INTRODUCING NORTH NORFOLK JEWELLERY DESIGNER, CLAIRE HOWARD

I make delicate, simple jewellery in a beautiful corner of North Norfolk. I make the kind of jewellery I like to wear, everyday pieces which are elegant and made from quality materials at affordable prices.

I come from a very crafty background, I dabbled in a variety of crafts until gifted a course at the London Jewellery School and then jewellery making became a hobby which gave me space to create and wind down from a busy teaching job.  I was frustrated that simple jewellery from the high street was made from low quality silver which made me itch and changed colour so I bought a lot of jewellery from a local maker, Richard, who I commissioned to make me some pieces until he said to me – why don’t we make this necklace together? CHJ started to gather steam and momentum, I moved away from beads and on to soldering, stone setting and texturing through sitting beside Richard, attending courses and practising again and again and again.   I have not looked back!

I’m passionate about wearing timeless but well-made jewellery – uncomplicated pieces which are practical enough to be worn during the day but special enough for night!  To me, it doesn’t matter if we are on a school run, working in a school of small children or out for pizza and prosecco for £12 (my local treat), jewellery should be pretty and well crafted – that’s what matters to me.

From my workbench in North Norfolk, I take inspiration from being outside.  We are so lucky in this county to have beautiful beaches, woodlands and a hill or two (Yes we do!) where I flourish being outside with the dog walking and enjoying some space and time.  Being outside lifts my spirits and enables me to focus on the simple things in life – I put these in my jewellery – accents of little delicate bees and daisies, hearts and droplets of gold.

​Texture is really important in my jewellery too.  I love to be able to clasp a piece of jewellery and run my fingers over the stamped lettering or image and feel the dimples in the hammering, or the beads of the beaded wire.  I love that jingle jangle you get when two pieces of silver clink together.

​As for romance – this quote pretty much sums it up for me… Draw a circle, not a heart around the one you love because a heart can break but a circle goes on forever. (Danny Kaye)   Circles feature a lot in my jewellery, small, hand crafted, perfectly round and often interlinked.

My website is found at www.clairehowardjewellery.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel thoughts: Interior design for holiday homes

 

 

Interior design

 

A property with the WOW factor doesn’t happen by magic. It takes imagination and skill. But if you haven’t got the money to employ a qualified interior designer, there are plenty of good tips on the web. A savvy hotelier or holiday homeowner with a good eye for design can easily use this free information to improve the look and feel of their property for a fraction of the cost. So why don’t they?

I travel a lot for my job, so I am in and out of spaces all the time: hotels, apartments and villas. I have rented them all. I’ve also used big and small agents: Airbnb, Booking.com, James Villas’s and independent owners. Depending on where I am and what suits my needs, I select a property on a mix of location, size, facilities and look Location and size can’t be changed, but the amenities and interior design can. Facilities are a blog post for the future, but for now, these are my top tips for achieving attractive holiday home spaces.

 

Space

Cramming the communal areas with too much furniture, especially in open plan living arrangements is one of the biggest mistakes to be made. In large properties, sofas and armchairs should be clustered together to create cosy areas. And the use of different colours, textures and patterns in specific areas such as sitting rooms and dining rooms can add appeal and intrigue.

 

Light it up

Lighting sets the mood and ambience of a room. Too little and the place is gloomy and depressing. Too much, and it feels sterile and unwelcoming. If you are going to invest time and money, to improve a room, lighting is an essential element to get right. When natural light is weak, use cleverly positioned mirrors within a space to highlight the colours, textures and patterns. When an interior space is too bright, soften the area with textural curtains or blinds.

 

Add Colour

Colour sets the tone and mood of property just as much as the lighting. So it’s worth researching the psychology of colour. However, bear in mind that not all the design tips for using colour will suit your property. For instance, in chalet interior design, where wood tones tend to dominate the palette, red may not be the best choice for a dining room. And green may not be ideal for a small bedroom.  

