Autumn is my favourite season in the Cotswolds. Especially Sundays - roast dinner with all the trimmings, then wrapping up warm and and putting on the wellies for a walk at Westonbirt Arboretum kicking golden leaves. Then home to hibernate with a bubble bath and fresh pjs, before a hot choc (is it too early for a mulled wine?!) in front of a crackling fire and Strictly.
Well….that’s how I remember it anyway! Because this year we have the extra treat of a real-life little hottie to cuddle up to on the sofa. Which is lovely…. But I haven’t been able to eat a roast dinner with two hands for a year, rubber ducks of every possible colour are clogging up my bath, and I watch Strictly during Monday morning naps as I like to be in bed by 9pm ready for the 5am alarm.
I wouldn’t change it though! Florence and Henry are now almost 1 (where did that year go?!) and becoming real little characters who had a great time playing in the woods this week. Together with their buddies Ada, Ruby, Arabella, Erin, Phoebe, Ophelia, Florrie & 4 week old Jasper modelling their new Cotswold Baby Co. clothes and accessories, we all headed to Westonbirt for a photoshoot with the brilliantly talented local baby photographer and friend, Joanna Osborne, ready for the brand launch on October 11th 2017.
With Arabella shouting “famous, famous, famous” from her pram, we headed for the Japanese Maples with our entourage and set up camp and began to change everyone into their little fox leggings. Much fun was had throwing amber leaves around and striking a pose. Jo managed to get some great shots before a few sprinkles of rain fell….which quickly turned into the rumble of thunder and we had to dash under the trees to try and escape the downpour! The milkybar buttons kept everyone happy for a while (it was on Opheila’s rider), but eventually we decided we were all too soggy, and packed our little celebs off home for tea.
But the rain couldn’t dampen our spirits and we had great fun, and followed this day with a few more trips to the woods. We think that Jo’s delightful photos really capture the essence of our new brand, which is mama-owned and operated in Cirencester by Kate and I,(Rachael). With the arrival of Henry and Florence in 2016, and after years of working in retail and sales, we wanted a fresh challenge to fire up the baby brain, and with our new-found love of adorable baby gear, Cotswold Baby Co. was born.
So what are we selling?
Our Super Bibs come in co-ordinated sets of four, with 6 collections including Nautical, Nordic, Tutti Frutti, Woodland Pink, Super Stripes, and our Cotswold Baby Co. favourite – Fantastic Fox! They are great quality double layered cotton, perfect for the teething dribble!
Meanwhile our seasonal capsule collection, Fantastic Fox has been sourced with design inspiration from the Cotswolds, and we offer a great selection of unique pieces for babies aged 0-3 that you won’t find on the high street, so your little one will stand out from the crowd. This collection will continue to evolve, and we are actively sourcing new suppliers to help us grow this offering.
We are also proud to stock our exclusive bunting, made for us on a 100-year old Singer sewing machine by Mums and Nanas in the Cotswolds. The bunting comes in a selection of lovely colours and lengths, and can be personalised to make it extra special. Our beautiful bunting makes beautiful gifts for a new arrival, a baby shower, birthday, or just as a treat, and will brighten up any nursery. With just two months to go ... good stocking fillers too!
With weekly blogs and tips for local baby activities, we look forward to working with many mums across the Cotswolds and beyond. If you have any suggestions for future products, or would like to work with us, we would love to hear from you - hello@cotswoldbabyco.co.uk
In the meantime, enjoy your Autumn adventures with your own little cubs!