We are having perfect autumn weather here at the moment...........golden days with chilly cosy nights........bright blue sky, sunshine, berries, fruits, butterflies (in autumn colours) and mushrooms and toadstools to discover on our woodland walks.....
 .................and here are some of my autumn inspired makes......a pumpkin pillow......
 ............and some fabric pumpkins.....these are projects from my new book *modern vintage gifts*.....
........i am pleased to tell you that all the templates in the book are the actual size for working from so no need to enlarge them in a photocopier :) ..................
 .............. this little mushroom pillow below is also from the book............*modern vintage gifts* will soon be published and can be pre ordered now from amazon, all good book shops or at stitch craft create online here........
 ...............my big box of projects arrived back from the publishers last week and i have been enjoying seeing them all again and arranging them in my home :) .........crafty wise as well as work commissions, i have been knitting my new moss stitch sweater....here is a peek at it........i have finished the back and have got about half way up the front now.......
 ............and here are some of the crochet wristies i made last year during one of my crochet crushes....
 ..............they are just perfect to wear at the moment when a bit of extra warmth is needed......
 ..............i have begun a new blanket of big granny squares inspired by the colours on the back of my mini granny square cushion shown in my previous post..........
 .............in my kitchen there has been some crumble baking with apples from my daughters tree.....
 ..............and on my quilt cupboard door there is a new patchwork heart....part of my project in the latest issue of crafts beautiful magazine...its the christmas issue this time so it is full of ideas for lovely festive makes to get ready for gifting this year............
 ................autumn colour is everywhere.............this is a view through one of our kitchen windows, with hydrangeas on the sill and a colourful creeper turning gorgeous russet shades on a sandstone wall outside...............
 ...............more little pumpkins......i am tempted to make some more in some of this years favourite fabrics.........maybe tomorrow i will sew just a couple more .......
.................i hope you are enjoying some beautiful autumn days (or spring ones if you are reading this on the other side of the world) and wish you a wonderful week filled with crafty inspirations.....thank you so much for visiting me here dear readers and your kind comments which i always love to read.................happy autumn x...............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooxxxx

 Lots of making has been going on here over the past week as i have had quite a few deadlines to meet......at the weekend i picked up my rather neglected v stitch crochet blanket and had a bit of cosy crochet time......we have had chilly mornings and evenings which meant putting the heating on and lighting the fire again sometimes.....
 .............but lots of bright autumn sunshine too and sweet flowers to pick.......
 .............the last of the tomatoes here reminding me of traffic light lollipops.....
 ...............and another block for my modern vintage flowery wreath quilt...........
 ...............i am just beginning to stitch around the applique here with matching embroidery thread....
 .............lots of lovely bright berries from our garden and purple daisies from my daughters as michaelmas daisies just wont grow for me for some reason......
 ..............we went to the farm and bought a pumpkin ready for halloween....just got to carve it now ;)........below is my little tea tray with a recent crafts beautiful project applique cloth on it......
 ...............below is part of my festive project for the crafts beautiful christmas special available now and you can find out more here.........
 ................besides making, stitching and crochet i have been planting bulbs ready to enjoy next spring........i have put lots in the ground and am going to plant up quite a few in pots and keep them in the greenhouse for even earlier bulb displays............looking forward to those already......
 ............the next block for my wreath quilt is applied and ready for sewing......i love making the same block but varying the fabrics used........the pam kitty garden one below is one of my favourites.....
 ...............one more sweet daisy with some festive fabrics in the background....more about these soon as i am planning a cheery christmas quilt this week.....
 ..............time for a cup of tea now and then back to work at my computer......
.................thank you for dropping by lovely readers and for the kind comments you leave me....it is such a pleasure to hear from readers old and new and i do try and visit you too if i can :)........wishing you all a happy week ahead enjoying the cosy season (or the fresh new spring of course if you live on the other side of the world).....hope you have plenty of sunny days, cheerful flowers and crafty inspirations.................back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For Foodies.
Great food is obviously appreciated any time of the year but when those nights just keep getting chillier, theres nothing like some good ole comfort food. A few of my favorites are V Street, (fancy vegan street food-- the Peruvian Fries are a MUST.) Khyber Pass Pub, (I really miss their vegan sausage sandwich.) Farmicia, (pictured above-- their brunch is heaven-sent.) and Standard Tap. (cocktails on a cozy outdoor patio.) For all you carnivores, Fette Sau is incredibly cozy and always gets rave reviews. (And for those who dont eat meat, the pickles are pretty darn good.)

