DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock
“Now we’re gonna live, now we’re going to work it out, the pain is now over and the harvest is here”
Take a listen here
And browse our back issue playlists here
Competition | Win a Weleda Skinfood Bundle worth over £120
Weleda’s iconic Skinfood - its little green hero - is the ultimate saver when it comes to rescuing dry skin
Autumn, the ideal time to wrap up warm and get outdoors to enjoy the spectacle of nature’s changing palette. But as the air cools, your skin may become extra thirsty. Give it the attention it deserves with Weleda’s Skin Food – its iconic little green hero. And now three lucky readers have the chance to win a Skin Food bundle, worth over £120, packed with skin-soothing products, plus a limited edition, money-can’t-buy sweatshirt, designed by illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, featuring the original multi-purpose marvel.
Since its introduction in 1926, Weleda Skin Food has evolved from a little-known cult classic to a firm favourite for every body. In fact, a tube is sold every 11 seconds! Blended using pure plant oils, protective waxes and organic plant extracts, including calendula from Weleda’s own medicinal herb gardens, organic chamomile from Weleda’s farming partners in Kosovo, alongside rosemary from Portugal and organic sunflower seed oil from Hungary, it results in a much-loved multi-tasking product that cares intensively for hands, face and body.
All Weleda products are NATRUE-certified natural and made without synthetic ingredients or artificial additives of any kind. Weleda’s supply chains are UEBT-certified sustainable to verify that biodiversity is conserved, ingredients are sourced ethically, and that all partners along the supply chain are treated equitably and paid fairly.
So if your skin’s in need of a little TLC, enter our competition and you could win one of three bundles. Each bundle includes both sizes of Weleda Skin Food original, plus its lightweight sibling, Skin Food Light, together with a skin-nourishing bottle of new Skin Food Body Lotion, a luxuriously indulgent Skin Food Body Butter, and a protective Skin Food Lip Balm, plus the sweatshirt to show off your green credentials with pride.
For more information, visit weleda.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @weledauk
How to enter
For your chance to win one of three Weleda Skin Food bundles, worth over £120 each, click the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 9 November 2022.
Q: When was Weleda Skinfood introduced?
Terms & Conditions:
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 9 November 2022. Three winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Sponsored post | Stoking the Flames of Evolution
With over 50 years’ experience, Charnwood proves that it’s always at the forefront of wood-burning technologies
This year marks a very special year for family-run British business Charnwood, it’s 50 years since founder Alfred Wells and sons Alistair and John created their first wood-burning stove. Based in Niton, on the Isle of Wight – and against a backdrop of the oil crisis and Dutch Elm disease that was sweeping the nation at the time – they built a stove that wasn’t reliant on fossil fuels and could use the abundance of wood that was available. The result proved so successful that Charnwood was born and the family haven’t looked back since, always striving to break new boundaries and provide the latest innovations.
Setting the standard
Having grown from those three founding members to a team of over 180 people, the company has evolved to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry and in the coming months will launch two new models, each designed to make the burning process cleaner, greener and more accessible. The revolutionary Skye E700 with its intelligent wood-burning technology will soon be unveiled across the pond in the US followed by a European launch, while the Haven – a new compact wood-fired range cooker – is set to heat up the wood-burning market over here. Featuring a large view of the fire within, the Haven combines the charm of a traditional range with the very latest efficiencies and clean-burn know-how, and has been designed for cabins, bothies, off-grid and smaller homes.
A sign of the times
Charnwood doesn’t just limit its expertise to wood-burners, either. Since the installation of its vitreous enamel plant over 30 years ago, which enabled the company to enamel its stoves in-house, it has worked to extend its services to other industries, most notably transport signage. Operating under the name of AJ Wells, the company has a strong working relationship with Transport for London, being the principle supplier of signage for the London Underground, and also supplies the Paris Metro.
For more information, and to find your nearest stockist, visit charnwood.com.
Photo: Alamy
How To | Have a Secret Day Off
A day off just to yourself is the best secret. Disappear for a day, Agatha Christie style, and recharge your batteries. Here’s how…
Book a day off, pack up a lunch, turn off your phone, and disappear somewhere nobody knows you! (It’s a good plan to leave a secret envelope and alert a loved one to your vanishing just in case but otherwise, jump on a bus or train and enjoy nobody knowing where you are for a few hours.
Before you book trains or make plans though, decide what you want from the day. We’ve come up with a few ideas to get you going.
