Bath Christmas Market

The Bath Christmas Market is open and we have our usual spot in Abbey Square by the Baths. Come and see us in hut no. 10. The stalls are as beautiful as ever but this year there are 150 huts to explore. Grab a mulled cider and a bag of hot chestnuts, have a ride on the carousel and soak up the magical atmosphere. The market is open until Sunday 15th December.

Stocking fillers for girls and the evolution of the Christmas gift

How much do people spend on a Christmas stocking these days? We found this fascinating infographic looking at the financial evolution of the Christmas gift and could not resist sharing. A little girl's Christmas stocking holds much more in the 21st Century. The average spend on a child at Christmas has increased from less than half a percent of the monthly  income 100 years ago to 5% of monthly income in 2012.

Image source: MoneySupermarket;

We may be spending a lot more on children at Christmas but the little surprises that go into a stocking still need to give value. We have collected a varied selection of gorgeous gifts for girls that are bound to delight. Have a look at our Pinterest board for inspiration.

Have a Mary Berry Christmas

Bath officially declared Christmas open this week when Mary Berry turned on the  lights in the city. We were delighted to welcome Mary into the shop as Bloomsbury Store was used as a cozy base for the media interviews.

Mary chatted to young customers and perused our products for foodies including this cute cookie stamp.

Mary Berry has done a lot to rekindle the Brits love of baking. We have a fantastic selection of quirky cookbooks for the foodies in your life. Check out our Pinterest board for some inspiration.

Stocking fillers for boys

When it comes to stuffing a Christmas stocking you would expect the contents to have changed a great deal since the 1950s. This comparison of stocking fillers for boys over the last 60 years might surprise you.

1950s
In the 50s and 60s a little boy's Christmas stocking might contain: a Matchbox car, action figures or toy soldiers, Silly Putty, Hornby or Scalectrix accessories, Lego, Mr Potato Head, a card game or top trumps, a bag of marbles, a Slinky, a yo yo, crayons or pencils, a magic trick, a comic book, a selection box, an orange and a sixpence.

2013
These days the sixpence has been replaced by mobile phone credit top up cards, computer games have replaced Scalectrix and trainsets, and the orange is only included by the more nostalgic stocking stuffers, but many of the gifts have stood the test of time.

Action figure : Tintin Figure
Silly putty : Planet Putty
Lego : Lego Storage
Card game : Gruffalo Pairs Game
Marbles : Kaleidoscope Bag of Marbles
Slinky : Ridley's Springy Toy
Yo yo : Ridley's Yo Yo
Crayons : Octonauts Set of 24 Crayons
Magic Trick : Magic Linking Rings
Comic book : The Complete Tove Jannson Comic Strip Book

For more boys' stocking fillers, have a look at our Pinterest board.

A book festival for food lovers

As well as selling unique gifts and accessories, Bloomsbury stocks an eclectic selection of books. It is only fitting that we should, inspired by the style and wit of the Bloomsbury set and the impressive literary heritage of Bath.

  

With independent book shops, literary events and festivals throughout the year, there is always something to excite book lovers in the city.  Topping and Company Booksellers  recently launched The Autumn Book Festival which runs until the end of November. As well as an array of novelists, biographers, humorists and nonfiction writers they have arranged some fantastic events in association with The Great BathFeast, inviting celebrity chefs and food writers to talk about their books. Guest speakers include novelist Joanna Trollope, crime writer Ian Rankin, rocker Brian May, the Great British Bake Off’s own Mary Berry and travel writer Bill Bryson.

Bloomsbury Store might not be able to compete with Topping and Company or Mr B’s Emporium but it is the place to find all the classic Tintin books  and is renowned for its selection of art and design titles. Lovers of the Great Bath Feast will also find some gems on our shelves.

Have a look at our Pinterest board for some recommendations.

A brief history of cufflinks for dapper gents

According to the International Cufflink Association decorative cuff fastenings have been around since the time of King Tut with hieroglyphs depicting chain and stud type fastenings on the cuffs of well-dressed ancient Egyptians. Cuff links were introduced in Europe in the 17^th century when slits were first cut into sleeves but the term cufflinks did not appear in writing until 1788.

