Collette Costello

Category: Journal Collette

  • Bring a Blanket Campaign: Spend 20 Minutes Outdoors and Reconnect with Nature

    Bring a Blanket Campaign: Spend 20 Minutes Outdoors and Reconnect with Nature

    Camping is one of the simplest ways to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature with friends or family, and it can look very different depending on the person and the setting.

    A group of four friends sitting in camping chairs in a leafy local park, wrapped in various blankets. One person is wrapped in a rust-brown blanket featuring a repeating pattern of camper vans and thermoses.
    Get your 20-minute fresh air fix with the ‘Bring a Blanket’ campaign.

    I started the “Bring a Blanket” campaign as a way to encourage people to get outside for just 20 minutes a day and experience a small moment in nature. There is no need for big plans or special preparation. The focus is simply on stepping away from daily routines, going outside, and taking a short pause in a natural space.

    This might be something as relaxed as meeting a friend for a hot chocolate in a nearby park, sitting outside in your garden after work, or taking a few quiet minutes to look up at the night sky. The idea is to make time outdoors feel easy, flexible, and part of everyday life.

    Even a brief break outside can help you feel refreshed, clear your thoughts, and feel more aware of your surroundings. The aim of this campaign is to highlight that you do not need a full camping trip or a long journey to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. Sometimes a small moment is enough.

    If you are thinking about a day camping trip or searching for the best UK campsites for 2026 there are plenty of options available, whether you prefer something local and simple or a longer stay in the countryside.

    Above all, I hope this campaign inspires people to start small. Take a blanket, step outside, and give yourself a quiet moment in nature.

    For more camping stories and updates about my collections, subscribe below.

    Happy camping!

    Collette Costello

  • What I Look for in the Perfect Campsite UK

    What I Look for in the Perfect Campsite UK

    After a long drive, there is nothing better than arriving at the campsite. My ideal campsites are those where you feel connected to nature and ready for an adventure. Set up for tents and camper vans, with a mini-festival feel.

    A vintage caravan parked at a sunny campsite, shaded by tall pine trees and equipped with a striped awning, folding chairs, and a nearby pop-up privacy tent.
    Setting up camp for a relaxing getaway in the woods.

    When choosing a campsite, I look for places where we can pitch up with the camper-van and go on long walks or bike rides without having to drive. My favourites are campsites surrounded by forests, close to beaches, and with animals that the kids love. I especially love spots that are good for stargazing and campfires, with the feel of wild camping but a few home comforts too. Coffee vans and pizza ovens are a welcome bonus.

    A panoramic view of a sunny, grassy coastal campsite featuring numerous campervans, with a scenic backdrop of mountains and the sea, and a small animal shelter in the immediate foreground.
    Coastal camping with a stunning mountain backdrop.

    As much as I enjoy the great outdoors, I do like to be cosy when camping, wrapped in a warm blanket, enjoying the sunset, whilst chatting with friends and family, or sketching things that have inspired me that day. Yet I found most camping gear to be made for extreme adventures and lacking warmth. That is why I designed my collection of camping blankets and accessories to bring joy and comfort to your camping trip.

    Here are a few of my favourite campsites here in the UK that I have been lucky enough to stay at; many of these campsites are hidden gems:

    • Catgill Farm (Skipton) – Great family campsite with everything you need. Great views, walk to Bolton Abbey, pizza oven and even a field for dogs to play.
    • Takeroo Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) – Get the wild camping experience, set deep in the forest surrounded by trees and a short walk to the Gruaffalo trail.
    • Mendip Base Camp (Somerset) – Large campsite, great for tents and campervans with an onsite activity centre.
    • Coastal Stay (Pembrokeshire) – Small campsite with stunning sea views and just a short walk to the Blue Lagoon, with the bonus of a pizza shack and sauna.
    • Ullswater Holiday Park (Lake District) – Fantastic family-friendly site near Ullswater with easy access to lakeside walks, paddleboarding, boating, and fell hikes. Large pitches, excellent facilities, a playground, dog field, shop, bar, and beautiful mountain views all around.
    • Coast and Castles (Northumberland) – Short walk to the beach, this campsite has a min-festival feel, with a play area and pop-up street food vendors.
    • Sherwood Pines (Nottinghamshire) – Camping in the heart of Sherwood Forest, great for cycling and is next to a Go Ape.

    If you are looking for more alternative campsites, check out Hip-camping or my blog post ‘Best Camping Staycations in the UK’.

    For more camping stories and updates about my collections, subscribe below.

    Happy camping!

    Collette Costello

  • From Campervan Adventures to Cosy Camping Blankets

    From Campervan Adventures to Cosy Camping Blankets

    Camping is my happy place. I have always loved travelling and discovering new places. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to travel the world, from backpacking around Europe with a tent on my back to touring Australia in a campervan and sleeping under the stars in the USA, with a Lonely Planet guide tucked under my arm.

    A woman sitting by a campfire at night, wrapped in a rust-colored camping blanket patterned with retro campervans, cameras, and thermoses.
    Warmth and adventure in every stitch.

    Living in Manchester, I love nothing more than escaping the city. Some of my most memorable trips have been here in the UK. My camping journey began in a tent and evolved through owning everything from trailer tents to my much-loved Eriba vintage caravan and, more recently, my pop-top VW campervan. I enjoy visiting festivals, exploring beautiful beaches, and discovering historic places across the UK.

    Travelling is where I find much of my inspiration, and I tell stories of travel through my hand-drawn prints, which I use to make my camping blankets. Nature is so important to me and is what I enjoy most about being outdoors, so I aim for my blankets to be sustainable and ethically made in the UK.

    If you would like to start your own camping adventures, check out my latest blog posts for top tips and inspiration:

    I am so excited to have you along for the journey

    For more news and updates about my collections, subscribe below.

    Happy camping!

    Collette Costello