Monday, 17 October 2011

New Christmas Market at Clifton Nurseries

Christmas at Clifton Nurseries is an enchanting time, when this exquisite, central London plant nursery gets dressed up in all its sparkling finery – from the outdoor Christmas lights, to the fragrant Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, to the most inspiring and beautiful plants of the season.

Adding to the enjoyment this year is a new Christmas market at Clifton, which will be held in the outdoor seating area of the cafe and comprises seven, independent and very stylish companies that will offer Christmas shoppers brilliant gift ideas and inspiration, in addition to those found at the nursery. These companies include (in alphabetical order):

Baruzzo Fine Italian Chocolates,
Emily Readett-Bayley: homes and gifts,
Prometheus Bound Books: hand bound books, and stationery products,
R & S Currie Toys: traditional toy shop and children’s party venue,
Runaway Coast: homes and gifts,
Tamara Fogle: bags and accessories and
Tom’s Deli: providing an old fashioned sweet stall.

The dates for the Christmas market are the first three weekends in December: 2nd, 3rd and 4th of December, 9th, 10th and 11th December and 16th, 17th and 18th December. The timings will be 12midday-5.30pm on a Friday, Saturday 10am-5.30, Sunday 11am-5pm. Entry is free of charge.

About their stall holders:

Clifton Nurseries, together with the leading online sourcebook for decoration, TheHouseDirectory.com, has invited seven dazzling, fun and highly original companies as part of the first ever Christmas market to be held here. Each will bring something new and stylish to the nursery and add to the very special atmosphere that pervades Clifton at Christmas time. They are:

Baruzzo Fine Italian Chocolates http://www.baruzzo.co.uk/,
Baruzzo was founded by experienced artisan chocolate specialist Raffaella Baruzzo, to bring to the UK an exclusive selection of the finest, exquisite Italian chocolates available. She uses only the purest high-quality ingredients including regional Italian food influences. The Christmas collection is an experience for any real chocolate enthusiast, full of tempting and magnificent edible gifts which will delight anyone fortunate enough to receive a gift of Baruzzo.

Emily Readett-Bayley: handmade wooden alphabets, furniture and gifts www.poshgraffiti.com
Emily’s ‘Eco-Luxe’ design combines her British heritage with the excellence of Asian craftsmanship. Collections include the original ‘POSH Graffiti’, hand carved wooden alphabets, numbers and symbols: some ‘POSH Decorations’ and some unusual ‘POSH Salvage’, wonderfully festive white-washed driftwood furniture. Everything is handmade, each piece is an original.

Prometheus Bound Books: hand bound books and stationery products www.prometheusboundbooks.com,
At Prometheus Bound Books they have brought the traditional craft of bookbinding into the 21st century. Contemporary, affordable and stylish, their hand made products and books are made in England and make the perfect gift for any person, event or occasion.
Their master craftsmen can bind any book in our vast range of colours and bindings, including leather, patent leather and other traditional binding materials.
A Prometheus Bound Book is a future heirloom.
Enquiries to info@prometheusboundbooks.com or telephone 0207 351 3070.

R S Currie & Co.: traditional toy shop and birthday party venue www.rscurrie.com.

Whether you are shopping for the latest craze or a classic gift R.S.Currie & Co holds a wide selection of traditional and modern toys in the heart of Notting Hill. Look a little further beyond the giant giraffe and shelves stacked with toys and you will find the secret house of R.S.Currie & Co. A magical land hidden behind a secret door where you can find a life sized house and enchanting garden perfect for hosting a marvellous children's party.

Runaway Coast: homes and gifts http://runawaycoast.com/,
Runaway to Clifton Nurseries this Christmas!

For exciting starry and stripy gifts all beautifully wrapped, Runaway Coast is coming to London. Launched in May 2009, this fresh lifestyle brand will pack up its trunks from its Suffolk headquarters, and a bring a selection of goodies you can’t resist from bed linen to smart shoppers, amongst others, plus their signature Union Jack giant cushions and cashmere blanket, which are fast becoming a ‘must-have’ accessory for every home.

This Year, Runaway Coast is delighted to be supporting Starlight Foundation’s “Christmas of Happiness”, donating 5% on every purchase made from their New England Star collection this Christmas.

