PHOTOGRAPH
OF
26
GRAINS:
LANGLEY.
PRICES
CORRECT
AT
TIME
OF
GOING
TO
PRESS
delicious.
STAR
MEET THE CRAFTER
HOW IT ALL BEGAN Originally I was a clothing
designer, but I went on a candle-making course
and started experimenting with scents such as
cedarwood and juniper. Initially I made candles in
the evening, but when I put the first batch on Etsy they sold well,
so a year ago I took the big step of handing in my notice.
MY INSPIRATION When I was working, Garry was doing a lot of
the childcare along with his own business, and it was a struggle.
Now my work fits in well with our family. Our house has an
amazing scent all the time. In the early days, I’d come home
from work and pour lavender and cedar-scented wax just before
bed – it was relaxing and therapeutic. Soy candles burn cleanly,
which is important as we want our candles to be as natural as
possible. I have a creative passion, and now I’m channelling it in
a different way. I design the branding and style the photos, too.
WARM & COSY People want to hunker down in winter, and
I like to have candles in every room – they set the mood and
create a sense of home. I light a candle when Garry comes home
from work and when Esme gets in from school.
Candles from £9, oldmanandmagpie.com
Jemma Taylor of Old Man &
Magpie makes evocatively
scented soy candles. She lives
with her partner, furniture maker
Garry (the ‘old man’), and her
daughter Esme (nicknamed
Magpie) in Manchester.Just one (large) square
allowed to melt slowly on your
tongue... That’s all you need to
savour Firetree chocolate. Each
type of bar comes from a single
farm on volcanic islands in the
South Pacific, with the farmers
paid above the market rate.
There are even tasting notes:
it’s chocolate-nerd heaven.
£7 for a 65g bar; £40 for a tasting set of seven;
firetreechocolate.comTHE DRINK I’M
DR IN K ING
Did you do dry January? I have
to say I didn’t. Half-dry February
is my goal (don’t judge me), but
the early months of the year
need warmth and good cheer, in
my opinion, and Crabbie’s
Mulled Ginger Wine is a good
way to get it. Definitely not just
for Christmas, it’s a blend
of red wine, ginger wine
and spices. Serve at room
temperature or heat gently
for a mugful of comfort
on a cold and frosty night.
£6.49 for 70cl,
drinksdirect.co.uk