We love Lavender here at So Close Studio - we use it to scent our soy wax candles, so the studio is often filled with the scent. We also include it as a seed option in our “grow your own” plant pot gifts and seed bag gifts, and of course there’s a few pots in our courtyard garden.
Recently, we visited a lavender grower and learned a little more about the properties of this lovely plant, which our ancestors have used medicinally, around the home and in cosmetics for years. With this garden favourite in full flower at the moment, we thought you’d enjoy a few uses for lavender around the home, so we’ve compiled our top 3.
Great for animals big and small
If you love home fragrance and also love your pets, it’s worth checking which are pet safe, and friendly to sensitive animal noses. Lavender is one of the essential oils that’s suitable to burn around dogs, and a few drops diluted into dog shampoo is one of the few things that can help get rid of the all too familiar scent of fox poo! Lots of pet owners also report that the scent of lavender calms their animals and helps with stress - just like it does for humans.
As well as helping our pets, lavender can help wildlife too. Many pollinating insects - Bees in particular - love lavender, so it’s a great choice for your garden if you want to support biodiversity.
Digestive support
Lots of people know about using ginger and peppermint to treat nausea and digestive discomfort, but did you know lavender is also effective? You don’t even have to eat it to get the benefits - one study showed that smelling lavender improved nausea in 82.6% of patients suffering from sickness whilst in recovery from surgery.
Including lavender in food or drink is particularly good for reducing bloating. You can take it as a tea, or use lavender food essence or dried lavender buds to flavour foods and drinks - just make sure you are using lavender that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides.
We particularly like lavender lemonade, so thought we’d share the recipe with you:
Lavender lemonade
Ingredients:
A small handful of fresh lavender flowers or buds, or 1 tablespoon of dried lavender.
200 grams of sugar
500 ml of boiling water
350 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
500 ml cold water
Ice
Optional: Thinly sliced lemons and a few lavender sprigs to garnish
Method
If you’re using fresh flowers, take them off the stems. Put the lavender into a large heatproof bowl or jug.
Pour the sugar over the flowers, and gently rub the flowers into the sugar.
Pour over the boiling water and stir until all the sugar has dissolved, and then cover and steep for 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how strong you’d like the lavender flavour to be.
Strain the resulting syrup into a large jug.
Stir in the lemon juice and cold water.
Leave to cool and then add the ice and garnish before serving.
Clean and fresh
Lavender derives its name from the Latin 'lavare' meaning 'to wash”, and our ancestors used it in soaps and as a treatment for wounds because of it’s antifungal and antibacterial properties. Adding lavender flowers to your bath is not only very relaxing, it can also help to sooth skin irritations and protect from infection - it’s even rumoured to soothe sunburn, useful in the current heatwave!
Lavender sachets in drawers and airing cupboards help to deter moths, and the smell of lavender has been proven to aid sleep and relaxation. Our soy wax lavender candles can bring the fresh and soothing qualities of lavender to your home, scenting the air and helping you relax.
However you choose to enjoy lavender this summer, we hope you get as much pleasure from it as we have.
Xxx
Claire and the team
]]>We love an excuse for a celebration. We’ve never enjoyed The Eurovision Song Contest as much as we did this year - everyone was ready for an uplifting spectacle of togetherness. But we want more!
Having scrutinised the programme, we’ve got high hopes for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant on the 5th June, which the studio team will be tuning into for highlights across the day - we’re particularly looking forward to seeing the giant puppet of Lady Godiva, and the 25 foot LGBTQIA+ celebration maypole. I’ve put up some fabulous bunting featuring the Queen’s hats in preparation for the day, and am busy printing off our fun corgi mugs for the team to sip their very British cuppa from.
Since the pageant will be celebrating the very best of British eccentricity, we’ve come up with a few quirky ideas of our own to share with you, which are suitable for street parties or smaller gatherings. Here’s our top three quirky ways to celebrate Liz’s Royal Jubilee........
Well aren’t you lucky, we’ve made this bingo card which you can download free!
We scoured the pageant programme for info about what’s going to be on show, and came up with this Bingo card full of daft items for you to spot as you watch the spectacle. And if you want to turn it into a drinking game, well, that would be very British of you. Just the thing to liven up your street party.
Download our A4 Queen’s royal Jubilee Bingo Card Here
Back in June 2016, Queen Elizabeth told the BBC her top ten tunes … and some of them are classics we can sing along to!
Anything You Can Do (Annie Get Your Gun), Dolores Gray and Bill Johnson
Oklahoma! by Howard Keel
Sing, Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band feat. the Military Wives
Cheek to Cheek, Fred Astaire
The White Cliffs Of Dover, Vera Lynn
Leaning on a Lamp-post, George Formby
Less sing-along friendly are her last few choices; Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven (hymn), The Lord is My Shepherd (hymn), The Lester Lanin Medley and Milanollo’s Regimental March.
You don’t just have to stick to Queenies favs though, use your imagination and throw in some classics by Queen, add a bit of Brit Pop and any of your favourite rock royalty classics from her 75 year reign. Why not take inspiration from act 2 of the pageant which will have jivers, glam rockers, brit poppers and even acid ravers! Find out more on the official pageant website here https://www.platinumpageant.com/#act-2
Anyone who has watched “The Crown” will tell you that, whilst she may be the only person in Britain who’s allowed to eat swans, there’s a loooong list of foods the Queen won’t eat in public. Famously, on her tour to Italy in 1961, the palace requested that she should not be served “messy” tomato sauces, or (gasp) garlic, and under no circumstances should she be given spaghetti. We can only imagine what Italian chefs made of these requests, but reading that was the moment that I realised … I would never want to be Queen! Carbs before crowns, am I right?
Celebrate your freedom from the restrictions of the royal diet and have a spaghetti race.
There’s two ways to do this: The Butlin’s classic spaghetti eating contest, or the sports day version.
For the Butlin’s classic version, just top plates of spaghetti with the messiest tomato sauce you can find, and set the timer to see who can finish their plateful first! Go hands-free for extra mess.
The sports day version involves transferring spaghetti from the start line to the finish using only a fork. Kids love trying to get the whole bowl of spaghetti twirled onto a fork at once to see if it can be done in a single trip.
The official Platinum Jubilee pudding is the lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle, which won a competition for the title earlier this year.
When I heard “lemon and amaretti”, my mind immediately jumped to amaretto sour cocktails. Perfect for slowly sipping with friends.
Amaretto Sour Cocktail (makes 3)
Ingredients:
The juice of 3 large lemons
200ml amaretto
1 egg white
4 tsp of the syrup from a jar of cocktail cherries
Cocktail cherries (to garnish)
ice
Method
Put the syrup, egg white and lemon juice and amaretto into a blender, and pulse until it goes pale and a little frothy.
Pour into glasses over ice, and garnish with the cocktail cherries.
Cheers to you all,
Claire
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As we approach spring, lots of us will be thinking of the markers of the season - maybe you’ll be making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and thinking ahead to Easter, or planning a Mother’s day get together or May day bank holiday walk.
Gardening is always an act of hope, and is a lovely way to mark spring celebrations. “Grow your own” kits are ideal as spring gifts, as are seedlings you’ve started at home in pretty pots. Get children involved in planting and making special plant labels, and they’ll get real pleasure from gifting what they’ve made on Mother’s day or at Easter!
My 5 favourite flowers to grow for picking
There’s something very satisfying about putting flowers from your garden on the table, or taking a fistful as a gift to someone special. If, like me, your gardening is limited by what can be grown in pots, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy growing some flowers from scratch. Here are five of my favourite fast growing container-friendly flowers!
Marigolds will grow from seed to bloom in just 7 weeks, so any planted now will bloom just at the end of the Easter school holidays. Cheerful and hardy, marigolds are great for kids to grow and are naturally slug resistant. The yellow and orange flowers look great in a jug on the kitchen table.
Marigolds are also the birth flower for October, and will self sew for next year if given enough space.
Marigolds need:
Not much! Fairly good soil with drainage
Watering on very dry days
Sweet peas bloom around 90 days after planting. Start some off indoors now, and plant them out on the May bank holiday weekend for blooms at the end of May / beginning of June. Grown up canes for some height in your container garden. Sweet peas love to be picked and will keep making flowers for several weeks. I love the way their scent fills the house.
Sweet peas are one of the birth flowers for April, why not gift some sweet pea seeds or seedlings for an April birthday?
Sweet peas need:
Peat free compost with a slow release fertiliser mixed in
Supports (such as bamboo canes) to grow up
Regular watering
Extra fertiliser once the flowers start (tomato fertiliser is good)
Protection from slugs and snails
Sunflowers have always been a favourite with me. Dwarf varieties can grow from seed to flower in just 80 days, and often have several flowers on each stem, whilst traditional tall sunflowers take around 120 days. Kids love “racing” sunflowers to see whose will become the tallest!
One of the loveliest things about sunflowers is that they provide an early autumn feast for birds, who love the seed heads after the blooms have faded. They really do keep on giving!
Sunflowers need:
A sheltered, sunny spot
Good rich soil
Stakes when they start to get tall
Protection from slugs and snails
Nasturtiums are famously prolific and thrive in poor soil. In fact, adding fertiliser will stop them from having as many flowers! Climbing varieties will also grow downwards, so they are great for balconies or hanging baskets.
Put them where they will get direct sun for part of the day, and they will reward you with constant blooms until the first frost.
Perhaps the best thing about these colourful flowers is that they are edible. Scatter the vibrant blooms on top of salads for a peppery flavour and summary feel.
Nasturtiums need:
Peat free compost
A sunny spot
California poppies are one of the fastest blooming flowers around, going from seed to flower in just 60 days! Not often seen in pots, poppies will grow just fine in larger containers and can thrive in all kinds of soil without fertilisers. The only rule with poppies is not to transplant them - sow them directly where you want to see them grow. You may need to thin out the seedlings if lots are growing closely together.
Poppies are one of the August birth flowers. Sow seeds at the end of May to have a container full of flowers for an August birthday!
Poppies need:
Partial sun
We hope that we’ve inspired you to plant a few blooming marvellous favourites for picking later in the year!
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If you’ve found yourself dreaming of living a life full of simple and beautiful moments, connected with nature and the people you love, you may be drawn to the cottagecore movement. Laced with romance and nostalgia, cottagecore is about enjoying the best of the past but preserving modern values.
We think a cottagecore style sets the perfect tone for Valentine’s day - Thoughtful, charming, uncommercialised, and with an appreciation for the moment. With that in mind, we’ve thought up a few ways for you to escape into cottagecore this Valentine’s day.
With the right clothes and the right attitude, you can create a charming cottagecore picnic that will melt your Valentine’s heart even on the coldest of February days.
Layer up more than your clothes - layer your picnic blanket over a waterproof sheet and pile up extra cozy blankets for snuggling under together. You can even add a hot water bottle! Choose a classic gingham or white linen tablecloth and add traditional woven blankets or rugs to set the mood. A cute picnic basket or vintage style tin lunch box will add extra style.
Staying warm on a February picnic takes more than blankets and a nip from your hip flask! Why not plan some hot food and drinks? Baked potatoes will stay warm if you wrap them in layers of tea towels, and they taste great with chilli from a thermos.
Hot drinks or soup in a flask are always a winner, but don’t forget you can also take a camping stove or kelly kettle to heat things through, or even fry up a little bacon for a special brunch sandwich! Raclette sets can be fun for an outdoor picnic. Easier to set up and clean than fondue, raclette sets use tea lights to melt cheese on a hot plate. Delicious on french bread or on your hot potatoes, especially with some country chutney from a cute jar.
If you’re planning a fire, check in advance that fires are allowed by whoever manages the land, and make sure you take a flask of water to douse the embers.
Don’t forget to ditch the plastic for a vintage feel! Everything looks cuter on tin plates, pretty china or wooden serving boards.
A few thoughtful extras can add some vintage vibes to your picnic - salt and pepper shakers, pretty napkins and napkin rings, and a posy of flowers all help set the tone. Whilst candelabra’s look romantic in pictures, the wind makes them impractical for winter picnics. Instead, consider storm lanterns or mason jars.