Tamara Fogle: bags and accessories http://www.tamarafogle.com/
Inspired by heritage and quality, Tamara Fogle bags never shout but are always noticed.
Signature vintage and antique textiles provide a contemporary ethical twist to classic, functional bags, all trimmed with Italian leather, and all made in a small UK workshop.
In addition, Tamara has created the full leather range. Structured but slouchy, and always functional and desirable.

and

Tom’s Deli: sweets http://www.tomsdeli.co.uk/.
"Tom's Deli, the cornerstone of the community on Westbourne Grove for over 20 years is delighted to be participating in the first ever Clifton Christmas Market. We will be bringing oodles of Christmas treats (sweet and savoury), gift ideas for all ages, hampers and our selection of our favourite, unique confectionery available today. Do come and visit us!"

www.clifton.co.uk

Fireman Sam Spin and Rescue Game

The fireman Sam Spin and Rescue Game is a game that will be a sure hit with all fans of the hero of the Welsh Fire Service, Fireman Sam.

Sam and his fellow fire officers are responsible for fire and rescue services in the fictional Welsh coastal town of Pontypandy, where there is always plenty of action for Fireman Sam and his colleagues.

The Fireman Sam Game consists of a Fireman Sam figure, the special electronic spinner the spinner base (actually, a sort of spinning arena) 20 Rescue Cards (broken down into 5 Fireman Sam cards, 5 Tom cards, 5 penny cards and 5 Elvis cards. There are also the hero markers, too.

The object of the game is deceptively simple. You must be the first player to collect all five rescue cards that belong to your hero.

Before the game play can commence, an adult should unscrew the lid on the top of the spinner and put in two AAA batteries (these are sometimes called LR03 batteries) in the battery compartment, ensuring they are the right way round. Close the lid, tighten the screw and place the Fireman Sam figure on the top of it.

Position the spinner base on a flat surface (a table is perfect) then turn the electronic spinner on with the switch on the side and you are ready for action!

The rules are that the youngest player will start the game by taking a hero marker, the player to their left does the same. You can chose any hero you like. You must then slide your marker into one of the slots on the spinner base in front of you.

The game is simple but exciting. The youngest player gives Fireman Sam as powerful a spin as they can. A fire station bell rings! Players must wait until Sam finishes spinning and watch carefully to see who Sam is pointing at. If he stops by your marker, you need to pay particular attention to what he says to you.

He will say one of several phrases which will tell you what you need to do. Can you collect all five hero cards? Go on! It's fun to find out!

The game is loud and exciting and will surely be a hit with confirmed and new Fireman Sam fans! It can be played with 2 to 3 players or with 2 to 4 players.

It will make An ideal Christmas present for fans of a variety of ages!

The Fireman Sam Spin and Rescue Game is available from Argos, Tesco, Toys R Us, The Entertainer, Amazon, Play.com priced at £9.99 RRP.

Friday, 14 October 2011

Say it With Art this Christmas. A specially commissioned painting makes the perfect gift

A specially commissioned painting makes a genuinely unique and unforgettable gift …for Christmas, Weddings and all special occasions. And it’s more accessible and achievable than you might think.

Who hasn’t wracked their brains or exhausted their imaginations over that very important gift for someone very special? How many wedding lists or retirement/anniversary gifts offer the chance to contribute to something truly lasting and meaningful? What would a specially commissioned painting full of personal resonance mean to the one you love?

www.gofigurative.com is an art business with a difference, one which makes buying or commissioning art accessible, enjoyable and satisfying. With a diverse community of talented and skilled figurative artists to call upon, GoFigurative.com can match each client to the right artist and oversee the process from start to finish.

Creating a real partnership between painter and portrait subject (or a beloved landscape, or a still life of treasured objects) GoFigurative.com can enable the acquisition of a unique, bespoke and precious possession that is destined for heirloom status.

A picture’s worth a thousand gifts… so put your ‘art-list’ online

…And if this seems like a fantasy of unaffordable luxury, think again – because of their innovative and flexible online business model, GoFigurative costs, and therefore prices are lower than conventional galleries. The website also makes it possible to share and spread the cost – by setting up a ‘gift list’ online through which friends, family members and colleagues can make payments to contribute toward the special commission.

A hub for skill and talent – a brief outline of artists and case studies

GoFigurative is both an innovative online gallery and a vibrant community for figurative artists, including sculptors, portrait, landscape and still life painters. When commissioning a special piece of art, clients can select from the rich portfolio of renowned artists.

Recent special commissions included the ‘Portrait of Steph’ by Hyenk Martinec, arranged as a 40th birthday present by her partner. Martinec, who loves to mix photorealism with abstraction, is the winner of the BP Young Artist Award in 2007 and 2008 and his work is part of private collections in London, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Miami and New York.