For coffee connoisseurs. 
One of my favorite things about fall is being able to take a little walk around the block with a hot coffee in hand. There are so many amazing coffee places in Philly its been really difficult to pick just a few favorites. Elixr has a great atmosphere and is a stones throw away from some of Phillys best shopping. (Also to add to the Philly-centric nature of this list, its co-owned by an Eagle.) Higher Grounds is one of my favorites because its adorable, a few blocks from my house, and pups are allowed in. Its tucked away on an adorable side street in Northern Liberties, not far from other great restaurants. Menagerie is another favorite of mine, conveniently located within a few minutes of the TV station where I work. They have the BEST almond milk cappuccinos. Chhaya is where I had my first cortado and fall in love with it. Its in the bustling East Passyunk neighborhood and a few stores down from a great vintage store and more great shopping. Last but not least, theres Grindcore House. Its a great vegan cafe in South Philly. I love the music they play and the Mate Latte has got to be one of the tastiest things Ive ever had the pleasure of imbibing.

ETA: Ultimo! How could I have possibly forgotten this one? (A kind commenter pointed it out.) Its been voted #1 in AMERICA and its really, really cozy inside. Definitely worth trying, plus the neighborhood is really nice to walk around.


For explorers.
Philadelphia gets a bad reputation for being dirty and kind of smelly but its surrounded by some stunning landscapes. There are a lot of great places to hike that are less than an hour outside of Center City. Tyler State Park is in Bucks County and its where I go to get away from "it all." While Ive never personally played, Ive heard its got one of the best disc golf courses in the county. (If youre into that kinda thing.) Wissahickon is full of beautiful trails and there are a lot of places you can wander outside of those marked trails. I love it because its good for hikers of any level. One of my favorite things to do is climb the rocks over by Devils Pool.


For urban explorers.
No Im not talking about "urbexing," though there are a lot of places to do that here. Im talking about discovering the city on a bicycle, and now that Philly has its own bike share, its easier for guests to do it! The Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk is a great place to start-- you can get easily (and safely) from South Philly to the Art Museum. (Just watch out for pedestrians!) The views are great, especially when you get up to Boathouse Row.


For the cultured.
Philadelphia has a lot of wonderful museums. You all know about the Philadelphia Art Museum but how about The Franklin Institute? (For science nerds.) Or the Mutter Museum? (For you weirdos who appreciate medical anomalies.) Theres also The Barnes Foundation, (lots of Renoir, Cézanne, and the like!) and the Rodin Museum. The museums can be a little pricey but trust me: theyre worth it. Oh, and dont forget that this is the birthplace of America. It wouldnt be a trip to Philly without a little walk around Old City to say "hello" to the Liberty Bell. (I really felt like I had to mention that one.)


For forlorn beach bums.
If youre like me and love the beach, dont be sad that summer is almost over. Early fall is actually one of my favorite times to explore the Jersey Shore. Cape May has some of the most adorable B&Bs and Ocean Citys boardwalk is so pretty when its no overrun by "shoobies." Its quiet in an almost eerie way but so tranquil and inspiring.

I know theres technically a few more days of Summer left, but come on, have you looked outside? The Autumn weather seems here to stay and I for one am pretty happy about that! Dont get me wrong, Im a total Summer baby, but theres something about this particular change of season that fills me with excitement for Autumn walks, long evenings snuggled up under a blanket, hot chocolate (lots of that) and of course the chance to change up your look. Along with a transitional Autumn wardrobe that I seem to be suddenly acquiring, I love to crack out some warmer toned makeup options to. Im usually all about the berry tones, everywhere from my lips to my toenails, but this Autumn I wanted to try something a little different.

The Nars Blush in Dolce Vita is a beautiful dusty rose shade and works on lots of different skin tones. I really like it for creating that English rose look, or that just flushed colour when youve been out in the cold. Like all Nars Blushers its really pigmented so you only need a tiny amount to achieve a natural pop of colour on your cheeks. I love the fact that its matte as well so it gives a very natural look. I think Ill be wearing this a lot throughout Autumn.

One of my favourite lip products ever are the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, so I just had to give another shade a try. Bahama is a a really different colour for me, Its a rosy pink colour which compliments the blush perfectly but also has quite a brown undertone to it, It looks natural but not like you dont have any lipstick on. Again I feel its the perfect Autumnal shade and also works well when you go heaver on the eyes. These pencils apply so beautifully. This particular shade feels quite creamy, I think the lighter shades do. They can be a little drying but I personally find that means they last longer on the lips.

