Hot Brands Cool Places - Travel

HOT BRANDS

Cool Places

TRAVEL

JAN / FEB 2018

ISSUE NOËš58

Travel

FROM THE EDITOR

New Year - New Look!

LATEST NEWS: In case you missed it in our last issue we have recently launched a sister website:

Welcome to the first issue of our new look magazine, after almost 60 issues we wanted to create a new look for our magazine, we www.stylingsecrets.co.uk hope you like it. If you are looking for half term, Easter or summer escapes there are We wanted to showcase the talents of photographers, designers, stylists and other many choices in this special travel issue. creatives who work behind the scenes We also have a selection of delightful translating the vision into a practical reality. and inspiring books and journals to start the new year and to inspire your creative Every time you look at a beautiful image in side. All this plus our Beauty Round-up. a magazine, book, instagram or Twitter feed, someone has created it.

Enjoy!

Styling Secrets can help you find the sources of the magic to create those gorgeous images.

Cover and inside image courtesy of If you have an interest in styling, please get in Ski Solutions: touch and if you have a moment do follow us on Twitter and Instagram. www.skisolutions.com Other images throughout the magazine www.twitter.com/styling_secrets supplied by the various companies, or www.instagram.com/stylingsecrets.co.uk/ publishers featured.

Kaye

Kaye Thorne // Editor in Chief

All information about products and services are supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items. Inclusion in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.

IN THIS ISSUE...

10 20 Craig Burton, Managing Director of Ski Solutions

Interviews

Hayley Gerry, General Manager, Quality Villas

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38 Tim Stathers Toad Hall Cottages New Year, New Book Reviews

Features Get ready for Valentine's with our beauty round-up

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A & K VILLAS Abercrombie & Kent has been offering wonderful travel experiences for almost 50 years since the company was formed in 1962. Abercrombie & Kent provides assurance that our luxury villas measure up to the photography, floorplans and descriptions provided on our website and via our travel experts. Moreover, Abercrombie & Kent’s villas are checked and inspected meticulously by our team to ensure that they are safe for your stay - as well as beautiful.

www.akvillas.com www.akvillas.com/travel-interests/luxury-family-villas.cfm

NEW ZEALAND IN DEPTH Founded by Paul Carberry in 2003, New Zealand in Depth specialise in creating tailor-made holidays to New Zealand.

Paul has spent more than a year of his life on the ground in New Zealand and offers a genuine personal service, taking the time to understand his clients, their interests and their needs. This is the only way to create a truly bespoke holiday experience.

www.newzealandindepth.com

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Interview Craig Burton, Managing Director of Ski Solutions

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Can you tell us a little about the history of Ski Solutions?

At Ski Solutions we have over 30 years’ experience creating ski holidays across Europe and North America.

Every member of our fantastic sales team are all genuine experts who have lived in the mountains, head out to visit the slopes several times a year and so understand exactly what our clients want. Last season in total we spent a phenomenal 350 days on the slopes and we hope to top that in 2018.

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How do you see your business developing?

Ski Solutions has been growing at a phenomenal rate over the last five years as more and more skiers and boarders have turned to us for help with increasingly tailor-made, personalised holiday itineraries.

Interview What other options can be offered to travellers to extend some of the delights of the skiing locations?

Besides skiing of course, for many of us incredible food and wine is also a must when planning a ski holiday. Two favourites include San Cassiano in the stunning Italian Dolomites staying at the luxurious Rosa Alpina hotel, or Courmayeur near Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco) where a visit to mountain restaurant Maison Vieille is a must.

For clients looking to truly relax, the Scandinave Spa in Whistler Blackcomb has a Wi-Fi ban in a stunningly natural setting – including eucalyptus steam baths, saunas, Nordic waterfalls and outdoor roaring fires surrounded by hammocks. Finally, I’d recommend a stopover in Vancouver before heading to Whistler.

This remarkable city offers stunning restaurants and memorable activities such as whale watching, all framed by the dramatic mountains nearby.

There is increasing demand for flexibility, away from the traditional seven-night charter package, and our team of ski experts are perfectly placed to fulfil this. More recently we have turned our attention to cycle and walking holidays through our BSpoke and Cycling for Softies brands, and we expect considerable growth in demand for these activity breaks over the next few years.

Where would you recommend for a family skiing holiday?

Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns covers all bases for families very well, I recently got back from the hotel’s opening and think it’s the perfect choice. It’s has been carefully designed with families in mind, the location is ideal with direct access to slopes in Le Grand Massif and Flaine - Grand Massif is perfect for beginners with Flaine suitable for more intermediate to advanced skiers. This year we also launched holidays in Norway for the first time.

Myrkdalen is just one of Norway’s great resorts for families where children can run riot with designated ski areas, and it enjoys an average snowfall of five metres and a season which lasts till the end of May. If you could only choose one place for your own ski holiday of choice, where would it be?

A tough question, but if forced to choose only one, it would probably be Whistler. I spent two happy seasons there before and after university learning to ski powder with an incredible group of friends.

Great memories, and Whistler is hard to beat as an all-round destination.

What do you always pack for a skiing holiday?

A good set of goggles is always worth the investment and should last for years. I rarely bring skis with me these days, but wouldn’t be without my Nordica ski boots which after 10 years’ service are pretty bashed up, but still going strong.

I don’t get on with rental boots, and have never liked the idea of putting my stinky feet where someone else’s stinky feet have been! www.skisolutions.com

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INNTRAVEL

Inntravel specialise in Slow holidays, which reveal the lesser-taken path and offer a truly individual holiday experience.

Uncover hidden corners and authentic local experiences in Europe and beyond, journeying by foot, bike or train on Inntravel’s self-guided Slow holidays.

www.inntravel.co.uk

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OLIVER'S TRAVELS Oliver’s Travels do everything but the ordinary. A small team of globetrotters who are more than a little obsessive about where they stay. Each of their villas are hand-picked by their award-winning team, and the end result is an extensive portfolio of quirky and unique holiday homes bursting with character, across Europe and the Caribbean. Fancy staying in an enchanting chateau in Dordogne, a weekend partying in Spain, or spending a week basking in the Italian sunshine with your own private pool? It’s a cliché, but Oliver’s Travels really has it all.

www.oliverstravels.com

BAILEYS In this beautiful coastal location right at the entrance to Chichester Harbour and within easy reach of the Cathedral City of Chichester and Goodwood with the world famous ‘Glorious Goodwood’ horse racing, ‘Festival of Speed’ and ‘Revival’. Baileys offer a wide selection of self-catered properties, many situated directly overlooking the beach

www.baileys.uk.com/holiday-lettings

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NUMBER ONE DART MARINA Number One Dart Marina is an exquisite home in a breath-taking location by the River Dart in Dartmouth, Devon. A stunning combination of views, luxury and style, within a few steps of Dart Marina Hotel & Spa

see more at www.dartmarina.com/NUMBER-ONE

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SYKES COTTAGES Sykes Cottages offers over 7,500 handpicked holiday cottages across the UK & Ireland. Having grown to be one of the nation’s leading independent holiday cottage agencies, we have more than 25 years’ experience helping you find your dream holiday home.

www.sykescottages.co.uk

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CARBIS BAY HOLIDAYS Carbis Bay Holidays specialise in luxury 4 & 5 star self catering accommodation in St Ives and Carbis Bay, they are proud to offer a selection of over 150 properties. Short breaks available. enquiries@carbisbayholidays.co.uk 01736 630015

www.carbisbayholidays.co.uk

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Hayley and her mother inspecting villas in Italy

Childhood holidays in France

Hayley Gerry

General Manager,Quality Villas Can you tell us a little about the history of Quality Villas?

My parents started Quality Villas over 30 years ago. My brother and myself were bundled into our family car and would travel across France with them as they started and developed the company.

It started off its life as “La Premiere’ but in its infancy changed its name to Quality Villas to enable synergy with our other family company, Quality Cottages (Cottages in Wales). Our companies share the same values.

To curate a collection of selfcatering holiday homes which have been viewed and inspected and are presented to our clients with total honesty. To always provide a high level of customer service and never view our customer as just a reference number.

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Interview What countries do you cover and why?

France is our flagship country with 243 villas from Normandy down to Biarritz and across to the French Riviera. Mum and I added the Italian programme to our collection 15 years ago.

We now have a gorgeous range of unique villas from stunning villas overlooking the northern lakes to the amazing Trullo of Puglia in the heel of Italy.

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12 years ago my husband joined us for a few years and added one of his favourite countries to our portfolio, Morocco.

3 weeks ago we launched a brand-new collection of villas in Croatia.

Mum went to inspect them all in November (It’s a tough life but someone’s got to do it!).

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What do today’s travellers expect from a villa holiday?

first took our son to Marrakech when he was 6 months old.