Cufflinks as we know them were made popular by regency dandy, Beau Brummell who insisted that they were the only piece of jewellery a gentleman needed. The fashion soon spread throughout society along with the shirt and tie. The cufflink used to be a necessity but in the 1930s sewn on buttons became the fastener of choice.

Modern dressing could have meant the end of the cufflink but there are so few opportunities for masculine adornment that the cufflink has survived. No longer a necessity, they are now treasured items able to inject wit and style into any gentleman’s outfit.

There is a cufflink for everyone and every budget. The wearer can hint at interests and passions with novelty cufflinks or demonstrate style and discrimination with their choice of quality cufflinks made from precious metals and jewels.

For wit, we recommend Tatty Devine’s Swallow Tatoo Cufflinks which reveal your inner biker, even when you are dressed in a suit and tie.

Simon Carter’s stylish Silver Knot Cufflinks,  hark back to the silk know fastenings of 19^th century France 

and for high fashion you need look no further than Paul Smith’s Ministripe design from his Autumn and Winter 2013 collection.

For more cufflink inspiration along with a selection of accessories for dapper gents, have a look at our Pinterest board.

A range of stylish cameras and accessories to put the fun into photography

Can you remember the joy and frustration of analogue photography, waiting for your film to come back from the developers and that thrill when you open the envelope to see you photographs for the first time? We love analogue and want to put the fun back into taking pictures that is why we are celebrating the fourth anniversary of Lomography in the UK by featuring a collection of the most stylish cameras for analogue fans.

 
Lomography is a community dedicated to experimental and creative analogue photography. The community share photos, tips and inspiration and supply a variety of low-fi cameras and experimental film designed for play. Anyone can be a Lomographer. Just pick up a camera and snap whatever you fancy, then wait to see what develops.

La Sardina is a great choice for the style conscious, decorated in a variety of prints including this lovely deckchair fabric. It has a wide angle lens, ideal for selfies and landscapes alike and it takes 35mm film. Add a flash and a selection of experimental films to see what this little camera is really capable of. You can find inspiration on the Lomography Sardina website. There are tutorials and galleries of Sardina images shared by Sardina users. Why not join in and share your own Sardina photographs.

Here in the South West there are plenty of opportunities to get out and about with your Sardina camera. Why not join Bath Photo Walk for their Autumn Photowalk in Victoria Park. Or meet local lomographers in Bristol. Bristol Lomo Club meet once a month.

You could store your images in this Ted Baker pretty floral photo album or display your favourites in pride of place on the fridge with this set of vintage fridge magnets from Cavallini.

Lomography UK are running a celebratory competition over on their Facebook page. Enter the fourth anniversary competition to win one of four cameras.

These gorgeous little cameras start at £59 and we have a selection of colourful and experimental film from £8.50. See the full range here http://www.bloomsburystore.com/brands/lomography or pop in to the store.

Accessories from Paul Smith and Ally Capellino for Fabulous Fashionistas

Bloomsbury’s own Fabulous Fashionista, Jean Woods, has been making the news this week after appearing in the Channel 4 documentary. With features in the Radio Times and Daily Mail, it is clear that he media are fascinated by her unique, age defying style.

Jean is proof that there is no age limit on style and this selection of stunning products will tempt fashionistas of any age. Team a Swirl Jaquard Stripes Silk Scarf and Grey Stripe Beanie from Paul Smith with a dark red Ally Capellino Kelly Bag for a youthful injection of colour.

There is still time to see Jean and the rest of the fashionistas in this inspiring documentary on 4od.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/fabulous-fashionistas/4od

Fabulous Fashionistas

Here at Bloomsbury Store we’ve been getting very excited over our Jean appearing on Chanel 4's Fabulous Fashionistas! You may remember us blogging about Jean being filmed back in April, and now she will finally be hitting the screen!

