Hot Brands Cool Places Spring Travel Feb 2019

HOT BRANDS

Cool Places

SPRING TRAVEL

FEBRUARY 2019

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Spring Travel

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to our first magazine of 2019, if you are looking for half-term, Easter, summer or just a weekend break we have some delightful suggestions throughout this magazine.

We are delighted to feature an interview with Sue Ravenscroft, Commercial Director, Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire talking about her love of Pembrokeshire.

As we are creating this magazine we are experiencing some beautiful weather, which was the inspiration behind our feature - Escape for a Spring Break.

In this age of the smart phone we explore creative ways of displaying your travel memories.

Finally, we are great believers in the importance of finding moments of calm in our busy lives and we have a delightful collection of books to help you create havens of peace and stillness away from our noisy digital world!

Until the next time‌‌ Kaye, Louise and the Hot Brands Cool Places team xxx www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com Cover and inside cover image courtesy of Caerhays Estate The Garden will be open from 18th February and the Castle will be open for tours from 18th March 2019 www.caerhays.co.uk

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...

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Interview Sue Ravenscroft Commercial Director of Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire

Spring Break...

Travel Memories

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Make Time for Yourself

Features

A & K VILLAS With an internet awash with villa rental possibilities, taking the keys to a family villa can be daunting.

We work hard to make sure that our luxury villas and chalets meet your expectations.

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

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

HOME IN ITALY Finest luxury villas in Italy for rent Indulge in your luxurious Italian holiday, discover our special deals Escape the heat and the crowds, shoulder seasons are the best time of the year for sightseeing around the Bel Paese.

Opt for one our elegant luxury countryside retreats to be in close touch with nature and history or choose one of our coastal villas for a spring beach gateway. Being one of the most southern Mediterranean countries Italy boasts a pleasant climate that makes it a perfect destination for much of the year.

Find out our ongoing promotions and get in touch to start planning your luxury dream holiday!

https://www.homeinitaly.com/catalog/search.php?sort_mode=special-offers

COMBERMERE ABBEY Combermere Abbey offers two different accommodation options – the luxury North Wing B&B and 10 unique selfcatering cottages. In the luxury B&B, guests have the choice of two sumptuous bedrooms – the Bhurtpore, an elegant wood-panelled room exuding history and charm, or the Salamanca, the epitome of luxury decorated in calming hues of pale blue and silver with an opulent marble clad bath. Converted from the 19th century former stables, each of Combermere’s award winning cottages is uniquely themed to reflect a part of the estate’s history. From four poster beds, to mullion windows and pointed turrets, the cottages are steeped in history whilst providing the utmost comfort. Sleeping from 4 to 10 guests, visitors will experience the tranquillity of the estate to its fullest with woodland walks right on the doorstep. All cottages are also dog friendly. Guests are free to explore and enjoy the thousands of acres at Combermere Abbey.

https://combermereabbey.co.uk/

SKI SOLUTIONS Ski Solutions is a tailor-made ski tour operator and travel agent, dedicated to the specialist needs of skiers. We have over 30 years’ experience in organising bespoke ski holidays to Europe and North America, and our team of highly-trained ski experts have first-hand, in-depth knowledge of the mountains and resorts we sell. Our ski experts take the time to truly understand their clients’ requirements and find the trip that is perfectly suited to them, each and every time.

www.skisolutions.com/ski-holidays-2019

STAR CASTLE The Isles of Scilly, located just off the most Southerly tip of Cornwall, are still little known in the UK, but much loved by those who have already discovered them. The Star Castle Hotel is a perfect choice for an escape to Scilly – built in the 1600s in the shape of an eight pointed star, it is now a multi-award winning family-owned four star hotel with its own vineyard.

image courtesy of Mark Bolton https://star-castle.co.uk

image courtesy of Mark Bolton

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

MAISON TALBOOTH Step back, relax and indulge at Maison Talbooth. Twelve individual bedrooms, day spa, outdoor pool (heated to a sizzling 85Ëšall 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

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

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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Feature H OT B R A N D S CO O L P L AC E S S P R I N G T R AV E L I S S U E

Escape for a Spring Break...

Spring is a wonderful time of year to take a holiday. Everything is just waking up; gardens are starting to show the most amazing blooms, everything from stunning magnolias and camellias, to fields of daffodils, followed later by bluebells.