 

Fabric softener

Fabrics are perfect for adding interest, texture and colour to a room. They can be employed used to create character and style by either complimenting or contrasting depending on the feel you want to achieve. A classic interior design styling tip for integrating soft texture within a bedroom is the use of cushions and bedspreads. And rugs are ideal for adding depth and warmth in a living space. The overall number one interior design tip for creating harmony within a room is accessory repetition. And three is always the magic number.

 

Maintenance

Above all, remember there is no point creating unity of colour, texture and pattern if the windows are dirty or curtains are unevenly hung. A good cleaner is worth their weight in gold. And no one likes shabby furniture or broken appliances, so please owners – stay on top of the maintenance!

For a more in-depth knowledge of a chic home environment and other themes, here’s how to become an interior designer, so you won’t need to hire a pro if you need one.

Revised from a blog written for the OVO network

 

Sam stone is a freelance writer with an enviable job of being a travel and lifestyle blogger After working in the publishing industry for 15 years, she now travels the globe documenting her experiences for commissioned blogs and specialised web content. Based in Cornwall she unapologetically confesses to being a beach bum and obsessed foodie who is always on the lookout for her next big adventure!

Festive Cocktail Guide Vol. 1 ft Italicus

It’s that time of the year again… and to kick it off, we bring you our favourite festival tipples guaranteed to wow your guests and to top your Christmas lists. 

Impress your guests this Festive season by creating a cocktail using a fine and majestic liqueur. Italicus is made from Rosolio di Bergamotto and was actually the main Aperitivo drunk by the King of Savoia.

This exquisite liquor is made from Bergamot from Calabria, Cedro form Sicily, Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Melissa Balm, Yellow Roses, Gentian. 

The result; a finely aromatic and floral flavour with light notes of citrus which certainly mixes well with a number of mixers, garnishes and other spirits.

Italicus has already won numerous awards including a few for the packaging which is utterly show-stopping, another reason to grab a bottle this Christmas. The beautiful design will certainly wow sitting atop your bar or drinks cabinet. 

Italicus can be served in a number of ways

Negroni Bianco:

35ml Italicus

35ml London Dry Gin

35l Dry Vermouth 

Served: In a tumbler with 3 olives.

Italicus Cup:

50 ml Italicus 

25ml Pink Grapefruit

Top with Soda add a Pinch of Salt and 3 Olives

Italicus is priced at RRP £29.95 for 70cl bottle ABV 20%

https://www.rosolioitalicus.com

Gtech HyLite Review

I have children so I hoover a lot. Or my husband does at least. With the hoovers we have at the moment this is a huge amount of hassle. They are bulky and heavy. Getting them out of the cupboard is an effort in itself. We had a handheld but it gave up. I also hate clutter and in London space is a premium. So being sent the new Gtech HyLite felt like Christmas had come early. I do not even care how old this makes me sound. I need small and convenient things in my life. 

When the box arrived with the GTech I found it hard to believe there was a hoover in there, and yet there was. Gtech have launched a brand new vacuum that is super small and super lightweight.

GTech , hoover, review, tech

It is easy to assemble. Even for someone as undomestic as me. It is light and even has some charge in it. Regardless I plug it on before giving it a go. It would be easy to believe that its convenience and size would mean a compromise on performance but not so: it is an excellent hoover. You can retract and extend the handle easily. The handle also reclines easily. It is also a literal handheld. You just take the handle off! When you are done it is so small it fits into a drawer. It has 20 minutes of running time and takes 2 hours to charge fully. 

I love the Gtech HyLite. It is so convenient it is life-changing. It is a great piece of technology and for that it get the Frost Gold Standard accolade. 

The Gtech HyLite is ideal for modern homes and is packed with design and technology features that make usage and storage simple and environmentally friendly.  It weighs just 1.5kg, has 20 minutes running time* and the handle extends and retracts instantly, transforming the HyLite from an upright to a handheld vacuum in seconds.

