Setting the scene for a cosy January

Whilst I maintain that January is restorative month, making a very tweaks in your home will optimize your hibernation. Last week we dragged our Christmas tree onto the verge and packed up all the sparkly decorations, leaving everything looking dusty, boring and a bit sad. I get a bit twitchy when the house doesn’t feel right so I have made a few small changes to set the scene for a comfy January.

Soft lighting is central to feeling warm and cosy. I am constantly chastising family members for putting on the ‘big light’ instead of all the nice little lamps around our home. I haven’t packed away the fairy lights and these have been draped around surfaces to diffuse a lovely glow. I love having lights at different heights and recently bought this Seletti Mouse from Ebay, who looks rather gorgeous sat on a pile of books on a side table. We have converted some of our lamps to include a rechargeable bulb so that they can be placed in dark corners to cheer us all up. There are so many rechargable lamps on the high street that give you the freedom to put lights where you wish without investing in an electrician to add sockets.

For some reason Christmas seems to leave a lot of dust and clutter. I personally don’t have the energy to undertake a big deep clean, but a few lucky drawers will be getting a makeover and there is a charity shop box on the go. I don’t really want to look at grubby streaks when the spring sunshine finally arrives, so if anything gets a good scrub it will be the windows. I will definitely be having a wipe around everything with a mixture of essential oils and water. Purdy and Figg make fantastic blends which get the job done and hide the doggy/ teenage trainer aroma.

Long before the advent of Christianity, people hung evergreen boughs in their home over the winter months. Green is a great colour to include in your home during January as according to Karen Heller it is ‘restful, creating balance and harmony.’ Apparently green has these qualities because it resides in the centre of the colour wheel and does not require the eye to adjust. I love having large vases of of eucalyptus or foliage from the garden in our home. You could add some fluffy Gypsophila or large white roses from the supermarket, for some winter magic. It’s also very satisfying to force some bulbs at this time of year. I enjoy growing narcissi although they can get out of control pretty quickly and so it’s a good idea to prop them up with some nice mossy sticks. .As well as plants, you could also introduce some green textiles such as our linen tablecloth in Granny Smith or Ruffle Cushion.

Whilst I won’t be transforming into Marie Condo, it is difficult to rest when the house is awry. A bit of a chuck out, some soft lights and lots of refreshing greenery will hopefully set us up for a rejuventating January. I must mention here that I am very diligently refilling our bird feeders, it is so wonderful to hear their little chatter in the morning.

What small adjustments will you make in your home this month?

Linen Duvet Set, Ruffle Cushion, Bolster and Storage Bag in Granny Smith.

Handmade in Cornwall by Poppy and Honesty.

Top books that I have read in 2024

A book is a holiday in your own head. Even at my lowest ebb, I have found that I can escape into the characters and plot of a good story. During this year of ups and downs, I have really enjoyed the following books. January is the perfect month to hibernate with a good book and I hope that you find some inspiration here.

The Wedding People - Alison Espach

This heartwarming and funny tale deals with a very heavy subject matter. The struggles of infertility, divorce and the death of her beloved cat, leave Pheobe at the lowest point in her life. Dressed in an emerald gown, she books herself into a suite of a grand hotel in order to end her life by taking her cat’s painkillers. However Pheobe is intercepted by bride to be Lila, who has hired the hotel for her ‘perfect wedding’ and will not be inconvenienced by a corpse being wheeled through the lobby.

Pheobe and Lila develop an unlikely friendship based on sharing their repressed feelings. Before long, Pheobe is swept up by the bridal party and starts to see that her life can move forward in a different direction. I highly recommend this comforting book with such lovable characters and theme of the enduring human spirit.

“It’s all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you would be”

Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly - Joanna Glen

This book tells the story of Addie and Sol, two damaged individuals who find comfort in each others’ company but can’t risk falling completely and madly in love because of past dysfunctional relationships. The characters are beautifully developed and ultimately the story is about personal growth and learning to trust again.