Other essentials for cold weather picnicking include tissues for cold noses, hand sanitiser, a bottle opener, and matches. You may also want a nice romantic playlist!
Home-made and heartfelt is a big part of the cottagecore movement. You don’t have to be skilled to create - here are a few ideas that are simple but full of thoughtfulness
Add a few handwritten lines of poetry in the front of a beautiful notebook! Whether you choose tried and tested love poems by the likes of Tennyson and Byron, or write your own special verse, take the time to write it out with care. Using a sepia fineliner or an old fashioned fountain pen will make your inscription even more special. If you’re planning ahead you could add pressed flowers between the pages of the notebook, lavender makes a wonderful scented bookmark.
Fresh herbs preserved in oil look gorgeous on the shelf and bring a little cottagecore decor to your home. Thyme, rosemary and bay leaves all work well.
Sterilize a jar with boiling water, add your washed and dried herbs, and cover with good quality olive oil. Make sure the jar is well sealed. Mason jars are ideal, or you can seal a recycled jam jar with a disk of wax paper under the lid and use twine to secure the lid extra tight.
Don’t forget to add an attractive label. Brown paper luggage labels can be tied on, or use a sticky label with your own illustrations on. Why not add a herb based or cooking pun - “I’ve had the thyme of my life”, “For cooking up a hot dish together” or “for my bay”.
If crafting isn’t for you, then customised is the next best thing; Opt for personalised gifts with meaningful messages and images. Our soy wax candles are thoughtfully made with environmentally friendly soy wax, and come in customised ceramic pots which can be personalised with words of your choice.
Cottagecore of course includes plenty of plants! Connecting to nature and each other through growing things together is a lovely way to come closer together.
A fragrant windowsill herb garden is the gift that keeps on giving. Whether you buy plants or seeds, you can enjoy caring for the plants together.
Pots don’t have to be expensive - tin cans with drainage holes in the bottom work well, and can be brightened up with any leftover emulsion paint you might have lying around. Alternatively, our personalised ceramic plant pots are ideal for small potted herbs, and can include any message you like.
Add extra romance with personalised plant markers that include a romantic message. Painted pebbles, wooden lolly sticks or wine corks all work well.
Why not write a little recipe sheet with recipes that include the herbs you’ve chosen? You could even start a new recipe book together, with blank pages to add new favourites you find to cook together.
Whatever you choose to do this Valentine’s day, we hope that you find time for romance and togetherness.
Claire and the team x
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Self-care has been such a buzzword in the past decade. Maybe for you it conjures up images of candlelit bubble baths, walks in the woods, or long novels and an empty afternoon. But behind all the Pinterest images and magazine articles, the core of self care is about checking in with yourself and asking for the things you want and need. When you’re busy with family, work and a list of commitments as long as your arm, it can be hard to make time to reflect on the things that really matter to you.
All this was in my mind the other week as our studio assistant Catherine talked about her birthday with enthusiasm and excitement. Catherine is never shy to share what’s on her mind as we power through the days work, and she’s known in the studio for her outspoken ways and high spirits. As she chatted happily about her plans for breakfast with friends and the present she had chosen for herself, I realised that Catherine really loved her birthday, and looked forward to it. This got me asking myself … how can I love my birthday as much as Catherine loves hers? The answer - by bringing some more self care into my special day!
After pumping her for info on all the little ways Catherine treats herself on her special day, I condensed her ideas down into 5 top tips. These are all great ways to celebrate a birthday or special milestone, but they also work well when you’re in need of a little bit of cherishing.
Here are 5 top tips for a day of self care for busy mums inspired by our November birthday queen Catherine!
Start your day with a feel good activity
Most of us are guilty of secretly hoping someone else will make plans for our birthdays, but if we tune in to what we really want to feel, it’s often connection and a little bit of attention, which we can arrange for ourselves. Why not get that little bit of validation in first thing in the morning, so you can enjoy indulging yourself for the rest of the day knowing you are valued by special people in your life.
Ask a few friends to join you for coffee and pastries at your favourite cafe and have a breakfast catch-up, or head out for an early morning walk with a flask of hot chocolate and some birthday cake. It doesn’t need to be a long affair, a quick round of lattes and croissants with a side order of chat will give you those feel-good vibes.
Wear something that makes you feel good.
Catherine’s love of scarves is well known in the studio. She even said she’s glad that the cold snap came before her birthday this year, as it gives her a chance to wear the scarf she’s asked for from her Mum and feel “just so cosy”.
We all have something we love to wear, whether because it feels extra comfortable or because we know we look good in it. On your special day, treat yourself like a luxury item and wrap yourself with care, and enjoy the confidence boost that comes with it.
Buy yourself a gift
When you’re always thinking about the kids and what they need, it’s easy to overlook your own wish list. Spend some time thinking about something you really want for yourself, and order it in time to open on your special day.
Catherine’s choice of birthday treat was some colourful and comfy shoes she’d been hankering after, but a gift to yourself doesn’t have to be expensive - those cookies you like but the kids don’t eat, your favourite scented shampoo or a really good pen for just you to use are all inexpensive ways to treat yourself like someone that deserves thoughtful gifts. Adding some pretty wrapping paper will make you feel extra special.
Delegate!
In the spirit of tuning in to what you need, ask yourself what “time to yourself” would look like. Can someone else cook the kids dinner? Do the school run? Walk the dog?
If you’re in the habit of doing everything, it might feel weird to ask, but it’s a good way to make sure everyone in the family understands that you need some down time too. Don’t forget that there are lots of age appropriate chores that children can do for themselves!
As Catherine says : “My birthday is all about me. The kids behave because they know it’s my special day, and because otherwise they’ll get no cake.”
Eat what YOU want to
Most of the year, mealtimes are a compromise where we are trying to please everyone, or at least cook something most of the family will tolerate. Sometimes though, it’s good to remember what you like to eat - the thing you would choose if you weren’t under time pressure and trying to get everyone fed.
“My birthday should be a day off for me” says Catherine, “So we get food out or order in. The kids have something early so I can take my time and enjoy my dinner.”
Catherine has one final tip - she likes to drag her birthday out as long as possible! “In the true spirit of dragging my birthday out for as long as possible, I'll go for a burger with my BFF the day before. We'll do a bit of shopping and have a right laugh!” .
We hope these tips help you plan a special day for yourself … maybe you’ll even find you love your birthday as much as Catherine loves hers!
Summer sunshine has it’s appeal, but once the weather cools we know what we are looking forward to most - cosy sweaters and boots, changing colours on the trees and, most importantly, comfort food.
When we expanded our studio team last year, we began a Tuesday lunch club to give ourselves the chance to get to know each other. It worked so well we’ve carried the tradition on into 2021, and we’re looking forward to planning some autumn feasts over the next few months.
We wanted to share our cosiest cooking with you, so we asked the team to each tell us about their favourite comfort food and how they make it their own.
Claire’s twice-baked bonfire night potatoes
Baked potatoes are a firm favourite in our house. I like the simplicity of putting them in the oven on low before we head out for a dog walk, then coming home to a hot meal with minimal fuss.
We all like different topping; vegan Tarot opts for beans with bbq sauce, I like beans and cheese, and the kids like tuna.
But when I’m in the mood to spend a bit more time on supper, I do twice baked potatoes - because what could be better on a cold day than melted cheese. Ideal for a warming meal on bonfire night!
If you have a vegan to cater for, this recipe works well with vegan cheese to replace the cheddar, and cashews blended with a little lemon juice or cider vinegar to replace the sour cream.
Make sure you start with the right kind of potatoes - avoid any waxy or small varieties, and go for something large and floury like a Maris Piper or King Edward.
4 large floury baking potatoes
1 tbsp sunflower oil
60g butter, melted
85ml soured cream
1 tsp djon mustard
1 spring onion, finely chopped
70g mature cheddar, grated
Salt and pepper
Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6 (180 ̊C fan).
First off is the first bake! Pierce your potatoes with a fork, then rub them all over with a little bit of sunflower oil. I do this by getting oil on a piece of kitchen roll and rubbing it over the skin. Bake your potatoes on the middle shelf for 1 hour. If your potatoes are particularly large, a metal skewer through the middle of each will help them cook evenly, and they may need an extra 10 - 20 minutes.
Take the potatoes out, and turn the oven down to 190 / gas mark 5.
Put on your oven glove, and carefully slice the top off each potato about a third of the way down. Put the top slice to one side. Then, using a spoon, gently scoop out the potato so you have a boat shape. Leave enough potato-middle attached to the skin that it doesn’t collapse.
Take the potato that you’ve scooped out, and mash it with two thirds of the butter, half of the cheese, all the sour cream and the mustard. Then stir in the spring onions.
Pack the mash into the little potato boats, and top with the remaining cheese. Brush the outside of the potato and the lids with the rest of the melted butter, and season with salt and pepper.
Pop the potatoes on an oven tray with the lids alongside, and bake on the top shelf for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
These are great with a good green salad and some fresh tomatoes, or good old fashioned baked beans.
Katie’s cosy cock-a-leekie soup
Soup is a cold weather essential, and chicken soup is proven to have anti-inflammatory properties so is the perfect go-to for when you’re feeling under the weather.
I like to plan my meals ahead of time, so when I make a roast chicken on a Sunday I save the legs and wings for soup on Monday. Using roasted chicken adds to the flavour of the soup and is a nice efficient way to avoid any waste.
450g (1lb) of leftover roast chicken.
1 litre (1 ⅓ pints) of chicken or vegetable stock
2 carrots
2 sticks of celery
1-2 leeks
60g long-grain rice
2 bay leaves
1 tsp of sea salt
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Pinch of ground cloves
Splash of white wine or sherry (optional)
Skim the surface of the soup to remove any scum that has formed, then add the chopped leeks, carrots and celery along with the rice and cloves.
Bring it back to the boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for another 30 minutes.
Remove the bay leaves, then any chicken that’s still on the bone. Strip the meat from the bones, and divide it into large chunks, before returning it to the soup (minus the bones) and stirring in the parsley.
I like to serve mine with sourdough bread and a thick slab of butter for extra comfort-factor!
Catherine’s magic mac n’ cheese
Macaroni cheese is great because it can be put together easily from store cupboard basics and unlike most of my favourites, the kids will happily eat it too! I like to add bacon and leeks to mine to make it a bit special.
2 medium leeks
1 tbsp olive oil
125g smoked streaky bacon
250g macaroni
40g butter
40g plain flour
700ml whole milk
2 tsp Dijon mustard
25g white bread, grated or blended into medium breadcrumbs
125g mature Cheddar
You also want your milk at room temperature, so measure out 700mls and set it aside.
In a medium frying pan, warm your oil whilst you chop your leeks, then cook them gently for 5 minutes until soft and set them aside.
Chop the bacon and fry it in the pan that you took the leeks out of until crispy.
Whilst you wait for the bacon to cook, boil your macaroni for five minutes to par-cook, then drain it and return it to the pan.
Next, we’ll make a rue by melting the butter in a medium saucepan, stirring in the flour and cooking for a minute or two.
Turn the heat to low under your flour and butter and using a whisk to stir, gradually add your milk a little at a time making sure it combines well before you add the next splash. Whisk and stir intermittently for 5 minutes until the sauce is smooth and thick.
Stir in the mustard and two thirds of the cheese until the cheese is melted. You might like to add salt and pepper here too.
Add the leeks, bacon and macaroni to the sauce, stir well and pour the whole mixture into an oven proof dish.
Top with the breadcrumbs and remaining cheese, and bake for 20 minutes until it’s golden on top and bubbling at the edges.
I like to serve it with a side order of steamed mange tout or sugar snap peas to get some extra greens in!
Louisa’s all-hallows-eve dorset apple cake
I love apples, and autumn is the perfect season to celebrate them! I have two varieties in my garden, big fat bramleys for cooking, and sweet little braeburns for eating. I always make traditional dorset apple cake on Halloween as a treat for the grownups, and serve it warm spread with butter and a cup of mulled cider.
