Gift Guide - LunaDesigns

Continuing the gift guide theme my next find is a first for me in terms of jewellery. I tend to wear earrings and big chunky rings because I find that necklaces irritate me and bracelets can get in the way while I type at work. Enter LunaDesigns...

 

 

Emma at LunaDesigns recently sent me one of her bracelets and it was something of a revelation! The thin cord and simple charm are small enough to not get in my way, but quirky enough to still make a statement. Emma sent me the 'You're just my cup of tea' bracelet which normally sells in her shop for £3.25 which is an absolute bargain! The bracelet I got was red, but when purchasing you can choose from many colours and even add more charms if you would like.

 

 

 

The bracelet came on a card with the saying as do all of her pieces and it really put a smile on my face. I can just imagine receiving this as a gift from a friend and it totally making my day!

 

One of the reasons why I love LunaDesigns is that there a lot of items with a gothic feel, and very topical pop culture references that will have everyone interrogating you as to where you picked up your quirky bracelet. Here's some of my favourites:

 

Harry Potter - It Does Not Do to Dwell on Dreams

£3.00

 

I used to be an adventurer till I got an arrow to the knee

£4.00

 

PS I Love You

£2.70

 

 

 

I really urge you to check out the shop, because I guarantee you'll find something you really want for less than a fiver. Win!

 

 

 

Gift Guide - Karen Walk Design

After my recent hiatus I'm back with another Gift Guide post. My profuse apologies for the delay in getting this up here.

Karen Walk is from Bristol, a former Graphic Designer and now owner of Karen Walk Design.

Karen recently sent me one of her personalised hanging bird decorations and I absolutely fell in love with it. It's a gorgeous pink and white polka dot fabric, in a kitsch litle bird shape, stuffed and hand stitched with a gorgeous lace motif with my name on it and can be hung on it's cream satin ribbon. The stitching is so neat and it's just a really lovely decorative item, currently hanging on one of my cabinets in pride of place. People visiting always admire it, and ask where they can get one!

This is just one of the many prodcuts that Karen has available via her Etsy shop, here are some of my favourites;

Personalised hand made fabric covered mini notebooks (would make perfect wedding favours)
In your choice of fabric - £3.50

 

 

Baby bunting personalised card or invitation (contact Karen to get yours tailored for your event!)

£5.00

 

 

Baby personalised heart ornament

£9.00

(a gorgeous gift for a new mum, or even a birthday gift for a child already with us)

 

All of Karen's items would make fantastic gifts, or treats for yourself and your home. I really can't urge you enough to check out her shop here. I would also point out that if you have an idea of what you would like that you can't see in the shop, get in touch with Karen and see if there is something she can do for you!

 

What have you been upto?

Firstly, I'm sorry for neglecting you. Life is a mile a minute at the moment, but it's Saturday afternoon, I'm nice and cosy,  I've just had a Strawberry lemonade and a Yum Yum. 

I've got a cup of tea and I'm sat in front of The Good Sheperd (amazing film) so I'm ready :)

 

My mum's 53rd birthday is this coming Monday, but we as ever do things a little differently in our house, so yesterday when my sister got home from Uni it was cake and presents day. My mums cake is HUGE, it's a victoria sponge (with the most amazing plum jam) it's covered in green fondant icing and the top is then decorated to look like her allotment. It was supposed to have a shed but we just ran out of time - it took 3 days! She loved it though and that's the main thing :)

 

 

 

 

 

As for presents she got a really good haul! I got her 2 pairs of earrings (silver swallows, and orange gems) a goat's cheese making kit, a masons traditonal mixing bowl (hers broke a few months back) Paul Hollyood's 'How to Bake' a zebra print scarf, 2 gorgeous smelling soaps, and Paulie on DVD. My oldest sister brought her two trees for her (real!) allotment, a Mandarin and a Lime Tree. My other sister got her a nail varnish, notepad, chocolates, sugar mice and phone cover.

Tomorrow my nan is coming over for lunch - Roast Rib of Beef with all the trimmings and Cherry Pie.

 

In amongst the present wrapping I have found time for a little cross-stitch, something I haven't done for a while, and I'm really pleased with the results!

 

 

Before!

