Our beautiful new linen 'Granny Smith'

We are so thrilled to bring you our beautiful Autumn collection which includes a new linen we have named ‘Granny Smith’. Designed by Poppy and Honesty, ‘Granny Smith’ is the perfect shade of warm green just like the apple. The classic check sits against a neutral background giving the fabric a nostalgic country style. Apples are everywhere at this time of year from crumbles to windfalls and toffee apples on the 5th November. We think that this fabric will bring, warmth, charm and texture to your home.

Not only is our linen beautiful but it is also very sustainable choice for bedding. As the flax is grown in the fertile soils of Northern Europe, it requires very little water and virtually no fertilizers or pesticides. Flax as a crop retains a huge amount of C02 (3,7 tonnes per hectare) and every part of the plant is used for making linen as well as linseed oil, food for livestock and soap. Linen is a very absorbent fabric requiring very little dye for colouring and is completely biodegradable.

Linen Bedding Set inn Granny Smith. Valance in Granny Smith. Storage bag and bolster in Granny Smith.

There are so many ways to style our beautiful linen bedding in Granny Smith. We would recommend combining it with Liberty fabric pieces including pillowcases and duvet covers in Theresa Green, Ciara Metallic and Ciara Pale Green. However as shown in some of the images, our gorgeous green checked linen looks perfect all by itself. Similarly, your dining table will look stunning dressed from head to toe in our gorgeous green check, at the same time, you could add some napkins in ‘Florence’ or ‘Rose Gingham’ for contrast.

We hope you enjoy Poppy and Honesty’s Autumn Collection. Dee Campling and Ness have created some magical images that will hopefully inspire you to create little areas of delight in your home.

Sending virtual hot chocolate on these cooler evenings

Sophie x

Large Linen Tablecloth in Granny Smith. Matching napkins in Granny Smith and Rose Gingham,

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.

Books and Friendship

Autumn can be a tricky time of year, as we slide into shorter days and colder nights. For many of us, it is also a time of transition with children starting school and leaving home for university. These are common experiences and better off shared with friends and loved ones. Autumn is a good time to nuture friendships and so I thought this week I would write about the different types of friendships expressed in some fantastic books I have read recently.

‘The Piglettes’ by Clementine Beauvais

This is a wonderfully joyful book about teenage friendships and how these support us to navigate difficult times growing up. Three girls living in a french village are mercilessly bullied and awarded the school ‘Pig Award’. Instead of crawling into a hole, they find each other and begin a journey across France sticking it to the haters and becoming national celebrities. The book discusses some tricky themes but ultimately friendship wins the day.

‘Shy Creatures’ by Clare Chambers

A beautifully written book about a man who is woefully neglected and mistreated. He is essentially rescued by an art therapist and a school friend’s mother. Compassion is a notable theme throughout this book as we watch this shy man start to live a more functional life due to the kindness of strangers and individuals with no obligation to take care of him. This is another lovely book by Clare Chambers, perfect to snuggle up with this Autumn.

‘A Gentleman In Moscow’ by Amole Towles

This epic novel spans over thirty years of Russian history, during which an aristocratic Count is incarcerated in a luxury hotel. Friendship is crucial to the survival of the characters as they experience the abolition of the aristocracy and the rise of communism. I chose to include ‘A Gentleman In Moscow’ because the friendships in the book, cross generational, political and class boundaries. These include wonderful relationships between the aristocratic count, hotel staff and a little girl who hides in the hotel. Don’t be put off by the size of the book, it is utterly engaging and heart warming.

‘Goodbye Birdie Greenwig’ by Ericka Waller

This is lovely story about lonely elderly lady called Birdie. As her health fails and she comes towards the end of her life, she somehow manages to bring the community on her street together to look after her. These include an estranged family, a child with autism and an overworked, isolated Polish doctor. As they all focus on taking care of Birdie, the characters mend their relationships and form strong friendships. This book makes you want to check on your neighbours and reminds us that friendships can evolve in unlikely places at every stage of life.

I hope that this little round up of great books is helpful. If you have read anything lately that has warmed your cockles, please put your suggestions below.

