We’ve got these lovely fairtrade sari journals, ranging in price from £3.95-£8.95 and available in blue, pink, red and purple.  Also, why not treat the teachers to one of these cute Disaster Designs compact mirrors.  There are 3 designs to choose from and are priced at £8.50.  Each one is supplied with a little card envelope with a matching design. 

I’ve started helping my 6-year-old to keep a diary when we go away on holiday and I’ve extended that to school holidays when we’re not going away, but just doing stuff at home.

Get a cute notebook and some fun pencils and get writing. You don’t have to be strict or serious – this isn’t homework! You can draw pictures, stick in bus tickets, leaves, etc. Even if, in the future, your kids aren’t interested in it, you certainly will be.

I write lots of blogs, I tweet and I Facebook, but I don’t really have anywhere to put my most private thoughts (who knows, maybe I don’t have any private thoughts…). But I do know that journaling is good for you, so I’ll most likely try again next year. And if I do, I’ll be doing it in this handmade leather journal with a leather tie and brass beads on the spine.

I read once that the most important thing you can do for emotional wellbeing is to practice what Oprah Winfrey calls the “gratitude attitude”. In other words, appreciate what you’ve got. Not just material possessions, but things like health, family or a the ability to look out of your window and see Jupiter (which I’ve been able to do for a few weeks now).

This handmade leather journal seems like the perfect place to keep track of the small wonders in your life. And maybe you could also jot down a recipe for Pumpkin Pie – I’ve heard it’s delicious.

And when I think about this time of year, I want to buy stationery. I love these sari notebooks by Paper High. They come in various colours and sizes and they’re fair trade.

Also by Paper High – and also fair trade – are these stitched leather journals with 125 pages of handmade paper. That’s enough to last you to the end of the school year. Whether you go to school or not!

This adorable set of 36 coloured pencils comes in such a cute tube that I may well buy it for myself. And it’s a long time since I’ve been at school.

Because school isn’t ALL about work, how about this Bobbypin Daisy Compact Mirror in case there’s not a chance to nip to the loo between classes.

This handsome Paper High plain leather journal with 125 pages of handmade paper is perfect for penning angsty poetry or just, you know, writing homework assignments. (I may have been projecting…)

We’re holidaying in the UK this year, so goodness only knows what the weather’s going to be like. I haven’t a clue what clothes to take, but I will be taking a few scarves, which make it easier to warm up a summer top. This one’s great because it has metallic thread running through it so is “dressy” enough for a meal out too.

One of the issues with holiday accommodation is that often they’ve been shut up for a little while and so don’t smell quite so fragrant. So I will be taking one of these gorgeous East of India candles with me to cheer the place up. Vanilla = relaxing.

This is the first holiday for a while on which I won’t be taking my laptop. I can’t quite believe it. But instead I’ll be taking this travel journal so I can keep a record of what we get up to!

I love these flower purses. Available in silver, green, orange and lilac they make great little gifts for a girl. At just £1.50 why not stock up on a few for party gifts?

There is a beautiful range of jewellery available in the sale too. With prices starting from £7 you can afford to treat yourself.  Check out the evening bags and jewellery boxes too.

We have a small number of these luxurious Paper High photo albums left: ideal for a traveller or anyone who values beautiful quality and wants to create a book full of memories. At around a third off we’re sure they won’t be available for long. 

Design by Julia. Stamped Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2010

I love celebrating other people’s birthdays… especially if I know that the Birthday Girl will appreciate a hand-made gift because I can make a gift that “gives twice!”

Here’s the gift I made for Maria: 

Design by Julia. Stamped Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2010

It’s a Stampin’ Up! 5 X 5 On Board Art Journal that I’ve covered with Bella Rose Designer Series Paper and then decorated with a combination of stamps: Baroque Motifs, Vintage Vogue (Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue, available from 1st April), and Friends 24-7, and cardstock: Chocolate Chip. Close to Cocoa and Very Vanilla. The inks that I’ve used are, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard and Close to Cocoa. I’ve also sponged around the edges to soften the cardstock.

The reason these gifts “Give Twice” is that I get immense joy from making them, and then (hopefully), Maria will get some joy in using them.   See, it makes two people happy! *smiles*.

It’s also the first time that I’ve attempted to decorate a candle. I wheeled the Jumbo Wheel, Friendly Words in Riding Hood Red ink onto white tissue paper and trimmed it down to wrap around the candle comfortably. I held the stamped tissue paper on the candle and used my Heat Tool to gently melt the surface of the wax. As the wax melts, the tissue paper will blend into the candle and (hopefully) hide all evidence of the tissue paper.  Fun.

I hope you enjoy your special Day, Maria!!! Your friendship has been a blessing in my life and I’m thrilled to have been able to share the laughs and happy moments of the past year with you, and hopefully many more to come. *hugs*

Paper High Sari Notebook

I love beautiful notebooks and there are plenty out there to choose from. My favourite is this Paper High sari notebook. It has a fold-over cover which closes with a button and cord: perfect to put in my bag. It comes in pink, red and blue but my choice is purple: I just need to make sure that my daughter doesn’t borrow it.

Sterling Silver rectangle earring

My husband is very good at choosing  jewellery for me, but a gentle hint never goes amiss. I need some new earrings and these Sterling Silver rectangle earrings handcrafted in Northern Ireland by Jolka Designs are just the job. I love silver, I love handcrafted, and Jolka Designs keep coming up with beautiful new products I’d love to wear.

East of India Lemongrass candle in ceramic pot

My final wishlist pick is something that will be just right for long balmy summer evenings. This East of India lemongrass candle in a ceramic pot is beautiful and useful. I love the scent of lemongrass, and if you light it outdoors when having a barbecue it will keep the mosquitoes away.

What would you put on your birthday wishlist? Remember that it is easy to create a wishlist at Hampton Blue, as a tactful way of making sure you get the gifts that you’d like.

Paper High Sari notebooks

  Channel 4 are currently running a great series called Indian Summer.  Perhaps you have been following the array of movies, documentaries, cookery programmes and so on that have been showing lately.  The country is full of vibrancy, energy, colour – a great lift on these dull winter days!  

Paper High Sari journal

In honour of  the Indian Summer  we would like to highlight  these fantastic Paper High Sari journals and notebooks available in our online boutique.  They come in red, purple, blue and pink.  There are 3 sizes available and with a price range of £3.95 to £8.95 they won’t dent the budget.  They would make a perfect self-indulgent treat or an ideal gift for someone special.  Good Housekeeping Magazine took a liking to them as well and featured them in their December Christmas gift guide.