In need of a bit of culture?
Head to a city with a gallery or museum you’ve never been to. If you’re in the north, Edinburgh, Oxford, York and Glasgow are good options for cities with galleries and plenty of culture. Brighton, Bristol and St Ives are good if you’re a touch further south,
For a quirky museum, try the dog collar museum in Leeds, the pencil museum in Keswick, or the Flea Collection (viewable only through a microscope)at Tring Natural History Museum.
In search of adventure?
Climb a hill! Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons is a nice easy hill to climb if you’re a beginner. Yes Tor in Dartmoor or Cat Bells in the Lake District are also good choices for a ‘do in a day’ mountain hike. Just pack plenty of water, snacks, warm and waterproof layers and maps. And this is one to disclose to a loved one, maybe. You don’t want Mountain Rescue being called out for nothing.
Fancy lunch alone?
Pop a good book in your bag, do some menu perusing and find an eatery where you can relax alone over several courses, not feel silly and - crucially - not have to make pointless small talk. Here are a few ideas that are perfect for a date with me, myself and I:
Asian restaurants where the kitchen is on view give you plenty to look at without feeling silly for being alone. From Wagamamas to Shoryu Ramen, Japanese street food was made for eating alone. If you don’t fancy watching the chefs at work, why not go for a restaurant with a view. Anywhere on the water is a good bet - there the scenery is always changing. We like Hix Oyster and Fish House at Lyme Regis, or the River Exe Cafe in Devon, but you might find the most humble of pizzerias or cafes on the banks of a river anywhere.
Do a secret event
It might be a non-league football match (or even a big league team you’ve followed). Or how about seeing a favourite band in concert, a premier for a film or exhibition or the recording of a TV show you love? Or even the opening of the Chelsea Flower Show? Whatever it is you fancy doing, do your research and then book your day off around it. Bonus points if you appear on the big screen in your sunglasses and hat disguise!
Hide in nature for a day
Drive or take a train to a wood or planned walk with amazing views. Visit a beach with great sunsets with a Thermos of soup. Or simply find a path through fields that will allow you a pleasant walk, plenty of fresh air and lots of peace and birdsong. Try The ORdnance Survey’s Get Outside app https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/app/ for more ideas and to plan a walk.
Looking for nostalgia?
Why not visit somewhere you’ve been before? It might be your home town if you’ve since moved away (and can rely on your playgroup teacher not spotting you and squeezing your cheeks) or it could be the location of a childhood holiday or a first holiday with a new partner. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of turning each corner and saying to yourself “Oh! That’s just how I remember it!”
Feeling spontaneous?
There’s lots of fun to be had in simply sticking a pin in a map or a train route planner and Just Going. You could make it fun by picking a page number of the A-Z and just going there, or deciding to visit somewhere with a rude name, or a castle or a beach that you’ve never been to. The best part is never telling anyone you went there.
We were inspired to plan a Secret Day Off by our feature How Hard Can It Be to take a Secret Day Off in our September issue. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
More from our September issue…
More outings to get excited about…
Photography by Sam Folan
Recipe | Tomato Focaccia
Almost as much joy to bake as it is to eat. Use cherry tomatoes to get juicy little planets of blistered and sweet tomatoes in the surface of the bread, some sinking into the doughy dimples, and some not.
Makes 1 focaccia
330ml lukewarm water
7g fast-action dried yeast
500g strong white bread flour
6 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
1 tsp salt
200g cherry tomatoes, some halved, some not
8 sage leaves or 3 rosemary sprigs, torn
Generous ½ tsp flaky sea salt
1 Stir together the water and yeast and leave it to sit for 5-10 mins, or until it becomes foamy.
2 When it’s ready, tip the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the yeast mixture, mixing vigorously, either by hand or using the dough hook on a kitchen mixer for a minute or so, then add 2 tbsp of the olive oil and the salt. Continue mixing for a further 10 mins, or until the dough becomes less sticky, smoother and more cohesive.
3 Brush a bowl with olive oil and tip in the dough. Cover and leave the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1-1½ hrs, until it has nearly doubled in size.
4 Once proved, brush a deep-sided baking pan with a little olive oil, then tip the risen dough into the pan. Pull the dough towards the edges of the pan and use your fingertips to dimple it in places, keeping some spots still nicely aerated. Add about 1 tbsp more of olive oil over the surface of the dough, cover and leave to prove once more for about another 20 mins.
