There are some lovely pieces here, and as a firm Little My fan, I think I'd pick this one.
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WOMEN Moomin Long Sleeve Sweat Pullover Hoodie
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Which one do you like?
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Monday, 3 November 2014
Moomintrolls at Uniqlo
Apologies for another Moomin post, but I thought I'd share with you the new Moomin range from Uniqlo, the Japanese clothing giant.
There are some lovely pieces here, and as a firm Little My fan, I think I'd pick this one.
Which one do you like?
There are some lovely pieces here, and as a firm Little My fan, I think I'd pick this one.
Which one do you like?
Monday, 25 November 2013
Crouch End Christmas Fair
The Crouch End Festival Craft Fair is on 14th December outside Hornsey Town Hall. If last year is anything to go by, it's going to be a splendid event, with fabulous festive gifts, festive music and festive spirit in abundance.
The craft fair is part of Crouch End 'Shop Local Campaign' encouraging everyone to make a difference to the local economy and community by shopping in the local high street. So watch out for posters galore in shop windows and please support your local shops, local community and local businesses this year!
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| Christmas decorations by Made in Crouch End |
Don't forget to leave your festive shopping for the 14th of December!
Christmas Craft Market
Crouch End Broadway
London N8
14 December 2013
Thursday, 20 June 2013
My Survival Guide to Provence
When, back in rainy London, I was planning what to pack for our holiday here in Provence, my mind went blank. With the summer weather in the UK being more like that of a mild winter in my native Finland, it was impossible to imagine a place where the sun would shine all day and it would be too hot even to sit and read a book by a cool pool, in the shade.
So, as usual, I packed too much.
Another problem I had back in the UK was food – we were due to arrive in Marseilles at nine on a Saturday evening, and after we’d picked up the hire car, I knew we might not be in our rented villa near Vidauban until after all the shops had shut. Buying food & wine at Gatwick seemed so totally wrong, so instead we opted for a bottle of gin and hoped for the best…
Unfortunately, our flight was delayed and we had some fun and games with the complicated navigation (in the pitch black of a Provence night), which meant we didn’t get to our villa until well past midnight.
Since our only food & drink provision consisted a bottle of gin, we went to bed hungry and sober. The Englishman promised to get up at crack of dawn to do the first of our daily pain et croissant runs.
All was well since in Vidauban itself has several boulangeries, a fab local cheese shop, a Co-op as well as a supermarche. And a few café’s where The Englishman and I have already after only half a week become regulars for our morning café au lait.
So, having now experienced some of the life here, I thought it might be useful to do a quick guide to how to prepare yourself for a villa holiday in Provence.
1. Pack lightly, remembering that if the forecast says it’ll be sunny and 30 degrees C , you will not need much more than a cover up and a few bikinis and or swimming costumes (especially if you have a pool or sea nearby).
2. Print out a map of where you are going (if you don’t know the way, obviously). The days of rental cars having a courtesy map in the car are well gone, and using the satnav in a language you don’t speak fluently can be a challenge (especially in the dark…).
3. If at all possible, ask for a ‘welcome pack’ for your villa. Unfortunately we were not able to get one, but in my view these are worth the weight in gold since you never know if your journey to the villa will be delayed (as ours was). It’s so nice to have the basics, like loo paper, water, milk, coffee and tea there when you arrive.
4. In Provence there are markets almost every day in one of the nearby villages (see below), so it’s worth checking where and when the nearest one to you is open. There are several stalls selling the perfect summer wear (including espadrilles for 6-7 Euros!) at reasonable prices. I had great difficulty in sourcing cover-ups etc. which didn’t cost the earth in London before I left, so I wish I’d waited until we got here to get mine.
5. Most supermarkets in Southern France are open until till quite late (the one in Vidauban closes at midnight), and they will not close for lunch unlike most of the other shops. So it’s worth remembering if you want you bread for breakfast, the boulangerie will close for lunch between 12.30 and 14.30.
6. Take mosquito etc insect repellents and creams with you. Most sunny resorts have these little blighters wanting to feed on your flesh, so it’s best to be prepared. I also find that taking anti-histamines for a few weeks before you go will help with the degree in which the bites affect you. (But that might just be me!)
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
French Market in Provence and a familiar vineyard
Yesterday we decided to
take a little time out from sunning ourselves by the excellent pool of our
villa near Vidauban, and drive up north to the little town of Lorgues for their
weekly Tuesday market.
Oh boy, what a French treat: there were clothes, excellent
leather goods, fantastic veg, saucisson, mountains of dried lavender and other
herbs, and cheeses to die for. Plus anything else you might ever think of
needing (including vegetable cutters…) The place was very busy with hordes
and hordes of both locals and tourists.