The main pleasure of this book lies in Joanna Glenn’s magical descriptions of the natural world along the Northumberland coast. The story is set on a fictional island that can only be reached at low tide by bridge. The isolated location is well matched by the loneliness of the characters and their connection to the land and sea.

The Glass Maker - Tracy Chevalier

This historical novel transports the reader to Murano, Venice and follows a family of glass makers over a period of 500 years. The reader must suspend their imagination as the author plays with the timeline and we watch the Rosso family experience the Italian Renaissance all the way up to the Covid Pandemic.

The writing is absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the role of women evolve over time as well as learning about Murano culture and glassmaking.

..beads brought colour and beauty...There was a pricelessness to these tiny, hard things. They endured, and retained the history of their owners, and their makers'.

Caledonian Road - Andrew O’Hagen

This is dense book with a huge variety of themes and characters. I would recommend reading Caledonian Road if you are ready to take a deep dive into contemporary politics and economics and are looking for something chunky and challenging.

The story follows privileged art historian Campbell Flynn and his relationship with Milo, a brilliant young man of mixed heritage and voice of a new generation. Through their discussions, the themes of corruption, human trafficking arise, forcing Campbell to question his luxurious life amongst aristocrats and links to Russian Plutocrats. Set against the background of Caledonian Road, an area notorious for corrupt landlords, the novel has a Dickensian quality as it looks at the greed and class division of our society.

Sandwich - Catherine Newman

‘Sandwiched’ is the position that women find themselves in when children are leaving home and parents are ageing. . Rocky is in the sandwich and she seems to be constantly making sandwiches for these members of her family. Set on a family holiday in beautiful Cape Cod, we watch Rocky navigate this stage of her life with the added fun of menopausal symptoms.

If you are in the sandwich, I have no doubt that you will empathize with the main character as she reflects on past decisions, manages the needs of her adult children and forges a path ahead with her partner.

“Life is a seesaw, and I am standing dead center, still and balanced: living kids on one side, living parents on the other”

Girls - Kirsty Capes

This is a devastating and funny book about motherhood, family, fame, art and addiction. Sisters Nora and Mattie embark on a road trip accross America and try to untangle their terrible childhood with their famous mother Iris. Sisterly love saves the day and with the help of Matties fabulous daughter Beans, the girls find a way they can move forward in their lives.

The heavy subject matter is lightened by Kirsty Cape’s witty writing and the beautiful characters that she creates. ‘Girls’ is a very clever depiction of the complexities of mental health and family dynamics.

I have read some fantastic books over the past year but these are some of my favourites. If you look further back over the blog you will find more recommendations. I would love to hear about the books you have enjoyed in 2024. Please add your favourites to the comments below.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year

Sophie

Duvet cover handmade from Liberty fabric ‘Wiltshire’

Laying the table nicely

I can’t bring myself to use the ‘instagramable word’ for laying the table. It just seems a step too far for something that we do every day and many of us with great haste! However it does feel nice to put a bit of effort into laying the table especially on these very long evenings. At Poppy and Honesty, we have lots of different tablelinen however I have chosen to look at a few fabrics as they I think are perfect for your Autumn and Winter meals.

Ruffle Tablecloth in Florence.

Florence Linen and Rose Gingham

These two fabrics work so well together as they both feature warm terracotta and natural tones. Layer up either tablecloth with napkins and candles and create a cosy atmosphere to share a meal together. We make a ruffle tablecloth in Florence which is gorgeously decadent with it’s dropped frill. Napkins edged with crochetted lace add pretty detail and are available in both the Rose Gingham and Florence Linen.

Lace Napkins in Florence and Rose Gingham

Granny Smith and Rose Gingham

Our punchy green Granny Smith Linen will add some fun to your dining room table. As the green check is set against a natural background it works well with the smaller check Rose Gingham. Combine tablecloths and napkins in these two fabrics, add some candles and maybe some tiny bud vases (so people can see each other). Little sprigs of green from the garden or dried flowers are perfect. We don’t usually bother to use napkin rings as our linens can easily be tied in a little loose knot.

Large Linen Tablecloth in Granny Smith. Linen Napkins in Rose Gingham and Granny Smith.