Sophie x

Ruffle Cushion in Gelato Linen

Our partnership with Maison Flaneur

Poppy and Honesty are thrilled to have been hand picked by Maison Flaneur to be part of their beautiful curated marketplace of homewares from around the world. We very rarely offer wholesale but could not resist being part of this gorgeous collection of products that have been carefully selected for their originality and quality of craftsmanship. Like many of us when the temperature drops, I automatically look to feather our nest and update items in our home. As we have rather abruptly descended into Autumn, I thought it might be nice to have a look at some of the other brands available at Maison Flaneur.

Mattina Moderna

Mattina Moderna is slow design studio based in the South of France who create unique and limited 3D objects including some very desirable lamps. Reminiscent of lollipops and candy canes, Mattina Moderna’s delicious hand painted lamp bases are beautifully decorated with swirls, checks and stripes in soft pastel colours. These gorgeous lamps not only bring joy but will add a welcome glow to your home during the long evenings.

Dinner With Friends

Dinner With Friends create beautiful illustrations of the everyday objects that surround us when we are eating with loved ones. These whimsical drawings are playful and amusing. I particularly love the bottle of Madre Mezcal and Butter Art Prints with their beautiful fonts. These affordable art prints would make great presents for the foodies in your life.

The Platera

Elizabeth Castello started painting ceramics at her kitchen table during lockdown at her home in Barcelona. Her tableware brand ‘La Platera’ soon took off with its unique style and imaginative designs. The joy of her range is the mix and match element of different colours and illustrations. Each piece is individually painted using oil paints, so no two plates are identical. I particularly love the combination of red stripes and mushrooms in the M&M Mushroom Plate Set.

I could include so many more wonderful creative businesses in this edit. Maison Flaneur have done a fabulous job of bringing a wide range of craftsmanship together on one unique platform. Grab a cup of tea and discover some more gorgeous things over on their website.

Sophie x

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

Make hay while the sun shines

The official date of the Autumn Equinox is Sunday 22nd September. Therefore we have 30 more official days of summer to go ! I know we have to deal with all the back to school stuff and it will possibly rain but there are a few things that we can do to maximise the longer, lighter days.

1. Eat ice lollies in the garden. My nostalgic ‘go to’ from the newsagent freezer is the Tongue Twister.

2. Go for a walk past 4pm and listen to the birds chirruping their little hearts out as they start to make their winter homes.

3. Plan a memorable picnic.

4. Go for a low tide beach comb. The sea is as warm as it ever will be and there is often a treasure trove of scallops, jelly fish and funky sea weed strewn along the shore.

5. Pick blackberries and make a crumble if there are any left by the time you get home.

6. Continue to delight in affogatos and iced coffee.

7. Grab a bunch of dahlia’s from your farm shop.

8. Go for an after work swim in the river or sea.

9. Get a pedicure. Even when your feet are stuffed back into socks, you’ll know that they’re pretty.

Make hay while the sun shines as before we know it we will be plunged into dark afternoons and wearing wellies. What are your favourite nostalgic summer activities and how will you embrace them before full crumble/stew season commences?

Sophie

Tablecloth and Napkins in Seaside Stripe Linen.

Photo ; Charlotte Jacklin

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.

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

Just a little sale

Our business model doesn’t usually allow for much of a sale. I say ‘business model’ in the loosest possible terms. Basically we only make up small quantities of items and most of our bedding is handmade to order. Working with a small amount of stock, allows us to keep the quality high and our UK seamstresses in good biscuits. We rarely offer wholesale as our profit margins are already narrow, meaning that you are actually getting what you paid for.

In order to make space in our studio for our Autumn range, we have got a little sale on our website. Snap up a pretty thing while they are still there. Here are some of our favourite sale pieces.

Cushion made from Liberty fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’

Bedding set made from Liberty fabric ‘Theresa’

Tablecloth in Marmalade Linen

Quilt made from Liberty fabric Poppy and Daisy Blue

Cushion made from Liberty fabric ‘Theresa’

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’.