With the sun beating down (it was 32C), after just a
short stroll we were flagging and needed a cafe au lait and croissant in one of the many cafes
lining the market.
Thus revived, we made our
purchases:
Son bought a much needed Panama hat (in the Mediterranean heat his black hair very quickly becomes a furnace on top of his head).
Son's fiancée and I found a bargain in 5 Euro sarongs to wear around the pool (which also turn into shawls to wear around the shoulders in the evenings). I now wish I'd bought two; I've been wearing mine solidly since I got it, and I would really need one in a brighter colour. Oh well…
Daughter got a ring and I got Son a Breton stripe t-shirt for his birthday today.
The Englishman brought the food….cherries, cheese, bread, fantastic tomatoes (not the same fruit we get back home in the UK!), 4 kinds of sausages.
If you’re ever around this area, the market is worth visit.
On the way back to Vidauban, we passed a sign for Chateau L'Arnaude and I realised it was a vineyard I visited with my mother five or six years ago. In fact we stayed in the house, as guests of the owners who have now sadly sold it on. I had no idea we were so close to the vineyard, and since I remember the wine being particularly excellent, we popped in to have a taste and ended up buying a box of white. (And very nearly a box of the rose and red too!)
It’s a small world.
Saturday, 8 June 2013
Father's Day Kindle Offer!
Father's Day is just around the corner and if your children (like mine) always expect you to know the perfect gift for their Father, I have good news: what could be a better than the gift of books on the go?
So especially for you, my lovely readers, Amazon will take money off any Kindle Fire Tablet if you buy it via my blog.
But hurry, this is a limited offer:
£15 reduction on any Kindle Fire Tablet. Limited time offer: Ends 6 PM Monday 10 June 2013
Here are the technical details…
Kindle Fire Tablets
With options including 7” and 8.9” HD displays, Dolby Audio, Dual Antenna Wi-Fi and 8, 16 or 32GB storage, and with over 22 million films, TV shows, songs, magazines, books, audiobooks, apps and games (including top favourite apps such as Skyscanner, Jamie's 20-minute meals and Auto Trader) to choose from, the Kindle Fire HD Tablet range makes a perfect Father’s Day gift.
With options including 7” and 8.9” HD displays, Dolby Audio, Dual Antenna Wi-Fi and 8, 16 or 32GB storage, and with over 22 million films, TV shows, songs, magazines, books, audiobooks, apps and games (including top favourite apps such as Skyscanner, Jamie's 20-minute meals and Auto Trader) to choose from, the Kindle Fire HD Tablet range makes a perfect Father’s Day gift.
For four days only you can save £15 on any Kindle Fire Tablet. Limited time offer: ends 6pm Monday 10 June 2013.
Monday, 3 June 2013
4 Ways to Get Your Book into Bookshops
Back in April at the London Book Fair 2013 I got into a discussion with a fellow writer about how difficult some independent writers find it to get their books stocked in bookshops. Now, I don't pretend to be an expert in this field, but having been a bookseller in an independent bookshop and having also been part of a team which published the MA in Creative Writing Anthology, I know a little about the subject.
1. Make your local book seller your friend. Yes, I mean a friend. Make sure you go and buy books in the shop regularly and get to know the person who decides what books are stocked. This might be the manager, or a book buyer. Sometimes this is one person, sometimes if the shop is tiny, it's the owner. This is a long term policy, but then your writing career is a life-time thing, right? Sometimes, though, if the bookseller is particularly keen your kind of genre, they might take a few copies off your hands there and then on a first visit. (So take copies of books with you). I've seen it happen, especially in newly opened bookshops (which are as rare as rocking horse poo, I know).
2. Help the bookshop make money out of your books. Give them a good discount - anything below 35% and a bookseller won't even consider taking your books. The deal will always be on sale or return basis anyway, but their shelf space is valuable, so your books will only make it there if the bookseller can get some profit out of the book. I've heard a rumour that even Waterstones now have a policy to stock local authors, so it's worth trying all the bookshops in your area, even the large chains.
3. Ask if you can have a book launch in the bookshop. Independent bookseller love local authors, because often they know a lot of people who are loyal enough to fill the event. (You'd be surprised how many traditionally published authors cannot fill a room in a small bookshop). Booksellers want people in their shops; they want to build their clientele just as much as you do. If you help to promote the event, you also promote the bookshop so it's a win, win situation. (I will blog about author events and how to make sure they're a success in detail under a separate post.)