Finally I got the Nars Illuminator in Copacabana, Ive heard lots of nice things, and as one of the lighter Illuminators that Nars do, I thought it would look pretty with the darker, neutral shades. Its a pale, pearly pink colour, with quite a bit of sparkle, so a little goes a long way. Ive been using it as my highlighter on my cheek and brow bones and and also mixing a small amount with my foundation to get a more radiant, glowy look.

Im really loving this little trio right now, and even though ill still be reaching for my berry nail polish and vampy red lipstick, ill definitely have many more days in between where Im supporting the Autumn rose look!

Which makeup looks are you most looking forward to wearing this Autumn?

Kate x

Finally!

It is turning cold and autumn-y in Sydney. Summer has overstayed its welcome in my book and Im so ready to bring out my winter jackets and woolly socks!

Of all things, Autumn reminds me of pumpkins and spices, and anything that makes you warm but not quite hearty yet as thats Winter. This Pumpkin Walnut Bread is one of the dozen pages on The Art and Soul of Baking" cookbook that I have dog-eared (as like my other cookbooks) so what better time to make it than now?

I have found my perfect recipe for Banana Bread (Ill leave that for another post) but I still have not been able to find my perfect recipe for pumpkin spice bread. The ones Ive tried before tend to be either too full of spice or lacking it. This recipe is by far the best Ive tried. I love the fine balance between the pumpkin and the spices. The spices were not too overpowering and the bread is soft in texture (although denser than your normal banana bread).

Ill definitely be making this again sometime soon this Autumn. I cant think of better use of pumpkins than this bread :)

Pumpkin Walnut Bread
Adapted from The Art and Soul of Baking

• 2 cups (10 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar
• 1 cup (9 ounces) canned pumpkin puree (I steamed then mashed fresh pumpkin)
• 1/2 cup neutral-flavor vegetable oil (I used grapeseed oil)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (4 ounces) chopped toasted walnuts (toast in the oven or in a small pan on the stove)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a loaf pan with melted butter. Use a large bowl to whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, ginger and salt. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs and water. Blend in the sugar until well incorporated, then add the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Blend these wet ingredients together well.

Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Stir in the walnuts until they are evenly distributed. Use a spatula to scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and level the top.

This is a thick loaf, so bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until the bread is firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a cooling rack. The best technique for serving is to use a serrated knife to saw through the bread, cutting 1/2-inch thick slices. Leftovers will keep for about two days wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up. You can refrigerate it for about 4 days or double-wrap it in foil and freeze it for a month or two.

 We have been out in the autumnal garden a lot this weekend, taking down the sweetpea canes for another year, cutting back some of the plants and sweeping up fallen leaves........as well as pottering in the potting shed of course.................
 ...............we have lots of conkers this year and i have enjoyed collecting them as usual.........
 ..............and taking a few photos too, featuring my sweet bunch of roses which were a gift.........
 ..............i have filled the larger pots with autumn and winter flowering plants for some colour in the tiny courtyard outside out back door.............
 ............with lots of help from molly, who is not just the new sewing room dog but also the new garden dog............she might be very young, tiny and fluffy but she is an intrepid explorer and loves to push her way through the wilder bits of the garden and return covered in goose grass seeds or mud :).........mr p has fenced off the pond for now too............
 .............over the weekend i spent a bit of time trying to sort out my indoor work spaces too.....lots of decorative materials to keep track of for all the projects im creating at the moment can mean a muddle and lots of time spent hunting for things..........
 ............so i am tidying up and putting things away in tins and baskets in an orderly way ;).....
 ..........making sure i remember where i have put the things i have tidied away;).............
                                          ................roses in the sewing room.............
                                          .............and all the plants potted up now.............
 ...............so it is time to get down to some work for this busy week..........
 .............i have sharpened my pencils, filled the paint water jar with clean water, got out the new paper crafting supplies..........and ironed lots of fabrics.............
 ...........and made a new flower pincushion to use for my new projects............i cant have too many pincushions around the place............and little scissors too........in a moment i will be off to make a start......or maybe just have a quick cup of coffee first?...................
...........thank you for visiting me here, dear readers, and for your sweet comments which are a joy to receive........i look forward to popping in to visit you too over the coming week........wishing you all happy autumn days with lots of crafty inspirations...........back soon xxxxxxxxxxxooooooooxxxxxx