115g unsalted butter, diced and chilled, plus extra for the tin
225g self-raising flour, plus one tbsp
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
115g light brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
6-8 tbsp milk
225g Bramley apples, peeled, cored and sliced into crescents
100g pecans
2 tbsp demerara sugar
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a deep 20cm cake tin with baking parchment.
Take half of the apples, cover with the demerara sugar, and use them to create a pattern in the base of the lined cake tin - a swirl looks nice.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together your spices and flour, then rub in the butter using your finger tips until it’s a bread-crumb like consistency.
Stir in the brown sugar.
Break your egg into a separate dish with 4-5 tbsp of milk, and gradually add it to the mixture, stirring as you do so to form a smooth batter.
Mix a tbsp of self raising flour with the apples and pecans to stop them sinking in the mix, then stir them through the batter.
Spoon the batter into the tin on top of your apple pattern, and smooth it with the back of a spoon.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, covering half way through with baking parchment to stop any scorching.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes, then tip it out so the pattern is topmost and serve it warm! Or serve later with hot custard.
We hope you enjoy these comforting recipes to get you through as the nights draw in. Wishing you all a cosy and fun-filled autumn! Love Claire and the so close team
]]>Like a lot of parents around the country, we’ll be seeing our eldest off to uni this month. It’s an exciting time, but also a little bit of an anxious one - we want to know he’s going to be okay and help him feel comfortable in his new home.
We’ve been chatting with our peers, looking up articles and asking on our social media to find ways we can support our lad through this transition without smothering him or buying up half of John Lewis, and we’ve collected a few of our favourite tips to help other parents find their way through.
1. Make do and mend
Like lots of practical heirloom skills, darning and mending has had a resurgence since the first lockdown, with people finding time to “rediscover” craft and homemaking skills.
At the very least, it’s useful for students to know how to replace a button so they don’t end up spending sparse student funds on new gear. A small sewing kit with a few needles, thread reels and a pair of scissors is an inexpensive way to help them build good habits around looking after clothes. Likewise, don’t forget to pack shoe polish and a spare pair of laces!
2. Virtual planning
A lot of universities offer opportunities for students who will be sharing accommodation to meet virtually beforehand, which can help to break the ice. It’s also a great way to avoid buying duplicate kitchen equipment if they will be sharing a kitchen space - no kitchen needs 3 cheese graters!
3. Get a doorstop!
When we posted on our social media asking about what to pack for Ollie, we had a string of brilliant suggestions from our followers that included recipe index cards for home cooked favourites, supermarket gift cards for emergency shopping and a slow cooker.
Our favourite suggestion was from follower Penny, who advised getting a doorstop - that way students can prop open their halls of residence / flatshare doors and get to know people.
4. Leverage aromatherapy and plants
If you’ve been dealing with teenage bedrooms for the past few years, you’ll know that young people’s rooms don’t always smell as sweet as you might like. A student bedroom serves a lot of purposes; often it’s a main studying area, a place where snacks are consumed and a chill out space to be with friends, all of which can make it smell less than fresh. Organising some nice smells for their new space can help them keep it fit for guests to visit and create a cosy atmosphere for their first “home from home”.
Lots of studies show that living with plants is great for wellbeing, and there’s no doubt that a room with plants in feels more homely and a little more “put together”. Choosing scented plants can also help keep a room smelling fresh. Rosemary is a great choice for a hardy plant that smells great and can even be used in cooking, just don’t put it near the radiator.
A lot of student residences have a ban on candles, so check before buying any and look at no-heat diffuser options. If candles are allowed, choose eco-friendly soy wax - it has a cleaner burn and washes off most surfaces with just hot water and soap. Our range of soy wax candles come in ceramic pots that can be easily washed up afterwards and used as a desk tidy or toothbrush mug.
5. Throw in a tray
Student residences vary, but there’s rarely much storage and most students end up keeping their stuff in their rooms. When kitchens and bathrooms are shared, there’s no guarantee that others will look after your child's stuff!
At the start, whilst boundaries are being negotiated, it can be useful for your young person to have a tray or box for toiletries that travels with them to and from the bathroom, and another for a set of kitchen essentials so that they know there is always at least one clean plate and fork available.
Love Claire and the So Close team x
Like a lot of designer makers, my inspiration comes from the ups and downs of ordinary family life ; chance comments, funny moments, hard times shared, and the warmth and humour of the people I love. So, this year has been particularly challenging because, well, how do you make work about ordinary family life when nothing is ordinary?
Luckily, even in the chaos there are constants - my kids are never not funny, my dog is never too well behaved, and spring comes around and brings a burst of creative energy - let me tell you, it’s never been more welcome!
This spring, we decided to channel some of that energy into making our home and studio space a more colourful and inspiring place. Long time followers of our social media may know that the studio, where we design and make our products, backs onto our house with both sharing a courtyard and entryway. This makes the morning commute a dream, but also means that we are looking at the courtyard all day, so it definitely needs to be inspiring! The original white walls of the courtyard were just a bit dreary, but over the past two years we’ve been slowly transforming it each spring, giving us a sense of renewal and adding a little more personality each time.
Back in February 2019, I finally got the mural I’d been dreaming of since my trip to Miami with my Dad in 2017. On the trip, I’d visited Wynwood Walls Art Park which is just filled with incredible murals that inspired me to commission one of my own. I commissioned Bristol graffiti artist Paul Monsters to use my pick of saturated Florida style brights to create a bold geometric mural on the courtyard wall - you’ll recognise it from our product shots. The transformation was amazing, but it made me want even more colour around me.
Last spring, I had the front of the house / studio painted in a cheerful pink, the colour of a raspberry milkshake, with pistachio green window frames. We love it, and so do others in the town - illustrator Rosie Johnson used it as a location for her photoshoot last year, and we’ve had so many compliments from passers by. However, something was still missing - the interior of the house just wasn’t as vibrant and colourful as the outside. The paintwork reflected the neutral colour palette chosen by the previous owner, and my colourful home accessories just didn’t have the impact I wanted against the functional but dull off whites and magnolias they favoured.
I’ve been dreaming for a long time of a colourful kitchen to showcase my collection of quirky retro kitchenalia, and so that’s where we began the interior renovations. First off, we ripped out the tired built in cabinets in our little galley kitchen so that I could embrace my dream of colourful, free standing kitchen furniture - a bold choice for a small space, but it’s paid off. The walls got a makeover with some of the So Close signature sky blue, and I upcycled some fifties cabinets in a cheerful yellow and white which contrasted nicely and created a sunny colour scheme that makes me smile. I love the little fold out work surface and sliding glass fronted doors on the retro cabinet, and knowing that I’ve given a home to a little piece of the past.
I wanted to keep the retro feel going throughout the kitchen without making it feel like a museum, so I went for some classic mid century style white subway tiles, a ceramic Belfast sink and butchers block oak worktop. We modernized the look with a sleek brass tap and grey plank flooring which will be topped with a bright rug. My cute teapot style kettle and vintage cannisters look so at home now, using the kitchen is almost a pleasure.
Standing at my new sink in my brightly coloured kitchen, looking out at my Miami style mural, suddenly the white paint on the front of the studio building seemed dull. Out came the yellow again, and we splashed it across the front of the studio building and side of the house to complete the vibrant courtyard makeover, and give me a view from the sink that’s uplifting and inspiring.
Finally, we began work on the dining room off the kitchen. I’m a long time admirer of Manchester designer Eleanor Bowmer’s bright surface designs, and when I saw her latest collection of “Regency Hollywood” wallpapers I couldn’t help but fall for the fabulously retro “Miami shells trellis” paper. It’s now up on my chimney breast and it makes me feel like I’m back in Miami as I sip my morning brew.
The house is still a work in progress, with some bedrooms and the bathroom coming next, but I definitely feel renewed and refreshed now I’m surrounded by colour and design that I love. The changes and Miami vibes have already inspiring some new product designs for the summer.
Pantry cupboard from @lostwithielanquitecentre
Oak worktop and shelving from @littledevonfurniture
Graffti wall @paulmonsters
Painting and decorating by ATO Home Improvements
Wallpaper by @eleanorbowmer
Giant canvas by @thedriftingbear gifted from @notonthehighstreet
Personalised wooden houses by @thepiphouse
Upcycled Japanese Vase Lamp from @the_light_clinic
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If there’s one thing that’s really lifted our spirits since last March, it’s been seeing the creativity and sheer bonkers ingenuity that people have bought to lockdown celebrations. From indoor camping to zoom karaoke and drive by birthday parades, the nation has really brought it’s A game when it comes to making our loved ones feel special.
Here at So Close, we’ve been lucky enough to be a part of your socially distanced celebrations, sending out warm and hilarious personalisations for all sorts of occasions, and getting a wee glimpse into the lives of our customers along the way.
First, there were the enthusiastic teacher thank you’s; gifts and cards emblazoned with rainbows, pouring out to hero staff all over the land. Then the Father’s day banter that saw hundreds of cheekily worded cards and playful pun plant pots winging their way to socially isolated Granpa’s. Christmas came with a volume of orders that surprised us all, and enough quirky and heartfelt personalisations to keep all our new staff as busy as Santa’s elves. And of course, through it all, birthday greetings of every kind and little messages of love and support “just because”.
And now, here we are looking at Valentine’s day in lockdown. Maybe you’re coming to the end of your creative resources, after months of video calls and screen-time and trying to make the weekend feel special. Or perhaps you’ve found your stride and are now a zoom party planning pro. Either way, we hope that this blog post fires your inspiration and helps you plan a romantic time with someone special. We’ve included suggestions that work for couples that are living together and need date night inspo, or who are separated during lockdown.
So here they are - our 5 ideas for a lockdown Valentine’s date!
1. Paint each other's portraits - good for: cohabiting or socially distanced couples.
When was the last time you spent time just looking at your other half and enjoying their lovely face? Painting each other can be romantic or silly, but either way it gives you the chance to focus your attention on your sweetheart and pay them a few compliments whilst you're at it.
If you’re not sure where to start, try putting the names of some famous artists into a hat and copy the style of the artist you pick out; Beryl Cook, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Terry Gilliam and Banksy are all good choices.
2. Better than a cuddly toy - good for: cohabiting or socially distanced couples.
Gifting cuddly toys may be a Valentine’s tradition, but when it comes to animals nothing beats the real thing. Maybe you can’t actually get a pet together just now, but whether you are a socially distanced couple or cohabiting, you can sponsor an animal together.
There are so many different sponsorship packages out there, with different levels of involvement for the sponsors. The WWF will send you an info pack and a toy of the animal you’ve chosen, whilst some shelters and sanctuaries have webcams to see the animals online, or send out regular newsletters.
Whatever type of sponsorship you choose, spending time together picking out an animal to support is bound to create a night to remember.
3. Swan about strictly style - good for: cohabiting couples.
If your dancing shoes could use a dust, why not book yourselves in for a romantic couples dance class with a teacher via video call? Plenty of companies are offering live online dance lessons - a quick google search will show you what’s available, or ask for recommendations in a local Facebook group and support your local dancers at this tricky time.
4. Fall in love all over again - good for: cohabiting or socially distanced couples.
Have you heard of 36 questions to fall in love? The questions were designed by a psychologist to help people discover their potential for bonding. It takes around 1 hour, and works best if you can maintain eye contact throughout, but done via video call it’s still interesting.
Visit http://36questionsinlove.com/ to play!
5. Makeover time! - good for: cohabiting couples.
Inspired by all those “I let my boyfriend / dog / 5 year old do my makeup” videos on social media, get out some make up, glitter and whatever else you fancy and style each other up for a bit of fun.
If you want to go all out, create your own personal photobooth with props and backdrops!
Whether you make it silly or sexy, be sure to take lots of photos and for an extra giggle put them on your social media as a caption competition.
Whatever you choose to do this year, we hope that you enjoy yourselves and stay safe.
Claire and the So Close team
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Anyone who runs a small business will tell you that when you are working side by side with a small team, you get to know them pretty well.
