Whether you whip out your favourite knitted snood on the 1st October, or weep at the sight of a gently falling leaf, this time of year can feel as melancholic as it does glorious.

I love: the vivid 🍁 colours, the smell in the air, sunflower bunches, the golden light, open umbrellas drying in the bathtub, crunchy leaves, soft blankets, soft jumpers, soft socks, SOUP and that it is now socially acceptable to wear a cape and/or poncho. My inner child will never not feel excited by signs of Halloween and Bonfire Night approaching.

I really don’t love the way the days shorten in tiny increments, feeling the dread many women in particular feel at the thought of their evening freedoms curtailed until the spring. Scotland’s climate and the high-drama of a 3pm sunset do not float my boat.

But the slowing down of life again after the busy long nights of Summer does feel pretty dreamy. Here are some ideas in search of all the cosy this season…

Cosy Autumnal Shopping Edit

Tap on each item to view. Starting top left and moving clockwise:

1. Autumn Leaves Lights by Lightstyle London
2. Pumpkin and Gourds Iced Biscuits by Fortnum & Mason
3. Artificial Maple Leaf Garland
4. Lambswool Checked Blanket by The Tartan Blanket Co.
5. Pumpkin Cast-Iron Cocotte by STAUB (Le Creuset also have a gorgeous pumpkin range, and for something much more affordable, NEXT have launched pumpkin casserole dishes).
6. Autumnal Bounty Dinner Plate by Inslee Fariss for Anthropologie
7. Harvest Juice Glass by Anthropologie
8. Folklore Lights by Lightstyle London
9. Boulangerie Espresso Candle Jar
10. Autumnal Chocolate Leaves by Fortnum & Mason
11. Corset-Seamed Maxi Dress by Eri + Ali
12. Kanken Classic Backpack in Autumn Leaf by Fjällräven
13. Oversized Knit Sweater by Zara
14. Pom Pom Beret by Slow & Sow
15. Light Candle by Evermore

How to Make a Pumpkin Patch Cake of Dreams

Instructions:

• Bake 4 tiers (of any size you wish! Mine were 20 cm tins). I used a Waitrose cake-mix for the chocolate sponge (sacrilegious but speedy) and whipped up a simple vanilla cake recipe for the vanilla layers (as an impatient and frequently unsuccessful baker, the Hummingbird Bakery recipe is truly Julia-proof).

• Make a big batch of chocolate frosting to spread between each tier (and for the topping). I used the BBC Good Food recipe.

• Layer them like a giant sandwich.

• Cover in delicious frosting (messy texture is good)!

• Build your pumpkin patch. I used these gorgeous marshmallows (I spy some seasonal price gauging since I ordered them for far less $$$!), but you could make your own using fondant icing, or even add these rice paper maple leaves to your patch.

• First, grate some dark chocolate on top / crumble some chocolate cake crumbs from your sponges on top to look like soil.

• Layer the pumpkins using wooden toothpicks for a "tumbling" pumpkin patch effect (always remove before serving).

• Surround cake with a cornucopia of delightful Autumnal props & serve!

Bon Appétit!

“★★★★★ A Delicious Cake. If I could give it 6 stars, I would.” - My husband

“★★★★★ Wow-wee, what a cake. A real showstopper.” - My mother

To get your money’s worth for those extortionate pumpkin marshmallows, you could also use them to top cupcakes…

Or atop pumpkin-themed Hot Chocolates. Nothing, NOTHING (said like Ian Beale) beats the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser).

pumpkins pumpkins pumpkins

Country Living and Condé Nast Traveller have both compiled useful lists of the best Pumpkin Patches to visit around the Uk.

We went to Balgone Estate in North Berwick (pictured above) and it was SO GREAT ! They have a beautiful pumpkin patch (picture 7000 tiny children in wheelbarrows), a spooky lakeside walk complete with real life witches and a MAIZE MAZE. Kilduff Farm nearby is also hosting a gorgeous Pumpkin Festival.

Craigie’s in South Queensferry, East Yonderton near Glasgow and one of my favourites further North Cairnie Fruit Farm all have gorgeous annual pumpkin picking with activities.

This year I tried a Yayoi Kusama inspired polka dot pumpkin using a really basic drill to make the holes at random intervals. Extremely simple and super effective!

For even more of a Kusama feel, drill straight vertical rows using different-sized drill heads to echo the patterns of her work (I plan to try this when I have a slightly bigger poompkin!)

Autumnal Decor Inspo

You can’t go wrong with gathering gorgeous bits of foliage, branches and pine cones to arrange around pillar candles. Hobbycraft have so many accessories and crafting kits just now with everything you need to create impressive Autumnal table scapes. Paper Dreams is my go-to brand for beautiful honeycomb decorations that are ethical and made in the Uk.

There are all kinds of lovely tutorials out there on how to style table scapes or make your own wreaths, like this seriously impressive wheat wreath.

I also really love this gentle tutorial by Rex London. For a more in-depth workshop covering all the fundamentals of using seasonal flowers at home, I highly recommend this online masterclass with Pyrus through The Village School.

Autumn Bookshelf:

Cosy and atmospheric reads perfect for this time of year..

Best accompanied by this playlist for gorgeous ambience..

What are your favourite things to do at this time of year? I’d love to know in the comments below, or slide into my DMs over on Instagram!

Also stay tuned for all things Halloween coming soon..

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