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Showing posts with label presents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label presents. Show all posts

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

SHOP: Space EC1

There are so many wonderful independent shops stocking up-and-coming designers that I've decided to spotlight some of my favourites. When you're in a rush it can be all too easy to fall back on that well-known online retail giant to buy last minute presents, but recently I decided to make a concerted effort to avoid doing that and buy from independent and local shops instead. After all, they will only survive if we support them. I'm planning on making this a regular feature so if you know of a great independent shop that deserves featuring just let me know.

I'm about to leave my day job to start with a new company in a different part of London and I've been making the most of my last few weeks in Farringdon and Clerkenwell (where my current office is based) to visit the local shops, cafes and pubs for the last time.


Space Shop front on Exmouth Market


Space is a really sweet little shop on Exmouth Market, an area that has been growing in popularity as a foodie destination in recent years but also has a handful of great independent retailers. If you do visit, the fabulous tapas bar Morito, sister to the more famous Moro, is definitely worth a visit as the food and wine is delicious. Anyway, back to Space, it stocks all manner of useful and unusual present ideas and lots of lovely things you'll be tempted to gift yourself as well. There is lots of luscious stationary including Sparrow & Wolf notebooks, some highly covetable jewellery, unique greeting cards as well as home ware, kids toys and books.

I bought some lovely children's books and I couldn't resist this retro Fisher-Price Classic Record Player for our little boy's 1st birthday. His dad remembers playing with this toy the first time round and is hoping it will distract the little one from touching the real vinyl records in the house - we'll see!

Fisher-Price Classic Music Box Record Player in packaging on Space shop shelf


And I've got my eye on these Mengsel Whale & Sea mugs and plates from the Abode collection:

Mengsel Whale & Sea mugs and plates from Abode collection on Space shop shelf



You can find Space at 25 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 4QL. If you can't make it to the shop in person, you can buy lots of their stock online at the  I Found It In Space website.


Sunday, 5 February 2012

I Heart You

I knew that making a New Year's resolution to sew more would be pointless, at least until the day job calms down. However, I am determined to craft something for Valentine's Day rather than pay over-inflated prices for something "romantic" but tacky.

As ever Etsy is a great place for inspiration, so I thought I'd share some heart-themed ideas from my treasury list.

I love the simplicity of this handmade card by RainyDayColors:

  (Photo via http://etsy.me/xAJ7VC)

These Lego heart necklaces from Luv4Sams are also simple but sweet:

(Photo via http://etsy.me/yE0i3I)


And these hand-carved heart stamps from MemiTheRainbow look like loads of fun:

 (Photo via http://etsy.me/Ab3QEo)
You can see more heart-themed gifts for Valentine's Day and beyond at my Etsy treasury list.

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Marvellous new material - a birthday bonanza

It was my birthday this week and I was lucky enough to get lots of great presents. Included in my pressie stash were lots of new fabrics from my generous friends and family.

This beautiful selection is part of the limited edition collection of printed fabric from the Victoria & Albert Museum. They're available from the Victoria & Albert Museum shop online.They were given to me by my lovely friend, fashion blogger and V&A expert Amber Jane. (Read her insightful fashion history blog at Theatre of Fashion.)

My thoughtful sister brought these two pieces all the way from Singapore for me. I think they're perfect for all the bright, colourful kids clothes that I make.


And this is some hand-printed batik fabric that my mum bought from a little batik workshop in the East Coast of Malaysia. Perfect for something summery...now I just need to start planning some new things.

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Presenting the purses...

This is a busy time of year for birthdays amongst my friends, so I've been making purses as presents.



I love this traditional Liberty print and the fact that the friend I gave it to knew immediately it was from Liberty as it's so quintessentially English!
I do like a fabric shop and the textiles department at Liberty is definitely in the premier league. The beautiful building is stunning and don't even get me started on the shoe boutique!

Have a look at some of lush fabrics here...as expected though they don't come cheap! The fabric I used is called Pelagia B and you can buy it online.