a christening gift less ordinary

If you’re looking for a brilliant gift for a baby or child, The Alphabet Gift Shop is a great place to look – their range is bright and beautiful, and each item can be personalised with any name or a message of your choice.

At the christening of gorgeous baby Phoebe last weekend, this cushion made a original gift – it can sit in her nursery and then feature in her bedroom as she grows up. Her parents John and Emma loved it.

For more christening and new baby gifts, click here.

Posted by jokite on 27 July 2010

who's behind the sale?

Guess which fashionistas are holding our sale bags? It’s Greta, our freelance designer, Mark Cranton, designer, Emma Cathie, new business executive and Joanne Griffin, merchandising coordinator. They all happened to choose to wear stripes on the day we were shooting the sale bags, so Kate, our creative director, spotted that they would make the perfect models.

Our sale is now live! Start shopping

Posted by jokite on 26 July 2010

staff pick: Nell loves Susan Kerr Jewellery

Our Partner Development Manager Nell is the first of our team to select her staff pick. She has a soft spot for Susan Kerr’s nostalgic jewellery. “I adore everything 1930s. I have the complete Poirot box set and watch it whenever I have a spare moment for the gorgeous outfits and attention to detail. These Deco droplet earrings by Susan Kerr are a little reminder of the elegance of the era and make me feel a little bit more glamorous whenever I wear them! I think my next purchase will be Susan’s Leaf cluster necklace, which may even help me dance like Ginger Rogers!”

Posted by jenniferbaldwin on 23 July 2010

time keeping Holly-style

The white walls in our office just cry out for some statement style, and luckily we have plenty on hand. The most recent stylish addition is this bold giant sticker station clock by Brume which follows the oversized trend that is currently gracing the pages of the most fashionable interior magazines. It’s rather novel – the clock face is made of stickers which you apply directly to the wall, and a set of battery-operated hands which can be fixed in the centre. We had a lot of fun putting it up (we made the odd mistake – luckily the stickers are movable!) and all our visitors are impressed by the clever design. The clock has pride of place above Holly’s desk – now there is no excuse to be late for meetings!

Posted by jenniferbaldwin on 21 July 2010

an interview with Susiemaroon

The award-winning, Edinburgh based, independent eco-label Susiemaroon is the brainchild of artist and designer Susie Brown. We asked her a few questions about her life, and how Susiemaroon was born.

1. What inspired you to create Susiemaroon?
As a small girl I always wanted to be a sculptor, and up until graduating from art school I intended to pursue a career in this area. I had always enthused about design and over the early years of my professional career I realised that I was much more comfortable and inspired by creating homeware and fashion accessories. Fine art and design have so many connections – especially sculpture, the area in which I studied. I think Susiemaroon and it’s products are just a natural progression in my creative expedition.

2. Describe your product range
Design-led home and fashion accessories created using responsibly sourced materials produced in Scotland, and leather from a family run Scottish tannery that specialises in tanning Wild deerskin. The skins are sourced from Scottish game-dealers who are closely monitored by the Deer Commission Scotland. These hides would otherwise be discarded as a by-product of the venison industry and sent to landfill.

3. What is your best selling range / product?
The Biro Bookmark seems to be the darling this month!

4. Where did you start your company and where do you work now?
Susiemaroon began life in the corner of our living room in our then one bedroom flat on the South side of Edinburgh. In around 2008 I moved Susiemaroon HQ to a studio on the other side of the City. I didn’t really ever settle properly there and so in 2009 we moved again and I now have a great little studio on the lower level of my house and my partner, a musician, has his studio on the upper level, surrounded by all of our inspiring junk… we love it!

5. What kind of support have you received along the way?
My family are amazing and completely supportive of every move I make. They have helped me financially and offered words of wisdom when they are most needed. I have also been backed by the Princes Trust and NESTA, both fantastic support networks for young creative businesses.

7. Describe where you live / the style of your home
I live in an upper colony house in the east end of Edinburgh city. The houses were built between 1850 and 1910 for artisans and skilled working class families. The house is a little rickety which fits our (what I like to call) junk-chic approach to interior design.

8. What are the benefits of being a designer-maker?
You are never, ever bored…

10. What impact has notonthehighstreet.com had on your business?
notonthehighstreet.com has been great for Susiemaroon. When you find an online business that has a high profile, but still takes the time to correspond with independent designers, giving tips on how to improve online presence, you know you have come across something special.

11. What are you lusting after on notonthehighstreet.com this month?
The Dollybird Mugs by Big Tomato Company are so playful. My cup of tea exactly (pardon the pun!).

12. What are your ambitions for your company in the future?
I would love to build on the success that Susiemaroon has already achieved. I am keen to collaborate with interior designers to create pieces for specific spaces and have always wanted to design a stage set for dancers. Here’s to the next busy five years…

Posted by jenniferbaldwin on 12 July 2010

Princess Martha Lady Gaga

That’s not her real name of course, but it’s the name she likes to be known as! And how gorgeous does she look in her fushia tutu from our seller Rocket and Bear, beautifully-captured in these fabulous photos by Zoe, Martha’s clever mummy and our customer. Zoe took the pics to get some photographic evidence of Martha in the skirt before it gets completely destroyed, as Martha is now refusing to wear anything else.

We think it’s a very stylish look and we wish we could copy it. Rocket and Bear, fancy doing adult sizes??

Posted by jokite on 01 July 2010