Fantasy Shopping Trip

I need a pick me up and quick. Too much work and not enough shopping makes me want to SURF! It's my birthday in just under a month and I've decided to create my ultimate present wish list (hubby take note) with a wander down my Fantasy High Street. Let's go!:

1. Cinderela B Bea Bee Silver Necklace from House Knutsford £23.00

I am extremely discerning about jewellery and this is exquisite.

2. Butterfly Bowl from Rigby & Mac £29.95

I want this, full of wild lavender, in the middle of my kitchen island.

3. Place Name Holders from Primrose & Plum (set of 4) £15.00

Place settings are close to my heart at the moment. I would love to spread my table with these lovely things, filled with herbal sprigs.

4. Roller Towel from Pedlars £10.99

I recently found an old wooden, towel rail and screwed it into the island in the kitchen. Now all I need is one of these!

5. Stripe Ribbon Spool from Pale & Interesting £23.00

I've got yards of linen in my studio just waiting for this.

6. Initial Charm From Highland Angel £8.00 

An "A" please Michael! ; ) 

Come Back Soon!

Next weekend we are going to stay with some old friends who have just finished renovating their London flat. It's been quite an enterprise spreading out over some eighteen months and it is, by all accounts, absolutely beautiful. I want to find something for the hostess to say thank you that they can keep as a house-warming gift and it's a bit of a tricky one because someone who pays this much attention to her habitat isn't going to want just any old trinkets on display. It can't be too big or over-styled. It doesn't have to match but it mustn't stand out a mile either. When William Morris (respectful pause) said: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful", he might as well have had this lady in mind. So I've gone window shopping and found a few lovely ideas for gifts that I hope will ensure we will be invited back....well, that and my toddler not breaking anything! 

1. Multi-coloured Cupcakes Art Print by Showler & Showler from £12.99 (unframed)

OK! I know I said not too stand out but what stylish kitchen wouldn't benefit from this classic little splash of colour. It's quite small anyway at 18cm x 24cm (which is not even as big as an A4 sheet) but there are larger versions available and the prints are designed to fit standard frame sizes. Pop it in a clean white contemporary one and wait for the gasp.  

1. Tray of Asparagus Candles from GiftIdeas.co.uk £9.95

A few years ago, a good friend gave me a single, taller version of one of these for my birthday because we had spent some considerable time together working setting up a fruit and vegetable co-op and had legumes coming out of our pores as a result. I may light it one day but I prefer to keep it on the windowsill of my kitchen along with a bit of Sophie Conran and an enamel bucket with herbs in it. I've never seen the like of it until now. In my view, this tray of miniature versions is a domestic goddesses dream. Devine as a shelf display and so perfect for your summer evening table spread. Tealights. Schmeelights! 

3. Personalised Address Stamp by English Stamp at NotOnTheHighStreet.com £16.00

This is a bit of an old favourite of mine because it pretty much covers all bases for a house-warming gift. Elegant and personal, it can top hand-written notes, stamp labels and finish off envelopes and never once fail to impress.

4. Fireside Gift Box from RE £26.00

I'm not generally one for gift baskets...unless they look like this! A simply charming box of delights from Northumberland-based home and vintage emporium RE. Each box contains an extending toasting fork, long matches in a galvanised metal container and a bag of marshmallows for toasting. Original for those blessed with a good old-fashioned open fire, I think this would also make a thoughtful engagement or wedding pressie too. 

4. London Landmark Book End from Rockett St George £18.00

I recently bought one of these as a birthday gift for my "present desert" of a brother and he actually uses and rather likes it. Choose from several designs also including The Gherkin and The Trellick Tower in a number of different colours. They are un-fussy and look really cool. Be careful though! The cost is for a single bookend which, to be fair, was made perfectly clear in the blurb, but which I completely missed. Maybe I'll get him the pair for Christmas...eek out the value of my find before the whole frustrating process starts up again. 

5. Beach Stone Doorstop by Fields of Blue at Bouf £54.00

Yes. I know. It's a giant pebble with a ring in it but you've got to admit it's a bloody magnificent thing. There are a couple of other splendid looking ones such as a bowling ball and an oak block on the site but this one has sunday lunch at The Ship in Newton Ferrers written all over it taking me back to whole wealth of happy childhood memories. It would look amazing holding open any door and my guess is, it's probably quite good at its job.

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What? No Gift List.

On Saturday I shall be attending the wedding of a couple who have opted not to have a giftlist. This is highly unusual. A card containing details of a couple's gift list is as common to the invitation envelope as an RSVP postcard nowadays. It's more practical than anything else. Not doing so means you run the risk of some duplication amongst your wedding presents (it's another fondu set darling!) or worse, receiving nothing at all ; ). I'm always slightly put off by couples who ask for money to put towards something like a house deposit or the honeymoon but I do think that emerging modern alternatives can be both innovative and meaningful such as asking people to donate to a charity the couple support or to give wine or champagne to build a stable of bottles with which to launch a hundred celebrations in the future. So what to give? Especially when the couple in question seemingly have 'everything'. I've been window shopping to find some present ideas that will help push your name right to the top of the thank you card list.

1. Bespoke Sienna Bowl from Jojo Glass Design £140.00

Stylish, elegant and timeless. A total no-brainer.

2. "Nice" Biscuit Cheese Platter by Square Pear Furniture at notonthehighstreet.com £34.95

Apart from anything else, the design of this is utterly edible and the humour clear but not tacky.

3. Plans Chest Metal Top Coffee Table from The Old Cinema £595.00

Check out this site for a wealth of original, vintage and upcycled pieces in many different styles.

4. A Gourmet Chocolate Company Pizza from £7.00

Food: the second thing every couple wants when they get back to the Honeymoon Suite ; ).