The HyLite uses bags for a more hygienic cleaning solution.  Breathable bags are more environmentally friendly.  There is no dust cloud when you empty and no need to use a plastic bag each time.  Also, with the HyLite the bag is the filter – each time you change the bag you get a new filter. The triple layered bags can hold up to three times their volume of dirt due to cleverly designed compression levels, so that each 0.3L bag can hold 1L of dirt resulting in less frequent disposal.

The HyLite uses just 90 watts of power, but packs a punch when it comes to its cleaning capacity, making its power and resource consumption extremely low.  It’s also been designed and made to last … its modular construction means that if you break a bit it’s easily replaceable (new parts can be delivered to your home the next day) and, as it has no tubes or inner workings, there is less likelihood of debris accumulating and blocking up the path the dirt takes from floor to bag.

 

The HyLite adapts effortlessly to all floor surfaces, upholstery and stairs and the cordless technology means no plugs or sockets either, so cleaning your home couldn’t be simpler, especially as the reclining handle allows you to reach under sofas and beds without having to move heavy furniture.

 

Storage is easy … the HyLite is so compact it can be kept in a kitchen drawer but is ready to use in seconds which makes it perfect for homes where space is limited.

 

The Gtech Hylite is available now at www.gtech.co.uk RRP £199.99

 

*run times may vary depending on surfaces being cleaned

 

Sorry I Can’t… I Have To Ride My Unicorn

Cute and innocent, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of… let’s face it, we all love unicorns.  Just listen to Google, they’ll tell you that the search for ‘unicorn’ has grown significantly since over the past few years.

But this is no ordinary (ordinary?) unicorn…

The Unicorn
74cm x 46cm x15cm
Over 20,000 Swarovski crystals in 5 different shades
One of a kind. No. 3 in the Stevenson Brothers / Fernandes Collection.

In case you’re out of the loop, crystals are very much trending it right now.

Fernandes Exquisite Creations have teamed up with Stevenson Brothers (Kent) to create a limited-edition, bespoke collection of equines, two of which are the crystal zebra and the newly-added unicorn.

Fernandes Exquisite Creations always work with unexpected items and combinations, transforming the everyday into desirable luxury.

Stevenson Brothers are known for their elegant and beautifully crafted products, an aesthetic which Fernandes Exquisite Creations harmonise into their hand-crafted Swarovski crystal designs.

Currently, only one of each piece exists in the entire world.

Fernandes Exquisite Creations are also known for jazzing up objects, in particular with their crystal rocking horse.  This hand-built horse, made from 82,000 crystals, was a world first, valued around 100,000 euros.

The second in the series is the stunning new CRYSTAL ZEBRA which sparkles and shines from every angle. Over 80,000 hand-placed Swarovski crystals cover this limited edition rocking zebra, which was created in partnership with Fernandes Exquisite Creations, and is set to turn heads wherever it goes.

This is only the second horse created by Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horses together with Fernandes Exquisite Creations. The first piece created between these two companies, was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary showcasing the world’s most luxurious toys. CRYSTAL, who featured on the show and was also embellished with over 80,000 Swarovski crystals, was then sold and the beautiful CRYSTAL ZEBRA was then released for sale.

About Fernandes Exquisite Creations…

Fernandes Exquisite Creations was founded on the principles of quality and exclusivity.

Every member of their team works to produce unique, hand finished items, working expertly on every detail with each individual client or company to ensure everyone receives the very best in luxury they have come to expect from them. However big or small, every aspect of their work designed by you, or Fernandes Exquisite Creations, is produced with precision and care using the highest quality materials available.

Everything they create is 100% unique, whether you want a Swarovski crystal rocking horse or absolutely anything embellished in beautiful crystals – all bespoke and an exquisite creation.

www.fernandesexquisitecreations.com

About Stevenson Brothers…

Today, Stevenson Brothers are being commissioned to make an increasing number of bespoke rocking horses that look like a client’s real horse. They offer a unique bespoke rocking horse service where a favourite horse is reproduced in wood to last for generations.