The master of closely observed interior scenes, Andrew McNeile Jones is also among the GoFigurative artists who take special commissions. He specialises in creating a ‘still life’ of the subject’s favourite objects and mementoes. Recently McNeile Jones created a painting of the bride’s wedding dress and groom’s outfit for the marriage of a couple who had no need of the usual ‘wedding list’ suspects and wanted something very different to mark the occasion and treasure instead. GoFigurative set up a ‘gift list’ for this special commission at: www.gofigurative.com/jasonharshika

Mayor Boris Johnson and Dr. Diana Walford, former Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford University were recent portrait subjects of Helen Masacz. Her work was shown at the Royal Society Portrait Painters Exhibition 2011, winning the Art's Club Award. In 2005 along with other noted artists such as Frank Auerbach, Tracey Emin and Marc Quinn, Masacz was asked by the National Portrait Gallery to contribute work for their 150th anniversary.

BP Portrait Award 2011 nominees Alan Coulson and David Eichenberg are also among the renowned names who undertake special portrait commissions through GoFigurative.com

GoFigurative artist Melissa Scott-Miller specialises in portraits with interesting background detail - for instance, a family group with their house in the background, or perhaps the sitter in his or her favourite room, or in a corner of the garden. Melissa also welcomes commissions for houses, gardens or a favourite view.

Price guide:

Special commissions start from £500 – rising to £10,000 for a large oil on canvas portrait.

FACTFILE:
Go Figurative – The Real Art People
GoFigurative is a unique art company providing bespoke art consulting, sourcing and installation services. An easily navigable website makes art easy to find, buy and even try-out for all kinds of collectors - and a wide range of budgets. Go Figurative was founded by Sally Perry and Janine Collins, a pair of professional high-flyers who have now turned their passion for art into a full-time, thriving venture with a distinctive business model.

GoFigurative
1 Liverpool Street, London EC2M 7QD
Tel: +44 (0) 207 956 2819
www.gofigurative.com

Say it with Ceramics this Christmas with Gallery Thea

Personalised Tree decorations, various sizes and shapes, from £15.

These hand-painted ceramic Christmas decorations from Gallery Thea can be personalised with a name, theme or message of your choice. They make for a truly individual, thoughtfully chosen and inspired gift.

For example, what about Napkin ties £8? Or a 36cm platter £110?

And for your Christmas table this year, order some napkin ties or place settings, personalised with the name of each guest.

They are available mail-order and via www.gallerythea.co.uk items can be sent nationwide. Phone 01502 722 433 to discuss your commission.

But do please make a note that the last order date for Christmas delivery is 10th December 2011.

And you can make this Christmas that will be one of the magical Christmases that everyone will remember fondly for the rest of their lives.

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Ideal Home Show at Christmas Preview

The Ideal Home Show is launching a festive edition of Britain’s best loved home show. The first ever Ideal Home Show at Christmas will take place from 16th-20th November at Earls Court, London.

Held over five days Ideal Home Show at Christmas will be the largest home event this winter, full of ideas, inspiration and advice on everything you need to make your home ideal for Christmas.

With over 400 exhibitors across six sections, the Ideal Home Show at Christmas will feature; Ideal Interiors, Ideal Home Improvements, Christmas Food & Drink, Christmas Fashion & Beauty, Christmas Gifts & Decorations, as well as Christmas Gadgets, perfect for your home and all the family this festive season. 

There will also be more celebrity guests including; Gino D’Acampo, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Suzi Perry and Olly Smith offering top tips and advice throughout the show, as well as experts in our How to Theatre sponsored by Bosch Power Tools, who will be on hand with ideas and inspiration on all of your home improvement and interior needs to prepare your home for that crucial Christmas deadline.

Here’s a sneaky peak at what you can expect to see this year….

Ideal Interiors with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Hosted by TV presenter and flamboyant interior designer Laurence Llewelyn –Bowen, this year’s Ideal Interiors section will offer a wide selection of furniture, furnishings, home and interior accessories that can be delivered in time for Christmas.

Laurence will also be on hand at the How to Theatre sponsored by Bosch Power Tools, giving his top tips and advice on the latest interior trends, home improvement ideas, as well as decorating inspiration for those last minute finishing touches for your home.