With so many portals on the market and direct booking sites we are firmer than ever that our long-standing insistence on detail and honesty is of value to customers. The number of calls we have from disappointed customers who have booked fake villas or arrived in country to find the villa they chose is nothing like the description is such a problem that ABTA have launched their own “Fraud beware”- campaigns.

One of reasons to start the Morocco portfolio was to offer customers who were world travellers before they had families a chance to take their children to somewhere outside Europe that was short haul but different culturally.

We launched a new website in 2017 which enabled customers to search for their perfect villas with an extra 50 search criteria. Want a villa with a heated pool, near shops, with a beach style entrance and all bedrooms ensuite? You can find this with ease on our new website. Finding what you want with ease and trusting what you find is truthful is key.

Do you have a particular favourite destination? What attracts you to that area?

I have a huge soft spot for Morocco. We

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One of my most memorable memories with my son is seeing the souks and snake charmers with him. Having said that, I taught him how to eat an oyster in the middle of the fish market in Gallipoli in Puglia on a quick trip into town from one of our villas and enjoyed an amazing balmy night with my whole extended family of 16 in a villa in Provence where we booked a professional chef for the night!

How do you see the business growing in the future?

We are already looking to find unique villas in some other countries – watch this space. The lovely thing about being a family company with no investor demands is that we can grow without compromise to our values. Anyone

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can expand quickly, but to expand and do it well is another thing. We have an exciting project up our sleeves in partnership with our third family company that my brother started, Quality Unearthed – watch this space!

What do you always pack when you go on holiday?

I pack really lightly. I never pack anything I can buy in another country like sunscreen, as lugging it in a suitcase seems a waste. Swimmies, sarong/ towel, shorts, 3 t-shirts, cardigan, flipflops, trainers for some walks, 1 pair loose cotton trousers, sunhat.

Books, a pack of cards, a travel board game (ludo and monopoly are my favourites) are a must and the one I really like is an earphone splitter to share music with a loved one by the pool - I love that and never do it at home. www.qualityvillas.com

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QUALITY COTTAGES The tight knit family business based in North Pembrokeshire represents nearly 400 fabulous holiday properties throughout the most stunning coastal, countryside and mountainous regions of Wales. Quality Cottages was the first company to be awarded a gold medal for services to self catering holidays in Wales.

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QUALITY UNEARTHED Wanting to stay somewhere a little different… unusual holiday accommodation such as tree houses, gypsy wagons, offgrid places, or cool glamping structures is Quality Unearthed’s speciality.And these alternative, ecologically sensitive holidays are something more of us are seeking out. Increasingly we want things in life that are authentic and unique and our choice of holiday is reflected in this.

www.qualityunearthed.co.uk

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ST.MAWES RETREATS Boutique collection of private holiday houses sleeping 2 to 12 in unrivalled luxury in Cornwall on the idyllic Roseland peninsula. Our properties are ideal for 2 to 12 guests, couples looking for a relaxing holiday together or larger groups of families and friends gathering for a special occasion, reunion or holiday. Whether you are looking for a short weekend break of 3 nights, midweek break of 4 nights or a week or two week holiday we would be delighted to welcome you to St Mawes Retreats.

www.stmawesretreats.co.uk/

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MAISON TALBOOTH Step back, relax and indulge at Maison Talbooth. Twelve individual bedrooms, day spa, outdoor pool (heated to a sizzling 85˚all year), hot tub, pool house and tennis court. Guests dine at the award winning Le Talbooth restaurant beside the river Stour, just a minute away by courtesy car.

www.milsomhotels.com/maison-talbooth

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KESGRAVE HALL Step back, relax and indulge at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, a contemporary 4-star hotel with 23 fabulous bedrooms ranging from standard through to the ‘top grade’. Plenty of theatre can be found in the restaurant overlooked by the Engine Room, with our head chef championing all that is great about Suffolk produce.

www.milsomhotels.com/kesgrave-hall

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THE PIER The Pier stands proudly overlooking the picturesque harbour and the confluence of the Stour and Orwell rivers. Long established in Harwich, the hotel boasts four stars with two rosettes for cooking. The Harbourside on the first floor of The Pier, is renowned for using locally caught seafood, much of which is landed in the harbour opposite. Our Head Chef takes much of his influence from the sea so Harwich lobster and crab are nearly always on the menu served whichever way you’d like. Stay over and capture the ambience of this delightful old town, a night in The Mayflower suite, complete with telescope is a must!

www.milsomhotels.com/thepier

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TYTHE BARN The Tythe Barn, built back in the early 14th Century, provides the most amazing setting where you can create the wedding day of your dreams. We are a small, friendly and dedicated team who are here to help you every step of the way.