I am not going to tell you how to lay the table but you don’t need a calligrapher or florist to make it look special. As much as I love long tapered dining candles, I don’t find them particularly practical when seating a mob and prefer tea lights or battery operated fairy lights. It’s important to make space for the main event, the food or more importantly ‘the pudding’!

Stay cosy

Sophie x

10% off all of the table linens featured above until 16th November.

Just to remind you that we are always happy to send out free swatches and make custom sizes in our table linens.

Advent Basket

I realise that it is only November 3rd, but trust me this project takes a little bit of forward planning. The joy of Christmas is all about being together and this communal version of an advent calender gathers the family for a few minutes every day. It also helps to build the anticipation of Christmas by incrementally revealing little winter treats everyday.

Now I cannot claim that I invented this version of the advent calender because I am fairly sure I saw something similar within the depths of the internet a few years ago. Basically you find a big bag or basket and fill it with 25 things for the family to share over the festive period. This may include a christmas pudding, a collection of photos from the year or some cinema tickets. The contents of your basket is entirely personal to your family. Some items might be enjoyed more particular members than others and that’s fine. The overall idea is that the basket is full of things that will essentially bring you together. Here are some other things that I will be including in our Advent Basket :

Sparklers

Holiday photos in a book

Christmas Pud

Panto Tickets

Candles

Christmas Ornament

Lonely Planet book of somewhere you plan to visit,

Pack of cards with instructions for a new game

New blanket for the sofa

Cinema Tickets

Chocolate

Silly hat for the dog/cat

Crackers

Christmas Cards

Bird Feeders

Hot Chocolate

Panettone

Christmas Radio Times

Pretty illustrated christmas book such as ‘The Night Before Christmas’ or ‘The Nutcracker’

Printed out photos from the year.

Materials to make paper chains or paper snowflakes

Indoor bulbs to plant (such as hyacinths or narcissus)

Mulled wine/ apple blend.

New cookie cutter for gingerbread making

Cooking thermometer for the turkey.

I know this may seem like a lot more work, however many of the things above could be included in your Tesco Shop. Also, every year we are surprised and delighted when we unpack our Christ loot, so it would be perfectly acceptable to wrap up your Christmas fairy or snow globes and pit them into your advent basket.

My kids get really grabby over the Christmas period and I think its fair to say that a lot of parents feel fairly wrung out by December 25th. This idea might just bring you together for a little sparkly moment during the run up. Let me know what you think.

Happy November

Sophie x

Large Linen Tablecloth in Florence

A Picnic in Autumn

As I look out of the studio on a grey and rainy day, I realize that this post might be somewhat ambitious. However when there is a break in the clouds, there is nothing better than being immersed in the glorious colours of Autumn. Everywhere I look in my unkept garden, there are plants that seem to glow. If the weather forecast decides to gift us a day of clear skies, I will be dragging my family on a picnic this half term.

Our tablecloths work beautifully as picnic blankets as the linen is very robust and you can chuck it in the washing machine and drier. However If you are an organised sort of person who has camping chairs I would definitely bring them as the ground will inevitably be sodden. Here are the other things I will be taking on my Autumn Picnic :

1.Flask of hot chocolate made with real chocolate, cream and a pinch of cinammon

2. Lots of blankets and maybe a hot water bottle,

3. A book or magazine.

4. Binoculars… the birds are busy making their nests and it is delightful to watch them to go about their work.

5. A pot of stew in a food flask and chunks of bread. to dip.

6. Playing cards or a dice. If the player throws a 6 they need to collect 6 different leaves or stones. Just make it up as you go along !

7. A small sketch book and some bright pastels if you fancy a doodle,

There is only a small window of time when Autumn is at it’s most spectacular and soon the trees will be silhouettes against winter skies. I hope everyone has a nice half term and gets to have a good kick about in those golden leaves,

Sophie xx

Cushion and Pillowcase in Granny Smith. Bolster in Rose Gingham. Ruffle Cushion in Liberty fabric ‘Ciara Metallic’. Fitted sheet made from Liberty fabric ‘Theresa Green’. Scallop quilt in Theresa Green.