They are often able to use real tail hair and can mount horse shoes on the base, using mostly home grown timber for all of their horses, including the bespoke models, with Oak and Chestnut supplied by Windsor Great Park Estates.

Contact Stevenson Brothers on 01233 820 363 or email sue@stevensonbros.com to find out more about their bespoke service.

http://www.stevensonbros.com/

 

Style your home the South African way with White Pear Designs

blue-bag-white-pear-designs

I know it’s grey and gloomy out there and already people are putting up their Christmas decorations – yes, truly they are. But not everyone wants to surround themselves with red, green and gold at this time of year. That’s why I was delighted to discover this vibrant collection from White Pear designs.

Refreshing and colourful, White Pear Designs offers a welcome of warmer days and sunnier climes. Its collection of homeware and furniture introduce the sparkling talent of South African designers. The quality and craftsmanship are first class and many of those pieces would make wonderful Christmas presents. The notebook by iSpy is the perfect place to write down those New Year’s resolutions.

ispy-notebook-white-pear-designs

White Pear Designs was founded by Sophie Doodson who spent many family holidays in Knysna, South Africa where she discovered an array of beautiful crafts pieces, handmade by local designers. She has selected her favourites and brought them together as a showcase for the unique and diverse talents of South African craftspeople.

jellybeen_jungle-cushion

 

The range includes the ‘Love Seat’ and ‘Swing Seat’, both of which are crafted from the staves of recovered old oak wine barrels, an abstract bookcase which can liven up any room and screen printed cushions, which epitomise the beauty of South Africa.

Sophie originally trained as a make-up artist and went on to work within the TV and Film industry for 12 years, spending much of her time overseas which ignited her passion for local craftsmanship.

There are more beautifully crafted products available www.whitepeardesigns.co.uk

An Exhibition to Marvel At: L’ODYSSÉE D’UN ROI

lxiii-royal-monceau-european-copy

Over the years Burlington Arcade have played host to many decadent and luxurious goods from all over the globe. For one final week, the Arcade will add to its list another legend, a piece so fine and exquisite that following the exhibition tour, it will be auctioned off at the prestigious Sotheby’s. We are of course talking about L’Odyssée d’Un Roi, a collaboration featuring some of the most luxurious craftsmen in the design world and also in the World of the finest Cognac, Louis XIII. If ever there were a chance to see an example of the most impressive French craftsmanship, then L’Odyssée d’Un Roi offers up Louis XIII Cognac, Hermés, Puiforcat and Saint-Louis as it’s travelling companions to complete this unique item.

Alongside L’Odyssée d’Un Roi itself, the exhibit features a chance to see the tools which are used to hand-make each of the items in L’Odyssée d’Un Roi, from the white gold pipettes to the mouth-blown, hand-engraved crystal magnum decanter and glasses. A truly worthy collaboration to such a historic and iconic Grande Champagne Cognac. Follow the journey Louis XIII has made on its passage throughout the ages and bid farewell to a legend which will make it’s way to someone lucky enough to purchase it at auction. With the last one recently selling at Sotheby’s New York for a cool $134,750, we think we’ll just stick to admiring its beauty from afar.

lxiii-three-decanters-copy

All proceeds from the auction will go to The Film Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded by Martin Scorsese and several other filmmakers to restore and preserve classic films.

L’Odyssée d’Un Roi will feature at Burlington Arcade until 21st October

Burlington Arcade, 51 Piccadilly, London W1J 0QJ.

EasyJet Celebrates Twentieth Anniversary With Unveiling Of New Livery And Futuristic Uniforms

easyJet

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, is celebrating twenty years of flying.

On 10 November 1995 easyJet’s first ever flight took off from Luton to Glasgow.

Twenty years on, the airline flies over 68 million passengers to 137 airports in 31 countries and operates 788 routes across Europe.

