Tuesday 26 July 2011

Wed' you get that from? A Little Wedding Gift Guide.



We all love a good wedding, but finding a really special gift can be tricky.

For me, this is a topic that has been close to my heart for a few weeks now, as we are fast approaching the wedding of the year (no not Kate and Wills) but two of our best and most precious friends. They are due to wed this weekend – eeek! And, after all the excitement of the outfits, who's sleeping where, hen parties and stag do’s, it’s time to buy that gift.

Now to make my torment just that little more difficult, this pair, are off travelling around the world for a year. Yes, a whole year. So not only are they two of our dearest friends, but we are losing them for a whole year (that’s a whole other blog post I’m sure). This leaves me however, with an even more difficult choice, what to get a couple that are living out of a backpack for a year? No pots, pans or Wedgwood china here then, no. Definitely not.

So it began, my / our trek to find that perfect gift, so whilst on my little adventure, I thought it may be wise to share my findings, and that’s just what I’ve done.

Browse from a small selection of my favorite unique and one of a kind gifts, for that perfect couple.


Pair of gift wrapped Olive Trees







Tuesday 19 July 2011

'Oh hello new seller'

Katie Proctor from Katie and the Wolf


Tell us about yourself?

I am a designer/ maker creating original interior textiles & prints. Based on a forest and its inhabitants, my range of designs incorporates a variety of techniques, including screen printing, appliqué, digital printing and hand painting. I use top quality materials including silk and organic cotton, and dye many of the fabrics by hand to create a vibrant and unique palette.

A series of limited edition prints features quirky printed animals and trees.



Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?

The polar bear is a piece of embroidery by Karen Nicol. The fantastic combination of materials and techniques that

together make such a beautifully detailed piece are what makes it inspiring to me, alongside the subtle but striking colour combinations and visual textures. The unique interpretation of a familiar creature creates an endlessly fascinating image.
























What possessions do you most cherish?

My collection of vintage and handmade jewellery, which I have been adding to for a good few years. It takes pride of place displayed on a noticeboard in my bedroom, and never fails to make me smile when I see the bright colours, sparkly beads, subtle silver and chunky statement pieces all hung together.



Tell us about the product you’ve chosen in the photograph, why is it your absolute favourite?

This is one of my favourites because I think the subtle colour palette would work beautifully in such a wide range of interiors. The contrast between the simple composition and the complex line drawings of each bird make it a popular design with customers and designer alike!
























What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?

In the next few years my aim is simply to keep growing my business, expanding my range of stockists both on- and off-line, continue to develop new product ranges and to make things that people are excited to have in their homes.

Monday 18 July 2011

Glam'ed up gifts for under £20

We all love to have that little something no one else has.
Receiving outward praise from passersby; ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ of delight fill us with pride, but also give us that feeling of urgency to tell all where we made the purchase, and if indeed it was a bargain, how much we paid.
Now, finding these little one off wonders that we do so love, proves sometimes troublesome. So, this is where today, I am your knight in shining armor. Everything I am about to show you, is a wonder in itself, but also a bargain. Yup, gifts for under £20.
So dig your teeth in to these beauties... but beware, the secrets now out, and they’ll sell like hotcakes:
For the Girls:










































Treat the Boys:






















Black Calendar Block (£18.95) made by The Âttic





















For kids:






















Hope you enjoyed these goodies,
Until next time x














Wednesday 13 July 2011

'Oh hello new seller'




Alice O'Neil is this weeks Featured Seller.



Tell us about yourself?

An unconventional childhood in Rural Norfolk with a creative and musical family really helped me flourish as a crafty young person. Making with my hands has always been important to me, as has an interest in historical references. As an avid day dreamer, I have always been fascinated by the past, in which I endeavour to emulate as sensitivity within my work. As a BA Jewellery Graduate I’m interested in all forms of crafts disciplines, which inform my own work, including textiles, precious metals and semi precious stones.





Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?

Photographer, Jonathan Hyde’s work inspires me with his depth and integrity; these are elements that must inform ones work for it to be the best it can. First and foremost it’s difficult to pick one image of his that provokes more than another, but this portrait speaks to me. I feel his work with film and narrative is an inspiration to any creative person. His carefully picked models and location alongside his innate skill is a recipe for beauty. The model is my sister, Deva, and forever an inspiration in my life.

What possession do you most cherish?

My French electro acoustic steel sting guitar. A combination of woods with a cut out, it’s just the right size for fitting on my knee. My guitar is my accompaniment, and great for a strum of an eve. When buying the right instrument, or tool for you, whatever the discipline, it needs to feel right. I always try to follow my intuition.

Tell us about the product you’ve chosen in the photograph, why is it your absolute favourite?

This one off piece is my interpretation of the ‘chatelaine’. A Victorian brooch worn at the hip by women to include domestic tools, a thimble, thread cutting scissors and keys, all adorned beautifully and encased in precious metals. This piece delicately holds an antique cotton hanker chief inside a miniature embroidery ring and is suspended by a single button. A handmade replica of a 12th century buckle hangs the piece together as a reminder of the hidden appendages and paraphernalia that so inform my work.

What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?

