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WINTER 2010
Step back in time THIS year there is much to remind us of our own Christmases as a child with a great range of retro and vintage style collectable toys. There are traditional games such as table tennis, matchbox games, wind up tin robots and cars together with giant jars of ‘flying saucers’ sweets, my favourite! The Christmas sweet section upstairs also offers some traditional fayre such as stacks of sugar mice, big bowls of gold coins, towers of Candy Canes and boxes of Jelly Beans.
We’re the kids in THE American food section is bursting with sugary delights such as the popular Marshmallow Fluff , Lucky Charms, Reeces Pieces, Pop Tarts and tonnes of other candy bars. Real American marshmallows are perfect for toasting on an open fire to make smores (sandwich with melted chocolate between Graham Crackers or digestive biscuits) or load mini ones on to a delicious hot chocolate. BBQ sauces and rubs make fantastic stocking fillers for dad and what teenager wouldn’t love a six pack of imported A&W Root Beer. Don’t forget the Aunt Jemima’s pancake mix and syrup for the perfect Christmas day breakfast!
Dear All This year we will be hanging an extra stocking over our wood burner for our son Digby who is now one year old. I can’t wait to decorate the Christmas tree with him although I am sure it will not be the wholesome idealistic image that I have in my head! It will probably involve me hanging things on the tree, Digby taking them off and then Ernie our dog eating them, not to mention Andy cussing and swearing as he tries to untangle the lights, family bliss! I also intend to take full advantage of our new extended baking section to get Digs involved in some baking this year or at least encourage him to use some biscuit cutters and make some icing worms. Sounds messy but I am sure his grandparents will enjoy them at least! Digby’s arrival last November has taught me lots of things but mostly that time is precious, not just in the sickly sweet way but in the ‘how on earth am I going to get all this done in the tiny bit of time that he is asleep’ kind of way! So I really hope that Sparks Yard can help you get all your Christmas choosing, shopping, wrapping and treats, done as easily as possible. All
our staff are on hand to help you find things, give you suggestions for your hard to buy for great uncle and make you a delicious hot chocolate to congratulate you on getting all your shopping done in record speed! To thank our wonderful customers we have introduced a new loyalty scheme this year ‘The Love Card’ to ensure that those that love spending at Sparks Yard are rewarded and can be part of our exclusive customer club. We want to hold some exclusive ‘treat nights’ in the new year for our Love Card customers as a thank you for their continued support. So if you haven’t signed up yet make sure that you do next time you are in store so that you can benefit while buying treats for everyone else! We feel we have an extended new family here at Sparks Yard with new members of staff so we thought it would be good to give you their ideas on what gifts they love in store. You will find snippets from them throughout the newsletter. We hope this gives you some ideas for Christmas and don’t forget that we can order in things that we don’t have in
Holly & Andy SAVE THE DATE PARTY INVITE Please join us at Sparks Yard’s Christmas Party in aid of the Chestnut Tree House
Thursday 2nd December 5pm – 7pm. At Sparks Yard, Tarrant Street, Arundel.
Sussex Life... ANDY was asked by Sussex Life Magazine (much to his embarrassment) to feature in their Men in Business section of the November Issue this year. The feature hightlights men who are very entrepreneurial and customer focused. It makes good reading and we love this picture of him leaning out of the first floor window! Really it’s just a lovely picture showing our Christmas tag we had put on our Christmas ribbon round the Sparks Yard building. Like many people at Christmas we thought it would be good to add a little something to our wrapping! Look out for our next addition to the building!
Special Events & Opening Hours Arundel Spirit of Christmas: Saturday 4th December 10am-6pm Christmas Party (see above): Thursday 2nd December 5pm 7pm Arundel By Candlelight: Saturday 11th December 10am till late Late Night Shopping: Thursday 16th December 10am till late
stock so if you can’t find it please ask! Thank you for your continued support and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2011! Best wishes
General Opening Hours Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Sundays 11am – 4pm 20th-23rd December we will be open until 6pm
Contact Us Sparks Yard, 18 Tarrant Street Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9DJ. Tel: 01903 885588
www.sparksyard.com
To place an order visit our website www.sparksyard.com or call 01903 885588 to order over the phone or ask any questions – we can ship most things!
