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

Paul's Summer Tart

i am very lucky to be married to a semi professional pastry chef. I am also lucky that he works away, otherwise I would look more like a choux bun. Here is his recipe for a summer tart. He prefers to use apricots but you could easily add nectarines or peaches.

Recipe for Paul’s Summer Tart

To make the pastry….

250g flour

125g butter

Pinch salt

Cut the butter into small cubes and place in fridge to ensure they are cold. Blitz the butter, flour and salt until fine breadcrumbs. Add a small amount of cold water to the mix to bring it together. Tip out the dough and combine by hand but do not knead it. Shape into a disc and cover with cling film and rest in the fridge for at least 30mins. Roll out the dough into a circle approx 2-3mm thick. Place into a 25 cm tart case and prick the bottom with a fork. Refrigerate for at least 15 mins. Place foil over the pastry and fill with rice. Blind bake for 20mins at 180*C. Remove the foil and rice and continue baking at 200*C until golden brown.

To make the filling…

200g almond meal

200g softened butter

100g caster sugar

Tablespoon of vanilla extract

Zest of one lemon

2 eggs

3 or 4 apricots

Combine all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Pour into the cooled pastry shell. Halve the apricots and remove the stone, Arrange the fruit in the tart with the filling. Bake at 180*C for 25 to 30 mins (until golden brown).

Serve warm with cream and or ice cream.

Tablecloth and Napkins in Seaside Stripe Linen.

Three books to read this summer

Rather like ‘Chick Lit’ the concept of a ‘Beach Read’ has rather a bad reputation. This may have something to the marketing push of books on stands at the airport that are covered in stickers that promise you that this is ‘The Book Of The Summer’. I think that the best books to read over the summer as those that you can pick up and put down and engage you in a good story. I don’t want fluff and I don’t want to go to dark places when I am on my lounger gazing at the sea. Books about rather dysfunctional families are always welcome on holiday as they make me feel better about the teenagers’ behaviour. Obviously reading is incredibly personal experience, however here is a very short list of fiction you might consider to take on holiday this year.

‘Sandwich’ by Catherine Newman

This story revolves around three generations of a loving family on their annual holiday to Cape Cod. The main character ‘Rocky’ is in the sandwich between her nearly grown up children and her ageing parents. Rocky is incredibly relatable as she struggles with the menopause, letting her kids go and unraveling secrets from her past. This book is funny and heartwarming, reminding us all that loving, happy families are never perfect and certainly don’t look like we think they should!

‘Really Good Actually’ by Monica Heisey

I initially picked up this book because the author was a screen writer on Schitts Creek which kept me laughing through the dark days of the pandemic. Monica Heisey does not disappoint in this painfully funny story about Maggie’s marriage breakup and her subsequent insufferable and appalling behaviour. This book is not a ‘feel good’ read but you will enjoy ‘Really Good Actually’ if you like dark humour and can relate to the essence of Maggie’s unhinged and erratic choices following a major life event.

‘Long Island Compromise’ by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

If you have a Succession shaped hole in your life this book will fill it. Long Island Compromise is quite a multi layered book but basically it is about inherited wealth, superstition and holding position in society. Holocaust surviving Jewish grandparents set up a very unscrupulous polystyrene factory in Queens and amass a vast fortune. This success is taken for granted by the second generation whilst the filthy rich grandchildren completely blow it ! The book is told from the position of all members of the family and poses the question of whether it is better to be bought up with the trappings of privilege or to earn your own livelihood.

i am extremely lucky that I have lots of time to read, so I will continue to put book reviews on my social media channels. Wishing you all a wonderful summer and sending power to the parents of young children.

Sophie x

Duvet Cover and Pillowcase made from Liberty Fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’

Cushions in ‘Big Top Green’ and ‘Wimbledon’.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Liberty fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’ is one of the stars of our Spring/ Summer Collection 2024. This gorgeous print features juicy red strawberries amongst pretty blossom against a sky blue background. We think that this is the perfect fabric to bring light and sunshine into your home at any time of year. However if there was ever a pattern to shout SUMMER, it’s ‘Paysanne Blossom’.

Single Bedding Bundle and Small Quilt in Liberty Fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’. Linen Lumbar Cushion in ‘Wimbledon’. Big Top Cushions in Red and Green.

Our linen in ‘Wimbledon’ compliments the pretty strawberry print beautifully. The classic stripes in green and white against the soft blue liberty print create a seamless and delicate aesthetic. The image above shows a small quilt over the end of a single bed with ‘Paysanne Blossom’ on one side and ‘Wimbledon’ on the reverse. If you want to add a splash of bold colour, you could add a Big Top Cushion in Red or a fitted sheet in Liberty fabric ‘Theresa’.

Quilt in Liberty Fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’

It is difficult to capture the true colour of Liberty’s ‘Paysanne Blossom’. It might be worth noting that our lifestyle images are taken with completely natural light and very little filtering. Here at Poppy and Honesty we are always happy to send out complimentary swatches to help with your tricky decisions.

Wishing everyone a lovely week. It looks like we might be treated to some sunshine at last! Strawberries and cream can’t be far behind.

Sophie xx

Photography by Dee Campling

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

What are you reading this summer ?

I am an emphatic reader. In fact I would go so far as to say that I am not happy unless there is a good book by my bed. Fiction is a wonderful escape and respite from reality and getting stuck into someone else's story gives me new perspective on my own. Matt Haig puts it perfectly in his latest book Notes On Nervous Planet.

Reading isn't important because it helps you get a job. It's important because it gives you room to exist beyond the reality you're given. How minds connect. Dreams. Empathy. Understanding. Escape. 

Summer books often imply suncream stained Jackie Collins' novels. Whilst I am very partial to a little Rupert Campbell Black, these are my top 5 reads for the sunshine. Take with Mr Whippy and icy cold beers. 

Velvet and tropical print cushions available here. 

Bonjour Tristesse by Francois Sagan. When I read this I felt like I was having a long languid siesta in the South of France.  Totally French and absolutely immoral, you'll feel the scorch at the heart of this story.  

Heartburn by Norah Ephron. Protagonist Rachel feels like your best friend and who better to take on holiday?  She's wonderfully witty and acerbic, you'll have a great time together. 

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald.  Scandal and wild summer parties doing the Charleston in Jay Gatsby's mansion? Yes please.  Make mine a Long Island Ice Tea. 

Instructions For A Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell. The tension amongst this dysfunctional family will make you feel so much better about your travelling group. It's also a lovely tangled tale of family relationships.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. An excellent travelling companion. David Sedaris will charm your socks off with his outrageously funny stories of family and living in France. 

I'm sure that you have got many books that I could add to my list. I'd love to know your suggestions. 

Love

Sophie xx

Velvet and tropical print cushions available here.