Welcome back to The Nightstand, our quarterly newsletter landing in your inbox in time for each season change, so here we are with Autumn, in all its glory. This season's Pillow Talk is with the beautiful and charming Florence Sweryda.
Florence is an artist and maker from East Sussex. She explores making in all its forms from hand painting the walls, making the crockery for the table, and now in the last couple of years, returning to her childhood love of painting and constructing in miniature. A connecting thread of fine decorative detail and the natural world runs throughout Florence’s body of work.
What is your ultimate bedtime routine?
Supper at 7, smallish cup of tea (strong, milk no sugar) a very hot bath and in bed by 9:30.
What is on your nightstand?
A glass of water, a half painted barley twist lamp and a battered paperback copy of When Marnie was There - a default relaxing book since I was age 10. Normally there’s some English paper pieced patchwork but as we’ve just moved into a project house there’s a small pile of Edwardian floorboard nails instead.
Your one pearl of wisdom for a good night's sleep?
A long walk, like today's windy walk onto the South Downs. Or being read three quarters of a page of a sci-fi book by my partner; nothing makes me fall asleep faster.
Whose bedroom would you most like to snoop around?
Paddington's attic room.
What inspires you most for your work?
Old small things, the kind you'd find in a drawer in a big house.
Which piece of art do you adore the most?
Anything by Edward Ardizzone or David Gentleman.
What is on your breakfast-in-bed tray?
Buttered toast with the tiniest spread of marmite, a large cup of tea, possibly some yogurt with Polish honey.
Bedtime reading: Paper Book or Kindle?
Paper always.
One smell that evokes Autumn is...
Crispy bonfire air in the evening. I like to have a good sniff when I let the dog out of the back door before she goes to bed.
Your favourite If Only If Nightie?
A tie between Chloe Long or Pandora.
When it comes to bed, nothing feels better than...
Liberty lawn sheets.