We listen, we sit down and talk and we are really passionate about getting it right - for you. Arrive with us in the morning and do the whole thing in one place, ceremony - indoor or outdoor, food - whatever you want and party - a civilised affair or a rave. The choice is yours. We’ve even created a unique and exciting place for the bride and groom to stay over...if you can’t bring yourselves to leave!

www.thetythebarn.co.uk

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Interview How did Toad Hall Cottages come about?

Toad Hall Cottages was created in 1988 by our current owners, David and Sarah Hanmer. Having settled in the area, they recognized a need for a good quality, locally based holiday accommodation provider and the business grew from there. The company has grown tenfold since then, whilst managing to maintain the feel of a homegrown, family business.

How do you know if a property is right for your portfolio?

Our range of customers is so diverse that we take on properties of all shapes and sizes. From studio flats with sea views to huge period houses in the countryside, we try to offer something for everyone.

Location is hugely important, our mission has always been to offer the best rural, coastal and waterside properties in the West Country. And, while we love our luxurious 5 star properties in locations like Salcombe and Sandbanks, there is also a place in our portfolio for dog-friendly, family homes that can handle sandy feet and muddy paws.

Most importantly, we want all of our properties to be clean, well-furnished and offer our guests great access to the best of the area.

How have the requirements from your visitors changed over the years?

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accommodation available and have worked alongside our owners to respond to the changing demand.

The shift hasn’t just affected holiday cottage owners but also the people who run cafes, pubs, restaurants and attractions as well who have all had to step up their game.

The result is that business owners and property owners really have to earn their money these days and that means much better quality accommodation, world class attractions and a richer overall holiday experience.

How would you like to see your business developing?

We’re continuing to grow in our existing locations in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and the New Forest.

We never like to rest on our laurels so are continually striving to improve our service, both to our owners and our guests.

It’s always been important for us to get the right balance between consolidation and growth, so while we continue to take on new properties we’re working hard to improve our website and infrastructure by training up new members of the team and opening new offices needed to support them.

We’ve just added 20 new properties based in Sandbanks, Dorset this month which we’re really excited about. It’s only about two and a half hours from London and we’ve already got two offices nearby, so we think this is going to offer our guests something a little bit different.

Where are your favourite locations in the West Country?

Country is that it’s so vast and so beautiful that I tend to find a new favourite place every couple of months! In the summer, it’s hard to beat the South Devon beaches, I love getting off the beaten track and dragging the family along the South West Coastal Path to find some hidden cove that few people can be bothered to get to. There are secret beaches all along the West Country coastline that come and go with the tide, so no two days out ever seem to be the same.

There’s something magical about exploring the old Cornish coast as well. It’s a lot more rugged than South Devon and we love stumbling across the old mine buildings that stand so solemnly all over the county - We’re also huge Poldark fans so get sucked right into the history and romance of it all.

The same goes for Dartmoor, the vastness of it is something to behold.

It’s great that in less than an hour you can go from a picture perfect beach like Bantham, all the way up to the rugged remoteness of Haytor, or the ancient charm of places like Widecombe and Chagford – just watch out for the ponies!

What makes a perfect holiday for you?

One of the benefits of working in the industry is you get a daily reminder of how valuable holidays are to people.

We’re all so busy these days, there’s so many daily stresses and so much pressure on people that time away with the family, with a loved one or with friends has become a vital part of our well-being.

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Tim Stathers,

Toad Hall Cottages

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Interview

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With that in mind, a perfect holiday for me means making memories with the people who are most important in a place completely detached from my everyday life.

That’s why we’re constantly working to make sure that get the accommodation side of things just right so that our guests can get on with enjoying themselves.

Being able to get outdoors, to country pubs, on to beautiful beaches – to swim in the sea, surf or play in the rock pools with my kids; these are all the ingredients for a perfect holiday and we’re lucky to have so many opportunities down here to do all that and more.

www.toadhallcottages.co.uk

Making the most of this small window of freedom is so important.