Our Guide To Cornwall in Summer - Part 2

Where is the summer? Biblical storms and weather warnings are not helping my anxiety levels as the 6-8 week school holiday approaches. Those of you heading down to Cornwall this summer may be freaking out, but don’t panic - there are things to do other than crabbing and eating £5 ice creams in the rain. In this post I will try and give you some rainy day ideas as well activities that are a little off the beaten track.

Dog Days Out

Many popular beaches in Cornwall allow dogs before 10am and after 6pm (details here). Our favourite all day dog friendly beaches on the South Coast include Flushing and Grebe. The former is a pebbly beach with plentiful rock pools, swings hanging in the trees and the local shop sells pasties and ice creams. The newly opened Habour House in Flushing, is a foodies dreamboat. Breakfast and lunch are more budget friendly options at this formidable pub.

Grebe is a magical beach and by far my favorite place to swim in Cornwall. Park in the nearby National Trust Car-park and wind your way down the track to this beautiful cove lined by overhanging ewe trees. Access is a little tricky for strollers etc but well worth the effort. There are many walks from this point that are detailed on the map in the car-park. We enjoy the 45 minute walk along the coast to the Ferry Boat Inn.

Living in this very damp corner of the country means that the gardens are glorious. Pretend you’re a pixie and walk under the gunnera or enjoy the enormous hydrangeas reminiscent of 1950’s swimming caps. Trebah and Enys Gardens are lesser known properties that welcome dogs onto the grounds.

Rainy Days In

Cornwall has some excellent independent cinemas that show mainstream as well as more unusual films (listed here). Likewise there are a lot of galleries dotted around the county including Newlyn, The Barbican, and Barbara Hepworth. Many of these will include activities for children that you can book onto. Sailors Jail in Falmouth is a studio designated to art classes for adults and children.

For those seeking action there is an excellent climbing centre in Wadebridge. Falmouth Maritime Museum can get crowded but it definitely has something for everyone including an indoor playground (kids go free). Flow Riders is perfect for surfers with itchy feet and you will find football golf and all the usual suspects in most main towns.

Restorative Days

Beach Sauna’s are popping up all over Cornwall. Whatever the weather it feels good to sweat out the chips and take a cold plunge in the sea afterwards. We like Kiln Sauna currently on Gylly Beach.

There are loads of yoga and wellness centres across Cornwall. I can recommend Falmouth Yoga Space and Sunshine Cafe and Yoga. The latter serves lovely food and offers a wide range of classes and therapeutic services. There are plenty of spas across the county which are stunning but also quite hefty on the budget. For spa value, I would recommend the hydrothermal experience at St Michael’s Hotel.

A visit to the church at St Just in Roseland cannot fail to warm your heart regardless of your religious beliefs. Set in the most beautiful gardens on the Fal Estuary, it is a magical and ancient place to visit. If you can catch a service, you will be made very welcome and I am sure you will come away feeling a little lighter (they also tolerate rowdy kids and muddy dogs).

Shopping Days

I understand that grocery shopping exclusively at independent stores is too expensive for most families. However, where you can please buy from a local bakery, butcher or fishmonger (links attached). Farmers market including Tregrew Food Barn (undercover) have a great atmosphere and very high quality local produce.

Wishing everyone a happy July. I know it’s grim out there, but the sun has to come out at some point.

Sophie xxx

Bring back the postcard

Alongside letter writing, we have seen the steady decline of the postcard over the years. These days we prefer to send a lovely filtered photo of our destination and ping it around the world for all to see within seconds via Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook etc. Unsurprisingly Britain’s oldest postcard publisher. J Salmon shut its 140-year-old operations in 2021 due to declining sales. Such as shame since these little sun cream smudged notes hold so much significance and remind us of people that we love.

When my best friend died ten years ago, I was clung to tangible things that made me feel connected to her. These included a small stash of birthday cards and I was very sad when our text messages perished alongside my old phone. If you have experience cleaning out the home of an elderly relative, you can piece parts of their together through letters and postcards with their dates and stamps. Even a few words scribbled on the back of an overexposed sunset, form part of a paper trail and a legacy.