Captain Fred Rivett was at the controls of that first flight which was EZY121 operated by a Boeing 737-200. Lisa Burger (now easyJet’s Head of Customer) checked in the very first easyJet passenger and easyJet’s founder Stelios joined passengers and media on board that first flight.  All three and others from the airline’s early days were among the guests at a special birthday event at easyJet’s headquarters in Luton.

40-easyJet 48-easyJet

EASYJET BIRTHDAY

easyJet unveiled a special livery aircraft featuring a mosaic of more than 100,000 of its customers’ most-loved holiday snaps and selfies taken during their travels across Europe over the past twenty years.  The aircraft symbolises the role that easyJet has played in changing the way that people across Europe travel thanks to its low fares, friendly service and focus on making travel easier and more affordable.

EASYJET CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY AT THEIR HEADQUATERS IN LUTON TODAY. EASYJET CEO CAROLYN McCALL

Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s Chief Executive, said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating easyJet’s success over the past two decades.  20 years ago easyJet changed the way Europe travelled.  We challenged the high price monopolies of the legacy airlines and enabled a new generation of people of all ages, incomes and interests to enjoy Europe.   Since then we’ve carried over 600m passengers and flown over 4.7m flights but that challenger spirit is stronger than ever in the easyJet of 2015.

“We started with fares to Glasgow from £29 – or as we advertised at the time, the same price as a pair of jeans.  A pair of Levis 501s will now set your back £75 while our fares to Glasgow start from £27.49.

“All of this would not have been possible without those who have been part of the easyJet team during that time.  They have worked incredibly hard to make travel easier and more affordable for our passengers.

“I also have to thank our fantastic customers for their loyalty and support and, of course, our suppliers and partners for their professionalism and commitment.

“Although today we’re celebrating 20 years of generation easyJet, we’re even more excited about the future.  We will continue to challenge conventional thinking and we look forward to where the next two decades could take us.”

Capture

Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyJet’s founder and owner of the easyJet brand, commenting from the event in Luton:

“Today is the best possible opportunity to thank all the 30,000 people who make easyJet work on a daily basis. I want to thank those employees and sub-contractors – both on the ground and in the air – who have made easyJet over the last 20 years such a great investment for its shareholders and such a great brand for its customers.”

Captain Fred Rivett, who operated easyJet’s inaugural flight from London Luton to Glasgow on 10th November 1995 commented:

“I remember watching the first passengers step aboard. It was a cold dark morning and the cabin was filled with excited passengers who knew they were part of something new. They had also paid very little for their seats! It was a very proud moment for me and all the crew. The short hop to Glasgow was completely routine but we now know that it was just the start of changing the way we all travel by air.

“The airline has come a long way in such a short time and being here today brings back all the memories. It’s great to get a glimpse of what’s planned for the future.

easyJet wearable tech 2 (photo Nathan Gallagher)

Lisa Burger, easyJet’s Head of Customer who checked in passengers on the first flight said:

“I’ll always remember the energy, excitement and hype surrounding our first flight. I recall explaining to customers as we checked them in for that inaugural flight that their confirmation letter or booking reference was all they needed to check-in – and not a ticket as we were ticketless. In exchange we gave them a reusable plastic boarding pass explaining that we had free seating and they could choose where to sit when on board. 20 years ago this was revolutionary. No tickets, free seating, an inflight service where you choose and paid for what you purchased on-board.”

“From day one we began to educate customers how to interact and travel us and that we could make travel more affordable by cutting out complexity, overheads and costs that didn’t add value or that would compromise service. The perception of many was that we would be another airline that would come and go but the Orange spirit that today is still as evident as it was then along with the belief in the model and brand, meant that we defied the odds and revolutionised the way people travel.

“20 years on I still love the opportunities we have to challenge and innovate. We continue to find ways to make travel easier and more affordable for our passengers.”

easyJet wearable tech 5 (photo Nathan Gallagher) easyJet wearable tech 4 (photo Nathan Gallagher) easyJet wearable tech 3 (photo Nathan Gallagher)

easyJet wearable tech (photo Nathan Gallagher)

This is the latest innovation from the pioneering airline which is always at the forefront of technology, from being one of the first airlines to launch online booking in 1998 to introducing aircraft inspections by automated drones earlier this year, and provides an exciting glimpse of things to come for airline uniforms.