There will also be six beautifully themed room sets giving you ideas on how to dress your home for the Christmas season, creating the ultimate Christmas table setting and making your own handcrafted decorations.
Ideal Home Improvements

If you’re looking to finish those last minute DIY jobs in time for Christmas, or have some exciting ideas or plans for the New Year, the Ideal Home Improvement section will have all that you need. Boasting a variety of the UK’s top brands and independent specialists, we will be able to help you source the right suppliers for your home improvement project whatever your DIY need; from kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, windows to wallpapers, paints, DIY tools and much more.

Plus visit our How To Theatre sponsored by Bosch Power Tools for fun filled and informative demonstrations every day from specialist speakers and celebrity experts such as Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Oliver Heath, Alison Cork and many more.

Christmas Food & Drink with Gino D’Acampo and Olly Smith

Professional Italian Chef, TV Presenter and winner of ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ Gino D’Acampo, will demonstrate how to use Italian ingredients to create the perfect Christmas dinner, with a little Italian flair, on the live Celebrity Chef Theatre.

Celebrity wine expert on the BBC’s ‘Saturday Kitchen’ and bon viviant Olly Smith will give his top picks of delectable wines and special tipples for the festive season. From matching wines with your Christmas dinner to the ideal fizz to get your party started in style, whatever your budget!

The Christmas Food & Drink section will also see hundreds of foodie exhibitors, allowing you to sample tasty items from an array of quality exhibitors, in our Christmas Food Market, with delicious food and drinks from artisan and speciality producers offering meats and turkeys, cheeses and condiments, festive wines and champagnes, Christmas cakes and puddings, chocolates, gourmet gift hampers and much more!

There will also be a Pop-up Book Shop where visitors will have the chance to meet celebrity chefs and get a signed copy of their latest cookery books - perfect for foodie lovers as a unique Christmas gift.

You will also be able to relax, indulge and socialise with your friends and loved ones over a glass (or two) of perfectly chilled bubbly in our elegant Champagne Bar, or even combine your Christmas shopping with an early Christmas lunch in our Christmas Restaurant.

Gadgets and Gizmos with Suzi Perry’s ‘Christmas Gadgets’

No Christmas would be complete without the latest toys and gadgets to play with and this year’s Christmas Gadgets section has it all! With a selection of the very latest gadgets and gizmos, set to be hot property this Christmas, you’ll find everything you need from help speeding up that turkey preparation in the kitchen, to entertaining the kids for the holidays with TV and Audio systems, to ideal Christmas presents for your loved ones. Plus don’t miss this year’s most popular gadgets in the 3D theatre!

Deck the Halls with ‘Christmas Gifts & Decorations’

Make your home a cosy retreat this winter with a treasure trove of decoration ideas for Christmas. Come and discover thousands of unique and sumptuous gifts and handcrafted decorations with the Christmas Gifts & Decorations section!

Shop from over a hundred exhibitors to find ‘ideal’ gifts for all members of the family; from home accessories, toys & baby gifts, household gadgets, stocking fillers and seasonal items you wouldn’t ordinarily find on the high street, to add a festive sparkle to your home at Christmas.

Christmas Fashion & Beauty
With the Christmas party season around the corner, come and discover the latest products and pampering in the Christmas Fashion & Beauty section. Socialise over a glass of champagne and catch daily fashion shows and talks on the Catwalk which will bring to life the latest fashion trends in an exciting visual showcase.

Expect to see beauty products, Christmas party fashion, cosmetics, jewellery & accessories and sumptuous gifts all to enjoy at your leisure.

The Ideal Home Show at Christmas will open its doors from the 16th – 20th November 2011, at Earls Court, London, open daily from 10am-6pm, Late Night Thursdays open until 9pm.Tickets can be either booked online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 209 7330end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or for further information about the show visit the website www.idealhomeshowchristmas.co.uk

Be the first to enjoy an Airwick Chirstmas candle that looks as good as it smells!

There's a funky and totally innovative NEW Air Wick Touch of Luxury colour change candles that will create the perfect Christmas atmosphere!

Let’s face it, we all take pleasure in creating the perfect atmosphere in our homes, no more so than during the Christmas season. So, whether we’re enjoying Christmas day with the family or preparing for some festive fun, wouldn’t it be great if there was a product that offered the perfect combination of indulgent seasonal fragrance and lighting to set the mood? Now there is - it is the NEW Air Wick Touch of Luxury colour change candle range!