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Page 2 Sparks Yard Newsletter Winter 2010
CUPCAKE
Demonstration Andy and I have a short trip to New York planned before Christmas which will hopefully give us more great ideas for Sparks Yard. We are going on a ‘research’ trip otherwise known as a shopping trip, it
is very serious stuff! We are hoping to come back full of inspiration that hopefully will translate into lots of exciting things for you to come and see and taste in store soon. Its hard work but someone has to do it!
Easy Cake Decorations
Deck the Halls
NEW stylish Christmas cake decorations from just £8.95! As part of the Arundel Food Festival 30 people signed up for our cupcake masterclass by Indulgence Cupcakes. They were given tips on how to bake and decorate cupcakes by Jeremy Jacobs and chief decorator Kathie Price. We had a really studious bunch who impressed us with their wonderful creations- Piping
perfection and darling decorations. Thank you to all who attended and made it so much fun! We hope to do something similar in the new year as a ‘treat’ for our TLC customers!
Kelly Loves... ...snuggling up in our chunky warm knits! Cable knit bobble hat £5.95 Iceland Wool scarf £13.95 Red Moose Basket £16.95
of the Best... Cakestands If I knew you were coming I would have baked a cake! There is nothing more special than homemade food at Christmas and it`s a great way to welcome visitors with a Christmas themed cupcake or star shaped biscuits or gingerbread men hanging on the tree. On the first floor we now have a dedicated baking section full of trays, biscuit cutters, cupcake cases and numerous styles of cupcake stands to show off your creations!
Vintage style paper £9.95
White porcelain £44.95
Silver plated heart tier £81.95
Lindsay Loves... ...the teapot for 10 when her family comes over!
London pottery 10 cup teapot £22.00
We’ve got it all wrapped up We hope you enjoy getting creative with your Christmas wrapping too. We have now made a dedicated wrapping area which is located on the ground floor at the base of the stairs. It houses some fabulous wrapping papers, ribbons and paper bags from designers like Orly Kiely and Emma Bridgewater. We have some nostalgic wrapping such as Paddington Bear, Beano and The Dandy and vintage look toy soldiers. This year too you will find a large selection of Charity card packs and special individual Christmas cards for your loved ones.
EACH year I like to add something new to our tree. With Digby in tow we shall decorate the tree together. I know it’s not going to be as co –ordinated and stylish as previous years but I want it to be child friendly and fun so choosing from our lovely ‘Big Decs’ decorations made of coconut huss ensuring no breakages is going to be simple. There are gingerbread men, little round robins and Christmas puddings all of which Digby loves! It is also a tradition in our family to give each other a new decoration each year. It was wonderful when I left home and had my own tree for the first time, I had a tree nearly full of my own decorations from my childhood. This is a tradition we have continued with Digby and try to do for our Godchildren too. Tied onto their parcels it makes them look so special and is a little extra gift too. I love walking through Arundel this time of year and seeing all the different wreaths on people’s doors and am always amazed how creative people are, buying a simple wreath in store and adding their own coloured ribbons and accessories to make them really unique. It is definitely time for us to get a new one this year but I am finding it hard to choose, the boys want a moose head one and I have a hankering for the sparkling Holly wreath.
You could win one of these fantastic Chasseur dishes originally priced £109 available in several colours if you format the best answer to this: ‘All I want for Christmas from Sparks Yard is...’ and pop your answer and contact details on a postcard into our orange postbox in store and the winner will be read out on Arundel by Candlelight night. Or if you can’t wait you can purchase them now at this special purchase price. Was £109 special price £50 Less than half price Chasseur casserole dish – Perfect for those winter warmer casseroles and stews. Every kitchen should have one!
To place an order visit our website www.sparksyard.com or call 01903 885588 to order over the phone or ask any questions – we can ship most things!
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Sparks Yard Newsletter Winter 2010 Page 3
Great designs in the kitchen! Get in the Party Mood LAST month Andy and I were treated by my parents to a cocktail master class at Harvey Nichols Champagne Bar which was brilliant fun. We learnt to make lots of the old classics and then we were let loose to make our own. I would love to take the credit for this but I was mostly guided by our very flamboyant host!
As always the Cook store is fit to burst with exciting new kitchen gadgets for the forward thinking gastronome alongside our wide range of traditional kitchen tools and equipment. Joseph Joseph have brought out more innovative kitchen and serving tools which we love. I definitely want one of the Orb pestle and mortars…hint hint Andy!