 

 

After!

 

In case you hadn't guessed it's Dorothy and Toto from the Wizard of Oz. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet but just pleased to have finished!

 

Now that mum's birthday is out of the way Christmas has officially started in our house, the tree and decorations are all up and any leftovers were taken to work to decorate our office, we're getting a tree on Monday so the best is yet to come!

 

 

Most cluttered desk in all the land!

 

 

When I get home from work I've been obsessing over No Angels - it's a brilliant comedy drama set in a hospital that was on Channel 4 back in 2004, and the first series has now been added to 4OD. The soundtrack is so good I had to buy the CD, lots of Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin.

 

 

Now if I'm not making a cake, decorating something, sewing or watching No Angels, the chances are I'm probably shopping - here are my favourite purchases so far this month

 

Glass Dish - £2.49 - Vintage fair

 

 

 

Teacup and Saucer - £3.50 - Vintage Fair

 

 

Hair Clip, Collar Necklace and Heart Earrings - New Look - £10.45 (3 for 2!)

 

 

And my secret santa present for work - A gorgeous green scarf, a can of gin and tonic, a lindt chocolate bear and an aero christmas tree. Not bad for a fiver! I tried to make it look a bit more interesting too with ribbons and Crafy Creatives jingle bells!

 

 

 

And if I'm not doing any of that I'm continuing my Pinterest addiction and day-dreaming over pictures like this

 

 

What have you been upto?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas for me is by far the best time of year. It's cliched I know but it really is. December for me is all about; amazing food, Birthdays (My mum and Sister), great telly, classic films, presents, time with family, candles, scarves, gloves, a new winter coat, leather boots and buckles and if you're really lucky - Snow! Christmas is the only time of year my whole family is together and arguing is to a minimum.

 

If I could pick one word that I would like to be described as, it would be thoughtful. Christmas is a time to show your appreciation for the ones you love, and the ones you just really like (although you should do this all year round!) Being thoughtful doesn't have to equal being rich, just think really carefully about the person you are buying for and what they would really appreciate, something they wouldn't normally buy for themselves and what will really make them smile on the 25th December.

 

Here are my favourite picks for Christmas presents this year - to my friends and family, no stupid your present is not on this list! I've tried to include a mixture of bargains and higher priced gifts so everyone is catered for!

Enjoy!

 

 

For the Children in your life:

 

Bunny Rabbit Night Light – with a lovely soft glow this one’s battery powered so it doesn’t get too hot and the price tag is fab! They also do a cottage, and a baby bunny one too.

 

 

DotComGiftShop - £4.95

 

My First Laptop - a lovely wooden laptop with chalboard screen and keyboard so your kids can work and play alongside you. Pretty pricey but will last forever. They also do a Smartphone version too.

 

 

V&A Museum - £45.00

 

For the Chef in your life:

 

Cheese Making Kit - A fantastic gift, all the gadgets and gizmos to make your own cheeses. They do a Kids Kit and a Goats Cheese - enough to make 15lbs! For what you get the price is really reasonable and all the stuff can be used again and again.

 

 

Notonthehighsteet.com - £21.00

 

Taste No.5 Umami Paste - Any self respecting foodie will be familiar with Umami (no it's not the thing Ross tries to teach in Friends!) Give the gift of taste this Christmas at a snip!

 

 

Waitrose.Com £2.99

 

For the Jet Setter in your life:

 

Liberty Xanthe Mini Suitcase - An absolutely gorgeous Liberty print minature suitcase that will be the envy of all other passengers.

 

 

Liberty - £65.00

 

Scratch Map - I LOVE THIS. Scratch off the places you have been on the map to reveal a different colour underneath. Amazing idea, more things should be scratchable!

 

 

ScratchMap.co.uk - £15.95

 

Bonuses!

 

For the Creative Mind in your life:

 

 History of the Saatchi Gallery - a 900 page history of the Saatchi Gallery, from Warhol to Hirst this is an absolute bible for any art lover.

 

 

Booth Clibborn - £85.00

 

For the Music Lover in your life:

 

Burger and Fries Earphones - Much better looking than the standard white ones!

 

Urban Outfitters - £15.00

 

 

More to come as I see them!