4. Get your books stocked by established wholesalers like Gardners. When I worked at West End Lane Books in North West London, we used (almost exclusively) Bertrams and Gardners. A small bookshop cannot stock all titles, so much of our trade came from providing a next day ordering service. If your book is easily available to order from one of these wholesalers, any bookshop in the country can order your book. Gardners also now offer a print on demand service. This is the more costly option, however, as they too need a cut from your book, and will charge for the printing. Perhaps this would be something to consider when you've first conquered your local bookshops?
So here goes, these are my top tips to get your books stocked in bookshops.
2. Help the bookshop make money out of your books. Give them a good discount - anything below 35% and a bookseller won't even consider taking your books. The deal will always be on sale or return basis anyway, but their shelf space is valuable, so your books will only make it there if the bookseller can get some profit out of the book. I've heard a rumour that even Waterstones now have a policy to stock local authors, so it's worth trying all the bookshops in your area, even the large chains.
3. Ask if you can have a book launch in the bookshop. Independent bookseller love local authors, because often they know a lot of people who are loyal enough to fill the event. (You'd be surprised how many traditionally published authors cannot fill a room in a small bookshop). Booksellers want people in their shops; they want to build their clientele just as much as you do. If you help to promote the event, you also promote the bookshop so it's a win, win situation. (I will blog about author events and how to make sure they're a success in detail under a separate post.)
4. Get your books stocked by established wholesalers like Gardners. When I worked at West End Lane Books in North West London, we used (almost exclusively) Bertrams and Gardners. A small bookshop cannot stock all titles, so much of our trade came from providing a next day ordering service. If your book is easily available to order from one of these wholesalers, any bookshop in the country can order your book. Gardners also now offer a print on demand service. This is the more costly option, however, as they too need a cut from your book, and will charge for the printing. Perhaps this would be something to consider when you've first conquered your local bookshops?
The thing to always remember is that you, the author, and the bookseller are on the same side. Both of you love books and want to share them and sell them.
It's very important for us as authors that bookshops don't fail - the current rate of shop closures is shocking, so we need to stem the tide. As for booksellers, if as an author you can help them, they will support you and recommend your books. And I know, having seen it at first hand, what an invaluable thing a bookseller's recommendation is.
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Crouch End Knowledge: Scarlet Rage Vintage
I have to come clean: I don't like vintage shops. The only good item I've ever got in a second hand shop (as they used to be called) was a beautiful Victorian christening gown for Son. And that was nearly twenty-six years ago. (Time flies). I still have it, for the next generation, and I truly treasure it.
Oh, come to think of it, I did once get a very lovely burgundy ball gown in a vintage shop, called Bertie Golightly's in Bradford-on-Avon. I remember that they had to take the waist in, I was that thin. (Those were the days!) That was before Son was born, so best not think how many years ago that was... I still have that purchase too, so I may have to eat my words on not liking vintage.
But, the idea of wearing someone else's clothes fills me with dread. Besides, I think the whole vintage fashion phenomena is over. There are now far too many shops calling themselves vintage, when in truth they're just full of second hand wares, or last season's sale items at normal prices.
Of course there are exceptions, and one such shop is Scarlet Rage Vintage in Crouch End, North London. I've been meaning to visit this shop for ages, because it has such an attractive window display, but have never quite managed it. And now they are already celebrating their first Birthday!
As soon as you walk into the shop you notice this is a professional outfit: all the clothes are beautifully displayed and they're clean, ironed and not stuffed into overfull rails (and there's no 'old clothes' smell). The lady in the shop, Rosie, was friendly, not overly pushy, just lovely.
My eye soon caught a treasure; 1920's waitress' (or servant's?) uniform. The lace at the cuffs and the thin white linen pinny convinced me it was truly original. Perfect for a fancy dress; although it looked on the small size (this time it would have to be altered in the other direction). Rosie told me it was probably a size eight, so erhm, perhaps not for me.
Rosie told me the stock comes mostly from the US and Europe, and that they make sure the items are from their chosen era of 1920's to 50's. They also stock a large collection of handbags, vintage jewellery, and a few homes wares such as cushions and chairs.
If you're into your American 20th century vintage, this is definitely a place to visit. And if you're in Crouch End this week, why not pop in on Thursday to celebrate Scarlet Rage Vintage's first birthday?
Oh, come to think of it, I did once get a very lovely burgundy ball gown in a vintage shop, called Bertie Golightly's in Bradford-on-Avon. I remember that they had to take the waist in, I was that thin. (Those were the days!) That was before Son was born, so best not think how many years ago that was... I still have that purchase too, so I may have to eat my words on not liking vintage.
But, the idea of wearing someone else's clothes fills me with dread. Besides, I think the whole vintage fashion phenomena is over. There are now far too many shops calling themselves vintage, when in truth they're just full of second hand wares, or last season's sale items at normal prices.