The So Close Studio team has always been tight knit. What began as a family only business with me and Tarot has grown steadily.
First came Helen, who just popped in to help us during busy periods. Then in June 2016 we had our busiest ever season as our “Daddy McDadFace” mugs flew off the shelves for Father’s Day. I posted on Facebook to show the piles of mug boxes in our trollies waiting to be shipped, and Louisa offered to help out. A few months down the line, our friend Cara joined us, then Kate, and all of a sudden the studio was a hive of activity with different sections of the team in and out at different times.
Studio life has many seasons. As we worked together through the pressures of the Christmas rush, chuckled together over quirky personalisations, and shared tea and lunch breaks, we got to know each other pretty well. We discovered that we shared many of the same parenting challenges, found humour in the same things, worried about the environment in the same way and felt the same connection to the East Devon landscape. Our small business offered us the chance to work around the kids within school hours, we were able to offer our little team the same flexibility.
Fast forward 4 years, and So Close has entered another phase. Earlier this year, when Tarot began to split his time between his wildlife management course and the Studio, we realised we were going to need extra hands here. Our little team of 6 (plus Pip the pug) has now become 10!
We had the chance to select some really great team members, and they’ve been quickly thrown into the deep end with one of the busiest Christmases we’ve seen. I realised pretty quickly that we were going to need to schedule in some sociable time together if we were going to bond during such a busy time, so we started Friday lunch club for our studio assistants and it’s been a great hit! Despite the mix of vegan, vegetarian and carnivorous diets, we’ve managed every week to find ways to adapt and enjoy all sorts of food.
Catherine made Tikka Masala, Cara made a lasagne, Becky knocked together a delicious chilli … and Katie and I opted to support one of our fav local takeout's and get lunch in from Munch Brunch cafe.
So, now we’ve had the chance to get to know our team, we thought we’d introduce you to them in alphabetical order.
Becky, Studio Assistant.Becky loves cycling along the seafront, paddle boarding with the kids and dinner parties with friends.
Outdoorsy Becky has a sophisticated side, with a love of printed textiles and good wine.
Her lockdown tip is: If you can, have dinner as a family every night. It’s tempting to let routines slip but making time for each other is so important.
Also, invest in some good flannel pyjamas.
Catherine, Studio Assistant.
Catherine loves baking with the kids, weekend beach walks and cocktails with the girls.
Good natured and outspoken, Catherine keeps us chuckling in the studio with her tales of life with small children.
Her lockdown tip is: Give yourself something to look forward to every day. A socially distanced doorstep cuppa or Friday night gin with my next-door neighbour is my daily treat.
Cara, Studio Assistant.
Cara loves climbing, crafting with her kids and walking her pug Bailey.
Nature loving Cara is also an advocate for marginalised and disadvantaged young people, and often inspires us with her insights.
Her lockdown tip is: Use the time to reach out to people you don’t normally chat to. Connection is so important.
Claire, Owner and Designer
Claire loves living by the sea and vintage homewares. Her warm sense of humour and love of pop culture and coastal living give Claire Close studio it’s unique style.
Her lockdown tip is: Try new things! It’s easy for the days to become a blur when you’re stuck at home but doing something new will help you mark the days and keep your mind active. It doesn’t have to be a big, complex project; cooking a new dish or memorising new song lyrics are all simple ways to make learning a part of your day.
Edie, Studio Assistant.
Edie loves musical theatre, spending time with animals, and swimming.
A talented singer and actress, Edie brings a little bit of stage sparkle to everything she does.
Her lockdown tip is: Enjoy the chance to stay in your PJ’s all day!
Helen, Studio Assistant.
Camera shy Helen loves wood fired pottery, Japanese textiles and printing. Inspired by scents and texture, Helen is rarely without a lemon and ginger tea!
Her lockdown tip is: Take time to savour things throughout the day, stop and check in with all five of your senses. Eat and drink a little more slowly, spend time in front of your artwork and objects at home, enjoy the texture of your favourite blanket, play a favourite song and give it your full attention.
Kate, Customer Services.
Kate loves netball, cars and coffee. Petrolhead Kate is the steadying influence in our creative studio hub. She is our very own problem solver!
Her lockdown tip is: Try to remember that the businesses serving you are made up of people facing the same challenges you are during the pandemic. Treating each other with kindness and respect is even more valuable when we’re all under pressure.
Katie, Studio Assistant.
Katie loves her animals, garden centres and a good boxset on the telly.
Country girl Katie is a big fan of the hygge lifestyle, and spends her time walking her collie-lab cross with her fiance, or snuggling up with her new kitten.
Her lockdown tip is: show kindness wherever you can, including to yourself.
Louisa, Marketer.
Louisa loves cake, novels and walks on the coast. Pinterest addict and artist Louisa never misses the chance for an up-cycling project!
Her lockdown tip is: Invest in your creativity, even if you haven’t made things since you were a kid. It’s a great way to find topics for conversation if you’re finding that you’ve less to say without your normal routines. Time spent researching things that inspire you is never wasted!
Pip, Studio pet
Photographic model & aspiring instastar, Pip loves chocolate treats, horse pestering, snoring and eating seaweed. The laziest member of the team, he spends most of the day chewing cardboard and having lap naps!
His lockdown tip is: With your owners home, there are more opportunities to harass them for snacks and snuggles - make the most of both.
Tarot, Owner and Designer
Tarot loves Roller Derby, British humour and zombie movies. He is the maker of puns, strong coffee and playful illustrations.
He’s currently pursuing his passion for the environment alongside his passion for design, having begun a course in land and wildlife management earlier this year.
His lockdown tip is: Support your local businesses during lockdown, especially with your Christmas shopping.
Halloween is one of those celebrations that some ignore, and some adore. We usually fall (geddit) somewhere in the middle. The kids used to enjoy some trick or treating by mutual consent with the neighbours, and we’ve hosted a few good spooky parties over the years.
But that was in those other, pre-covid, days, when people with masks were scarier than people without masks, and the thought of putting your hand into a bucket full of sweets someone else had touched wasn’t the most terrifying part of the evening.
I don’t know about you, but we’ve seen an increase in neighbourhood friendliness since March. Maybe it’s a seaside town thing, or maybe it’s recognising that with the prospect of rolling lockdowns ahead, a smile and a wave or a socially distanced coffee across to gardens might be the best chance we have to socialise for weeks at a time.
So, how can we honour that community spirit and give the kids a chance to blow off some steam, whilst also keeping safe this October 31st?
Well, you’re in luck. We’ve come up with 10 ways that you can have a spooktacular time without risking covid exposure. Sit back with a pumpkin spiced oat milk latte, have a read, and if you have more ideas to add then join us in the lockdown birthday club Facebook group, where we share ideas to make celebrations a little bit more fabulous despite the pandemic https://www.facebook.com/groups/151997882759070
1.) Zoom worthy tricks
Have you had a go at Berty Botts every flavour beans? The good news is, it’s just as hilarious to watch someone eat a bogey flavoured bean on camera as it is in real life! If you don’t fancy those, try making up a batch of chilli popcorn and dropping a few into your regular salt or sugar batch. Make sure of course that everyone knows it’s there - allergies are no fun even on Halloween.
Why not leave your zoom tricksters with a sweet treat - a game of “chubby bunnies” with chunky marshmallows is always a hit, on camera or IRL!
2.) Netflix and chills
Back in our lockdown birthday blog post we wrote about the Netflix party app, which lets you stream simultaneously with a friend and pause at the same time, and we think this is the perfect feature for a scary movie night!
To increase the feeling of togetherness, why not parcel up a snack pack and deliver to a friend’s house in advance, so you can enjoy the same tasty treats.
This article explains how to use the Netflix party app https://www.makeitmine.com.au/blog/whats-a-netflix-party-and-how-do-i-have-one/
3.) Go "ghosting"
Ghosting is a fairly new tradition from the US. Instead of sending your kids out asking for sweets from neighbours, get them to create a little treat bag to leave anonymously on the doorstep of a neighbour, with a little note inside to pass it on and “ghost” someone else.
This random act of kindness can be fun to put together, and can include little personal touches - a treat for a pet for example, or a little painted pebble.
If you’d like to do this for family and friends, you could include one of our adorable “Hey pumpkin” soy wax candles or plant pots with pumpkin seeds, a cheerful little sugar free treat. Find them here https://soclose.co.uk/search?q=pumpkin
4.) Play digital dress up
You probably know about snap chat and their playful filters, but did you know that there’s a desktop app called snap camera which lets you use those same filters to play dress up on zoom? This article from Elite Daily explains how to use it https://www.elitedaily.com/p/heres-how-to-use-snapchat-lenses-on-zoom-for-the-most-fun-video-chats-22661373
Whether you choose a sweet or spooky filter, it’s a no-fuss way to dress up for your online “guests”
5.) Take the celebrations outside
At the time of writing, you can still gather in a group of up to 6 outdoors. Bring a little bit of early bonfire night fun to your Halloween celebrations with an outdoor fire, some pumpkin soup and glowsticks or sparklers.
To stretch the fun out over the day, get kids making spooky jam jar lanterns for tealights or glow sticks to go in.
Socially distanced outdoor games for Halloween could include hunting for glowsticks, scavenger hunts, and mixing “potions” from leaves and mud.
Remember that Halloween costumes are often flammable, so you might want to skip them for this bit.
6.) Halloween car bingo!
Plenty of people will be decorating their homes this Halloween. To create a Halloween bingo game, take a drive around your area and make a list of spooky stuff you spot, add it to a grid and then on Halloween take the kids for a drive and see who can get a bingo! If your kids aren’t ready for reading, you can find a free printable picture version here https://brooklynactivemama.com/halloween-bingo
7.) Phone photo scavenger hunt
If your teen can’t get together with friends, create a socially distanced scavenger hunt where players text pictures of the things they find. This works even if they are playing in different towns!
To make the hunt a success, try these tips:
Make it a timed event so players are all playing at once. They could even be on a group call watching each other race to find things - just like an episode of “challenge Anika”!
To make sure players are using current photos and not old ones from their photo library, get them to include a selfie along with the thing they are photographing.
Include some silly Halloween challenges, like “A photo of yourself wearing lipstick like the joker”
If the kids are playing in the same area, try and restrict the hunt to things they can find in their homes or gardens so they don’t turn up outside the same KFC or town fountain! You can include other members of the household by adding things like “A photo of you making tea for the oldest member of your household”.
Why not up the stakes by adding a digital prize, like a voucher for the app store or for takeout.
8.) Pumpkin picture fun
This year, some households are putting up pictures of pumpkins just like so many of us did with rainbows during lockdown. The idea is that you buy sweets for your own child, walk them around the neighbourhood, and put a sweet from your stash into their bucket every time they spot a picture of a pumpkin.
9.) Digital escape
Escape rooms are great for older kids and adults. There are plenty of zoom based escape rooms available at the moment, with themes ranging from Harry Potter to prison break. Some even include live actors! You can find a roundup of the best escape rooms here https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/virtual-escape-room-free-online-uk-zoom-harry-potter-a9515911.html
10.) More than just a face mask.
Okay, we might all be fed up with them for everyday wear, but this is your chance to make your mask a source of fun.
If you’d rather keep it simple, disposable masks can be easily decorated with felt tips (not sharpie - you don’t want to be breathing in solvents). Add wizardy beards, vampire fangs, cat faces, pumpkin smiles or zombie teeth.
If you’re up for a more challenging craft, there are some great Halloween print fabrics out there for stitching up something fab, or create something with applique - Bernina have created this fun tutorial for applique animal masks https://blog.bernina.com/en/2020/05/sewing-self-made-face-masks-for-children-with-funny-appliques/
For the easiest option of all, grab a pre-made mask from an independent seller. We like these fun Sanderson sister masks from peachy Sunday ttps://www.peachysunday.com/collections/hocus-pocus-sanderson-sisters-face-masks
Don’t forget to add a mask to your pumpkin too!