5 Preheat the oven to 230C/Fan 210C/Gas 8. Add the cherry tomatoes to the dough, squeezing some deep into pockets and leaving others protruding out a little more. Do the same with the sage leaves or torn rosemary sprigs, then sprinkle over the flaky sea salt.
6 Bake the dough in the very hot oven for about 25 mins, or until the crust is golden brown and puffed around edges.
7 Once baked, remove the focaccia from the oven and immediately drench it with the remaining olive oil, then allow it to cool for at least 10-15 mins before slicing.The loaf should sound hollow when it is tapped on the underside.
Taken from Tomato by Claire Thomson (Quadrille) Photography: Sam Folan
Find more tomato recipes from the book above in our September issue, including Tomato Carpaccio with Tapenade, Roasted Tomato Falafels with Tomato Yogurt and a Borscht.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
More from our September issue…
More tomato recipes for late summer suppers…
Illustration by Christina Carpenter
Book Group | To The River
To The River by Olivia Laing
Share with your book group, read alone and join us virtually on The Simple Things sofa, or simply find a bit of inspiration.
In To The River Olivia Laing follows the River Ouse, where Virgina Woolf drowned herself 63 years ago, from its source to the sea one summer’s day. As we follow her, we reflect not just on this one river and its literary connections, but also on the role that rivers play in fiction, mythology and more. A lyrically beautiful non-fiction read.
Questions to ponder
How does history weave its way into landscapes that you know? In what ways are rivers a metaphor for creativity?
Further reading
In A Sleepwalk on the Severn, a play for voices, poet Alice Oswald describes walks along the Severn
Find our book group every month on our Almanac pages where you can also read about seasonal things to note and notice, plan and do each month.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
More from our September issue…
More literary things to amuse book lovers…
Competition | Win a pair of Mosey shoes from KEEN
Driven by a passion to make the outside and trades accessible for all, KEEN is a values-led, family-owned footwear brand from Portland, Oregon committed to creating original and versatile products, enhancing lives, and inspiring adventures outside.
For AW22 KEEN proudly present the Mosey Collection - their unapologetically comfortable, purposely crafted-to-last-all-day shoe. All styles in the collection adhere to KEEN’s ‘Consciously Created’ approach, that commits to using materials that favour sustainability, do not disrupt the natural order or harmfully impact the environment in their construction.
From timeless Chelsea boots and classic Chukkas, through to quintessential Derby Lace-ups for men and women, all models in the collection feature a distinctive silhouette that perfectly blends form and function. All models are designed with KEEN’s legendary Original fit which provides generous space in the forefoot, giving comfort straight out of the box. All models feature pesticide- and chemical-free Eco Anti Odour insoles, which use an effective natural probiotic proven to have no downstream environmental impact.
Choose from several options for men and women in a fabulous array of warming Autumnal shades. The Mosey Chukka (RRP £110) is a desert boot-inspired style featuring natural hemp laces and pull tabs and a gum rubber and cork outsole that reduces petrochemical use in construction. Choose from two upper options – a Felt option in the women’s edition, manufactured from a planet friendly 50% recycled Italian wool blend or a dark olive edition in supple leather sourced from an environmentally preferred Leather Working Group (LWG) tannery. The men’s leather edition (LWG sourced) comes in a choice of three colours.
The Mosey Chelsea (£110) is a timeless classic for women in two colours. Luxurious soft leather uppers from environmentally preferred sources feature stretchy, gore panels for for easy on and off, with a distinctive contrast gum rubber and cork outsole.
Available in men’s and women’s editions, the Mosey Derby (£90) is classic lace up, featuring contrasting 100% recycled plastic laces and a removable PU insole with built-in arch support for all day cushioning. Choose from two colours in the men’s and women’s leather editions or Taupe, Blue or Red in the natural felt wool edition for women.
For more information or to buy online visit keenfootwear.com
Win a pair of Mosey shoes
To celebrate the launch of the Mosey, The Simple Things has teamed up with KEEN to give three lucky readers a chance to win a pair of Mosey Shoes. You can enter below…
How to enter
For a chance to win, simply click the button below and answer the following question:
Q: Which US state do KEEN Footwear call home?