Our new leading ladies - Liberty Fabrics 'Ciara and Theresa'

This season we have introduced three very carefully selected Liberty Fabrics to our range. All of these gorgeous prints are a polite nod to Autumn and Winter but they will also look absolutely divine at all other times of the year. As we have limited space in our Sail Loft Studio, we have to choose our fabrics very carefully. This season we selected the gorgeous Granny Smith as our leading linen and three pretty Liberty of London prints to sit alongside this bold check.

Pillowcase in Liberty fabric ‘Theresa Green’

‘Theresa’ in green is such a pretty addition to our bedding range. This classic print is based on an original fabric drawn for the Liberty Archives in 1965. It has been re-coloured for the Liberty Kaleidescope Collection 2024 in the most gorgeous pallet of rust, green, yellow and pink. The warmer hues sit very well with ‘Ciara Metallic’ which has a very dense botanical pattern in rust and terracotta. This particular re-imagination of Ciara includes a metallic overlay. Look carefully and you will see little clusters of sparkly gold flowers.

Duvet Cover made from Liberty fabric ‘Ciara Metallic’. Linen Bolster in Granny Smith. Pillowcases in Theresa Green, Ciara Metallic and Florence. Velvet ruffle cushion in Theresa.

Finally our pretty pastel fabric ‘Ciara in Pale Green’ compliments the other two liberty fabrics but is in no way a dusty wallflower. This particular colourway of Ciara has a 70’s vibe to it with it’s dirty pinks and yellows. This fabric is also embellished with a sheen which enhances it’s silk like qualities.

If you can’t pick a favourite, all of these fabrics work brilliantly together. Treat yourself to a pile of cushions made with the different prints and adorned with velvets and other trimmings.

Yours in ditsy Liberty print heaven,

Sophie x

Velvet Ruffle Cushion in Liberty Fabric Ciara Soft Green.

Photography : Dee Campling

Ruben's Apple Puffs

Wherever we are in the world, my son will choose an apple filled pastry from the local bakery. This little recipe for ‘Apple Puffs’ is so simple that I hesitated on whether or not to include it on the blog. However we are in Bramley season and you may even be lucky enough to chance upon a bucket of windfalls outside a neighbours’ house. Make these on a wet afternoon and they will definitely lift your spirits. (very little brain power or tidying up required)

Ingredients

A packet of puff pastry

3 or 4 Bramley Apples

x1 Tbsp Brown Sugar

Splash of Water

x1 tsp cinammon

x1 Star Anise

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC fan.

2. Peel, core and slice your apples into small 2cm cubes.

3. Place the apples in a saucepan with the sugar, water and spices. Cook on a low heat for 15-20 minutes.

4. Roll out the puff pastry and divide into 8 squares. (4 tops and 4 bottoms!)

5. Once the apple is cooked, drain off the excess liquid.

6. Place a generous spoonful of apple onto x4 of the squares of puff pastry.

7. Place a square on top of each of the apple filled squares and seal around the edges to form a little parcel.

8. Brush with milk or egg and bake for 20-25 minutes (until brown and crispy)

9. Serve warm with clotted cream and ice-cream.

We hope these little go down a treat in your house. Stay tuned for our beautiful new collection launching on Sunday 6th October.

Sophie xx

Tablecloth in Granny Smith (available 6/10/24). Napkin in Florence.

September in the studio

September feels like the beginning of the year to many of us who have grown up here in the UK. Memories of stepping into a new school class in shiny new shoes with sharpened pencils has firmly placed September as the month of fresh starts. January is definitely not qualified to fulfill this role with such short sluggish days that make us want hide from the world in our burrows under blankets and eating biscuits. September in the Poppy and Honesty studio will be a month of developing new ideas including our Autumn range as well as working on minimizing fabric waste.