Whatever you choose to do for Halloween 2020, we hope you have fun and stay safe,
Claire and the So Close team
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We’re a few weeks into the summer holidays, and for a lot of us whose kids have been out of school since the start of lockdown, not much has changed. Maybe there are fewer battles about completing online schoolwork, but then maybe there’s also more battles about how many times a week it’s reasonable to ask for money for takeout.
Still, there are 3 long weeks ahead when the kids need to be kept busy whilst various attractions are closed or operating under limited capacity and hey, maybe you’re also working from home and already tired enough thanks.
You know we like to be helpful, so we’ve put together this handy little guide to keeping your cool in the heat wave / pandemic / whatever the heck is coming next summer holidays of 2020.
1. Staycation snacks
Eating has become the remaining routine during this pandemic. Whatever else happens, food happens. Our kids appear to need pre-snack snacks and second breakfasts these days.
When our neighbourhood eateries first closed up, we found that some of the food we most missed was local food - for us that’s pasties, cream teas, and classic fish and chips (or their vegan counterparts for Tarot). Of course, we had a go at re-creating them at home, and now that things have opened again we have been tasting our home-made efforts alongside the takeout versions.
Why not teach the kids how to make their own version of their favourite go-to takeout - it'll save them money once they leave home!
2. Home hot tub
Okay, hear us out. Maybe you can’t head to the spa or jet off to somewhere with a warm sea this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little luxury.
Get some fluffy white robes and scented candles, make yourself a chill out playlist, and pretend you’re somewhere fabulous.
Looking for the perfect, eco friendly scented candle to accompany your summer evenings? Try our hand poured, soy wax candles with their relaxing lavender scent.
3. Campfire cooking
Camping stoves aren’t just for camping. Planning a meal cooked outdoors is a nice, chilled way to spend the day enjoying a local beauty spot. As it’s blackberry season, you could even add some easy foraging to your outdoor feast.
As a bonus, this stops the endless round of “what do you fancy for lunch?” that often accompanies days out. Just make sure you’ve got money for ice-cream later!
If you’d like more tips on camp cooking and outdoor living, take a look at our blog post on a low impact camping trips https://soclose.co.uk/blogs/news/planning-a-low-impact-father-s-day-camping-trip
We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, and stay safe - The So Close team.
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Socially distant Fathers’ day for Dads over 70!
Like a lot of people over 70, my Dad has had to keep himself to himself during the corona pandemic. Sociable by nature, and still a proud member of the workforce, lockdown hasn’t come easy, which is why we’re planning to show him a little extra love on Father’s Day, June 21st.
During these tricky times, small celebrations take on a new significance. Putting aside a little extra time to call, figuring out a way to take some of our favourite activities online, and sending a little something in the post - all these things mean more when we can’t get together.
Here are three ways that you can let Dad know he’s special on Father’s day, even if you can’t visit.
Make a slideshow of old photos
I don’t know about you, but our family photos are scattered across several households. There are pictures in my house that Dad rarely sees, not to mention all the digital shots sat in my iphoto library. Father’s day is the perfect opportunity to give them all an airing, and create a little video slideshow of happy memories.
If you don’t have a scanner for older photos, try snapping them on your phone to include in your collage. You can even include snaps of the kids artwork or messages to Grandad!
For those who aren’t a whiz on powerpoint, smilebox.com offers a free, simple slideshow maker complete with templates to make life easy.
Play an old favourite
Does Dad have a favourite card game or board game? Lots of old favourites are available to play online! Why not get together on video chat and open up a browser window to play a good old fashioned card game of go fish athttp://playingcards.io/, where you can play any game with a classic deck of cards. If board games are more his thing, pop to https://tabletopia.com/ and browse the classic games category for inspiration.
Make the occasion extra special by putting together a playlist of Dad’s favourite songs and sending nibbles so you can synchronise your snacking!
Forward looking presents
Everyone likes to have something to look forward to. A present that helps Dad look towards a brighter tomorrow is sure to lift his spirits.
Whether it’s a “grow your own” gift set like our planters with seeds, a snazzy new shirt to wear when the family can get together again or something to share with the grandkids one day soon, show Dad that he’s not forgotten and is part of your plans for the future.
https://soclose.co.uk/collections/gifts-for-him &
https://socloseuk.teemill.com/collection/for-him/
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Whilst the world is a little crazy and unpredictable right now, there are some things that are inevitable. Getting older is one of them. If you are having a birthday soon, chances are you’ll be celebrating in lockdown.
Social distancing however doesn’t have to mean a miserable birthday, we’ve thought up 8 ways to make a birthday day special for kids and adults during the corona lockdown.
DRESS UP
Pyjama chic may be the look you’ve been rocking for a while now, and we are 100% with you on how good that feels. When it comes to birthdays however, it’s fun to mix things up a little.
If you’re planning a birthday occasion for a child, why not have their friends raid the house for dress up items before joining each other on a video call to guess which character they are? Encourage kids to really get creative - the crazier the better! If dressing themselves up is a bit too much work, get them to dress up a teddy or toy.
If you have a few quid to spend, there are also plenty of children’s entertainers who will dress up in character to do a video call with your child or record a personalised video shout out, both of which are sure to make the day feel special.
For adults, why not host a murder mystery “dinner party”, with character dress up and maybe even a shared menu. Daft hats, silly accents and terrible acting all very much encouraged. Red Herring games offer downloadable versions, perfect for lockdown. Find them at https://www.red-herring-games.com/product-category/games/dinner-party-games/
CREATE A THEME
Just because you’re in different rooms doesn’t mean you can’t have a party theme!
There are plenty of free printable downloads available right now, including our colour in cup cake cases
Get your party “guests” to print out and make up bunting, place mats and party hats in advance so that when you all join up on a video call the birthday child will feel extra special.
Music also helps to set the tone, so don’t forget to make that spotify or YouTube playlist and share the link!
GET MUSICAL
We spent a little time working out how it would be possible to host a karaoke night over video and we figure you’ll need the following things:
A video call platform like zoom
A YouTube playlist of videos with lyrics
A way to sync up the videos, such as Watch2Gether
We found it’s the most fun if you put the video call into “gallery view”, so that you get a little grid of back up dancers whilst you belt out “I will survive” into a bottle of hand sanitiser, but maybe that’s just us.
It works best if everyone except the performer mutes their mics during each track so you don’t get a ton of echo.
Don’t forget to line up the birthday boy or girls fav tracks and a box full of costume props and objects to act as substitute “microphones”.
If all your guests have had enough of your musical stylings, you can always head over to https://karaoke.camp/ and sing along with a few strangers. They have karaoke sessions running 24/7 with performers from across the globe.
MAKE A MUSEUM TRIP
Loads of museums and historical sites are hosting virtual visitors just now, so why not make use of this and visit the Louvre or the Great Wall of China? Adding a soundtrack, from bird song to classical music, will make this more fun, as will comedy narration if you’re on a group call or chat.
If you’re in full party organiser mood, you might even want to pay a visit beforehand and create a scavenger hunt for your “guests” to enjoy - get them to screenshot the items as they find them.
HAVE A WATCH PARTY
Did you know Netflix has a chrome extension called “Netflix party” which allows you to watch with someone remotely? The extension features synchronized video playback (so everyone's screen will pause and resume at the same time) plus a chat room so you can share your thoughts on the film.
Why not expand on the movie theme with yet more dressing up, a themed snack menu that guests can receive in advance, and some printout decorations. There are lots of printable colouring sheets for popular kids movies too, so you could include a colouring competition or relevant craft project.
CLASSIC KIDS GAMES
Many of the classic kids party games you might have played in your own childhood can be translated across a video call so long as you have adult volunteers to help out.
Simon says and musical statues are pretty simple so long as everyone can hear the music and instructions, and are favourites that most kids know.
Remember Kim’s game, where kids have to try and remember a list of objects hidden under a tea towel? Perfect for a lockdown birthday.
Scavenger hunts can also work brilliantly - get kids racing to retrieve the socks of the nearest adult, something that smells terrible and something they can wear. Goose chase has created some social distancing scavenger hunts over on their blog if you need more inspiration https://www.goosechase.com/blog/
If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even ask mums and dads at home to pre-wrap a few layers for pass the parcel!
AND CLASSIC ADULT ONES...
You may, like us, already have taken part in a virtual pub quiz of some kind. There are plenty being hosted via Facebook live, like the Thursday night one at https://www.facebook.com/thevirtualpubquiz/. Our team members conferred on answers via a four way Facebook messenger call whilst sharing a few beers. The best bit was - no queue for the lady’s.
We also had a stab at pictionary using https://randomwordgenerator.com/pictionary.php where you can also generate words for charades or guess the catchphrase, both of which get funnier after a glass of wine.
If you’re feeling extra brave and your party is all adults, you could start an online game of Cards Against Humanity. Just hop on over to playingcards.io. From there, scroll down and press “Cards Against Humanity,” then “Start Game,” and send that link to other players, who will join by pressing “Enter Game.” This is much more fun if you are also all on a video call at the same time, because then you get to see the scandalised faces of your opponents.
GET PERSONAL
If you can’t be there in person for someone’s special day, you can still send a meaningful or hilarious gift with a personalised message. We are currently offering gift wrapping and personalised messages on all our products, we can even write inside your card for you.
We hope we’ve given you a little bit of inspiration for how to celebrate during social distancing. If you are still looking for ideas, join us in our Facebook group, The Lockdown Birthday Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/151997882759070/?source_id=161455193908906
Stay safe everyone!
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Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. For me, the ghost of Christmas past looks like an extra from a Wham! video, complete with back combed hair and a novelty jumper, because I grew up in the 80’s.
The Christmasses of my childhood involved teletext instead of twitter, and the Argos catalogue instead of Pinterest, a simpler time without unboxing videos and instagram influencers.
Not every memory is full of winter magic though, there were also a fair few itchy Christmas frocks and a lot of culinary disasters along the way.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a quickfire list of the best and the worst things about Christmas in the 1980’s to help you enjoy a little nostalgia.
You get one chance ...
Christmas telly in the 80’s involved hours pouring over the Radio Times and the TV Times in the weeks running up to Christmas, plotting your viewing with precision. The anticipation was part of the Christmas build up. In a time before Sky Plus and iPlayer, you had one chance to watch a show before it was gone forever, and clever scheduling by competing channels meant it was almost impossible not to miss out on something!
There would always be a BBC kids Christmas drama, memorably “The Box of Delights” or “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Whilst we kids might fidget our way through Den and Angie battling it out in East Enders, or moan at Dad’s insistence on watching the Boxing Day races, we all agreed it was Very Important to know who had secured the Christmas number one slot on Top Of The Pops and of course we gathered round merry faces a-glow to enjoy the Only Fool’s and Horses Christmas special.
These days, it never feels as special. Whatever is on will still be available on catchup, and haven’t we had all year to watch this or that blockbuster movie? We’ve tried to recreate the feeling by booking Christmas cinema trips, but it’s not the same as huddling round a 21” telly eating a Wagon Wheel whilst yelling “Shhhh it’s my programme!” to your siblings.
This year, the BBC is bringing us some quality nostalgic viewing with a remake of Worzel Gummidge starring Mackenzie Crook, and a “Call the Midwife” Christmas special, both of which are on my watchlist. To add an authentic 80's nostalgic feel, I'll be watching both in my best PJ's with a can of cherry coke and a Cadbury's selection pack.
Puffed sleeves / town centre shopping
Our Christmas eve trip to buy a special dress from Laura Ashley was always a highlight for me and my sister. No Ladybird crushed velvet in my house, it was Mrs Ashley’s finest frills for us. The Peter Pan Collars, the smocking, the tartan and best of all the puffed sleeves - what’s not to love about a dress that makes you look like a member of the Ingalls family?
Teamed with some Avon Tinkerbell perfume and a pair of Clarke’s magic steps shoes, I felt like the belle of the ball.
As much as I miss those puffed sleeves, these days I do love the comfort of a Christmas jumper. I’ll be wearing my “Jingle Belle” cosy sweater this year, and enjoying my new status as Belle of the sofa, but the tinkerbell perfume stays.
Pouring over the Argos catalogue.