Competition closes at midnight on Monday 10 October 2022, with the winners announced shortly after. For full magazine terms & conditions see page 125 of the mag or visit icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Competition | Win £250 worth of Denby ware from the Kiln Collection
Ceramics and homeware brand Denby is offering one lucky person the chance to win a prize worth over £250 from Denby’s new Kiln collection.
Crafted using age-old techniques, Denby’s new Kiln collection is a versatile range that embraces organic shapes, hand-thrown features and softer tones to create a set that is uncomplicated and a joy to have in the home.
Made in England, Kiln is a celebration of true British craftmanship that uses locally sourced clay to create a range that is durable and versatile as well as beautiful. Each piece of Kiln passes through 20 pairs of hands as it’s being made, to ensure it’s finished to the highest standard. Available in plates, bowls, serving items and Home Décor accessories such as candles and diffusers, Kiln is a great choice for use throughout the home and can be mixed and matched with other Denby ranges or existing ceramics.
The Pottery is also proudly the UK’s first tableware manufacturer to claim zero waste to landfill and continues to recycle moulds, clay waste and glazes for more conscious homewares.
One winner will receive a selection of stylish pieces from the Kiln collection worth over to £250 including:
1 x Kiln 12 Piece Dinnerware Set
4 x Mugs
1 x Candle tin
See how to enter below…
How to enter
To be in with a chance of winning, just click the button below and answer the following question.
Question: How many pairs of hands do Kiln products pass through before they’re finished?
Closing date: 11.59 PM, 12 October 2022
Terms and conditions
For full terms and conditions see page 125 of the magazine or visit icebergpress.co.uk/comprules
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
Beachcombing | Things you can take home from the seaside
Photography by Greta Rybus from Remodelista in Maine by Annie Quigley (Artisan Books)
Pebbles and stones may be out but there are lots of inventive ways to find a souvenir to take home from the seaside
If you’ve spent a holiday or even just an afternoon at the beach, it’s lovely to be able to take a small memento home with you. Pebbles are out of the question now but there are plenty of ways you can remember a favourite bit of coast while leaving the wild habitat as it should be.
Seaside souvenir no-nos
Sadly, but with good reason, it’s not ok to raid your local bit of coastline or holiday destination for pebbles and sand. The Coast Protection Act of 1949 made it illegal to remove natural materials such as these from any UK beach. The law is there to protect Britain’s beaches from erosion and encroachment by the sea, so it’s in all our interests to help.
Coastal takeaways that can be ok
While pebbles and sand are totally off limits, other items are ‘grey area’ and not illegal to remove. Shells should never be taken if inhabited of course, but what about empty shells? Well, they’re ok. Empty shells can still provide important habitats for seaside creatures so think carefully before you take a shell home and definitely don’t be greedy - you’re applying the same rules as foraging here - but the odd empty shell isn’t too much of an issue.
And what about driftwood? It’s ‘a natural material’; it doesn't ‘grow’ on the beach but is washed up, so you are allowed to take it away. As with shells, driftwood can be a good habitat for small sea creatures, however, so be thoughtful about what you remove. A nice, big piece of driftwood with lots of nooks and crannies might make a rather lovely community for some tiny sealife, but little stubby bits of smooth wood might not be missed so much. And again, be abstemious about what you take. One lovely piece of wood to close your hand around in your coat pocket is fine - bags of driftwood to use for craft - not so much (try Hobbycraft, please!)
But there are plenty more environmentally safe ways to bring a little of the seaside back home with you still. Here are a few ideas.
Sea-safe seaside souvenirs
Sea glass
Unlike pebbles and shells, sea glass is essentially litter. Very beautiful litter, but litter all the same, so good news - you’re fine to pick it up. It’s simply broken glass bottles, polished smooth by the sea. Sea glass is a lovely thing to collect and the green, blue, white and brown sea glass pebbles you find on most of Britain’s beaches look a bit magical stored in a glass jar on a shelf, or made into a mosaic.
Sea water
The days of filling a glass bottle with pretty sand on your seaside trip are definitely in the past, but if you’ve enjoyed a wild swim in the sea on holiday, no one will begrudge you taking a small bottle of sea water home to occasionally sniff the ozoney scent and be transported back to the days of late summer. Label your bottle and pop it in your bathroom to remind you while you take your morning shower.
Buoys
Occasionally those brightly coloured reddy-orange balls wash up, slightly broken or dented on the sea shore. They make great garden ornaments if you’re lucky enough to happen across one.