Over the years I have tried and failed to write postcards. This is a particularly excellent rainy day activity or something to do with children when waiting for a meal. The tricky part of completing this task is having a pen, buying stamps and finding a post box. I would suggest getting the stamps, novelty pen and postcards on the same day. There is usually a post box at the airport and it really doesn’t matter if you get home before the card arrives.

It makes me a bit upset to think that all my memories, photo’s and correspondence are stored in the cloud and probably being used to suggest weight loss programs, cruises and funeral plans amongst other things. This year, I am going to attempt to write, because there’s nothing like that dog eared postcard that constantly falls off the fridge and reminds you of someone.

Sophie x

Tablecloth in Wimbledon Linen

Our guide to Cornwall in Summer - Part 1

I wouldn’t dare call myself a local, however after living in Cornwall for ten years, I have a little list of Cornish gems that I would like to share with you. Sometimes visitors to our beautiful county have an underwhelming experience due to the lack of parking, queues, prices and general infrastructure. These little suggestions might help you to avoid the tourist hotspots and have a really wonderful time. (You’ll be happy to know that that the Chivvy Roundabout (A30) has not been completed so you might want to save your best snacks/ podcast / episodes of Paw Patrol until this stage of the journey).

Surf and Seals

You can always find space on the long stretch of beach ‘Gwithian’ near Hayle. This is usually a great spot for surfing and there is nearly always a horsebox on the beach serving lovely coffee and bread and butter pudding. If you walk further up towards the lighthouse past Godrevy, there is a perfect look out point over Mutton Cove which is home to a huge colony of grey seals. Make sure you plan your visit for high tide and you may be treated to a lovely display of seals and pups lolloping and rolling in and out of the surf.

It is easy to see why this wild and dramatic landscape inspired some of Virginia Woolf’s most famous novels. There are some hairy cliff drops but for the most part this is a great place for families and dogs. Lots of parking options at Gwithian and a National Trust carpark at Godrevy, which also has an excellent cafe serving big sandwiches and chips.

Miracle Theatre

Cornwall is home to some very talented artists, none more so than the actors in the Miracle Theatre Group. These highly trained performers usually spend the summer touring the west country and have performances at some of the most beautiful locations in Cornwall including the glorious Minnack Theatre as well as Enys House, Trebah Gardens and many more gorgeous spots. Their current production ‘Love Riot’ is a Bridgerton-esque parody. Miracle Theatre is consistently high quality and always good fun.

Legendary Coves

The magical village of Zennor is perched on the cliffs at Penwith. A great place for a wild and woolly walk along the coast, finishing up at the Tinners Arms for some classic pub food. The legend of the Mermaid of Zennor is a wonderful eerie tale and you can visit the Mermaid's chair in the ancient church of St. Senera.

St. Agnes and Chapel Porth are home to the legend of the Bolster the Giant. There is a beautiful circular walk (6 miles) between the two beaches with a pit stop for crab sandwiches at Chapel Porth. On busy days there is overflow parking in the field above this beach.

Train to Porthminster Beach

Driving into St Ives is traumatic in the low season and homicidal during the summer. Ditch the car at St Erth Train Station and get the branch line into St Ives. The train journey is spectacular as it follows the coast and delivers you directly to Porthminster Beach. Either hang out at this expansive family beach or go straight towards Porthmeor and BYPASS the main strip.

Head in the direction of The Tate St Ives and wind your way along the narrow streets popping into pottery shops and studios along the way. The Tate St Ives is an impressive building, don’t forget to look for Patrick Gale’s glorious stain glass window in the foyer before checking out the small and well curated collection. The gallery-averse can hang out in the cafe on the top floor which has the most beautiful views across the bay.

Poppy and Honesty Studio, Falmouth

Please make an appointment and visit our Sail Loft Studio in Falmouth. Check out our beautiful textiles which are all handmade here in Cornwall. We’d love to welcome you and chat over a cup of tea so please get in touch (I may even be able to muster up a scone).

Summer in Cornwall Part 2 will be coming soon. Please remember if you are visiting Cornwall to support local businesses as much as you can, it makes all the difference.