5. Citrus Orange Tree from Trees Direct £49.00

Orange blossom is associated with love and commitment so you score points for originality and depth of meaning. 

Here Comes The Bride...Again!

Yet another member of my close family has announced their engagement about which I am of course completely thrilled. It's time to find another engagement present and I've been avoiding the shops a bit recently for various reasons so let's get stuck in...and I'm striving for originality as well as desirability here.

1. Handmade ceramic fridge magnets from Jo Heckett £22.00. 

2. Sterling Silver Mussel Eaters from Gorgeous Gifts  £26.99

3. Pink Tweed De Ruig Dutch Tea Cosy £57.00

4. Bronte Spot Throw Grey/Duck Egg 135 x 185cm £79.00

5. Sun Shelter from The Glam Camping Company £240.00

6. Distortion Candlesticks from Rume.co.uk £24.00ea

On the 17th Day of Christmas...

I'm not normally a fan of giving jewellry. It's so personal and there is so much dross about that it's rare that you find something that your know will genuinely touch the recipient. This is why I was so excited when I found the jewellery range at Highland Angel; an amazing array of simple designs matching multi-coloured pearls with smooth, clean silver charms. There is something in this shop for every woman in your life and for every occasion. I particularly like the idea of the Little Angel Collection as truly meaningful flower girl gifts. The Silver-Grey Pearl Bracelet with Initial & Star Charm £34.00 (above) is going on my wishlist but, I'll admit, it was a very tough choice between this and some of their fabulous drop earrings. I may have to have both. Simply exquisite.

Stocking fillers 13

More sweet treats for your little ones (and big ones as well) this time from master confectioners Hope & Greenwood. A great way to reward all that good behaviour, For A Good Boy/Girl £3.50 are perfect for stockings of for trimming the tree. Each small decorative box contains milk chocolate balls wrapped in silver foil and topped off with a ribbon. I also think they would make rather original favours for a festive wedding or formal dinner. Vintage sweetie heaven. 

Engagement Album

Congratulations to my little brother and his beautiful fiancee on their engagement announced today. I wish you a long and happy life together. A gift will be on the way shortly but what to choose? Here are some ideas...

1. Forever In Love Personalised Art Print £20.00

Celebrate the occasion with a timeless and enduring framed art print, designed and personalised for the recipients by Letter Fest. The prints are available in a range of phrases, either framed or unframed and, for that unique touch, they even offer the option of using your own choice of phrase for a truly bespoke gift. 

2. Kiss Me Goodnight Paperweight £20.00

I love glass paperweights. I don't ever actually use them for their intended purpose because I think they look best scattered amongst ornaments on surfaces and sparkling in sunlight on windowsills. The Ebury Home & Garden Shop has this lovely satisfyingly plump one illustrated with a bird on a branch and bearing the legend "Kiss Me Goodnight". Very romantic and something for the bottom drawer.

3. Orwell & Good Too Deer Cushion £49.50

This large (18" x 18") silk cushion with printed with two elegant deer from Rockett St. George is a subtle and clever way to celebrate an engagement. The neutral palate means it would fit neatly into most colour schemes and the sumptuous sheen of the silk would make it particularly suitable for a cosy boudoir.

4. Shetland Throw in Duck Egg, Rose & Pearl £78.00

Something to snuggle in. I once had a boyfriend who lived on Shetland. I've seen their sheep and they really, really need their wool. It's extremely cold and windy. So, I imagine that this lovely throw/blanket from Susie Watson Designs is great for keeping things toasty on cold winter nights by the fire. As a personal touch for the engagement, I might have a present like this monogrammed with the couple's initials neatly entwined.

5. Love Letters Tea Light Holders £48.00

I love the simple design and warm glow from these beautiful hand-thrown porcelain votives by Luna Lighting that I found at the Tilly & Rose online boutique. I can just see them flickering away on a fireplace or hearth or dazzling in the dark through a window in the evenings. In fact, quite a few of their designs would make ideal engagement presents but I like this one because the set presents letters that only make sense when put together side by side.....Awww...I'd better go and lie down. I've gone into loved up overdrive. Hehe!

Say It With Herbs

We once drove down to Dorset to visit a friend who had quit the rat race to raise her new family in one of those dreamy old english villages. To say she had 'gone native' was an understatement. In one seemingly gigantic step, she had graduated from a small two bed flat in London to a beautiful old thatched cottage complete with Aga and authentic low beams. No word of a joke, my husband and I were salivating before we even reached the front door. In addition to this, they had a rambling garden that climbed all the way up to the top of a little hill in which they kept bantams and grew all of their own vegetables. Sigh. Anyway, I digress. I was staying for a few nights and I needed to find them an appropriate gift to thank them for their hospitality. Now, I confess that I have been guilty of turning up with the odd bottle of wine (good stuff) on certain occasions and there's very little wrong with that if followed up with a nice, handwritten note, but, given the drama of their lifestyle change, something was holding me back from doing so now. Even a good bottle of red seemed too paltry an offering, so I found an old balsa wood crate, cleaned it up a bit and filled it to the brim with farmer's market fresh herbs and vegetables. I figured she could have lots of fun on the Aga with the produce and use the crate for something practical to keep plants in in the garden afterwards.

How much more spectacular would my gift have been if only I had known about Growing Gifts. This Cornflower Blue Apple Crate £16.50 (L30 x H21.5 x H16cm) can be personalised with up to fourteen letters per line and makes the perfect vessel for a present to say thank you or anything else for that matter. The picture suggests that it works just as well as a unique wedding gift. I also now have my mother (a keen gardener) in mind for Mother's Day. So versatile and shows both thought and originality. And so far as treating someone goes, it doesn't get much better than that.