So, now that it's officially summer, that means more time outdoors in the warmth and sunshine, hanging out and having fun. Does it get much better than that? If the weather really does behave, then hopefully, there will be some more barbeques and garden parties in the calendar. Traditionally, the summer solstice has always been about gathering and feasting, as well as honouring nature, so let's carry those practices on! We've got summer table styling ideas for you using our ceramics and kitchen textiles. We like mixing up some HT pieces with vintage finds, matchy matchy doesn't really happen around here!

For modern-day feasting, I think hosting dinner is always a bit nerve-wracking; anyone who's done it before is probably hyper aware of all that can go wrong! I like to think that as long as the setting is nice and relaxed, people can look past overdone veg.

My garden is where I spend a lot of my time outside of work (sad, I know), and so my Spring and Summer schedules are full of bending my patch of nature to my own will (in a very environmentally conscious way) so that my family and I can really enjoy it. This makes it extra special for outdoor dinner parties! Having some gorgeous flowers and grasses growing also means that I can make my own table decorations, and I can give away cuttings, bulbs, and little bouquets. Plus a copious amount of chard and strawberries of late...

If you, too, want to create some more summery magic for all your future garden parties, add some quality ceramic tableware to your arsenal of garden get-together gear. We have the essentials for summer salads and cocktails: Serving Bowls, Plates and Tall Jugs. What's more, you can have a spread that matches, too! We recommend our Peacock, Cat, Dog and summery Moth collections. 

Our Tall Jugs are perfect for showcasing fresh-cut flowers and grasses. What a wonderful way to create your own flower show and get excited for the summer season! It would be a mistake not to mention that these tall jugs are great for making batches of iced cocktails, a must-have statement piece for the hot weather ahead.

Kitchen textiles aren't to be forgotten either; we know tea towels and oven gloves can get quite unsightly over time, so it might be time to get rid of the old raggedy ones! We do a kitchen textile bundle of an apron, oven gloves, and a tea towel for a discounted price, so right now is the perfect opportunity to stock up on our matching Peacock or Moth designs.

And for when the dinner party conversations go on longer than expected... candles! I haven't got round to making candlestick holders yet (sorry!), but we thought we'd recommend some lovely designs from a brand called Bowley and Jackson. They have some lovely candlestick holders, sconces and lanterns. We especially love their Leopard candlestick holders. We recommend lanterns or tea lights in particular when dining outside as breezes are less likely to blow the flame out. 

We wish you many gloriously sunny days ahead with friends and family! Don't forget that we offer free UK shipping on all orders over £50, so if you have your eye on a few things, fill your basket!