Award-winning director Sue Bourne explores the art of ageing in the company of six extraordinary women in a Cutting Edge film. With an average age of eighty, Bridget, Daphne, Jean, Gillian, Sue and Lady Trumpington have something inspirational in common – to keep going, to look fabulous and to have fun. Without botox or plastic surgery, these women are redefining old age – in style. Not one of them feels like an ‘old person’ and, in their own ways, they are defying expectations of the ageing process. 

Fabulous Fashionistas features uplifting, often poignant personal stories and insights into how staying young and dressing with style is about more than following the latest trends, but about an attitude to life itself. 

Keep an eye out for Jean serving in the shop!

Catch Jean and 5 other stylish ladies on Channel 4 on Tuesday the 17^th at 10pm. 

Make your lips shimmer

We're really looking forward to getting some new products in from Burt's Bees, soon to arrive will be these wonderful UK gift sets. The previous gift sets we have stocked have been geared towards the US market so these beautifully new branded sets feel more us. We love the packaging in sunny shades of yellow and the products as always are sublime. Even better with these sets are the savings you'll make - usually getting one products for free!

New Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Gift Set £19.99 (saving 16%)

Burts Bees Honey Collection £15.99 (saving 40%) free mini body lotion!

Burt's Bees Mini Collection £5.99

The new Ultra Moisturising lip treatment should be in very soon also and we can't wait to try it out. Made with kokum butter it'll be a real treat for dry lips, and with winter soon approaching we'll be stocking up on it. We'll let you know as soon as it arrives!



But if you can't wait to get a Burt's treat why not try out the Burt's Bees lip shimmers, they're a great way to get a flash of colour across your lips whilst caring for them too. All Burts' lip shimmers are 100% natural and contain the same beautiful moisturising ingredients that the famous lip balms do too. With a range of 7 luscious shades to choose from you can't go wrong, so get lip smacking!

AW13 Ally Capellino has arrived

Ally Capellino is one our great treasures at Bloomsbury & Co, we love the understated simplicity and functionality of every item. From launching her first womenswear collection in 1980 Ally has has stayed true to her Britishness and now has two shops of her own. Going back to her fashion accessory roots her bags, wallets, purses and belts have won her many fans. With little, to no excessive embellishments and only subtle logo's and names placed keenly away from sight, her bags are a breath of fresh air in what can be a brand competition. Classic styles that you will come back to time and again.
Ally Capellino's AW13 collection takes on some really moody colours for this season, giving a great contrast to her light summery collection with its sea blues and mustards. The classic frame bags are all hand made in London with a factory that is unique in the UK. All use beautifully grained Italian veg tanned leather and feature the Ally Capellino Cockerel motif. Any item from the Capellino collection is guaranteed to last you a lifetime and will always be a classic.
See our AW13 womens collection here!  and mens just here!

Ally Capellino's AW13 collection takes on some really moody colours for the season, giving a great contrast to her light summery collection with its sea blues and mustards. The classic frame bags are all hand made in London with a factory that is unique in the UK. All use beautifully grained Italian veg tanned leather and feature the Ally Capellino Cockerel motif. Any item from the Capellino is guaranteed to last you a lifetime and will always be a classic.
See our AW13 womens collection here!

It's Nixon Time!

Nixon watches came into being 15 years ago as a reaction to the lack of quality and choice available on the market. They now consider themselves a game changer in the market who can "deliver what you need in various high stress work and play environments" with "a network of athletes, rock stars, retailers, and dedicated loyalists that bring Nixon products to market. They are absolutely committed to every last detail ensuring that what you get is the very best and will reflect your values, style and character.

Our collection of watches has grown each season as it's popularity demands us to expand colours and styles. New in this season we have the new version of the Unit 40, we were smitten with the original design but this new sleeker design has us falling in love all over again. And the ever colourful Timeteller's will have you re-considering your outfit to match your watch!

With something for everyones taste's from the traditional and super functional to the brightest fashion colours and hard wearing timepieces you won't be disappointed with Nixon watches in any way. View our online collection here or come in store for more!

