Despite a sudden (albeit much-welcomed) stretch of unseasonably warm weather, it is definitely fall in Winnipeg. All of the signs are here: a chill in the night-air, squirrels scrambling to gather and hide fallen acorns, gardens slowly withering, and neighbours out in the sunshine raking up piles of brilliant yellow and orange leaves. It’s a time, as D.V. Moore of Papermoth suggests, to “Welcome Change”.

Even though it means winter is around the corner, I absolutely love this time of year. My reasons for favouring it over the other seasons are many, but the clothes have to be at the top of the list. I might be too soon to commit to a coat, but conditions are perfect for tossing on a cardigan or a vest. The kid-sized cardigan pictured above is quintessentially fall, with its autumnal palette and scattering of appliquéd leaves. It is a one-of-a-kind piece, upcycled from wool sweaters, and available in the Gock’s Frocks shop.

I’m sure the runners in the group will agree that fall is a great time to hit the streets and paths. Not only are the vistas constantly changing, gone is the oppressive heat of summer. There are seasonal hazards to watch out for, though, which can make the average run into a bit of an obstacle course. My usual route, for example, has its share of “acorn-hazards”, which can send a less-than-attentive runner flying. Don’t get me wrong; I am nuts about acorns, but for more decorative purposes. I’ll let the squirrels clean up what’s on the ground while I grab myself one of these amazing, one-of-a-kind pendants by Bullseye Beads. A handmade glass bead is topped with a real acorn cap to make each piece truly unique.

It seems like just yesterday that I was gushing about my garden. The tomatoes, as I predicted, were the stand-outs, but the big surprise to this budding green-thumb was the butternut squash that I planted on a whim. At first, it looked like nothing would come of the little vine. It bloomed like mad as it stretched its way across the back of the garden, but didn’t seem to be producing any actual squash. I left it alone, though, and it seems that my intentional neglect has paid-off; hidden behind the basil is a single perfect, bell-shaped squash. Solstice Scents captures the essence of the fall garden, including squash, in this vegan, cruelty-free whipped body butter. I can’t think of a better way to moisturize and carry the scent of autumn with you; throughout the season and beyond.

If you are lucky enough to live in an area with trees that change colour with the seasons, then you are probably quite familiar with the spectacular display as green turns to orange (and red and yellow and crimson…) Prairie Peasant was inspired by those autumnal hues when she pieced together the cover of this stunning handbound journal. As beautiful as it is on the outside, though, the real surprise lies within. Contained between the covers of this special book are deckle-edge sheets of handmade botanical paper, which include real petals and leaves, and plain sheets for recording all of your musings.