Sophie xxx

Tablecloth and Napkins in Gelato Linen.

Hello Skirt - Our new linen valances

Dressing up your bed has been more fun with the addition of our gorgeous valances (also known as Bed Skirts and Dust Ruffles). Mix and match our patterned linens with Liberty fabrics or go for a single print for more minimalist aesthetic, We are launching valances in our wide stripe linen ‘Gelato’ as well as our perennial favourite “Seaside Stripe.

Valance made from Seaside Stripe Linen. Pillowcases, fitted sheet and duvet cover made from Liberty fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’. Big Top Cushions and Ruffle Cushion made from Liberty Fabric Theresa.

As all our valances are handmade to order in our Cornish studio we are able to offer you a bespoke service. On our website, we offer a range of sizes from Single to Super King, however if your size isn’t listed we are able to make any size from our wide width linens. Similarly, our valances include a drop of 38 cms, if you would like this dimension altered, we can try and meet your requirements.

If you would like any assistance choosing patterns and fabrics, please send us an email and don’t forget allow 2-3 weeks for your order to be handmade.

Enjoy the sunshine,

Sophie x

Valance and Ruffle Cushions made from Gelato Linen. Pillowcases, duvet cover and fitted sheet in Wimbledon. Cushion made from Liberty fabric ‘Annabella’ with velvet ruffle.

The Joys of June

I can’t quite believe that June is upon us, one of the absolute best months of the year. Apart from exams and the background waffle of this years Genny Lec, June is a good one. Some of you cool cats will be enjoying festivals this month. I have finally admitted to myself that Hay On Wye is the only festival for me and you can have the Pyramid Stage and all the sequins and I’ll have a nice bed in a Welsh cottage with my books. Anyway, here are my small joys of June…

• Pick Your Own (PYO) . Basic PYO farms are getting harder to find (a field with a weighing scales). Nowadays many of these venues seem to have a cafe and fancy farm shop (also nice). It’s always fun to pick your own strawberries and feel slightly sick driving away….

• Village/ Church Fairs. A lovely slice of WI sponge whilst listening to a questionable brass band. Always good jam, plants and a gorgeous community atmosphere. Bonus points if there is a dog show.

• Glastonbury on the sofa. With BBC Sounds you can pretty much watch the whole festival in real time from your sitting room. If you want a more authentic experience, serve warm beer in plastic cups.

• Lots of good book releases including ‘Same As It Ever Was’ by Claire Lombardo and ‘Bear’ by Julia Philips. There is something lovely about reading outside in a quiet spot.

• Outdoor Cinema / Open Air Theatre. Bring warm clothes and a competitive picnic and huddle up to watch a classic film or play if you are lucky. ‘The Secret Garden’ is on at Regents Park Open Air Theatre and we’ll be watching Miracle Theatre at Trebah Ampitheatre (Cornwall).

• Wimbledon again on the sofa. It’s the time of year that we give out unqualified tennis tips to top athletes from our own home and make a failed plan to improve tennis playing.

There are many more great things about June. Please add yours to the comments below and I will continue to add little gems of fun to Poppy and Honesty’s Instagram.

Wishing you a lovely June

Sophie x

Handmade Quilt in Liberty Fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’

Things I have been enjoying lately.

Bursting hedgerows, bumblebees and long days punctuated by burnt bbq’s are the best things about this time of year. Despite high hopes, we all know that summer doesn’t always deliver here in Great Britain. Here is a list of indoor things I have been enjoying lately, I thought they might be handy, even though I love a damp Mr Whippy, don’t you?

Reading

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

This is brilliant story told through dialogue and descriptions of amazing food. Piglet is due to marry her seemingly perfect fiance Kit. However he does something awful before the wedding and Piglet spirals out of control. This debut novel is darkly funny and very impressive.

Theatre

Nye by Tim Price

This production is well worth staying out after 10pm. ‘Nye’ has been beautifully filmed and beamed to cinemas via National Theatre Live. Bevan Nye is the force behind the establishment of the NHS in 1948 and his story is brilliantly told with care and humour to convey his great passion for a national healthcare provision. Michael Sheen’s performance as Nye is incredible and the production is flawless.