Getting away from it all often means a trip to the coast or the country, but city breaks often have a lot to offer too. There are so many city events, galleries, museums, art, antique and vintage fairs to be explored. You can also travel around the world in our restaurants too.

Beaches are less crowded, and in coastal shops and galleries new stock is arriving and artists start showing the magical creations that they have been working on during the darker winter months. New embryonic businesses are getting ready to welcome their first visitors and everything has hope and freshness about it.

When booking your stay for a Spring break try and book somewhere that offers facilities that you can enjoy. While it is wonderful to explore, one of the benefits from a holiday is just relaxing; our lives are often so frenetic that just pressing the pause button and reading a book, or magazine, or even just staring at a view brings a special joy.

Also in the spring the days have not reached the length of summer and the evenings can be chilly so having the opportunity to return to somewhere cosy to eat, or relax is more important.

If you have pets there is also more freedom to roam, and the weather can bring its own surprises, wrap up warmly with several layers as you can often witness several seasons in one day. You are also often rewarded with beautiful sunrises and spectacular sunsets.

Many Historic Houses and Gardens are open to the public, and run special events for all the family.

For many of us the first spring break is an opportunity to return to a favourite location, but It’s also a great time to visit somewhere new, to explore an unknown area that may become a future favourite.

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For further inspiration: https://www.ngs.org.uk https://www.visitengland.com https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk https://www.nts.org.uk https://www.english-heritage.org.uk Top image courtesy of Home in Italy - www.homeinitaly.com

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QUALITY VILLAS France . Italy . Morocco . Croatia We have the right villa for you. Book your 2019 with an ABTA bonded agency with over 30 years experience.

All villas have private pools. Choose from heated, gated, infinity, extra-large, shallow area for kids – you name it we have a pool type just for you. Villa for all groups, from villas for families to villas with easy access from airports..‌ We have the right villa for you.

www.qualityvillas.com www.qualityvillas.com/family-holidays

QUALITY COTTAGES The tight knit family business based in North Pembrokeshire represents over 450 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.

www.qualitycottages.co.uk

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

THURLESTONE HOTEL The Thurlestone Hotel has been owned and run by the Grose family since 1896. Thurlestone has grown year on year and is now a 65 bedroom, four star luxury hotel with extensive facilities set in 19 acres of landscaped gardens. As well as relaxing in the Voyage Spa, with its hydrotherapy pool, laconium and steam room, guests can book some serious pampering in the Decleor beauty rooms. The hotel is superbly family friendly: there are two children’s playrooms which feature an array of activities suitable for both teens and toddlers, The hotel offers a range of dining experiences. For those with a taste for the finer things in life, look no further than the Trevilder 2 AA Rosette Restaurant where the menu boasts locally-sourced food and offers a range of favourite regular dishes complemented by a daily changing selection of seasonal “market dishes”

www.thurlestone.co.uk

MULLION COVE Owned by the Grose family since 2006, the Mullion Cove Hotel is in a class of it’s own. For over 100 years, guests have enjoyed it’s character, hospitality and first-class service.Crashing waves and spectacular sea views. Elegant, inviting luxury rooms and apartments. Amazing food and friendly staff. These are just some of the reasons guests love Mullion Cove, one of the best and most romantic of hotels in Cornwall.

www.mullion-cove.co.uk

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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

https://www.baileys.uk.com/holiday-lettings

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THE MOUNT HAVEN The Mount Haven is tucked away on the fringe of the ancient market town of Marazion, located on the West Cornwall coast, and has fabulous views over to the iconic island fortress of St Michael’s Mount. Our location away from the hustle and bustle of the town makes us the perfect place to stay for those looking for a relaxing escape, but within easy walking distance of the independent galleries, shops, and cafés of Marazion.

The Mount Haven has 19 beautifully appointed rooms, the majority with seaviews, and an award winning restaurant headed by Chef Ross Sloan.

www.mounthaven.co.uk

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BEACON PARK BOATS 5-star narrowboats designed and built by us for holidays in the Brecon Beacons. Stylish lounges, impressive kitchens, immaculate bathrooms, central heating, luxurious beds up to 5ft wide and wifi.

Cruising breaks: March - November.

Moored houseboat breaks: November - March.

www.beaconparkboats.com

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Interview Sue Ravenscroft Commercial Director of Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire

Can you tell us a little about the history of Coastal Cottages?

Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire has been the leading agency in Pembrokeshire for over 35 years.

