News from L&F

GARDENER'S WORLD
It’s too easy to be distracted into it from L&F business and Isobel is patience personified (except when she isn’t, which is when it gets scary).  
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
May in the L&F HQ garden is just about the most beautiful month.  It’s not yet the fully greened-up, thick and heavy garden of June and July ...
FAIR ENOUGH
And incredibly, it’s that time of year again.  We’re booked in to four HUGE ones this year, and paid up and hugely excited – we’re restocking and planning and all systems are very definitely, officially, ‘Go’.  (As if they weren’t...
CUSHIONING THE BLOW
We’re so excited – you love our cushion covers!  You spoke, and we listened, and so we’ve extended our range to include the gorgeous Lorne Stripe, Humby Fern and Appin.  Rather selfishly we’ve snaffled a handful to adorn our outdoor...
WE HAVE LIFT-OFF!
Yesterday’s traditional Yoruba ceremony was everything we had all hoped it would be.  Loud, colourful, emotional (the groom’s mother in particular, embarrassingly) and full of love, laughter and wonderful Nigerian music and food.  Today will start off as a much...
THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES...
Two birthdays down, one and a wedding to go.  The bride is British Nigerian, and L&F HQ in this quiet corner of rural Lincolnshire will shortly shake with noise, music, colour, traditional dress and unfeasibly spicy food – we can’t...
A VERY BRITISH PREOCCUPATION
Dare we mention the weather?  12 days to go until You Know What, and we’re starting to look up hopefully when we open the curtains in the morning.  I keep telling Isobel that Rainclouds should be her next design but...
THE COUNTDOWN COMMENCES!
August is always a busy month at L&F HQ and in 2023, it’s more so than ever.  Three birthdays (the first of which is today) and this year a giant, two day family wedding!   Forgive then, if a slight preoccupation...
SIGH...
For the last twenty eight or so years, at around this time, I have decamped to Argyll for weeks on end with first one, then two, then three small Irvines.  It still feels strange not to be tied to school...
POTTED SHRUBS
Please welcome … ‘Potted Shrubs’.  Our newest, freshest design springs from the garden and shrubbery at L&F HQ, where gnarly old favourites in beds are surrounded by new youngsters, looking pretty in pots while waiting their turn to shine.  Luscious...
POLLY'S SECRET CARROT CAKE
No excuse needed! Every day tends to be cake day here at L&F HQ and if it ends in a y, we think that’s a good enough reason to whip up our absolute all-time favourite, Carrot.  As a special treat for...
HOME AGAIN
… in time to see how our newest collection, ‘Shrubs’, is progressing.  And the news is good: the prototypes are gorgeous, and our manufacturers are doing their usual terrific job, so we hope to have the range available on the...
TAKING THE LONG VIEW ….
All the way from … the Lofoten Islands!  No, I hadn’t heard of them either, but it turns out that they’re way up north in the land of the midnight sun.  Last year was a Significant Birthday for Mr Irvine...
A LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Don’t tell anyone, but L&F HQ is echoingly empty this weekend.  Lancashire beckons, for the wedding of a family friend, and excitement is high.  The groom is reputed to be nearly as fab as the bride, and her parents are...
DON'T PANIC!
The Rutland Show is tomorrow, and the weather forecast is fine, and we’re packed and ready … what could possiblygo wrong?  Thetford last month involved a midnight trip for one of us to A&E and we’re determined that no such...