Lost metal
Taking a metal detector to the beach is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Why not make a collection in a little box of all the coins, ring pulls and other tiny scraps of metal you found and display it as a piece of art? Who knows, you may even happen across some pirate gold!
Fossils
Lots of beaches in the UK are home to amazing fossils. If you’re lucky enough to find one, do take a photo and note the location so you can tell the relevant agencies or local museum. Some areas have restrictions on fossil hunting so pay attention to signage and check local rules. In many cases, fossils belong to the landowner. But mostly, in the UK, it’s fine for amateur fossil hunters to take home the odd find. It’s not like you’ll be falling over perfectly preserved ammonites wherever you go anyway.
Actual litter
Be a beach Womble and take a bag with you so you can do your bit and collect any rubbish you find (do take gloves and be careful about what you pick up). You find all sorts of mad things left on beaches so you could make a piece of modern art from your finds. Or you could just, you know… bin it. But there’s less fun in that!
Seaweed
Beautiful in water - a little bedraggled looking when washed up on sand - seaweed can be brought back to its beautiful self by pressing it as you would press a flower. Find the instructions for making a seaweed print like the one pictured above on page 104 of our September issue.
No-trace souvenirs
If you want to leave no trace of your visit at all, modern technology allows us lots of ways to take a little of the seaside home with you while leaving no footprint. You could make a sound recording of the waves to listen to in bed at night, or take a photo of a rockpool filled with seaside treasures and blow it up into a canvas to hang on your wall. The seaside may need protecting but we can all carry a little piece of it in our hearts, after all.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
More from our blog…
More things to enjoy by the seaside…
Photography by Kirstie Young
Recipe | Ricotta & basil stuffed nasturtium flowers
Packed with vitamin C, everything about the nasturtium plant is edible - and bold and beautiful, too
Makes 25
25 nasturtium flowers
125g ricotta
2 tbsp finely chopped basil leaves
30g finely chopped walnuts
¼ tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
1 Trim the nasturtium stems to around 1cm, then submerge flowers in water for 5-10 mins to remove any dirt or bugs. Gently rinse in cool water before placing on a towel to dry.
2 Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, basil, walnuts, and season with salt.
3 Using about 1 teaspoon per flower, stuff each nasturtium with the flavoured ricotta.
These nastirutium flowers make a wonderful nibble with drinks or a starter to a late summer lunch. They’re just one of the recipes by Lottie Storey in this month’s edible flowers series, Pick n Mix, in which we look at different floral edibles. August’s edible flowers are nasturtiums and chives.
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More recipes with edible flowers…
More from our blog…
Photography by Catherine Frawley
Tipple | Mason Jar White Sangria
A refreshing tipple that always tastes better outdoors and goes beautifully with a picnic or garden lunch
Serves 4
180g strawberries, hulled and cut in half (or frozen berries)
180g grapes, cut in half
1 lemon, thinly sliced
120ml white rum
750ml bottle white wine (preferably Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
Ice cubes
750ml lemonade
1 Divide the fruit between four jars.
2 Pour the white rum and wine over the fruit and give it a little stir. Close the lid tightly on each jar and keep chilled for up to 24 hours.
3 To serve, add some ice cubes and pour the lemonade to the top level of the jar.
This is just one of the recipes from our feature ‘Making Camp’ in our September issue, which includes lots of ideas for food with friends outdoors, such as Smoked Aubergine Dip, Toasted Breadsticks, Potato, Chorizo and Beans Pan Pie, Herby Nut Salad and a Deconstructed Peach Cobbler.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
More summer tipples to share…
More from our blog…
Sponsored post | Painting a Greener Future
Earthborn’s eco-friendly range of paints makes choosing a nursery colour scheme dhild’s play
Decorating a nursery or child’s bedroom and creating a warm, inviting space is a joyous thing, but when it comes to choosing paint, it’s not just the colour that needs careful consideration. Conscious of this, family-owned brand Earthborn has developed an eco-friendly alternative to conventional paint, with no hidden nasties, recyclable packaging and an inspiring palette of 84 colours. And opting for a low VOC paint that’s fume free means that you’ll be protecting both your child and the planet that they will one day inherit, without compromising on beautiful colour.
When it comes to picking a suitable shade, Earthborn suggests opting for a scheme that creates a calming, positive environment. It says neutrals are a great starting point as they’re relaxing and easy to live with. Warm neutral hues such as Hopscotch and Mittens are softer alternatives to white, which can appear cold and harsh in some lights. While adding splashes of colour to the mix will add personality and individuality – shades such as its creamy pink Ballet Shoe or the powder blue Bo Peep are ideal for this.