Rodgers and Rodgers Jewellery Sparkles

Rodgers and Rodgers was started in 2010 by Lynn and Kate Rodgers in rural Derbyshire. All their jewellery is handmade using 22ct gold vermeil, 925 sterling silver and carefully selected semi-precious stones. Their jewellery is simple, elegant and timeless. With an ever expanding range of gorgeous semi-precious stones at the heart of the collection we have a hard time keeping a favourite. Currently at the top of our wishlist is this sublime Astrid gem bangle.

We think the pure simplicity of each item speaks volumes. The beautifully faceted stones allow the colour to really shine through and who couldn't resistant stacking these rings together?

 Mix and match your colours across a range of styles of rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Each made with the utmost skill and attention to detail. The studs have become a best seller (not only with us in the office!) with such a great price starting at £15.95 in a rainbow of dazzling semi-precious stones. We have a great selection online but if you can make it to our Bloomsbury Store in Bath then a bigger, brighter collection awaits you!

Don't be Sensitive

We love the new focus on specifically designed face care ranges from Burt's Bees and the new Sensitive range has been a revelation to us Bloomsbury girls. With the super soft cotton extract running through the collection you can wave bye bye to redness and irritation after cleaning away make up and wake up happy to fresh glowing skin.

The cotton extract will help your skin replenish its outer layers that can get stripped away when using harsh soaps and irritants. It will also soothe any redness and the rice extract and aloe will boost your skins moisture levels. The whole range is fragrance-free and as always only the most natural ingredients are used.

The new facial cleanser towelettes have been our favourite from this range as they are perfect for taking away on holidays and weekends away. Knowing you can always clean away dirt, oil and make-up at the end of the day with these tucked in your weekend bag is bliss! An added bonus to the wipes are that they are made from FSC approved natural cloth so absolutely everything about these wipes is gentle. You can view the whole Sensitive collection here!

We'd love to know what you think of the Burt's Bees face care products - you can leave us a comment here or email us at hello@bloomsburystore.com.

Pantone's Colour of the Year is Emerald

We ran a post in January about Pantone's colour of the year being Emerald - see it here. Well we're now the first UK stockist of Seletti's infamous Pantone tins commemorating this beautiful colour. The perfect hide away for the utility bills and storage for old polaroids and holiday niknaks. Stack them high and proud! Get the emerald tin here.

 ps. we now also stock this summery mimosa yellow! See the collection of colours here!

Summer Holidays

Summer is in full swing and we have some great gifts, games and ideas to keep everyone happy on these long balmy days.

Whenever we're looking for fun gifts to give we always look to the Wild and Wolf Ridley's range first - because it's jam packed with so many beautifully designed games and toys. Wild and Wolf have recently re-released the Ridleys nostalgic games in new Kaleidoscope packaging giving each item a toy shop feel - each games pulls you in with it's dazzling aray of colours and patterns.

This set of playing cards are a classic through and through - every household needs a deck of cards. whatever you play - snap, solitaire or texas hold 'em. You can perfect your shuffling skills till your heart's content. £9.95












For little tricksters the 4 Classic Jokes and whoopee cushions £2.95 will provide them whth those simplest of pleasures. Let them perfect the art of the 'nail through the finger' and listen to them giggle whilst dropping an 'insect in ice' into someone's drink (and just pick your cushioned seat carefully!)! 4 classic jokes £7.95

Board games are great for taking away with you and our favourites are 2 in 1's. The  Chess & Checkers £14.95 and the Snakes & ladders & Ludo £11.95 boards both have a vibrant 1960's style to them.With incredible double side board technology another classic family game is revealed. Just don't slide down too many snakes!

Don't forget to capture all those wonderful holiday moments. Why not try building your own pinhole camera! With this simple kit you just need some glue and away you go. Get the thrill of not only creating your own camera but then getting them developed and seeing the results. Pinhole Camera kit £7.95.




Check out the full range here - Ridley's games - with everything from tumbling blocks, pick up sticks and harmonica's to a giant bouncer summer will never be the same again!