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UFFORD PARK Relax in style in the heart of Suffolk’s most beautiful, peaceful countryside: come to Ufford Park Woodbridge, Hotel, Golf & Spa – to stay or simply to enjoy our bars, restaurant and many other facilities. Set in 120 acres of historic parkland and just ten easy miles from Ipswich, child-friendly, family-owned Ufford Park Woodbridge offers you so much more including: High-standard hotel accommodation, undulating 18-hole championship, par-71 golf course – as used by the PGA EuroPro Tour, modern, well-equipped health club with spacious gym and indoor, deck-level swimming pool and the very latest thermal suite spa and much more!

www.uffordpark.co.uk

ORIGINAL COTTAGES We are proud to have launched, Original Cottages, bringing together all of the special properties within our family of local brands. We pride ourselves on having people with local expertise based in all of our destinations, we can always find you the perfect escape you have dreamt of. With over 4000 properties to choose from, we have whatever your heart desires – sand, sea, hill, forest, town and all between – let us make a truly unique holiday for you.

www.originalcottages.co.uk

WILDERNESS COTTAGES Wilderness Cottages offer a variety of self catering holiday properties throughout Scotland. These range in size from small cosy cottages, ideal for honeymoon couples and romantic holidays, or larger holiday cottages to sleep from six to twelve.

From remote crofts to stays in luxury apartments we have properties to suit all tastes. Many cottages are open all year, have log fires and make pets welcome.

www.wildernesscottages.co.uk

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FOOTPATH HOLIDAYS Personally owned and run by Ian and Suzanne Newman, Footpath Holidays has been providing high quality walking holidays in Britain since 1983. Holiday options include guided walking as part of a group, self-guided holidays based in a single centre and self-guided holidays moving on each day and having your luggage transported. Every year Footpath Holidays organises a number of ‘tailor-made’ itineraries e.g. walks associated with pilgrimage routes, James Herriot’s Yorkshire, Daphne Du Maurier’s Cornwall, or the Arthurian Legends.

www.footpath-holidays.com

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BEACON PARK BOATS Beacon Park Boats is a family business offering luxury narrowboat holidays on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. Each of the seventeen boats in this 5-star fleet was designed and built by Alasdair and Sarah Kirkpatrick and their team. Expect sumptuous beds, exquisite shower rooms, high-spec kitchens and luxurious lounges. Short breaks and longer holidays. Dogs welcome, too.

www.beaconparkboats.com

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ST. BRIDES BAY COTTAGES St Brides Bay Cottages offers delightful cottages in superb locations around the North Pembrokeshire Coast. “Welcome” might be a small word, but here it has a very big meaning. The scenery is spectacular, the air is crystal fresh and the villages are full of character. The rugged beauty offers the perfect backdrop for a real get-away-from-it-all holiday.

www.stbridesbaycottages.com

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Book Reviews

Declutter Your Life – Gill Hasson

focus on the things that do.

Take back your space, your time and your mind to live your authentic life.

Synopsis: You have too many commitments in your life and too much stuff in your home. It's no wonder you feel overwhelmed and stressed out. You don't need to just throw out a few bits and bobs; you need to declutter your life!

Our homes and workspace are a mirror of what's happening inside us, Declutter Your Life explains how you can change your relationship with the things you own. Instead of being weighed down with objects and possessions that keeps you stuck in the past, you can learn to think about your things in a new light; in a way that's constructive and helpful to you.

There are plenty of ideas, advice, tips and techniques to help you.

You'll discover how outer order leads to inner calm. Declutter Your Life explains how the principles and steps taken to clear and simplify your living space can improve not just your home but also other aspects of your life; your work, relationships and general wellbeing.

Declutter Your Life will help you to: • Let go of guilt and get rid of the emotional baggage that keeps you stuck in the past • Feel less overwhelmed and stressed • Clear out your unnecessary commitments • Simplify and improve your work life • Declutter your relationships Simple living doesn't end at home.

Declutter Your Life shows you how to reclaim your space, your time and your mind to achieve the life you want to live.

Available now from www.wiley.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review In Declutter Your Life – Gill Hasson has written a very practical stepby-step guide to clearing your living space to improve not just your home but also other aspects of your life; your work, relationships and general wellbeing. There are plenty of ideas, advice, tips and techniques to help you.

An ordered environment leads to ordered thinking. When you stop allowing your life to revolve around things that don't matter, you instantly gain the time, space and energy to

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Spring Reads Make Someone Happy and Find Your Own Happiness Along the Way Emily Coxhead Kakeibo - Fumiko Chiba

A Creative Kindness Journal

The Japanese Art of Saving Money

Synopsis: People in Japan are masters of minimal living, able to make do with less in all aspects of life, whether it's de-cluttering personal belongings or savvy seasonal cooking.