We are currently curating and road testing our Autumn range to be launched in early October with Dee Campling. Alongside our perennial favourite Liberty fabrics and linens we will be adding more patterns and textures. You can look forward to floral prints in warm palettes of terracotta pink and greens alongside cosy checkered linens and sumptuous velvets. We will be bringing out a full collection of bed linen that will enable our customers to create their own aesthetic whether this is mix and maximalist or a paired back scheme. We will also be launching a new range of linen napkins and tablecloths perfect for candle lit meals together as the nights draw in. Our OekoTex Linen is an ideal choice for everyday dining as it is very absorbent and easy to launder.

Poppy and Honesty are also working on developing an online fabric shop. We try our hardest to minimize remnants and develop our range to make best use of the fabrics that we have. However we do have a large stock of Liberty of London Tana Lawn pieces that range in size and are not currently suitable for our purposes. I hate to see these beautiful fabrics piled up in boxes on the studio floor and would love to think of them worked into patchwork and other textile projects. Autumn is the perfect time to kickstart a new creative project and patchwork quilts are my absolute favourite things to make and keep.

We will keep you up to date with all the happenings at Poppy and Honesty here on our blog as well as on our social media channels.

Sending love to all of of you taking new steps and getting used to new things this September.

Sophie xxx

A day off from the circus

There are two more full weeks of the school holidays. Part of me will miss the lack of routine, longer days and limited bursts of sunshine. The other part of me will be crawling to the finish line desperate for a quiet house.. I have to say that school holidays are easier when the children are older but you are still running a circus and spinning plates are being dropped in this house.

When the kids are little you are literally holding together a full on Cirque Du Soliel summer camp. Six weeks with teenagers is much less intense but with some hairy moments on the trapeze (note underage festivals). As the kids grow up, parents often take on more work (to pay for all the Vinted purchases) and it is a scramble to fit everything in. Last week I had 24 hours at Thorpe Park and then a 6 hour drive back to a full inbox in Cornwall. Knackered.

To stop myself from falling in a messy heap at the start of September, I have found that scheduling a reset day is very important. This doesn’t have to involve money which has all been spent on school uniform. But there are strict rules that need to be followed.

1. No looking at work or school related emails.

2. Do not go and tidy the kids rooms or do any boring routine chores.

3. Do the school drop off and go back to bed with a cup of tea for as long as possible.

4. Watch TV in the middle of the day. Preferably a very trashy series.

5. Have a bath in the middle of the day.

6. Go for a long slow walk.

7. Do what you want to do rather than what you have to do.

The wellness industry would tell you that you need a sound bath, a cacao ceremony and a silent retreat to reawaken your chakras. I find that saying ‘I am not doing nothing for nobody’ for a day makes me feel a whole lot better and is much more accessible. Schedule yourself a reset day in September and see how you feel.

In the meantime, good luck with the ***t show and the trip to Clarks.

Sophie x

Bedding Set made from Liberty Fabric ‘Annabella’

Big Top Cushion

Photo : Dee Campling

The Ups and Downs of running a small business

I’ve been running Poppy and Honesty for over 11 years and it has certainly been a fairground ride, specifically the ‘spinning tea cups’, which is supposed to be sedate but actually makes you feel a bit wobbly at times. Who would have thought that tinkering with beautiful fabric combinations and turning them into life long treasures could actually have a downside?

To be honest there are many fantastic aspects of running this gig. It’s very exciting when a new fabric arrives from Liberty of London and designing our own linens is a fun and creative process. I also get to hang out with my adored spaniel in our Sail Loft and generally choose my working hours. Our little corner of Falmouth is bursting with nice cafes and people always ready for a chat which makes the solitary nature of my role more fun. Our sewing team are all local, but choose to work in their own spaces and on their own timelines to fit in with other commitments. Flexible working keeps the team happy which reflects the quality of their work.

The scary part of running Poppy and Honesty is getting through low sale periods and trying to maintain some sort of equanimity. I am not very good at this and tend to spiral into a panic of ‘what ifs’ and googling dead stock outlets. Covid was booming for Poppy and Honesty and gave us a false sense of high productivity and sales. Inevitably when the furlow funds dried up, it wasn’t so great. To get us through hard times, I need to cement the fact that there will always be people who appreciate good craftsmanship and will support local, sustainable and small businesses.

