonds

250 g Caster Sugar

4 Eggs

Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons (approx 100ml of lemon juice)

Icing:

50 ml Lemon Juice

150 g Icing Sugar

Method:

Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease 6 small bundt tins with melted butter and refrigerate.

Mix together flour and almond and set aside. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy then add eggs, one at a time and beat until combined. Fold in the almonds and flour. Once combined, fold in lemon zest and juice.

Spoon mixture out into bundt tins, then bake for approx 20 min, until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack to cool.

To make the icing, combine lemon juice and icing sugar, then spoon over cooled cakes.

Delicious with a dollop of creme fraiche. Enjoy!

Words that know no boundaries

When was the last time you read a poem? Not a nursery rhyme or lullaby, but a sonnet, palindrome, or a verse so free of reins that upon reading, you to slip into reverie in seconds.

In the early 1900s, the American poet Robert Frost spoke of the power of love in a small, yet significant piece - one of which is such a favourite of ours, we simply had to share it (plus a few others) with you.

What’s your favourite poem or quote?

A touch of monochrome in the home

If there’s one colour combination that never goes out of fashion, it’s black and white. Need a tip on how to introduce it to the home? Try scattering subtle hints of graphic pattern here and there - our Blackwork cushions in cosy wool do the job perfectly. The result is not only an instant update to your room, it also proves this classic look is not just for the wardrobe, but a striking addition to your home decor, too.

Blackwork Cushions by Charlene Mullen from £110