Holly’s favourite Cocktail... Cucumber Spark
ORB £30 Another great contemporary design I won’t mind keeping on display in our kitchen. This porcelain pestle and mortar provides receptacles for grinding herbs and spices.
• Chop a 2 inch piece of cucumber finely and add to a shaker • Add 15ml of Monin rose syrup, 50ml Hendricks Gin, 15ml Lychee Liquor • Fill Shaker with a handful of ice and shake with all your might! • Pour into a tall glass (without straining it) and top up with pink champagne.
Yummers! SO now it’s your turn to impress you friends with a tempting aperitif! Look the professional with our fabulous cocktail shakers and barware. Cocktail shakers –flip top £37.50, frother £19.95 and strainer £19.95. Retro Ice crusher £45. Serve in stunning aperitif goblets £24.95 a pair or your champagne cocktail in champagne saucers £39.95 for 4. For those that enjoy drinking shotsLSA Coro shot glasses in vivid colours £12.99 for 4 or a cartridge shot belt for your sloe gin bottle £74.95. It could be the start of a new sociable hobby!
Champagne saucers £39.95 for 4
INDEX CHOPPING BOARDS £40 These knife sets and Index Chopping Boards are brilliant gifts for cooks and also great for students and new home starters.
DOUBLE DISH £15 My dad is nuts about nuts and this Double Dish is perfect for him! No longer will my poor mum have to constantly clear nutshells from the tables, sofas and anywhere else that he usually leaves them!
Eye Witness Coloured Knives A new eye catching range of coloured knives at great prices. Lindsay loves the 4 knife cheese knife set at £9.95 which she wants to give her cheese loving boyfriend.
Bimmie Loves... ...the red star garlands & yummy candy!
Christmas Fun and Games Remember those board games you played after the obligatory massive Christmas lunch? We have a great selection. Such as a shooting game – snowball splatter £3.99, Pin the tail on Rudolf £3.99 and party pinata £3.99 where you can load up with sweets and small gifts and let the family squabble over the treats! Genius and IQ tests always go down a storm and you will not believe the competition it evokes between family members. Once you have decided who is the cleverest you can truly test everyone’s intelligence with a selection of table trivia boxes and tins or even table origami for the more artistic diners. For wine lovers – choose from a good selection of wine accessories including the ultimate set of tools to open, serve and seal wine. 6 piece set includes a Houdini lever corkscrew, foil cutter, pourer/stopper, wine/champagne sealer, spare spiral and tool stand £44.95. Add in a group of friends and try one of our fun evening games such as a Wine Tasting evening or A Night at the Awards and get everyone mixing their own drinks!
Hannah cherry lolly £2.00 Big decs star garland £10.95
All your Christmas wishes may come true! WHY not come into store, pick up one of our Christmas Wish List Cards and post into our stunning new orange postbox. We will keep your wish list at the store ready to help your loved ones find the presents you actually want this year! Enjoy browsing round the store and making your choices. You never know it could be you!! We want all the family to get involved from your tiny ones to great grandparents. I’ve already filled in 5 cards!
Tim Loves... ...the Emma Bridgewater mugs & plenty of froth! Emma Bridgewater Union Jack half pint mug £15.95
Keith Brymer Jones Punk Mug £12.95 We are really excited to have Keith Brymer Jones ceramics back in stock. The prices have now come down which is always a bonus and he has some brilliant new designs. The new punk range is brilliant and a perfect gift for music lovers and old rockers!
To place an order visit our website www.sparksyard.com or call 01903 885588 to order over the phone or ask any questions – we can ship most things!
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Our Top Cookware Gifts 5 4 3 2 1
Tea Cupcake mould £14.95 Giant Peugeot pepper mill £92.95 Ade slim scales £39.95 Aga accessories – chef’s pad £12.99 Emma Bridgewater Christmas star teapot £49.95 NUMBER 1 because Emma Bridgewater is timeless and it is lovely to serve tea for all the family from a gorgeous teapot!
Our Top Kids Stocking Fillers
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When its crisp and cold outside you will need a nice warm hat, a cozy scarf and a pair of snuggly gloves. We have a brilliant selection of accessories at great prices such as fingerless glove with smitten attachment £2.95, angora berets, Mens Thinsulate hats and gloves £3.95 and chunky knit scarves from £9.95 for all the family. So come in, stock up and go for a stroll along our beautiful riverbank in Arundel. Then you will all need to pop back to the coffee bar for a comforting and restorative hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and cream accompanied by one of our delicious new range of cookies (if we haven’t eaten them all first!). They are seriously good and have some really different flavours such as Butterscotch on the Rocks or Blueberry Hill alongside old favourites like Rainbow (Dotty) Cookies.