Combining a range of delectable fragrances with a gentle colour changing lighting effect, the NEW Air Wick Touch of Luxury colour change candles stimulate two senses at the same time. Infused with fragrant oils that smell wonderful when lit, the burning candle releases a tranquil glow through the wax, creating a kaleidoscope of soft rainbow colours to deliver the perfect holiday atmosphere and mood.

Now for the science behind this magical creation: the glow is triggered via a heat sensitive light sensor, which is activated whenever the candle is lit and continues until the candle is blown out, allowing you complete control over when and where you create your special atmosphere.

So now there’s no need to spend all that time fiddling around with dimmer switches or fairy lights. Just light your chosen candle, and your dining room, kitchen or any other room in the house will instantly look every bit as good as it smells to complete the perfect Christmas experience.

Choose from your favourite festive season fragrances including spicy Mulled Wine and Cinnamon Apple, indulgent Rich Vanilla and Caramel Swirl, floral Precious Silk and Oriental Orchid or the new fragrance for Air Wick, Cocoa Truffle and Crème.

Air Wick’s new colour change candle is part of the Touch of Luxury range which also includes additional candles, automatic and instant sprays as well as plug-ins, all of which add that extra touch of daily luxury and indulgence to your home.

FACTFILE:Air Wick Touch of Luxury colour change candles are available at all major supermarkets at a RRP of £6.1.
They last for up to 28 hours and are available in a range of four fantastic fragrances including Mulled Wine and Cinnamon Apple, Rich Vanilla and Caramel Swirl, Precious Silk and Oriental Orchid and Cocoa
Truffle and Crème.

For general information visit www.airwick.co.uk

Honeybuns Fantastic Christmas Stocking Filler!

The perfect Christmas Stocking Filler to open on Christmas morning as you face the exciting day ahead – a fabulously innovative ‘Tea Party in a Purse’ – a delicious moment of indulgence to share before the day ahead, from Honeybuns, the multi-award winning, rural artisan bakery based in the rolling Dorset countryside.

This competitively priced stocking filler retails at £5.95 from the Honeybuns online shop: www.honeybuns.co.uk/shop, and consists of an exquisitely textured, handmade natural linen purse designed by Bill Brown (www.bill-brown.com), cleverly packed with the choice of two seasonally scrumptious mini Honeybuns (either two Cranberry and Pecan Flapjacks or a gluten-free option of two Milk Chocolate Brownies) and two individually wrapped tea bags from Dorset Teas, prettily complemented with a paper doily to add that extra festiveness to an impromptu tea party!

The sumptuously buttery flapjacks are made with rolled oats, roasted pecan nuts for that extra crunch, and both golden and delicious maple syrup to round off the wickedly tart cranberries, a sensational combination of tastes which have made this product a Honeybuns Best Seller.

The gluten-free Milk Chocolate Brownies, described by Lesley Waters as ‘The best brownie on the market’, are made with a cheeky dash of espresso coffee added to accentuate the chocolateyness. The Dorset Tea is perfectly balanced blend from Spicers (www.dorsettea.co.uk), recent winners of a double gold star award from the Great Taste Awards.  Lastly, the gorgeous, beautifully designed Honeybuns purse can be re-used for anything and everything you can fit in it, from holding pennies, to storing make-up, mobile phone, as a travelling sewing kit, or even as an overnight wash bag – “What’s in your purse?”

Your Christmas Stocking Filler from Honeybuns can be ordered online up until Tuesday 20th December to ensure delivery by Christmas Eve.

FACTFILE:
• All Honeybuns products are gluten free except the two flapjack products (Plain Flapjack and Cranberry and Pecan Flapjack).
• The Cranberry and Pecan Flapjack has a shelf life of 90 days and the Milk Chocolate Brownie has a shelf life of 21 days. All Honeybuns products are suitable for home freezing.
• Online orders are subject to specific postage and packing instructions, as stipulated on the website.  Delivery to addresses in Mainland UK is included in the price for orders over £20, but a delivery charge of £5 is made for smaller orders.
• For a Gift Wrapping Service, please refer to the website.
• Honeybuns holds an astonishing track record of National Great Taste Awards with the Guild of Fine Food. This thoughtful artisan bakery has won Supreme Champion, Best of British, Best Speciality from the South West and this year, three Great Taste Double Star Gold Awards. They won the Harmsworth Award, the highest of accolades at the Taste of Dorset Awards 2011.

(EDITOR: My wife's verdict? "The flapjacks, the tea and the bag were all worth 10 out of 10! And they are such fantastic value for money!")