Price Points: Fair Isle jumpers

Fair Isle jumpers | H is for Home

The temperature has dropped and the skies have turned grey; not that I’m complaining, we enjoyed a fine summer. One of the things I like about the cold weather arriving is getting the warm winter clothing out. Every year, I see people wearing Fair Isle jumpers while I’m out & about, and I really want one. They never seem to go out of fashion. They’re just beautiful, and the work and skill that goes into making them is amazing.

  1. Kristy Fair Isle jumper: £69.95, Joules
  2. Agnes Fair Isle jumper: £80.00, Boden
  3. Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver: £389.00, John Lewis

shop Fair Isle jumpers

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
£389.00
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
£80.00
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
£69.95
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
£389.00
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
£80.00
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
£69.95
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
£389.00
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
£80.00
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
£69.95
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
£389.00
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
£80.00
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
£69.95
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
Brora Fair Isle cashmere jumper, silver
£389.00
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
Agnes Fair Isle jumper
£80.00
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
Kristy Fair Isle jumper
£69.95

Helping wildlife survive the winter

Helping wildlife survive the winter | H is for Home

You might have noticed your garden bursting with wildlife over the long, hot summer we’ve enjoyed this year. From butterflies to birds, insects to frogs, even toads, foxes and hedgehogs. It’s a great feeling knowing that nature can get so close! But now that summer’s over, and the weather is changing, you might be wondering how the wildlife will cope when the temperature begins to plummet.

Well, don’t worry. Read on for some helpful ideas and tips of how you can give nature a little bit of help this winter and enjoy the sight of wildlife in your garden once more.

A rabbit on a lawn

Keep it wild… a little bit

It’s important to keep your lawn well maintained during the colder months of the year, you’ll need to mow it at least one more time before wet weather sets in and also consider fertilising it with some grass seed to help it stay strong and healthy – check out this grass seed calculator if you’re unsure of how much you’ll need. However, if you’re hoping to help wildlife, then try leaving a few wild areas of your garden for insects and you’ll also create the perfect place for animals to rest and shelter from the cold.

A frog on a log in a pond

Your pond

If you have a pond in your garden, then chances are it’s going to freeze over when the temperature drops. You need to prepare for this by creating a hole in the ice. Why? Because the toxic gases given off by dead plants and foliage in the water, will kill any fish or frogs that may be hibernating at the bottom of the pond out of sight. One way to create a hole in the ice to release these gases is to place a pan of hot water on the ice and allow it to thaw.

Red squirrel at a bowl on a table

Provide fresh water

Access to fresh water might be limited for wildlife in the colder months, so make sure you keep your bird baths filled with fresh water and provide saucers of water for any visiting hedgehogs, foxes or even badgers. If they know they have access to fresh water in your garden, then they’ll be back!

A pair of ladybirds on a branch

A bug’s life

Insects like butterflies and bees and mini beasts all need somewhere to shelter over the cold months of the year, but you don’t have to build or create anything fancy. If you have lots of empty plant pots stack them all together and you’ll see insect maybe even some little mammals take residence.

Create a bat friendly garden

Because of their nocturnal nature, we often forget about the plight of bats but don’t worry – there are a couple of things you can do to encourage these incredible creatures into your garden while you’re tucked up in bed.

You can increase their food supply by planting plants and flowers that attract their food such as moths and other creatures. If you’ve followed the step above then you might have already provided them with a food source. Bats can rest in places that are dark and dry during the day, like under that pile of tiles you’ve been meaning to move or head to your garden centre and pick up a bat box.

Will you be doing anything to help the wildlife in your garden this winter?

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The ultimate guide to staying cosy at home this winter

The ultimate guide to staying cosy at home this winter

A lot of us cringe at the thought of winter rolling in – bored little ones kept in during the day, ice on the windscreen and the never-ending quest for heat. It’s easy to forget the good stuff, yet flannel pyjama sets, open fires and Christmas crafts are just a few other things that only winter can bring. With their help, there are tons of ways to fend the chill off this winter and keep us cosy and warm all the way through to spring.

If you’re one of those people that has yet to fall in love with winter, here are a few tips on staying cosy during this year’s chilly season.

Knitting

Cosy up with crafts

When temperatures drop outside it’s only natural to want to stay in, but that doesn’t mean all activity should stop. Little brains especially need some stimulation if you want to avoid a serious case of cabin fever – that’s where Christmas crafts come in. Decorating ornaments, baking biscuits or even just knitting or working on watercolours by yourself will keep your hands moving and the boredom at bay.

Roaring fire

Gather round an open fire

There’s nothing that says cosy winter nights quite like an open fire. They’re warm, they smell gorgeous and best of all, they’re dazzling to look at. If you don’t have a hearth or a log-burner, not to worry – cranking up the heat and turning your TV to a fireplace channel works pretty well too.

Reading a book with a hot chocolate

Crack open a winter read

With little ones running around, there often isn’t a lot of time leftover to read. But once they head off to bed, take a few minutes to snuggle up on the sofa before you doze off yourself and dive into a good book. If you can’t be somewhere warm this winter, you can at least read about somewhere that is.

Ladies nightwear from Tu

Spring for some cute PJ sets

If we’re going to be doing cosy activities, we should be wearing cosy clothes. Flannel, faux fur-trimmed and covered in a cute print are the only ways to go as far as women’s nightwear this winter is concerned. The nightwear from Tu at Sainsbury’s ticks all the right boxes – just make sure you don’t forget the slippers.

Hot black coffee

Always have a hot drink nearby

By ‘hot drink’ we preferably mean those that are spiced, drenched in chocolate and come with a little alcohol splashed in for good measure – at least once the kids have gone to sleep. While open fires keep our houses heated this winter, hot drinks promise to keep our hearts nice and warm.

Water-filled bath

Indulge in a bath when you can

Again, we know this one isn’t always easy with kids running around – especially little ones that wouldn’t mind climbing into the bath with you. But if you can take a few moments every other week or so to run a hot bath and just relax, preferably with one of Lush’s sweet-smelling Christmas bath bombs or oils, your winter nerves will thank you for it. You might even get to squeeze in some time for that winter read, too.

Roast chicken dinner

Embrace the roast dinner

Roast dinners are incredible all year-round – they’re the ultimate comfort food, in our opinion – but there’s something about having one in the winter that just feels right. We’re not saying to indulge in gravy puddles, cranberry sauce and hearty meat every Sunday – though every once in a while isn’t bad, right? If you’re looking for something a little less strenuous, a healthy roast or home-made soup will keep you warm all winter long.

There you have it – bring on the frost. How will you keep cosy this winter?

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Get their look: Christmas fireside

Christmas firesidecredit

Have you put up your tree and hung your decorations yet? What’s your colour scheme? We usually go for traditional red on the ground floor and copper on the top floor. We really like the look & feel of this Christmas fireside; simple rustic with minimalist white tree ornaments and wrapping paper.

The addition of a vintage wooden child’s sled adds a sense of fun. The unusual, half-moon wood-burning stove is the focal point of the room (well, it is when the Christmas tree isn’t there!). All its accessories are close at hand – logs, newspapers, companion set… there’s even a vintage metal fire bucket to add a flash of colour.

  1. Vintage chalkboard
  2. John Lewis Croft Collection Stanley rattan large easy-to-fit ceiling light
  3. Scan 85 Series High Top fire
  4. Vintage wooden wine box
  5. Vintage fire bucket
  6. ALSEDA banana fibre stool
  7. Vintage wooden sled
  8. Black fireside companion set
  9. Personalised wooden storage box

Get their look: Christmas fireside | H is for Home