The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

Editor

Traditions

A could-do list for December

Tins of comfort & joy • GATHER FRIENDS, BRING A BATCH OF BISCUITS EACH AND SWAP YOUR BAKED TREATS TO CREATE YOUR OWN BISCUIT SELECTION BOXES, BURSTING WITH FESTIVE FLAVOURS

An Arctic life • For Tilly Smith, keeper of Britain’s only free-living herd, reindeer aren’t just for Christmas. But it turns out that they do have glowing noses…

The gift of imagination • MAKE IT A CHRISTMAS TO CHERISH WITH HUNDREDS OF IDEAS TO STOP THE KIDS FROM STARING AT THE SCREEN OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Things to want and wish for • Loving your home, inside and out. Books and treats for you to enjoy. Chosen by Louise Gorrod Reviews by Eithne Farry

… and a partridge in a pear tree • The Twelve Birds of Christmas by Stephen Moss

Maker of the month • Brickett Davda makes beautiful and very British ceramics

Shop of the month • Considered living at Reste in Hastings Old Town

Reading rooms • Bibliostyle: How We Live at Home with Books by Nina Freudenberger

In celebration of sour • Sour: the magical element that will transform your cooking, Mark Diacono

THE MAKING OF CHRISTMAS • At Seasalt we believe Christmas is something you make. We’re surrounded by a creative community of makers here in Cornwall, inspiring our own designers to create distinctive clothes and unique prints

WIN A BUNDLE OF BEAUTIFUL GIFTS FROM CORNISH MAKERS • Seasalt loves to celebrate craftspeople from its Cornish home, so they’ve put together a gorgeous prize of beautiful products from the artists and makers they work with. Plus there’s a voucher to spend in Seasalt stores or online

excellent women • HELEN TAYLOR THOMPSON HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO INCREASING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

WATCH WITH SANTA • NOTHING HERALDS THE ONCOMING HOLIDAYS LIKE SITTING WITH YOUR HIGHLIGHTER AND THE RADIO TIMES. WE SHARE SOME OF OUR CULTURAL STAPLES THAT HELP US FEEL THAT CHRISTMAS HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE • December is the month to make the most of the dark, enjoy evergreens, count down the days to come, look back on weeks past and spread a little kindness

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Packed with plums, black grapes, orange and plenty of spice, this proper cake is a delicious alternative festive treat

My day in cups of tea • WE ASKED DESIGN BLOGGER EMMA JANE PALIN TO TELL US ABOUT HER DAY IN CUPPAS

SIMPLE STYLE • THE CHRISTMAS JUMPER

A simple thing...

Fire up a festive feast • A ROAST BIRD BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT - WELCOME TO THE CHRISTMAS BARBECUE

WINES FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

HOW TO BUILD YOUR BARBECUE • Create a firepit in your own back garden

GET CRACKING • MAKING YOUR OWN CRACKERS MEANS THAT YOU CAN FILL THEM WITH THINGS PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT – AND CUT WASTE, TOO

“You think an epiphany is like a bucket of water dumped on your head… for me it was more a series of gentle drops” • With a growing online audience, you might find a Charlie Mackesy book under the tree this Christmas. His heartfelt illustrations help us answer the big questions that we didn’t even know we were asking…

DRAWING INSPIRATION • The Charlie Mackesy CV

ST PETERSBURG • AS MIDWINTER SNOW FALLS, ST PETE LOCAL ELENA TRUSKOVA PREPARES FOR THE CITY’S EPIC NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

ELENA’S PERSONAL...