What’s more, with little ones around, Earthborn has developed its Lifestyle range to keep your walls looking as fresh as the day that they were painted, so marks, scuffs and sticky fingerprints are a thing of the past. Great for kids’ bedrooms and high-traffic areas, this hard-wearing emulsion paint will help to create your dream home and a space to be proud of in more ways than one.
For more information on Earthborn paints, visit earthbornpaints.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @earthbornpaints. Readers of The Simple Things can enjoy 5% off online by using the code SIMPLETHINGS5 at checkout. Valid until 31 December 2022.
Photography: CHRIS MIDDLETON Project: BECI ORPIN
Make | Outdoor canvas hammock
Have a go at this simple but sturdy hammock project. You should be able to make it in half a day, leaving you plenty of the bank holiday weekend left to lie in it lazily!
Lazing in a hammock is hard to beat: especially in a shady spot on a warm summer’s day, ideally with a book in one hand and a cool drink in the other. And if you’ve managed to make the hammock yourself – well, you can bask in satisfaction, as well as sunshine. This hammock is surprisingly easy to make, and is much sturdier than one of the knotted ones. We’ve added pompoms, too, because who doesn’t love a pompom? Put the labour in now and hopefully you’ll get the payoff in sunny days to come.
Outdoors canvas hammock
Made of weatherproof canvas, and as robust as it is comfortable
YOU WILL NEED
2m of 140cm-wide strong, canvas fabric
Pins
Sewing machine and thread
Tape measure
Pencil or fabric marker
Scissors
22 rivets, 23mm (1 in) in diameter, plus a rivet tool (which should come with the kit)
Mallet or hammer
66m of natural rope (ensure this is good quality and load bearing), plus extra rope for hanging
2 metal hoops or carabiners strong enough to handle appropriate weight
FOR THE POMPOMS
Wool to match the canvas fabric (this uses black and white)
Pompom maker
1 Fold a 4cm hem at each end of the fabric. Pin in place and sew.
2 Mark out where the rivets will go on the seam. This uses 11 at each end, spaced about 11cm apart. Using scissors, make small holes on the marked points. Following the instructions on the
packet, attach the rivets using the rivet tool and the mallet. Placing a wood offcut underneath the canvas will help to protect the work surface.
3 Cut the rope into 22 x 3m lengths. Fold each rope in half and thread it through each rivet using a cow hitch knot
to fasten. To form a cow hitch knot, insert the folded end of the rope through the hole and then pull it through to form a loop. Push the two rope ends through the loop and pull to tighten the knot (there are plenty of YouTube videos around if you get stuck with this bit).
4 Once all the 3m lengths are attached through the rivets, gather all the rope at one end and tie it into one large knot. Repeat for the other end. This might need adjusting once it is attached to the hanging space.
5 Pompoms: wind the wool around the pompom maker and, once full, cut the wool. Place some string or a length of wool around the cut wool, then pull it tight
and tie a knot to keep it in place. Cut this piece of wool, leaving ample length for hanging. This hammock uses two white and two black pompoms.
6 Attach the lengths of wool left on the pompoms to one end of the hammock (or attach two on each end).
7 To hang the hammock, attach the ropes on each end to a metal loop or carabiner with a double knot (make sure the knot is
very tight so that the hammock is secure). Attach extra rope to the other side of both carabiners and then tie that rope around a tree or somewhere else sturdy enough to take the weight.
Taken from Sunshine Spaces: Naturally Beautiful Projects to Make for Your Home and Outdoor Space by Beci Orpin (Hardie Grant).
From our August issue…
Featured
More weekend projects to make…
Featured
DJ: Frances Ambler; Illustration: Shutterstock
Playlist | Clever covers
You can tell everyone that this is your song… But is it actually Elton’s song, or maybe Billy Paul’s? We’ve gathered together some of our favourite cover versions to make a playlist – let us know if we’ve missed any ones that you love.