Film

‘High and Low - John Galliano’ by Kevin MacDonald

There is no need to be a fan of high fashion to appreciate this documentary about disgraced fashion designer John Galliano. Not only does look at how creative and moral worlds can collide but raises issues around cancel culture and redemption. MacDonald frequently makes reference to Galliano’s phenomenal fall from grace through clips from ‘The Red Shoes’ (Pressburger) and in particular a devastated Napoleonic figure. It is quite a serious talky film but there is plenty of razzle dazzle with scenes featuring Naomi, Kate and the gang.

Listening and Eating

Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band makes me think of the Carribean, fun times and Notting Hill Carnival. I am making a lot of Muffin Cakes to provide revision sustenance for the boys. You will probably have all the ingredients for this easy cake by Ravneet Gill. I use whatever frozen fruit available and halve the quantity of sugar.

Gardening (not really)

I will be watching Chelsea Flower Show next week and feeling inadequate about our weed ridden football pitch/garden. However this candle by Earl of East actually smells of a greenhouse. One step closer to the good life…..

I hope that you are having a lovely May. Please share any of your rainy day tips and tricks below.

Sophie x

Quilt and Duvet Cover made from Liberty Fabric ‘Paysanne Blossom’.

Sheet, cushion and pillowcase made from Liberty Fabric ‘Theresa’

Handmade in Cornwall

Image Dee Campling and The Wild Girls Cots.

Jam First

After the longest winter ever, here we are enjoying May Bank Holiday Weekend. The birds are chiruping, the washing is on the line and it is now possible to step into the garden (previously a quagmire). A full meal outside might be a little ambitious, but you could definitely manage a cup of tea and a scone with friends. Here is my favourite scone recipe which has been tweaked a little from one written by Queen Mary Berry.

SCONES

Ingredients

• 450g self-raising flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 3 tbsp caster sugar

• 100g slightly softened butter

• 2 free-range eggs

• milk

• a handful of cranberries (optional)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220C. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

2. Put the flour, baking powder and sugar into a food processor. Add the butter and blast quickly until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Pour into a large mixing bowl.

3. Crack the eggs into a measuring jug, then add enough milk to make the total liquid 300ml. Stir the egg and milk into the flour and mix to a soft, sticky dough.

4. Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface, knead lightly and work in the cranberries. Roll out to about 2cm thick.

5. Cut into as many rounds as possible with a fluted 5cm/2in cutter and place them on the prepared baking trays. Brush the tops of the scones with a little extra milk, or any egg.

6. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the scones are well risen and a pale, golden-brown colour. Lift onto a wire rack to cool. Load with jam and clotted cream and eat as soon as possible.

Don’t forget to lay your table with pretty linen and always load your scone with JAM FIRST.

Sophie x

Linen tablecloth and napkins in Wimbledon and Gelato (in stock).

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

Pink and green should always be seen

We are so pleased to bring you our Spring/ Summer collection which includes a beautiful range of pink and green bed and tablelinen. These gorgeous colours are great friends. Opposites on the colour wheel, they compliment each particularly well when they have the same strength and depth. We have chosen to use sage green and a dusky pinks in our latest range.

We are launching a new linen in classic green and soft white stripes that we have named ‘Wimbledon’. This linen sits beautifully alongside ‘Gelato’ with it’s pastel pink and green wide stripes. ‘Wimbledon’ will be available in duvet sets, ruffle pillowcases, simple lumber cushions, sheets, valances and on the reverse of our new scallop quilts.

We have introduced a Liberty fabric ‘Poppy and Daisy Pink’ which features dense meadow flowers in dusky pinks with sage green foliage. This fabric is available in duvet sets, pillowcases, cushions and quilts. The punchy pinks beautifully contrast the soft green striped linen.

We have extended our pink and green colour scheme to table settings. What could be more loving than sharing strawberries and cream or a large Victoria Sponge with your loved ones around this beautiful table!

Our new range launches 7.4.24 at 7pm GMT.

Enjoy

Sophie xx

All images by Dee Campling and The Wild Girl Cots.