I am truly grateful to you all for supporting Poppy and Honesty. All your sales, words and messages of encouragement keep this little boat bobbing along.

Sophie x

Poppy and Honesty's Little Gift Guide

Meaningful gifts are hard to choose. Thinking about a present that will give joy to one person may end up in the charity box of another recipient. I particularly enjoy giving experiences but these can be sometimes be hard to organize. Here in our little Poppy and Honesty studio, we have some gorgeous things that when given some thought, might just be the perfect little handmade treasure for your loved ones this Christmas.

Ruffle Pouch in Seaside Stripe.

The Ruffle Pouch

These beautiful pouches are handmade from linen and lined with a contrasting floral Liberty fabric. We have finished the pouches with a small frill and added a brass zip. As someone who is always rummaging around in a big bag, I think these pouches are supremely useful. Instead of emptying the contents of your bag onto the car boot to find your car keys, you simply pull out your pouch which contains the essentials and not the dog-poo bags, snack wrappers or something worse.

You can add little things to the pouch like a favourite chocolate bar or a nice lippy. I plan to print out some photos from the year and put them inside with a few little treats for a couple of friends. The ruffle pouches are a generous size, so they are practical enough to fit a small tablet, book, kindle, wallet and other things too.

The Pillowcase

Bedding is extremely personal. Some people want their bedrooms to be neutral sanctuaries with natural colours and textures, whereas others want bold pattern and more drama. We have such a wide variety of pillowcases which you can easily mix and match. For a very neutral colour scheme, our linen pillowcases in Florence will add warmth and texture with their pretty terracotta and olive stripe. For more maximalist friends, they might enjoy a couple of bright pillowcases in Liberty fabrics ‘Betsy Pink’ and ‘Thorpe Green’. Finally for your more traditional recipients you cannot go wrong with delicate floral pillowcases in Liberty fabrics ‘Poppy and Daisy’ Blue or ‘Felicite’. Please note that all our pillowcases are available to purchase individually or as a pair of two.

From top to bottom:

Pillowcase in Liberty fabric ‘Capel’, ‘Wiltshire’ and Marmalade Linen.

The Cushion

Everyone loves a new cushion. Whether it’s for a lonely armchair or to compliment an existing collection on the sofa. Think about your recipient and their favourite colours. Lots of people have a dark blue sofa which would suit our Ciara cushion perfectly. Our velvet cushion in Capel will look wonderful on an armchair of similar Autumnal tones (orange, green, rust). In many homes you will find grey neutral furniture, throw in a cushion in Thorpe with a stripy trim to add some seasonal joy. Remember, cushions do not have permanent homes and often need to be thrown around until they find just the right spot.

Velvet Ruffle Cushion ‘Capel’

Please remember to shop from small, independent brands this Black Friday Weekend and have fun choosing some special, well thought out presents.

Love

Sophie x

Motherhood doesnt make you a super hero - being a magnificent woman does

Mothers’ Day is fast approaching and whilst this is a happy, stress-free event for me, I understand that it can be very difficult and problematic for other women. Mothers’ Day must be excruciating for those who have experienced loss or were unable to have children; or for women grieving their own mothers or poorly parented childhoods. However, for women who have chosen to be child free, Mothers’ Day must feel like a rather exclusive party to which they weren’t invited.

Despite the fact that in this day and age women achieve the most incredible things, reproduction is still frequently considered to be the most life changing and rewarding event in a woman’s life. Whilst I adore being a mother and holding those little precious bundles in my arms was indeed life changing and amazing, I think it’s naive and almost verging on arrogant to consider this experience the ‘pinnacle of life’ for every woman. There is no one-way route for happiness and fufillment, just look at Dolly Parton and Oprah (two amongst many fabulous, child-free women).

There is a widely felt assumption that motherhood generates more empathy, compassion and ultimately makes you more evolved as a human being. In light of the number of cases of neglected and abused children, this notion is frankly absurd (Remember Rose West?). Conversely, this prevailing generalization suggests that child- free women have less empathy. I have to say that the fabulous women I know, who have chosen not to have children, are just as insightful and fully briefed on life, as those who know that pain of staying up all night with a teething infant. It was once suggested that Teresa May was less qualified to act as Prime Minister as she had chosen not to have children. I’m not entirely sure how wrangling toddlers makes you any better prepared to negociate a flailing Brexit Deal but I might be wrong there!!