Take a listen on Spotify here
And browse our back catalogue of playlists here
Competition | WIN a Brother Sewing Machine, worth £369
Karelia House is your one-stop shop for all things crafty and they’re giving one lucky reader a chance to win a fabulous sewing machine
The sewing bug has caught many recently, thanks in part to The Great British Sewing Bee, but whether you’re fresh to the craft or a seasoned pro, a trip to Karelia House in the heart of Highland Perthshire is sure to inspire creativity. Packed with everything you need for all types of sewing and knitting projects, Karelia House prides itself on being one of Scotland’s premier crafting destinations. And now it’s offering one lucky reader of The Simple Things the chance to win a Brother Innov-is A16 sewing machine, worth £369.
No matter your ability, the talented team at Karelia House are always on hand to offer a warm welcome and advice on your next project, whether you’re a complete beginner or are looking to further your skills. And when it comes to materials and equipment, they believe in sustainability and using the best that you can afford.
In fact, their mantra is ‘use the best ingredients and you’ll get the best results!’ – as was the case 25 years ago when Karelia House founder Shirley Shearer knitted a Jaeger wool hoodie for daughter and fellow founder Sam Weir to take to uni with her. All these years later, it’s still going strong and is a favourite go-to to pull on after a refreshing loch swim.
Quilting is another much-loved pastime of Shirley’s, having lovingly created a number of quilts, including a beautiful memory quilt featuring all things special to the family, such as dogs, Land Rover, kayaking, campervanning, Sam’s dad’s jeans pockets and her father-in-law Harry’s HMP tie heart applique.
So if you’re inspired to have a go at crafting your own family keepsakes and treasured items, enter our competition to win a Brother Innov-is A16 sewing machine with 16 stitch options and a handy one-action needle threader. Good luck.
For info and to sign up to the Karelia House newsletter with details of events, courses and products, visit: kareliahouse.co.uk, or follow on Instagram: @kareliahouse_kh.
For info and to sign up to the Karelia House newsletter with details of events, courses and products, visit: kareliahouse.co.uk, or follow on Instagram: @kareliahouse_kh.
How to enter
For your chance to win a Brother Innov-is A16 sewing machine from Karelia House, click below and answer the following question by the closing date of 12 October 2022:
Q: Where is Karelia House located?
TERMS & CONDITIONS The competition closes at 11.59pm on 12 October 2022. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Competition | Win £500 to spend at Garden Trading
Create a snug space this season with Garden Trading’s range of stylish homewares and clever storage
As the evenings cool and the nights draw in, it’s inevitable that our minds turn to making home a cosy and inviting space to retreat to in the months ahead. With this in mind, our friends at Garden Trading are inviting readers of The Simple Things to embrace the changing seasons with the chance to win £500 to spend on its Autumn/Winter collection.
Garden Trading has everything needed to give your home a seasonal refresh, making it warm, welcoming and ready for those quieter moments. If curling up with a good book is how you like to spend your downtime, then treat yourself – and your sofa – to the softest of rugs, cushions and throws to snuggle up with, while home cooks can update their baking supplies ready for a comforting feast of cookies and cakes, pies and muffins. And for those who love to get outdoors and take in nature’s changing colours, there’s an impressive line-up of furniture and storage designed to keep muddy boots, wellies and coats in check, and your space feeling like the calming sanctuary that it should be.
However you plan to welcome in the new season, Garden Trading has a stylish and functional range of furniture, lighting, storage and homewares to complement any home and lifestyle, and will have you excited for the cosiness to come.
For more info, visit gardentrading.co.uk or follow: @gardentradingcompany.
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win £500 to spend at Garden Trading, click on the button below by the closing date of 12 October 2022 and answer the following question:
Q: What do Garden Trading invite us to embrace?
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 12 October 2022. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Enter | Our Neighbourhood Awards 2022
One of the very few benefits of the past couple of difficult years is that many of us learned to slow down, enjoy what we have and make the most of where we live.
As a result of the pandemic, many high streets have continued to struggle, while our neighbourhoods have often adapted and innovated. More of us are supporting local businesses, organisations and community groups who are doing their best to make their corner of the world a better place.
So we’re launching the Neighbourhood Awards for the second year to celebrate the best and brightest ideas, initiatives and helpful projects all over the country. Your nominees might be an organisation that helps those who are struggling – with costs of living or with mental health – or a community-run scheme to recycle, reduce waste, repair and even generate power. Maybe it’s a good shopkeeper who goes the extra mile for their customers.
HOW TO NOMINATE
Choose the category that feels most appropriate, fill in some contact details and tell us a little about the organisation you are nominating by clicking the Nominate Here button below.
We’ll get back in touch if we need any more info. The closing date for entries is 20 October 2022.