Louisa Loves... ...fashion pink warm accessories & wishes she was drinking champagne instead!
5 Whoopie cushion £0.95 4 Kids Trivia £2.99 3 Ouch plasters £4.50 2 I’m as big as... wall chart £10.50 1 Racing snails £2.60 NUMBER 1 because it’s fun for all ages and provides hours of entertainment.
Our Top Womens Gifts
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5 Bridgewater Big Love mug £16.95 4 Cath Kidston brush set £22 3 Retro pink trim phone £36.95 2 Dr Hasuchka Bath Oil £16.75 1 Lisa Stickley handbags from £34 NUMBER 1 because these are new great prints from Lisa Stickley and they make you smile !
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Our Top Mens Gifts
5 Sandstorm Tan Messenger Bag £95 4 Spanish fig and nutmeg grooming set £28 3 New Bucky balls £24.99 2 Eyescope for iphones £34.99 1 Vita R4 ultimate integrated music system £549.99 NUMBER 1 because it has everything you would want from a music system (CD player, ipod dock,USB play/fm tuner and clockalarm) it looks super stylish and the sound quality is superb!
Get in quick for...
I’d rather be drinking champagne mug £7.95
Bags Galore – British Design ALL the girls at Sparks Yard are so happy we now have Cath Kidston Handbags and accessories. The range includes phone holders £12, manicure sets £15, Make up brush gift sets £22, cosmetic bags through to small handheld £38 and messenger style handbags at £68. Kelly has already bought herself the latest phone holder in a lovely country flower spray print!
Don’t forget the Man Bags! ANDY is forever putting his stuff in my handbag and with Digby’s stuff too – I have decided enough is enough. So when we go away to stay in Devon in see the in- laws he is packing in style with our superb range of luggage from Sandstorm –Kenya. A range of canvas and leather and some mixed with fine Scottish estate tweed luggage pieces that are so beautifully and ethically handcrafted in Nairobi. They get better with age the scruffier they become, right up Andy’s street! We have some lovely leather bags and wallets form Skive and Toole which will age equally as well and have a slightly smarter edge to them.
Sylvia Loves... ...this colourful necklace from the One Button range!
Giant colour crackle necklace £22.95
Another new brand for us this year is Lisa Stickley Lisa is an English textile designer who has expanded very successfully into stationery and handbags and accessories. I was first introduced to her designs when a great friend bought me a piece of her ceramics (ceramics are always the way to my heart!) and now I have completely fallen in love with her quirky vintage style and subtle colours in dusky blues, taupe and mustard. I especially love her two ladies design and Maureen the dog illustration. Top of my wish list this Christmas is one of her waxed cotton shoulder bags with leather trim handles £124. The lightweight magazine bags are just right for college or everyday £34.
Don’t be disappointed and make sure you get in earlier to buy; Paperblank diaries – these stunning coloured and unusual diaries are a Sparks Yard favourite! £10.95 Moleskine Passion Journals – great for the hard to buy for group where you can pick a passion journal on the following subjects –Film, Recipes, Wellness and Wine. £15.95 Sci-fi sound machine – a fun gift for luke skywalker wannabes! £9.95 Buckyballs (above) – The amazing magnetic desk toy you can’t put down! We think this is a start of a new craze like the rubix cube except this is much easier! Already showing a following on the ‘You Tube’ website. Make sure you come in and get yours! £24.99
Order online at: www.sparksyard.com
Kieran Loves... ...looking sharp in our new men’s stripped scarves!
Assorted coloured scarves £9.95
The Yard Sale – watch this space This August we were very excited to open a second shop in Arundel by the Town Quay. For a limited time this shop has been transformed into a clearance outlet where you can pick up some great reductions. The stock is always changing so it is a case of pot luck to what you find. It is bargain hunters heaven! However we have great plans for this space and we are very excited about its new concept which will hopefully come to fruition in Spring 2011. So watch this space ! The Love Card customers will be the first to know……
To place an order visit our website www.sparksyard.com or call 01903 885588 to order over the phone or ask any questions – we can ship most things!