In those years, we have had the pleasure of creating a choice of cottages that are amongst the most quaint, quirky, and downright fabulous. The team all live in Pembrokeshire; we live, breathe, and enjoy the county ourselves, so who better to help you do the same when you stay with us.

What is the Coastal Cottages Trust?

In essence everyone that stays with us donates a minimum of £2 to go to local projects that enhances the environment and culture here in Pembrokeshire. There aren’t long laborious forms to fill in - This is simply about communities coming to us; explaining what they need funds for and our team decide on the level of support.

Together with our guests we have made some incredible improvements and changed many lives over the years.

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What are some of the events happening in Pembrokeshire this year?

Pembrokeshire has a host of events taking place in 2019 some of the major ones being The Long Course Weekend (5th-7th July 2019) and Ironman Wales (15th Sept 2019) triathlon events.

The Big Retreat (Friday 24 May 2019 - Monday 27 May 2019) – festival dedicated to the mind body and soul.

In addition there are numerous food festivals such as Haverfoodfest and Narberth Food Festival (Saturday 28 September 2019 - Sunday 29 September 2019).

Other popular events are Tenby Arts Festival (Saturday 21 September 2019 - Saturday 28 September 2019) and Pembrokeshire Fish Week (Saturday 22 June 2019 - Sunday 30 June 2019).

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imagination and send them on a new world of discovery such as Pembroke Castle and The Tudor Merchants house in Tenby.

There are also plenty of family attractions such as Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, Heatherton World of Activities, Castell Henllys, Oakwood Theme park and Pembrokeshire Wake Park.

What are your favourite places?

It’s hard to choose a favourite place as there are so many wonderful places to choose from but for me it’s Freshwater west beach - a huge beach popular with surfers and also a film location for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Robin Hood.

It is such a great place for a breath taking walk followed by a fresh lobster roll from the Café Mor van located in the car park – a real seaside treat.

What can Pembrokeshire offer families?

What makes a perfect weekend for you?

Pembrokeshire is great for families as it has so many beautiful beaches to explore – kids love the freedom, ball games, sand castle building, rock pooling all an exciting adventure. Pembrokeshire also has some spectacular castles and historic places of interest which capture the children’s

For me a perfect weekend is finding a cosy cottage near the sea with plenty to see and do in the surrounding area and some really good places to eat.

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https://www.coastalcottages.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.

http://www.footpath-holidays.com/

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JOHN BRAY CORNISH HOLIDAYS With over 300 of the best located self-catering cottages and holiday homes in North Cornwall’s loveliest locations. John Bray Cornish Holidays have been managing and letting holiday homes in and around; Rock and Daymer Bay on the Camel Estuary, and Polzeath and Port Isaac on the Atlantic coast for almost 50 years, most with spectacular sea views, many are pet friendly and all are within a mile of the coast. Short breaks out of peak season are welcome. For more information contact: lettings@johnbray.co.uk or call 01208 863206

www.johnbray.co.uk

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COQUET COTTAGES Coquet Cottages have a enviable collection of over 100 beautiful and unique properties across the length and breadth of Northumberland, from prime coastal locations such as Amble, Warkworth and Bamburgh, to the stunning International Dark Skies Park & Tynedale Valley.

We can match the perfect retreat to your holiday needs.

https://www.coquetcottages.co.uk/

BRAMLEY & TEAL Established a decade ago, Bramley and Teal offer a selection of over 200 holiday cottages across Kent and Sussex. Whether you’re after a seaside break or a countryside retreat, their cottages are perfect for your next escape to the South East.

www.bramleyandteal.co.uk

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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CAERHAYS ESTATE Caerhays Estate has launched a new Cornish holiday business called Caerhays Holidays bringing together for the first time a portfolio of 12 unique estate properties which the public will be able to book directly via the new website caerhaysholidays.co.uk and the Caerhays Holidays team. Caerhays is world-renowned for its award winning National Magnolia Collection, English Heritage Listed Grade II* woodland gardens and spectacular Spring Gardens.

Each of the properties have been luxuriously and comfortably furnished with an eye on preserving their own distinct quirks and historically unique features. The properties range in size range from sleeping two to 16 people. Most of the properties are self-catering, while The Vean and Burncoose offer bespoke concierge services with the option to be fully catered by a private chef. "A stay at Caerhays is an opportunity to lose yourself in a truly fascinating part of Cornwall’s heritage.”

www. caerhaysholidays.co.uk

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Travel Memories

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In an age before smart phones we used to take photographs, and if you were a keen amateur photographer you probably took many, because there was a level of mystery about what you had captured in your camera.