The Simple Things team will research each entry and choose ‘our favourite of your favourites’ to be featured in our February 2023 issue. They’ll also receive window stickers and certificates that we hope will be displayed with pride.
THE CATEGORIES
Most neighbourly gesture - An organisation making a daily difference to the area
New to the neighbourhood - A fledgling business
Most community-minded organisation – An initiative that brings people together
Working together – People who have co-operated to get things done
Going greener – A worthwhile eco project
You’ll find our full terms and conditions on p.125 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules
More from our blog…
Illustration by Christina Carpenter
Bird Watch | House Martins
House Martins start leaving for warmer climes in late August so now’s a great time to spot and appreciate them.
Look for: A bluey-black head and back and white undercarriage, a white rump that ends in a forked tail and a short, black beak.
Spot them: Darting in and out of their mud nests, which they build in the eaves of buildings. They’re seen all over the UK, other than in the north and west of Scotland, especially in buildings close to woodlands or water, where they can find insects to eat easily.
Listen for: A high-pitched trill, similar to a sparrow.
More from our August issue…
More from our bird hide…
Illustration by Zuza Misko
Eye Spy | In a Rockpool
All over the UK, rockpools allow you a miniature glimpse of life beneath the sea but which of the following rockpool inhabitants will you spot this summer? Tick them off as you go!
Common Starfish
Five orange arms with lighter coloured short ‘spines’. Usually around 10-30cm in size
Shore Crab
Look for a greenish shell about 9cm across with five spikes on each side of the eye
Mermaid’s purse
The egg cases of sharks, rays and skates. Very dark brown in colour and up to 21cm long, with distinctive ‘horns’ on the end
Limpet
A grey cone-shaped shell with ridges running down the sides from the top. Grows to up to 6cm diameter
Gutweed
Green hair-like fronds of seaweed. Very common in rockpools
Common Blenny
A small, brown fish with dark patches and fins on its side. Grows to around 16cm
Beadlet Anemone
Look for small round red blobs with dozens of ‘tentacles’ growing out of it. Their tentacles retract when they are not in water
Hermit Crab
Small, soft brown crab who squat in empty spiral shells
Common periwinkle
Another conical shell with spiralling ridges. Usually brown but also grey, black or even red. Up to 5cm in size
Bladderwrack
A browny greeny seaweed with a rib running down the middle of each piece and round air bladders which help it float and photosynthesise
If you need a little help with your rockpool identification, the Marine Conservation Society has a very useful rock pooling guide with videos.
Feeling inspired by the idea of watching sea life close up? You might enjoy our ‘Outing’ feature this month, which is all about the underwater creatures and eco systems you can explore just off the beach. We also have a ‘Magical Creatures’ guide to the Starfish. Both are in our August issue, on sale now. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
More outings for summer…
More from our blog…
Photograpy by Jemma Watts
Simple Things | Summer's Tiny Pleasures
We’re all about celebrating the simple things in life. Here are a few things we love about summer
Picnics in odd places: on a tiny roof garden surrounded by tomato plants; in a tree house; on the kitchen floor. A familiar thing in a new place.
A neatly-packed suitcase: everything, for the moment; beautifully ordered; the ideal number of socks – not too many, nor too few; a smart jacket, well folded; more of life should be like this.
Celadon blue: or perhaps it is really more a shade of green; hard to decide; it’s serene without being passive; cool and ample – your gaze can rest in it.
Fresh French bread and butter: so simple, so reliably delicious, it’s the marriage that’s magical – the butter is salty and sleek, the bread is soft, yet chewy and filling.
The sound of cicadas: the ideal sound of summer, a hot day; work means making a salad for lunch, driving to glance at a ruined temple and an afternoon swim.
The heat as you step off the plane: it’s physical, in your lungs, on your forehead. It implies afternoon naps, ice, lemons. You’ll be someone slightly different here.
‘Summer’s tiny pleasures’ is taken from Small Pleasures (The School of Life Press) theschooloflife.com. Read more about putting first the things you love in our feature The Pursuit of Pleasure, in our August issue. And if you’re all about the simple pleasures of summer, you also will not want to miss our Gathering feature, Field Day, which includes lots of ideas and recipes for a simple summer picnic in a meadow… or anywhere you choose! From cocktails and chipolatas to toasting marshmallows and tucking into muffins - it’s a recipe for a jolly good summer’s day in the sunshine.
