Oh hello new seller :: Naturally Heartfelt

Tell us about yourself?
Hello! I’m Stephanie and I live in Falmouth in beautiful South West Cornwall where there’s a lively interest in all things vintage. I love working with vintage and reclaimed materials because of the history and story within them. If I can bring an echo of that to the jewellery I make then I feel that I’m adding a little bit of heart and soul. Using text in my work adds another element with the sound energy of the words carrying meaning beyond the immediate word.

Your chosen picture inspires you, tell us why?
I have one of these hanging in my room so I can remind myself every day to keep on making and creating as that is my dream, even when life gets in the way and discouragement sets in. The Lotus is also called a 'mudflower'; with roots in the pond soil, yet the beautiful plant floats and blossoms on the surface. It’s great that something so lovely can come from mud, and this inspires me as well when it feels like I’m bogged down in the mire.

What possession do you most cherish?
I cherish my copy of The Secret Garden that I had when I was eight – I loved the story then and love it now. ‘Being alive is the Magic – being strong is the Magic. The Magic is in me …. It’s in every one of us.’ Like most of us, at different times in my life I've had to be strong and I go back to this book to boost my self-belief through the joy and excitement of the re- discovered garden.

Tell us about the product you've chosen in the photograph, why is it your absolute favourite?
This product has to be among my favourites as it was a special commission for my daughter and as well as beads made from poetry it has sea-glass and other timeworn treasures from the shore that she collected herself.  I love making a special piece of jewellery from things found or discovered.

What should we expect to see from you in the coming years?
I always seem to have more ideas than I have time to work on so I hope to keep on bringing out new products. I’m enjoying finding new sources of reclaimed or recycled paper for my new lanterns and want to experiment with different shapes and sizes. I also hope to create more bespoke pieces with special meaning.

Visit Stephanie's beautiful online shop:  http://www.naturallyheartfelt.co.uk/ for a taste of the other treasures that shes lovingly hand made.

Hidden Gem: Best Underrated Club in London

Soho has seen many guises; it was London's answer to La Pigalle all through the 1950s and is now a super-fashionable shopping and night spot for young Londoners.

Madame JoJo's is a gorgeous sparkler of a club tucked away on Brewer Street amongst the warren of streets of Soho. Everyone's heard of G-A-Y and the other legendary superclubs, but this one's a whole lot more fun...! It has transformed along with the district, having seen time as a Burlesque & Cabaret club in the 1980s, an 'Alternative' Cabaret venue through the 90s into the DJ-centric nightlife of today.

Every night of the week - except Monday - sees a different theme, ranging from White Heat (Independent Bands in an appropriately intimate setting), Tranny Shack (does what it says on the tin...free entry if you dress up accordingly!) and Kitsch Cabaret (every Saturday early evening) right through to Free Your Soul (a chilled Sunday evening of World Music). My personal favourite is Saturday's 'Lost and Found' which is a jiving night of 50s & 60s Jump Blues, Rockabilly and Northern Soul. It's got to be the least pretentious, least sleazy place to be on a Saturday night in London. It's £8 on the door, and well worth the entry.

Madame JoJo's Website

Britain's Best Luxury & Unique Seller 2011... The Contenders!

So, the race to find Britain’s Best Luxury and Unique Seller 2011 has been underway for just over a week, and wow, do we have some strong contenders.

We love this competition. It’s great to see so many people passionate about supporting our independent sellers, we've had hundreds of votes in just the first week! Britain’s small businesses really are the point of difference in our towns and cities, and sadly many are under threat. They give us choice and provide us with an identity as individuals.

Please support them; show your love, and vote!

So who’s in the running?

Aha! Now that would be telling. Currently we have four businesses that are almost neck and neck. Now, of course, I can’t divulge who that is, as I wouldn’t want to skew the figures.  But it is very exciting from where we’re sitting!

Win a £500 shopping spree!
This competition is all about promoting those secret finds in that we relish. Get voting and help promote the UK’s best small retailers, plus be in with the chance to get £500 in your pocket just before Christmas!

Recap on how to vote?

Go to www.frooly.com. Find a shop you like and click ‘Become a fan’ on the home page of the shop, like this:

Or on a when viewing a product on the description, like this:

Or ‘like’ the frooly facebook fan page, then comment on our wall and include a link to the frooly shop you are voting for, like this:

Happy voting!


