The Cottage Life

I am writing this from the Northern Beaches in Australia, some time around the 1980s…

Not really. But I am addicted to The Teacher’s Pet podcast at the moment, which is all about an Australian murder and the failure of the justice system through the eighties and nineties. It is so bloody good and I’m completely hooked, so my mind is definitely Sydney-based at the moment even if my physical form is still in Hampshire. But Hampshire has been lovely recently! The spring sunshine has been warmer and brighter this week, interspersed with a few rain showers and thunder cracks. Everything is growing again and the trees are acid-green with leaf shoots. Life, sweet life.

I have another new thing to celebrate this week - my latest book The Cottage Life is published today! I’ve been secretly pottering away on this one for the last year or two, together with the lovely team at Quarto and the brilliant illustrator Elin Manon. It’s a cosy, colourful guide to living slowly and sustainably, inspired by the world of cottagecore and the idea of living in harmony with nature. It’s full of lifestyle tips, eco hacks, crafts and ideas to help you live a calmer and cosier life, accompanied by lots of beautiful illustrations and photography.

For paid subscribers, I’ll be sharing an insight into the process of writing this book in the next few days. It started out as something quite different to the final publication, but I’m really pleased with how we shaped and crafted it, and I hope its readers find warmth, comfort and inspiration within its pages. I’ve written about slowing down, embracing creativity, ethical fashion, interior design, seasonal food, connecting with nature and creative writing. It’s a magical mixture of content and it was such a joy to put together! You can order it by clicking the cover below, or you can also buy the US version (A Handcrafted Life) if you fancy.

This week (between podcast episodes) I’ve been trying to bite away at chunks of my new book as the September deadline looms, as well as working on some promotional stuff for The Bridleway which is out in less than two months. I’ve also finalised the first two designs for my new Teemill shop which I’m very excited about… Think ponds and poppies!

Long-time subscribers, I hope you’re enjoying the switch to Substack. I’m finding the platform really enjoyable to use, not to mention that it’s much easier to reach new people and form new connections. If you’d like to have a look at the content that’s only available to paid subscribers, you can try the 7-day free trial and see if it floats your boat with no commitment. Thank you!