Okay, so maybe it’s because the 80’s was the decade when Mattel perfected their advertising techniques, but circling toys in the Argos catalogue was a serious business. Sometime in November, the catalogue would mysteriously appear on the dining room table, full of every toy you’d seen advertised between early morning cartoons over the last few months.
There’d be the long list to start with, where you recklessly circled all and sundry that took your fancy, maybe a lesser known My Little Pony or a Crayola set with 25 colours, then the shortlist; going through a second time with a red pen to add stars next to the Most Important Toys.
I can remember frantically circling that snail Keyper, a funny little toy with a secret compartment that locked with a key, not to mention the MB fashion wheel and of course a ridiculously pricey A La Carte kitchen - after all, a girl’s got to dream. Somehow, clicking “add to wishlist” just doesn’t have the same charm.
To achieve that same sense of anticipation and excitement in the build up to Christmas these days, we’ve jumped on the “experiential gifting” train, and plan trips and shows together. To add some charm to an experiential gift, why not choose our “Elf Mail” card complete with a golden ticket describing the experience you’re gifting?
Three ways to avoid the worst of an 80’s Christmas ...
Looking back through a haze of nostalgia though, there’s some things that I’d prefer not to re-experience; Dodgy Christmas singles with naff snow scenes, disappointingly waxy makeup kits and powdery, lavender scented kisses from “aunties” you never saw the other 365 days of the year.
Here’s a few of the things that we’re happy to leave behind …
1.) Going through the Christmas lights to find the broken bulb
Nothing tests a marriage like twisting Every.Single.Bulb to find which one has killed the whole string of lights. Those big, spiky plastic shades that are worse to tread on than lego can get in the bin too. I’ll stick to my low energy LED’s with 5 different flash settings thanks.
If you’re truly desperate to re-create the family challenge of the annual hunt-the-bulb fiasco, try choosing a nice jigsaw to complete together. You can always loose a piece to add some authentic 80’s style frustration.
2.) Animatronic terrors
Few things are more terrifying than a dead eyed robotic elf repeatedly feeding an unresponsive reindeer the same handful of hay whilst turning his head left to right for seemingly no other reason than to show off his weird, maniacal grin. Add tinned Christmas musak on and endless loop, and you have the Christmas queue from hell.
Luckily, the lure of a plastic popper bead necklace or a polystyrene slot together glider would give me the willpower to make my way past the nightmare snow scene and safely into Santa’s grotto.
It’s been a while since we’ve visited a grotto, but our teens like an evening visit to the Christmas market on Exeter Cathedral Green for a bit of Christmas magic. I find queueing for mulled wine under a star strewn sky with a Christmas choir a lot more enjoyable than queueing for Santa ever was.
3.) 80’s buffet table deserts
Throat itchingly sweet chocolate log with the mouth feel of sawdust anyone? How about some slimy tinned pineapple burnt onto the bottom of a soggy cake? Or a dish of rubbery jelly topped with butterscotch angel delight that has a faint whiff of baby sick?
Unless you’re offering me mint choc Vienetta, you can keep your 80’s party puds to yourself, thanks very much.
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Sleeping on the lumpy ground, being bothered by insects and peeing outside isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time, but Tarot and Ollie love it. Throw in a bit of outdoor cooking and the right playlist, and the Close boys will happily camp on Dartmoor even in the cooler months.
With Father’s Day around the corner, lots of families will be heading out for camping adventures. These trips can be a wonderful bonding exercises, and chance for a digital detox. They can also be a soggy mess of whiny children. It all depends on how well you plan!
The Close family practice “Leave No Trace” camping (LTN camping), because nobody wants to be “That Family” . You know the ones, noisy oiks who trample and despoil nature’s bounty, and cause everyone who comes after them to roll their eyes like it’s a competitive sport. The ones who leave smouldering embers in dry areas, scatter litter like it’s confetti at the worst wedding ever and help themselves to frog spawn and wildflowers.
With that in mind, Follow our top tips for a low waste, high fun camping trip!
Food and fires
It might seem counter-intuitive to an environmental philosophy, but a camping stove is better for cooking outdoors than a fire. From a practical perspective, it’s much easier to start a camping stove and keep it going in the wind - putting matches to damp twigs in a gale whilst surrounded by hungry family members no-one's idea of fun. But more than that, using a camping stove reduces the risk of accidental wildfires and is also simple to clean up after, leaving no trace.
With zero waste a hot topic, we’ve been keen to reduce our camping waste. Traditionally, plastic has been the friend of the camper - low weight, water resistant and easy to “pack in, pack out”, it’s all too easy to make it the go-to.
Whilst we do love our boil in the bag suppers (which can be cooked two at a time on the camping stove, saving on gas), we’ve learned that mason jars are also a great option if you don’t have to carry lunch around too much. You can easily reheat food in a mason jar by popping the whole thing into a pan of boiling water, and then reuse the jar for drinking your tea out of later!
Instant coffee is easiest for your morning cuppa, with no coffee grounds or tea bags to dispose of. We like old fashioned tin mugs - choosing ones with names on helps to keep washing up to a minimum without risk of catching anything nasty from your germ riddled school aged child. Make sure you also pack plenty of clean water and water bottles for each person - boiling wild water does not guarantee it’s safe to drink. We use chlorine tablets to sterilise wild water, but younger kids might balk at the taste.
SHOP OUR CAMPING COLLECTION HERE
Health and hygiene
There’s nothing like camping and carrying all your rubbish with you to remind you of the old saying “there’s no such thing as “away”, everything you throw ends up somewhere”.
The good news is that it’s now possible to buy lots of necessities like sunscreen and insect repellant in recyclable packaging.
There’s growing evidence that sunscreen contains minerals which can harm aquatic life, so if you fancy a bit of wild swimming or sea swimming, it’s a good idea to choose a sunscreen without the nasty Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3). There’s now plenty of brands on the market that are zero waste and zinc oxide based, like Shade sunscreen, which is made in the UK (bonus eco points for local sourcing) and comes in a stainless steel tin. Of course, the best reusable sunscreen is a good hat!
Blisters are a nightmare if you’re walking a lot when camping. We double up on socks - a thin liner sock and second thick - which helps to avoid them.
It’s also important not to run around sloshing harmful chemicals into wild water, so you might consider brushing your teeth with water or baking soda to avoid spitting strongly-scented germicide around, and skipping the disposable floss for a few days.
When it comes to washing up and washing, a tin of grated soap is your best option for both - just grate some from your regular soap bar with a cheese grater. Digging a small hole to pour washing water into will give the soap a chance to degrade without hurting any wildlife. Taking a little shovel will also help you deal with any, ahem, toilet waste - bury it six inches under ground to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Fun and games
Okay, we all know that giving kids devices can be a good way to get some peace and quiet, but this is your chance to ditch technology and embrace nature.
Packing a deck of cards and some dice can offer all sorts of options, as can drawing into the dirt with a stick for noughts and crosses or hangman.
For anyone who was ever a scout or guide, a quick google search for “campfire games” will give you lots of nostalgic favourites! Packing a ball will give you plenty of options like the classic S.P.U.D and square ball (you can mark the square out with sticks).
If you don’t mind a little bit of smartphone use, a photo scavenger hunt where players text photos back to the hunt leader has all the fun of a traditional scavenger hunt without disturbing nature. For older kids, a more complex version where they must identify trees or birds to snap can help develop interest in the natural world, and gives them some freedom to roam.
Our kids are older now, and over the years we’ve developed our own games in line with our particular quirky sense of fun, like “ten things”, where you have to name ten things on a given subject, like in-bound lakes or water birds.
We love camping out on Dartmoor, where there’s often no phone signal, so we take a portable fm radio to provide us with tunes and a weather forecast. There’s nothing quite like the scratchy sound of classic FM playing whilst you enjoy a Dartmoor sunset with a mug of hot chocolate.
If you’re interested in low impact camping, do go and take a look at the wikipedia article on Leave no Trace camping, which fills in lots of details we don’t have space for here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_No_Trace
The Close family checklist for low-impact, high fun camping -
Small spade
Camping stove
Zero waste zinc oxide sunscreen
Natural insect repellent
A deck of cards and a pair of dice
A sports ball
Portable radio
Grated soap
Water bottles and plenty of clean drinking water - experts suggest 2 litres per day per person for warm weather
A first aid kit, including blister plasters.
Two pairs of socks each
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Home made gifts. They’re a bit of a minefield aren’t they?
The fantasy is that you’ll give beautifully presented home-made delights to an appreciative recipient, all whilst waxing lyrical about how dreadfully consumerist Christmas has become and pointing out that your gift is free of plastic packaging and palm oil.
The reality is often that you invest a small fortune on “craft materials” and ingredients only to find yourself losing your whole weekend producing a hot mess and a new crop of glue gun burns.
“But you’re designer makers” I hear you cry, “surely all your creative output is welcomed by friends and family with cries of delight!” Well, not quite, Creative types are not immune to craft-mas disasters. A quick poll of the studio team reveals the following pressie making fails
1 microwave lined with burnt honeycomb ...
1 afternoon of diligent colouring resulting in a set of warped shrinkie dinks more suited to Halloween than Christmas ...
£30 of essential oils and baking powder wasted in bath bombs that just wouldn’t stick ...
And of course, numerous tales of the lack of gratitude shown by family who have failed to grasp that the tiny jar of chutney they’ve just been presented with cost 4 times more to make than a jar from Waitrose and almost all of Mum’s sanity after an afternoon cooking with the kids.
If your past attempts at homemade Christmas gifts have been more “Nailed It” than “Bake Off”, we have the solution for you - slow cooker recipes!
Easy to make with no expensive ingredients required, we’ve collected some of the best slow cooker Christmas make-aheads from around the web, which are of course plastic and palm oil free.
Taste of Home has a great recipe for sugary Christmas spiced nuts. They only last a week in a jar, so you can’t make them too far ahead of time, but the nostalgic Christmassy scent of the mixed spice cooking will make your home smell festive! If you’re feeling super generous, you could even invest in one of our personalised canvas treat bags to put them in - no wrapping required!
Find the recipe here https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/slow-cooker-spiced-mixed-nuts/
Already groaning at the thought of weeks of leftovers after Christmas? Nothing helps mix up a leftovers sandwich like a sweet, tart chutney.
This cranberry chutney from Mom Time Out is full of festive flavours, and is basically a “stick it all in the slow cooker and wait” kind of recipe.
Find it here https://www.momontimeout.com/slow-cooker-spiced-cranberry-chutney-recipe/
This slow-cooker recipe for vegan mincemeat is a little more pricey to make, especially if you’re going to add the rum, but the apple-y twist makes this stand out from supermarket versions. Plus, you get to humble-brag about your cruelty free treat.
Find it here https://ketchupwiththat.com/2017/10/22/slow-cooker-mincemeat-vegan/
Making fudge in a slow cooker is easier than in a pan, as it’s less likely to stick or get that grainy texture that results from unmelted sugar (can you tell we’ve tried to make fudge before?).
There’s some great slow cooker fudge recipes out there, including for chocolate orange fudge, boozy rum fudge and praline fudge, but we’ve chosen a simple recipe for a rich, classic fudge.
Find it here https://slowcookingperfected.com/slow-cooker-fudge/
You’re welcome!
https://www.tamingtwins.com/baileys-slow-cooker-hot-chocolate/
]]>Some of you know that our lovely little East Devon home is attached to the studio where we design and print all of our products. We love the very short commute, the amazing town centre location and the charm of our cob walled house, parts of which date back to 1875.
The plot has a great history, having been a dairy yard until the middle of the 20th Century. Our landlord John showed us the places on the yard wall where the daily bumping of the horse and cart wore grooves in the brickwork, and where he added an oak beam himself to extend the house over the yard that connects the two buildings.
It was John who developed the studio part of the property, expanding his bespoke picture framing business by converting the dairy yard into an enclosed space with large windows and high ceilings. And it was John who approached us about the possibility of buying the property, so that the space he built to house a family and their business side by side would retain it’s special purpose.