Of course there are exceptions, and one such shop is Scarlet Rage Vintage in Crouch End, North London. I've been meaning to visit this shop for ages, because it has such an attractive window display, but have never quite managed it. And now they are already celebrating their first Birthday!
As soon as you walk into the shop you notice this is a professional outfit: all the clothes are beautifully displayed and they're clean, ironed and not stuffed into overfull rails (and there's no 'old clothes' smell). The lady in the shop, Rosie, was friendly, not overly pushy, just lovely.
My eye soon caught a treasure; 1920's waitress' (or servant's?) uniform. The lace at the cuffs and the thin white linen pinny convinced me it was truly original. Perfect for a fancy dress; although it looked on the small size (this time it would have to be altered in the other direction). Rosie told me it was probably a size eight, so erhm, perhaps not for me.
Rosie told me the stock comes mostly from the US and Europe, and that they make sure the items are from their chosen era of 1920's to 50's. They also stock a large collection of handbags, vintage jewellery, and a few homes wares such as cushions and chairs.
If you're into your American 20th century vintage, this is definitely a place to visit. And if you're in Crouch End this week, why not pop in on Thursday to celebrate Scarlet Rage Vintage's first birthday?
Scarlet Rage Vintage,
11 Topsfield Parade,
Crouch End,
London,
N8 7LA
11 Topsfield Parade,
Crouch End,
London,
N8 7LA
Opening time are:
Monday to Friday 10:30am till 6pm
Saturday 11am till 6pm
Sunday 12pm till 6pm
Saturday 11am till 6pm
Sunday 12pm till 6pm
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Helsinki shopping
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| Edible roses…or |
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| Strawberries and blueberries... |
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| ...or a rye sandwich to go? |
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| This is me wearing the classic Raitapaita circa 1970…! |
Although some of the stuff in the Tehtaanmyymälä is not that heavily discounted (dresses were only down from 129 Euros to 119 Euros, for example), you can still find some fantastic bargains, like this classic striped t-shirt. I've head several of these Raitapaita t-shirts over the years, so I thought it was about time to get another one. I found a perfect summer combo: Navy and white, and it was discounted in the Marimekko Outlet store. Couldn't really say no…?
These are my other finds: the dress is from the current collection, but I couldn't resist as it's really thin fabric and perfect for a beach to bar cover up (we are off on holiday soon; can't wait).
Another great Finnish clothing store which a good friend recommends for businesswear is Andiata. They do good quality suits, shirts and dresses for special occasions. The fit is just right, and when in Finland I buy one or two pieces. This time I went for this sleeveless cotton shirt. It was so comfortable to wear I tried to get another one in white (you know me and my serial shopping problem), but they had run out of my size everywhere. (Andiata can also be found at Stockmann's).
A very different store, which I'd not visited before is Moko Market and Cafe. It's a sort of Finnish Anthropologie, although I was told Moko precedes the US store. This shop stocks quirky home wares and clothing from the Nordic countries, as well as French and American stuff.
The coffee they grind onsite is delicious, we brought home this breakfast blend, which was just perfect for a morning brew.
Finally, for me, a shopping trip in Helsinki would not be complete without a visit (or, erhm, half a day's browse) to Akateeminen Kirjakauppa. This vast bookshop on North Espalande has a coffee shop upstairs, called Aalto Cafe. Here you can hear literary discussions abound, or see refined Helsinki ladies having coffee and cakes.
Akateeminen Kirjakauppa has books on any subject in almost any language you may require. In short; a writer's heaven.
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| I love these old escalators. |
In spite of now having no space at all in my suitcase, I bought three hardback books by new Finnish writers. I will report back soon on my book review site on these. Just as well my friend had room in her suitcase for my books. The same old story! (Kindle, what Kindle?)
Stockmann Helsinki
Aleksanterinkatu 52Puh. +358 (0)9 1211
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Shopping: T-shirts
With a slightly heavy head after yesterday's wedding celebrations, I thought I'd share with you an online t-shirt company who I've used for some time now to buy fun presents.
Shot Dead in the Head make good quality, durable, funny and topical shirts for adults and children. These two motifs caught my eye today and I only wish I had time to get a few of these for my family as presents, but alas we are leaving for Helsinki tomorrow. For once, I wish an online store also had a high-street presence!
These t-shirts are £17.99 and come in several colours.
Shot Dead in the Head make good quality, durable, funny and topical shirts for adults and children. These two motifs caught my eye today and I only wish I had time to get a few of these for my family as presents, but alas we are leaving for Helsinki tomorrow. For once, I wish an online store also had a high-street presence!
These t-shirts are £17.99 and come in several colours.
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