The reality was only revealed when your prints returned from processing and so rather than miss a special image you took more than one photograph of the same thing.

As you became more confident you may have ordered more than one set, because getting copies involved either sending the negatives away again in the post, or taking them back to the local chemist or photographic shop.

Now these photographs probably lie languishing in a drawer or cupboard, perhaps in an album, or still in the packet. For many this poses a problem of what to do with them, but it also raises a question about what will happen to the memories of the smart phone generation, what happens when the technology that you recorded those special moments on fails?

Do you display those happy sun-kissed moments in a public arena, or do you create something more personal for you at home? We spend so much time scrolling, wouldn’t it be more inspiring to display some of the more beautiful images on your walls where every time you pass them you recapture those happy memories of the places you love the most?

There are many ways to do this, the more traditional way is to create a collage of the places visited and mount it in a frame. Just as a mood board can inspire designers, displaying collections of images of places that you love can help you recapture the sense of freedom that you feel on holiday. With well-crafted frames and carefully selected images these collections can be displayed stylishly in any home.

Alternatively you can choose one absolutely stunning image and have it enlarged, or printed onto canvas, as a constant reminder of a special moment. If you discover collections of photographs from your parents or grandparents, don’t be in a rush to destroy them, instead create a family archive for future generations. Who knows what advances will happen to image capture in the future, but just as we are fascinated and amused by the black and white pictures of family holidays in the past, so will future generations pore over any photographs that you manage to retain from your childhood. Technology is wonderful, but can it really compete with the images that you can hold in your hands or display on your walls?

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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

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TOAD HALL COTTAGES For nearly 30 years, we’ve been helping guests find the perfect Westcountry holiday cottages. With over 700 properties throughout Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and the New Forest, we’ve got something for everyone. We can even accommodate your four-legged friend as over half of our properties welcome dogs.

Visit our website or give us a call on 01548 202020 – we look forward to hearing from you.

www.toadhallcottages.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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SYKES COTTAGES Give yourself something to look forward to with a holiday from Sykes Holiday Cottages. With over 12,000 self-catering holiday cottages throughout the UK and Ireland, you’ll be spoilt for choice when planning your next getaway. To find out more, visit our website or give us a call.

www.sykescottages.co.uk

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NEW ZEALAND IN DEPTH “Your recommendations of where to go and what to see and do, and who to stay with were spot on every time…”

New Zealand is our complete passion and we are committed to sharing our knowledge and experience of the country to create the best possible holiday experiences, whether you are visiting for a few days or a few months. Achieving this requires more than good destination knowledge, it is all about listening to you to understand your interests and what you need from us and caring about the experience you will have. It is about personal service and personal connections.

Based in England with trusted partners on the ground in New Zealand, we have been creating personalised New Zealand holidays since 2003.

www.newzealand-indepth.co.uk

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COASTAL COTTAGES Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire have over 500 cosy, family and dog friendly cottages nestled along the Pembrokeshire Coastline, which provide a perfect location from which to discover the beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

A unique concierge service enables you to add those extra special touches to your holiday from hampers on arrival to in-cottage private dining to ensure its memorable! To Book Call 01437 765765

www.coastalcottages.co.uk

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GONE CRABBING At Gone Crabbing you will find a range of both kids t-shirts and hoodies – designed and made in Turkey concentrating on top quality fabrics and prints. There is also a myriad of giftware from tea towels, mug, aprons, oven gloves, beach towels, stationery, their best selling line of soaps along with many other items to fill your bucket. The whole range can be found online at www.gonecrabbing.co.uk or at their flagship store in North Norfolk – the original British crabbing store.

www.gonecrabbing.co.uk

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THE TYTHE BARN The Tythe Barn is a fantastic 14th Century barn in rural Oxfordshire. Primarily run as an exclusive wedding venue, but also offering corporate and private events, it is headed up by husband and wife team Will and Emma Deeley - together with their incredibly professional team. The result is a fabulous, award-winning business!

www.thetythebarn.co.uk/

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Book Reviews

Just as colouring became popular as a way of relaxing we believe embroidery can create that same sense of calm. With beautiful threads, simple stitches and by adding layers of fabric, beads and other embellishments anyone can create something very special and personal to them. Here we share four of our favourite books to inspire you.