This month, our dream of finally owning 66 Fore Street came true! It’s been a long term goal that’s taken some serious work to achieve and we couldn’t be happier.
Now the hard work of acquiring the property is over, we’re enjoying a creative flourishing with plans to revamp the front of the space and add a colourful mural to the courtyard garden inspired by Claire’s trip to Miami last year. We’ve got ideas for planting schemes and are excited to restore the elegant but rusted iron gates which are the first thing visitors see - we’ve already bought some new garden storage and are giving the whole place a de-clutter to mark the start of this exciting new phase in our lives!
East Devon life is perfect for us, with a small but vibrant city and England’s largest moor both on the doorstep. We’re looking forward to many more happy years in the place we love, doing the work we love with the people we love, and continuing the proud tradition of this site which has housed generations of family businesses.
From Boardmasters in Newquay to TRNSMT in Glasgow, summer in the UK means music festivals! Cue mile long queues for portable loos, extortionate prices for wellies and water, and some seriously NSFW fashion choices.
Also cue families up and down the land planning trips with the kids to get some culture and family time at one of these glorious occasions.
In the So Close household, we’re the first to value a bit of a tech detox during family holidays, but we also know that facing the prospect of lost kids, awkward set times and unpredictable weather without the help of your smart phone is daunting! That’s why we’ve compiled our top tips for getting the most out of your smartphone from battery hacks to handy apps!
1.) Hack your battery
Our last festival trip was 'Beautiful Days' a few years back with the kids. Tarot hit on the genius idea of buying us each a disposable camera to help save battery life on our phones. Without the unlimited shots you get with digital, the kids learnt to operate some shutterbug restraint, carefully choosing shots of what was most important. The processed film had a great 90’s retro feel too which was a bonus!
A watch and a torch will also help you conserve precious battery life for the important things, like posting festival selfies to Facebook, checking on the dog sitter, and getting 5 minutes peace and quiet by letting the kids go on Netflix.
If you’re battery conscious, download an app like Battery HD which tells you what functions you can perform and how long they can be performed for with the power you have left. Try dimming your screen brightness and putting your phone on airplane mode to conserve your juice.
2.) Find the important stuff
You’re tired, it’s late, and you’ve spent the last hour refereeing a row about which band to watch tomorrow morning; the last thing you need is to stumble about tripping over guy ropes looking for your tent. There’s no shame in getting a little digital hep! Both the Festival Buddy and BC Tent Finder apps use GPS to pinpoint your tents location, so you can be sure you’re sleeping under the correct canvas whilst looking like a navigation buff to the kids.
Glastonbury loos are not known for being daisy fresh. Try using google maps to find the nearest “proper” loo by searching for local cafes and fast food outlets, and plan loo trips into your day - fussy teens will thank you for it. Oh, and so you don’t loose the kids you might consider using Find My Friends. Maybe.
3.) Have a handy home screen
A glimpse of your home screen is the quickest way to get info fast without draining your battery. Create a custom festival home screen by screenshooting maps or set lists for easy access. Then, you can “accidentally” leave it as your home screen for bragging rights at the water cooler back home, like a digital version of a grubby wristband.
If you’re worried about losing your phone, take a screenshot of a friend’s number and load it as your home screen so anyone who finds it will have a way of getting it back to you even if your phone is locked (If you’re feeling extra sneaky, you could give your friend the name of a celeb in attendance instead of their own to incentivise the finder!).
4.) Cheat at festi gossip
Planning on checking out new and obscure acts? Why not switch on Shazam during a set to help you identify tracks you like to save them for later, or impress the kids with your knowledge of the band (especially if you team it with a google search for some sneaky fact mining).
From secret gigs to backstage gossip, following festival hashtags on twitter and instagram can help you stay ahead of the curve both during and in the run up to the festival. You can also set up a hashtag of your own with friends and family to easily find and share everyone’s best snaps.
5.) Plan for signal failure
With everyone around uploading pics to give their mates festi FOMO, calling their Mum to find out of you can eat 3 day old chicken and googling “how to open a can without a can opener”, it’s no wonder that phone networks struggle to cope at festivals.
Avoid the frustration of being unable to connect by taking screenshots of timetables and maps so you don’t miss out on your favourite acts even if your signal bar is lower than the food hygiene standards of your average camper.
There are also some great emergency apps that don’t require a connection, like the British Red Cross First Aid app (handy after a spell in the mosh pits) and Firechat which lets you connect with people up to 210 feet away even without internet access or cellular data.
Wishing you a fuss free festival time!
The So Close team
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A quick scour of the internet reveals endless amusing tales of teachers being given hilariously inappropriate gifts - a bottle of stolen whisky with the security tag still on, a six pack of knickers in the wrong size and Mums used lipstick all crop up on the TES forum.
Nobody wants to get it wrong when showing a little teacher appreciation.
So, with a little help from our friends in the teaching profession, here are our top tips for treating the teacher this summer
1.) Use common sense about scent
Perfume is quite personal - not everyone enjoys the same scented candles or shower gels and that’s before you start thinking about the minefield of allergies. Plus, for anyone teaching year 6 or above the smell of Impulse or Lynx is likely to cause flashbacks that will have them rocking in the craft cupboard with a bottle of gin.
Unless you know the teacher has a particular favourite, smellies are best avoided.
2.) “Please no more ornaments!”
Teachers salaries don’t generally give them the purchasing power to buy a mansion - so like the rest of us, storage space is a precious commodity. Their mantlepieces and window sills are probably already clogged with the “art projects” and “treasures” of their own children, so go easy on the china kittens and “best teacher” plastic trophies.
3.) Don’t forget support staff!
Teaching assistants, librarians, lunch staff … so many people are involved in making a school great. Remember how frustrating it is trying to get your little darling to read yet another Biff and Chip book? Or convincing them that cottage pie is not in fact the most disgusting thing they have ever laid eyes on? And as for cleaning up a bathroom used by under tens … yikes. There are people in your kids school who do those things daily and deserve a little appreciation.
Why not ask your child who’s really made a difference for them in school this year and take the time to write a thank you note?
4.) Think ethical
These days, the school curriculum includes conversations about sustainability and fair trade. Support your child’s teacher in practising what they preach with ethically sourced, sustainable gifts that your teacher can feel good about receiving. there’s plenty of options for a greener gift these days, from canvas re-useable shopping bags to bees wax sandwich wrappers and re-usable water bottles.
Brownie points for being the green family in the class are of course an added bonus.
5.) Experiences are great too
One of the best gifts I ever read about a teacher receiving was a title - Mr Smith became Lord Smith thanks to the magic of titles for sale online! Experiential gifting isn’t all balloon rides and paint balling, a “grow your own” kit or cinema vouchers also count.
6.) The best gifts show a child has listened
The irony of the grammatical error on a “your the best teacher” mug isn’t lost on hardworking teachers! Asking your child what their teacher likes can result in some interesting (even revealing) answers; I’m still not convinced that Mrs Jones really does love shouting and I’m certainly not giving her a little Miss grumpy tote bag.
However, if your child has a genuine affection for their teacher why not ask them to write their best memory from the year in a thoughtful card? Lots of teachers say that a special, personal note from a child is the gift they like best.
There’s a lot of boring bits in being a parent. The daily grind of packing lunch boxes, being the children's personal taxi and washing their socks can easily make even the most upbeat parent feel worn out. Sometimes, watching the kids grow up it feels like time is passing too swiftly, a blur of clubs and activities and hastily eaten dinners. It’s times like those that I’m grateful for the annual milestones that come with a rush of nostalgia and a reminder of how important it is to stay connected - Christmas, birthdays and of course, Father’s day.
I’ve been a Dad for 15 years now, and I like to think I’m well into the swing of things. Looking back over the years, I can see a definite trend - most of my fondest memories of connecting with the kids are when I’ve found a way to be playful. It’s one of the great joys of being a parent that you get permission to be a big kid yourself from time to time.
With this in mind, I’ve put together my top 3 ways to bring a bit of play into your parenting that work, some even when your kids are teens!
1.) Make something
This works whether you’re making something for or with your kids!
Obviously in my line of work, creativity is my bread and butter; many of our studio designs come out of an idea for something I’d like to make for the kids. However you don’t have to be Picasso to make something your kids will love.
One summer holiday when they were younger I constructed a pirate ship from cardboard boxes, complete with a crows nest! The kids got involved by making their own tinfoil swords and raided the wardrobes for pirate wear, to imagine swashbuckling adventures. Hardly a seaworthy vessel, but because I’d made it myself, I enjoyed watching the kids play with it that much more. Unable to fit inside and join them, I resorted to pushing them across the ocean of carpet.
10 years later, buccaneering role play is a thing of the past. These days, we’re more likely to work together on creative projects - making badges with Bea for the roller derby team at Exeter pride, talking over the arrangement of Ollie’s latest classical music composition or cooking up a storm together in the kitchen.
If you aren’t the DIY type, get creative with word games or think up new ways to use the stuff in the garden for an obstacle course. Even if it feels a bit forced at first, let the kids contribute their ideas too and you’ll find the creative juices soon get going.
2.) Embrace new stuff
Planning family activities can sometimes be a thankless task. With so many people to please and a packed schedule to navigate, even picking a movie to watch together can result in bickering and short tempers.
It can feel like a real disappointment when the kids don’t want to do something I have fond memories of doing at their age. But recreating the past isn't the only way to find an activity for all ages. Letting the kids pick activities (and showing willing when they do) makes it all the more likely they’ll join in with something I want them to try another time.
Dads have a bad rep when it comes to letting the kids take the lead - remember Harry Enfield’s “you don’t want to do it like that” Dad? But we can all remember how great it feels as a kid when an adult takes you seriously, and stepping back from being in charge is a great way to reconnect with the big kid inside.
Some of the most playful days we’ve had have involved me taking a back seat and letting the kids call the shots, being willing to throw myself into whatever role they assign me. Now that they’re in their teens, this can look a bit less rough and tumble and involves a bit more technology, but the challenge to get on their level is the same. Whether I’m trying to guess the composer, time signature or key of a piece Ollie is performing or playing roller derby with Bea, the playful thread in my relationship with my children is still a strong part of our bond.
and Roller Skating in Dartmouth, 1980's style!
3.) Get outside
Okay, so we all know that getting outside is great for the kids, but exploring nature together can really help you tap into your youthful curiosity and find that playful streak that’s been buried by every day stresses.
Finding creatures in rock pools, making stick dens in the woods or racing to complete a scavenger hunt , there’s just so many opportunities to play when you’re outside. You don’t have to make elaborate plans, spontaneous park trips or garden adventures count too!
As a bonus incentive, you’re more likely to take a few snaps of the kids when you’re out of the house so you can re-live the memories later.
Whether your children are tots or teens, we hope you take the opportunity to celebrate your inner child this Father’s day and get a bit playful. Even Grandad can be a big kid with the right encouragement!
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The seashore trend is set to be big for weddings this summer. Natural materials, metallic finishes and a celebration of the outdoors all come together in a trend that’s shore to delight!
Whether you dream of a full mermaid wedding, or would just like to add some elegant natural touches to your special day, there are so many ways to include this trend.
We figured that brides who are drawn to this soulful trend will enjoy knowing their wedding details have been purchased from designer makers working in small studios with big passion.
With this in mind we’ve rounded up 5 of our favourite seashore trend products from some of our favourite artisans.
1.) Chocolate Oysters and champagne truffle pearls from choc on choc, £16 for 2 shells with 6 pearls from Not On The High street
https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/chocolateonchocolate/product/chocolate-oysters-and-champagne
Based in Bath, Somerset, Choc On Choc is a father and daughter team who create beautiful handmade chocolates that taste as good as they look.
We love this truly luxurious box of chocolate oyster shells with truffle pearls and think they would make stunning wedding favours or a delicious wedding gift for the special couple. They could even be used to decorate a beach themed cake!
2.) Kiko copper frames from Nkuku, from $14.99 https://www.nkuku.com/product/kiko-copper-frame
Dartmouth homewares store Nkuku commissions beautiful pieces from designer makers around the world. These glass and copper frames with recycled sari ties have been made for the store by Yusut, an artisanal framer from Uttar Pradesh.