Gemma 
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Product of the Week: For Halloween

Contrary to popular belief the next festival approaching - in the UK at least - is not Christmas (that’s in December, I’d like to point out). No, the next celebration we have to look forward to is the glorious Halloween, and increase my anticipation of the somewhat underrated festival - I think it could be much better celebrated without Tesco’s tack plastic contributions - I hunted out a few products that got me itching to trick or treat. 

Flock LDN Tangerine Bandage Skirt

First up is this lovely Bandage Skirt from Flock LDN. Bandage skirts have fast become a wardrobe staple since the Hervé Leger revival of the BodyCon a few years back, and this packs a zesty punch with a vibrant colour. Not only is this reminiscent of pumpkins (in the best possible way!), but it will also brighten up your day as the greyness sinks in.

Chocolate Orange Bath Bomb

Picture yourself on a Monday evening after a day in the office. You’re probably cold after your journey home, and all you want is some nice relaxation and a reminder that life really is pretty great. So, what do you do? You reach for a box set and have a soak in the bath (possibly with a glass of vino). I have found a gorgeous little addition to that to make you feel seasonal, a Chocolate Orange Bath Bomb - it’s practically Terry’s in the bath - to make you feel indulged and spicy (and more importantly, ready to battle the next day). Plus, you get two in your box, so there's another one left to look forward to...

Have a lovely weekend!

Emma

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Hidden Gem: Yumchaa

Coffee seems to have taken over the British consciousness, but we mustn't forget the origins of our 'teatime': the lovely cuppa. Fighting the corner of a good mug of cha is Yumchaa, a London-based company championing the power of tea (and scrummy sweet things too) with a number of physical stores and appearances at a number of London's coolest markets.

Yumchaa has two stores in London; one in Camden and the other nestled just off Oxford Sreet in Soho. It's a far more enticing prospect for a post-Selfridges (I can dream!) pick me up than your run-of-the-mill Starbucks; the range of brews here is quite extraordinary and varies across herbal, green, black and white teas. There are - for those of you who like to forget it’s freezing outside - iced teas (think a Starbucks iced fruit drink) which truly taste of tea. My pick is the Mango Mango - it isn’t cheap at £3.20, but it is bursting with green tea flavour and mangoey freshness. 

Add to this the attraction of free wifi, a genuinely ‘independent’ feeling and delicious freshly-baked cakes and we have, ladies and gents, a winner in the beverage vending stakes! 

To buy their products and discover a bit more, visit their website: http://www.yumchaa.com/ 

Emma

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Vote for Britain’s Best Luxury and Unique Seller 2011 and WIN a £500 Shopping Spree!

Winter has dawned, and we‘re putting a little extra sparkle into our favourite season!

Vote for your favourite frooly shop for the title of Britain’s Best Luxury and Unique Seller 2011, and be in with the chance to win a £500 shopping spree!

Which shop have you fallen for? Do their goodies get you ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of delight, or are they responsible for that never ending overdraft? Whatever your reason, pinpoint just one frooly shop that you love, and vote!

How do I vote?
It's easy and takes just a minute - Find out more at www.frooly.com or go to our facebook page 'like us' and link to the name of the business that gets your vote!

Help support the UK's amazing small retailers, your vote counts.

Happy voting! x

Please note voting closes 2nd December 2011.
Terms and Conditions apply.

Our Hidden Gem of the Week:

Now it’s cold...best comfort food spot in the capital - S&M Cafe, Spitalfields

Now, I know that not everyone is based down here in the Big Smoke, but I have discovered a real corker for those of you who are, or who might be down here some time in the future: S&M Café in Spitalfields.

It’s not as kinky as it sounds; in fact, it’s distinctly wholesome, with a menu full of freshly-squeezed orange juice, bangers and mash and lovely cream Hot Chocolate. A definite one to stop at especially if you’re a stickler for Fairtrade, Gluten-Free, British Comfort Food. Yummy and saintly; could you as for more?

Oh, one more thing: it’s just opposite the incredible Spitalfields Market, making it a great post-splurge stop off point and fantastic for people-watching. Enjoy!

http://www.sandmcafe.co.uk/spitalfields.php 

Emma
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