But at the heart of all this is the kakeibo: the budgeting journal used to set saving goals and spend wisely.

The premise is simple: at the beginning of each month you sit down with your kakeibo and think mindfully about how much you would like to save and what you will need to do in order to reach your goal. The kakeibo then gives you space to jot down your weekly spending and reflecting on the month just gone. The simple act of completing your kakeibo ensures that saving is a part of your everyday life, while also giving you the opportunity to reflect and improve every month.

Available now from www.amazon.co.uk Hot Brands Cool Places Review Designed to be completed each month, this helpful book gives you the space at the start of the month to identify how much you would like to save, and then to write down your weekly spending and reflect on it at the end of each month. If you wonder where your money goes this journal will help you recognize the patterns and encourage you to find ways of saving for things that are important.

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Synopsis: When we are kind, we feel happy and this inspiring journal will help you to do just that: every page focuses on the bright spots we overlook every day and will encourage you to pass these simple joys on to others. With infectious charm and delightful illustrations, Make Someone Happy will help you to discover your true sense of happiness by brightening the world around you: - Find a good news story from this week and share it - Fill a box with treats and positive notes and send it to a good friend - Leave an encouraging note for a stranger to find - Think of the kindest thing someone has done for you – how can you return the favour?

Make Someone Happy is a reminder that together we can make the world a kinder, happier place, one good deed at a time.

Available now from www.amazon.co.uk Hot Brands Cool Places Review Emily Coxhead is a designer, illustrator and creator of The Happy News, a newspaper celebrating only good news.

Make Someone Happy and Find Your Own Happiness Along the Way is a creative kindness journal and as such is a lovely way to start a journal, full of delightful illustrations and encouragement to inspire you along the way.

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Be Creative Drawing for the Absolute Beginner Carole Massey Synopsis: If you have ever wanted to learn to draw but lacked the confidence to start, then Drawing for the Absolute Beginner is the book for you.

Embroidered Treasures: Flowers Dr Annette Collinge

The author, Carole Massey, is an accomplished artist with many years' experience of teaching and demonstrating, and even the most hesitant of beginners will soon pick up the skills and techniques needed to start drawing. The book is a complete drawing course, designed to help you progress from simple techniques such as lines, circles, squares and ellipses through to capturing landscapes, figures and buildings.

Exquisite Needlework of the Embroiderers' Guild Collection Synopsis: The Embroiderers Guild was founded in 1906 and has in its collection embroideries from all over the world. These wonderful works, which somehow survived through the ages, could be said to be one of the most important group of embroideries assembled in one place. Stitched pieces and fragments and were gathered together by early members of the Guild and inserted into portfolios that were circulated among members.

There are numerous simple step-by-step demonstrations as well as larger projects, and outline tracings are provided of the more complex drawings that you can transfer straight onto your paper, if you wish to use them. Most of the artworks in the book are created using pencil, but the author also uses ink, ballpoint pen, pastel pencil and water soluble pencils to encourage you to experiment with other media too. By the end of the book, you will have learnt all you need to know to take your drawing skills further and become an accomplished artist in your own right.

Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration to embroiderers and this fantastic book showcases the Embroiderers Guilds huge collection of embroidered flowers through the ages. Featuring full-colour photographs, items are shown in full and also with detail images to show off the flowers at their best.

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These wonderful embroidered treasures are as varied as wall hangings, childrens dresses, bridal bags and samplers, some of which date back to the 17th century. The images are shown with extended captions. Collected from many different countries, this is an opportunity to see fabulous works that are very rarely seen in public.

Hot Brands Cool Places Review This book is an absolute delight, covering so many aspects of drawing that anyone looking to start drawing, and even experienced artists will find inspiration here. We love the very helpful step-by-step approach, the contents include: Introduction, First steps, Tone, Shading, Ways of Seeing, Sketching,Landscapes, Composition, Figures, Animals and Movement, Buildings and Perspective. Outline tracings are provided of the more complex drawings that you can transfer straight onto your paper, if you wish to use them. As the days start getting longer this inspiring book is all the encouragement you need to start creating your own pieces of art!

Highly Recommended!

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www.searchpress.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review This is a very special book, full of the most beautiful examples of embroidery work through the ages. You will be amazed by the exquisite detail and skill shown in the examples. This most beautiful book and the stunning photographs will be a source of inspiration for generations to come. Highly Recommended!

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