Whether used for framing table numbers or to display pictures of the happy couple through the years, these frames will bring some rustic elegance to your big day without compromising on ethics.
3.) Wide crown ring by Mirri Damer, from £940
https://www.mirridamer.com/rings/wide-crown-ring-2/
We always enjoy seeing pieces from the Devon Guild of craftsmen, and this ring by Mirri Damer with it’s unique texture really caught our eye.
Her “drift” collection features pieces inspired by the Cornish coast, including this ring which seeks to capture the play of light on the sand at low tide. We love the way the tiny diamonds mimic sparkles on the water.
4.) Sea shore confetti from Rosie plus the boys, £3.15 for a pack of 50
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/517499407/starfish-and-coral-confetti-mermaid
Based in rural Bedforshire, designer and Mum Rosie makes intricate paper cuts and eco friendly confetti.
This charming confetti mix with starfish and coral shapes is gorgeous and guilt free, being fully biodegradable and created from the off-cuts of her paper cuts! Not just for showering the bride and groom, scatter this confetti across tables for a fuss free beachy feel.
5.) Mussel shell calligraphy placeholders by GreyberryDesign, from £1.45 each
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/205476801733879652/
We spotted these whimsical shells on Pinterest, and thought they would be perfect for a beach wedding. Hand painted in black, gold or white by shop owner Haley, these shore line treasures are a great way to incorporate natural materials and handcrafted elements into your table decor without breaking the bank.
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There are certain times of the year when sugar seems to take centre stage, and Easter is one of them. This year, Tarot has gone vegan and I’m counting calories, which makes the prospect of a house full of chocolate feel a bit overwhelming.
With that in mind, I’ve been on the hunt for ways we can make Easter special that don’t involve chocolate. Here’s my round up of the most fun and creative ideas for a great Easter that won’t leave you in need of a diet and dental work.
Alternative egg hunts
There are so many great egg hunt ideas on pinterest, from eggs filled with glow sticks for night-time hunts, to confetti filled eggs that kids can break over one another’s heads when they find them.
Fillable eggs are a nice easy choice for egg hunts. Try stuffing them with pieces of an Easter jigsaw or bits from a lego set for an activity that will keep them busy long after the hunt is over.
Trying to be green? You don’t have to go for plastic eggs. Tin or papier-mâché eggs have a nostalgic charm and can be used again and again. Our cotton treat bags are also great for hunts - hang them by the drawstring in trees and bushes. Each treat bag can be personalised with children’s names, so everyone gets their fair share and a re-useable bag of their very own too.
Find the how-to for confetti eggs here https://apumpkinandaprincess.com/how-to-make-confetti-eggs/
Gift a garden
Nothing says spring like watching things grow! Traditionally, Easter gardens were used to create a religious scene, but these days even a secular Easter involves a show of spring flowers.
We like quirky and unconventional containers that can be popped on the table to cheer things up. Why not create a miniature garden in an Easter basket or pretty teacup with small flowering plants like alyssum and flowering thyme? Add Easter cake decorations like lambs and bunnies for extra cuteness.
For a super simple option, grow cress in old egg shells and pop them in an egg box painted in pastel shades. Funny faces on the egg shells are optional!
Our personalised “Easter garden” gift bags are packed with easy to grow seeds, great fun for encouraging green fingers.
For a few how-to’s on teacup gardens, visit https://www.womansday.com/home/decorating/g165/4-simple-teacup-gardens-4039/
Fuss free crafting
Who else has a cupboard full of craft sets you dread the kids using because of the mess? If you’re thinking of gifting a craft kit this Easter, make sure it’s something that doesn’t have a hundred bits and please - no glitter! That stuff gets everywhere, and is terrible for the ocean.
I’ve seen some great ideas for Easter bunting, from egg shapes cut out of old paint chip cards, to hanging pom poms with bunny ears. For an easy no-sew option, give the kids a pile of fabric strips or ribbons in pretty colours to knot on a string .
A circle of card, some double sided tape and a few boxes of Easter chicks are the beginnings of a great Easter wreath - out doesn’t have to be huge, a small wreath is fun for kids bedroom doors.
You can’t beat colouring for an easy craft. Out giant Easter egg colouring poster can be personalised with any name, and is full of fun details kids will love to colour.
Discover how to make fabric strip bunting here http://www.craftinge.com/spring-fabric-strip-bunting/
I hope we’ve given you a few ideas for some sugar free fun of your own. Why not pop over to our chocolate free Easter pinterest board to see some more how to’s for the ideas mentioned in this post https://www.pinterest.co.uk/claire10/chocolate-free-easter-ideas/
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The first few months of the year are an important time for product development here at So Close, come spring our customers will want to see lots of new Mother’s day and Easter designs and of course we are already using what we’ve learned this Christmas to plan designs for next year.
January and February are notoriously cold, damp and dull months. Poets and artists have waxed lyrical about the creative renewal of spring for centuries, but you rarely hear an ode to the creative joy of the first wet week in February.
This January has been particularly difficult for the Close family. With our daughter starting a new secondary school and my Mum in and out of hospital, there have been days when nurturing my creativity has not felt like much of a priority. Faced with a stressful month, I’ve been putting a bit of extra effort into my self care and have come up with a few tricks to jump start my creativity on those cold and grey last days of winter.
1. Get out
Ever heard the saying “ a change is as good as a rest?”. If you, like me, spend a lot of time working indoors, getting outside into some natural light and fresh air can really help get those little niggles into perspective.
I’m lucky enough to live near Dartmoor, so this month I’ve been making sure I take our pug dog Pip out to blow away the cobwebs. I often come home with more than just mud on my shoes - the fresh air can bring out fresh ideas and spark new ways of tackling a problem.
2. Book in some treats to look forward to
There’s a reason why January is a peak time for booking holidays. Everyone needs to start the year with something to look forward to. This year, I’ve chosen to plan a few small breaks locally to avoid the stress of travelling.
I’ve booked a spa day with my sister just up the coast in Sidmouth for the end of this month and I’m looking forward to a day away from any screens and a chance to chat without kids or dogs around to interrupt. After seeing some charming snaps on instagram, I’ve also booked a family mini break in a very photogenic bungalow in Bridport next month and am already planning out which inspiring locations might get my creative juices flowing.
3. Look back as well as forward.
if you’re facing a creative block and feeling overwhelmed by all the things you *could* be doing, have a look at what you were doing this time last year. Social media makes this nice and easy with Facebook time hop showing you memories and a chronological instagram feed to scroll through. Take a bit of time to revisit your creative triumphs - you might just think of a new twist on an old idea.
4. If in doubt, do,
So you’ve planned some inspiring trips, taken some good long walks and had enough naps to banish the worst of the post-Christmas exhaustion … and you still have creative block. What now?
Sometimes, the only cure for lack of motivation is to make a start - things often seem less overwhelming after the first step.
If you’re looking for a bit of accountability to help motivate you, there are plenty of free online challenges in January, from art journal prompts on instagram to long running projects like Illustration Friday.
Tarot found inspiration this time last year from joining an online illustration course with a great creative community who all shared their progress on social media. The ideas he developed then resulted in his Cat Dog Christmas book.
Whatever you do to stay creative in 2018, be good to yourself and don’t beat yourself up for having a bit of creative block. Stay strong - spring is coming!
- Claire
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In the Close household, we use the internet - A LOT. Our business is run online, we all love a bit of a catchup on Facebook and Instagram and like a lot of families we’re guilty of sitting down to watch a film together only to spend the time constantly checking our phones.
This Christmas, we got to thinking about the kinds of gifts and traditions that help us put down our phones and get in the present (pun intended). Here are a few of our ideas - feel free to add more in the comments!
1.) Adventures for advent.
There’s no shortage of quirky advent calendars out there (hello Greggs pasty calendar), but counting the days down to Christmas is a great way to make sure you take a little time out for each other this holiday.
Kindness advent calendars have been cropping up all over the web in the last few years, with each day offering a “kindness challenge” for children. Anything from “hang a bird feeder” to “write a thank you to the bin men” is up for grabs! Create your own by putting 24 slips in a mason jar, or download one for free. We love this one from blogger and illustrator Rosie Johnson http://rosiejohnsonillustrates.com/shed-life/2016/11/5/kindness-elves-a-tradition-i-can-be-bothered-to-uphold
If you’d like to give back to your community this Christmas, consider doing a reverse advent calendar. The idea is, instead of treating yourself each day, you give to a family in need. Each day of advent, put canned or dry goods into a box ready for donation to your local foodbank.
Why not shop together with the kids for the 24 items that will go in the box? They will love the feeling that they are helping out and the responsibility of choosing the most useful items.
To find a food bank near you, and get ideas for donations, visit https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
There are plenty of options for an arty advent! Why not create a nature table where you can add pinecones and sprigs of seasonal greenery daily. For an advent activity that will bring some colour to your Christmas and get creative juices flowing, try our colour in advent calendar https://soclose.co.uk/collections/christmas/products/personalised-advent-tree-colouring-poster
2.) Gifts to use together
Every family needs it’s own traditions to keep you coming together year on year. Giving gifts that will come out again each Christmas will help you establish your own.
A few years ago, I gave my sister a set of Moomin cookie cutters. We had an amazing time on boxing day creating gingerbread Moomin scenes with the kids and now it’s part of our Christmas tradition to turn off our phones, turn up the Christmas tunes and fight over licking the syrup spoon. If you’d like to give a quirky baking gift, Etsy seller Unique Cookie Cutter can create a portrait cutter from any photograph of you or a fav celebhttps://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/448680924/custom-portrait-cookie-cutter-christmas?ref=shop_home_active_1.
Boardgames that everyone will play aren’t always easy to find. Smaller kids get turned off by complex rules, or frustrated if the game takes too long, and I know I’m not alone in not wanting to play anything that involves too much maths! Telestrations is a nice quick game with replay value and plenty of laughs. We have the 12 person version which is great for larger gatherings. It’s kind of Chinese whispers with drawing, but you don’t have to be an illustration whiz like Tarot to enjoy it and best of all there are no winners or losers! Find out more at https://www.johnadams.co.uk/product/telestrations/
If you don’t feel up to the mess and fuss of a baking session with the kids, how about creating some customised hot chocolates together? As we recently discovered when Tarot bought some chocolate cinnamon sugar tortilla roles into the studio (yes, really) not everyone likes their chocolate the same way! Vanilla essence, cinnamon sticks, whipped cream and peppermint stick stirrers all make fun editions to hot chocolate and for the vegans out there we can recommend using hazelnut milk for a drink that tastes like liquid nutella.
We’ve just launched our Christmas eve hot chocolate kits which include marshmallows and sachets of hot chocolate all tucked inside a personalised mug - great for creating a truly personal customised treat https://soclose.co.uk/collections/christmas/products/personalised-mug-hot-chocolate-set-the-perfect-gift-for-christmas-eve
3.) Gifts to experience
“Experiential gifting” has been everywhere in recent years, but you don’t have to fork out for a hot air balloon ride over a French vineyard to get in on the trend.
A popular gift in our house was a certificate for the Eden project zip wire - one of the longest in the country! Cornwall is on our doorstep and Eden offer a yearly pass if you gift-aid your entry fee so it was no trouble to pop along and use the voucher (though weight limits apply so it’s not a good choice for a smaller child). Find out more at http://www.edenproject.com/
National trust membership is no longer just for the over 60’s. With more and more family activities on the NT calendar (our local Killerton House has a wind in the willows trail this Christmas) it’s a great gift for families of any size with membership options for single parent families too
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/gift-membership
If you prefer staying closer to home, consider buying your loved ones a few gardening gifts. We’ve recently launched a range of witty plant pots that come with easy to grow seeds like mint or sweet-peas. With cute personalised designs featuring everything from llamas to avocados, even reluctant teens might be persuaded to get growing https://soclose.co.uk/collections/types?q=PLANT%20POTS