Motherhood can often be exclusive. I have heard of so many cases where mothers have dropped their child- free friends because ‘they don’t understand.’ This is a mistake; for they can bring news on the outside world and a fresh perspective on your potty training woes. (I have to confess a tiny part of me was selfishly disappointed when my long term child-free friend announced her pregnancy: who would provide that great big dose of reality and potty free discussion?) The thing is, motherhood can be divisive and it’s hard to smash the patriachy when there is so much infighting; so let’s just agree that all women are different and equally magnificent.

To the Mothers; I wish you a Happy Mothers Day. (I, for one will be milking it for all it’s worth). To my child-free pals, thanks for all your support, I bloody love you. And for the love of God, can we all leave Jennifer Aniston alone, she’s not having a baby and allegedly she’s cool with that!

Sophie xxxx

Bedding in Liberty Print ‘Wild Flowers’

Planning prettiness : Poppy and Honesty Spring/ Summer 2020.

My imposter syndrome runs far too deep to describe myself as a designer. In my mind, this title refers to the couturiers of high fashion and creators of amphibious cars (yes they exist) and hover boards (it wont be long). I find pretty fabrics and put them together to make them look even prettier.

When I begin to plan a new collection, I think about it in the same way as interior design : How do I want it to feel? For our winter collection, I wanted to create the feeling of being warm, cosy and cocooning and I hoped to achieve this by using rich earthy colours and textures such as crumpled linen and velvet. In contrast, I wanted our latest collection to feel easy- breezy, fun and fresh by using stripes, florals and ginghams, like a candy coloured pick and mix.

Bedding in Suzy Stripe

Suzy Stripe

Suzy Stripe reminded me of the seaside and as a Cornish based business we just had to include it into our collection : it’s pastel stripes are reminiscent of beach huts, deck chairs and sticks of rock. Suzy Stripe has a classic vintage feel which combines perfectly with our floral prints. Lumbar cushions, pillowcases, bedding sets and fitted sheets are all available in Suzy Stripe.

Penzance

Distinguished by it’s checkered pattern, gingham conjures up memories of summer school uniforms, Dorothy from Oz and classic table cloths. With its timeless charm, I though ‘Penzance’ would sit well amongst the nostalgic Liberty of London floral prints in our collection. The vibrant mustard and white check is fresh, fun and full of sunshine. Pillowcases and fitted sheets are currently available in Penzance.

Pillowcases in Penzance, Suzy Stripe, Capel and Felicite

Felicite

The delicate rose trail pattern was designed for Liberty of London in 1933. ‘Felicite’ is part of the Liberty Classics Collection in 1979 which included re- worked and re-coloured interpretations of Liberty’s most iconic prints. With its tones of peach, orange and lemon, this particular version of Felicite felt perfect for our summer collection. Pillowcases, bedding sets and fitted sheets are currently available in Liberty of London Tana Lawn cotton ‘Felicite.’

Betsy in Pink

Also part of the Liberty Classic’s Collection,’ Betsy’is a well known icon from the Liberty of London archive. This beautiful re-worked and re-coloured print was launched in 2019 in a soft pallet of rose pinks and sage green. As it is available in a linen base, we felt it would be the perfect print for our day bed mattresses. Bedding sets, pillowcases and fitted sheets are also available in Liberty of London Tana Lawn Cotton ‘Betsy’ in pink.

Duvet cover in Betsy Pink and Capel Mustard (coming soon).

As I work alone for much of the time, I am always so very grateful for your feedback. I find it incredibly difficult to be thinking a season ahead, at this time of year I want to wrap myself in sheepskins, drink cocoa and cover the house in fairy lights. Whenever spring decides to make an appearance, Poppy and Honesty is ready and waiting with an array of stripy, gingham and floral gorgeousness.

Sophie xx