I want to push my making skills, working more to commission and gallery pieces. Subsidising a creative based career often comes in the form of teaching – it’s so important to pass on the skills we learn, as the jewellery industry changes and grows, with ever increasing methods of technology, we need to keep to our roots and remember our hand skills. Although craft disciples have more exposure than ever before, an alarming number of crafts based degrees/masters have cut their funding, with lower enrolment rates. So, awareness is the key.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Summer fashion: the do's and the don'ts



We all get giddy as soon as that big yellow ball starts to peek from behind its grey, woolly, cocoon-like clouds. And, we run to our wardrobe to find our 'summer clothes'.

Yes, we may be a little chilly when we wear them, and yes, we may be baring more flesh than we should be, but what the hell, the sun was shining when I left the house, and these micro shorts, sandals and sunnies are staying put.

So, sun or no sun, here is our guide to what's hot, and what's definitely not.



Do:

Be brave with red lips – yes, yes, even though its summer. Work those lips, but remember, go minimal on the eyes. Check out handbag.com's useful guide.


Dye your white jeans baby pink, yellow or blue – sounds crazy but works wonders, pair it with boyfriend style pumps and over sized black tee.

Wear a head band – the bigger and
chunkier the better.

Mix up gold and silver. Pair
thinly wound silver chains with heavy, linked gold; play with different lengths and weights.

Go for sparkles. A gold spangly cropped jacket with an electrifying blue is a winning combo.

Don't:

Wear a floral garland – yes they are pretty but they've been done. And done. And done

Wear a jump suit to a festival. There is not enough time to whip that thing on and off, whilst holding your breath.

Pair nude with nude. Cream trousers or chiffon shirts need contrast, go for a bright orange.

Match your toenails to your shoe colour – always go for contrast, nude shoes = hot pink varnish. Try this from models own.

Keep using your run of the mill black winter bag. Go for a bold colour statement, or for a bag that suits all occasions, a girl cant beat nude.








If you've any more do's or don'ts of your own, feel free to post them below. For now, I hope that's satisfied your fashion taste buds.




'Oh hello new seller'



Lisa Tilley from Uoldbag is this weeks Featured Seller:

1. So Lisa, tell us about yourself?

I am a bag designer but not the normal kind, one who creates unusual one off spectacular items of eccentricity and dream world like matter. Like me, my work is humorous, stylish, individual and from another world. I believe life should be fun, so why not fill it with things that inspire you to do so!





2.Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?

I am inspired by so much so this one was a hard one to choose. Some of the subjects I found myself between include Hussein Chalayan, Miro, my studio, Selvedge magazine, Travel and my Nana. I ended up deciding on a picture that I took at a flea market overseas where I go to buy most of my paper materials that I use in my work.

My work relies on old vintage materials, which I am inspired by the most and I spend quite a lot of time sourcing them both in the UK and abroad. As well as the materials themselves, I find the places I go to buy them inspiring with their old cluttered objects of craziness.

3.What possession do you most cherish?

Although I love things, material things are not the most important thing to me. Out of all the things I own materially, my products are important to me because they are so special and have so much of myself in them. Aside from these I’d have to say my studio and my bicycle that I go everywhere on but probably the most vital item I own is my laptop as I’d not be able to live without it.

4.Tell us about the product you’ve chosen, why is it your absolute favorite?

Well this was quite a hard decision as I love all my work and every piece is different and special in it’s own right. I was between the ‘headscarf woman vanity case’ that I chose and the ‘Aviary II’ suitcase. I love all the birds and complexity of the pattern in the Aviary II suitcase but there’s something about the Headscarf Woman vanity for me. Firstly I think it’s because I love the color red but I also love the quality of the old print of the woman and her stare. I love its boldness, simplicity and real era of style. The shape of the bag, the color and style of the woman all shouts old and stylish. Which sums up what uoldbag! Is all about.



5.What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?

The evolving of the brand and extension of my product range but my ultimate aim is to have a shop that will hopefully evolve into many uoldbag! Shops and eventually take over the world!



Monday 4 July 2011

Style your Summer

Well, the most anticipated season of the year has arrived again. And I feel loathed to utter its bright and cheery name as I sit here writing, tucked up in my cosy office whilst outside appears to be a dreary grey.

Fear not, our summer (there, I said it) inspirations will have you chomping at the bit; and we’ll be stripping off those sweaters in no time.

Like a summer affair, we have fallen in love all over again with frooly. We’ve delved in and rummaged around, and emerged with some real treats.

This gorgeous baby doll dress is perfect for long summer afternoons picnicking in the park. It pairs beautifully with knee high stockings and flat leather buckle up pumps.




We adore this reclaimed vintage necklace and think the two pieces really hit it off; cutsie girl versus vintage vixen.






And no picnic would be complete without THESE! Yes, they are edible, and delicious; made with free range eggs, 100% cocoa and love. Gourmet handmade cookies.






You really can’t beat snapping away on your camera to keep all your summer memories safe, but please, do it in style. Take a look at this handmade leather camera strap.











So you’re at the airport, a little giddy with excitement ready to start spending copious amounts in not so Duty Free and you whip out this, everyone goes wild. It’s got summer holiday written all over it - Buy buy baby purse.







And so today’s final little stunner is this to-die-for upcycled vintage suitcase. Squeeze all of your fabulous possessions inside, and then just stare at it for hours.







Until next time,

Gemma,


PS I must add, Blogger is having issues with my account so I'm logged in as an alias... Michael. I promise it really is me.