Wearable tech features being trialled include: 

Cabin crew uniforms

  • LEDs on shoulders and illuminated hems to provide additional lighting in an emergency
  • LEDs on jacket lapels displaying important information like flight numbers and destinations
  • In-built microphones to improve communication between the crew, pilots and passengers
  • LEDs in ground staff jacket cuffs to help with aircraft movement on the ground

Engineer uniforms

  • LEDs in jacket hoods to illuminate work areas and leave both hands free for aircraft inspections and maintenance
  • Multiple reflective laser cut decoration to aid visibility on the air field
  • In-built video cameras to allow for remote diagnosis of technical issues along with surround sound and a microphone for instant communication capability
  • Air quality sensor and barometer features to help engineers monitor their work environment and create a map of air quality in different cities for passengers’ information

For this latest innovation the airline teamed up with leading fashion tech company CuteCircuit, a global leader in interactive fashion responsible for many groundbreaking ideas using smart textiles and micro-electronics. Recent collaborations include work with the likes of U2, Katy Perry and Nicole Scherzinger. CuteCircuit worked closely with easyJet cabin crew and engineers to analyse their everyday movements and design uniforms best suited to their needs.

Tina Milton, Head of Cabin Crew for easyJet, commented:

“Our crew’s primary concern is for the safety of all passengers so it is really exciting to be working on this pioneering new technology which could transform the capability of our uniforms, helping crew to be more easily identified in an emergency as well as helping them to provide great service to passengers.”

Ian Davies, Engineering Director for easyJet, commented:

“With features like the LED hood and video streaming and communications capability these amazing designs offer very practical solutions for engineers working on the ramp whilst enhancing safety at the same time.”

Francesca Rosella, Chief Creative Director and Co-Founder of CuteCircuit, said:

“We are excited to be working with easyJet in creating the future of aviation. The cabin crew uniforms and engineers’ uniforms represent cutting edge developments in wearable technology, and are a first in the aviation industry. The uniforms unite fashionable style with novel functionalities, increasing safety and communication with passengers to create a truly unique inflight experience. We designed with the crew needs in mind and are looking forward to starting trials in 2016.”

easyJet will start wearable tech uniform wearer trials early in‎ 2016.

EASYJET BIRTHDAY

EASYJET CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY AT THEIR HEADQUATERS IN LUTON TODAY. EASYJET CEO CAROLYN McCALL

During the event, attended by more than 500 guests including media, stakeholders, suppliers as well as past and present staff, the airline reflected on the past two decades with an exhibition of memorabilia including the airlines’ first ever adverts – the first of which famously advertised flights for the price of a pair of jeans.  A catwalk show showcased the iconic crew uniforms from 1995 to the present and beyond.

As well as reflecting on the past twenty years of success the airline also looked forward to what the next twenty years may hold for air travel announcing a trial of uniforms for its crew and engineers incorporating wearable technology.  The uniforms demonstrate how the application of innovative technology could play a role in making tasks easier, helping with communications and enhance safety procedures.

About CuteCircuit…

Internationally-known fashion house, CuteCircuit, has been pushing the boundaries of wearable technology since its launch in 2004. A global leader in interactive fashion, CuteCircuit has introduced many ground-breaking ideas to the fashion world by integrating new beauty and functionality through the use of smart textiles and micro-electronics. CuteCircuit is headquartered in Shoreditch, artistic heart of London, where the Creative Director Francesca Rosella, and CEO Ryan Genz are the design duo behind all of CuteCircuit’s amazing creations.

 

About EasyJet…
easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.  easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 68 million passengers annually, of which around 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 240 aircraft on more than 780 routes to over 130 airports across 33 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.