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Hand-stitched Landscapes Flowers - Katrina Witten

and

Synopsis: Create beautiful landscapes and flowers using hand-stitching and layered organza.

Hand-stitched Landscapes and Flowers is a beautiful exploration of the potential of embroidery in depicting the natural world.

Katrina Witten, who is a regular on crafts channel Hochanda, uses no more than six simple stitches for each embroidery, plus delicate embellishments and an array of techniques and fabrics to portray pastoral scenes of fields, flowers and creatures with eye-catching three-dimensional effects.

There are ten detailed projects to try, depicting, among others, a hedgerow, a bluebell-emblazoned woodland, sunflowers, a poppy field and a summer scene of buddleia, butterflies and bees. www.searchpress.com/ Hot Brands Cool Places Review If you are looking for an introduction to creating embroidery pictures, this is a perfect place to start. With a comprehensive introduction to materials, fabrics, stitches and techniques this beautiful book will inspire you to create the most gorgeous projects, including hedgerows, fields and stunning individual flowers.

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Debbie Shore's Sewing Room Secrets: Machine Sewing - Debbie Shore Synopsis: Step into Debbie Shore’s sewing room, where she will share with you her expert tips, techniques and trade secrets for successful sewing. In this first book in her new Sewing Room Secrets series, Debbie Shore walks you through every aspect of machine sewing, revealing her top tips and providing in-depth and helpful guidance every step of the way.

Starting by looking at sewing room essentials, Debbie then guides you around your sewing machine and explains all the tools and materials you might need, including wadding/batting, interfacing, fabrics and threads. There’s a handy troubleshooting section to reassure and guide you when you encounter problems. Debbie covers the key techniques you need to know, including inserting zips and piping, using shirring elastic, free-motion embroidery and appliqué.

Debbie’s focus is on craft and home items, but she also includes some dressmaking and quilting tips for those looking to explore other areas.

The ten beautiful projects help you learn the techniques as you progress through the book, beginning with a simple pincushion before moving on to a pillow cover, a tablet case, a drawstring bag, a sewing machine mat and more. www.searchpress.com/ Hot Brands Cool Places Review Some people prefer to embroider using a machine and in this comprehensive guide to machine sewing Debbie explains how to use a sewing machine to create free-motion embroidery. There is the added bonus that if you have a machine sitting unused, or you wish to use a machine to create other things this book really is a very useful guide to getting the best out of your machine.

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Make Time for Yourself Machine Embroidered Flowers, Woodlands and Landscapes - Alison Holt Synopsis: Drawing on her previous books, this book provides a showcase of Alison Holt’s exquisite machine embroideries. Learn how to create beautiful machine-embroidered pictures of gardens, flowers, landscapes and woodlands using various combinations of just two simple machine stitches.

All the techniques are broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions, with numerous helpful photographs and a great range of inspirational pieces. Alison 'paints' her threads on to handcoloured backgrounds, blending her stitches and achieving stunning results. The raised effects of the embroidery produce a beautiful three-dimensional look and her clever use of perspective is effective and easily achieved. This book covers everything, including the materials required; how to compose a picture from photographs that have inspired you; achieving perspective; light and shade; painting backgrounds; and all the basic stitch techniques you need to know.

The Textile Artist: Appliqué Art, Freehand Machine-Embroidered Pictures Abigail Mill Synopsis: From fraying and layering to free machine embroidery and embellishment, this gorgeous book guides you step by step through renowned textile artist Abigail Mill’s characteristic, ethereal style. Create five beautiful projects featuring themes such as teatime treats, animals and the seaside, and be inspired by galleries of Abigail’s work.

The book touches on Abigail’s inspirations and influences and looks in detail at the elements that bring her work to life: colour, texture, pattern and free machine embroidery techniques.

Detailed instructions explain how to create realistic flowers, trees, foliage and much more, and there are eight stunning step-by-step projects so that you can put into practice your newly acquired skills .This is a must-have instructional and inspirational book for anyone interested in free-motion embroidery.

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Appliqué is another technique that encourages you to experiment in creating pictures with material. This delightful book is full of the most joyous creations such as teatime treats, animals and the seaside. As well as the projects there are templates, detailed instructions and beautiful illustrations showing you how to stitch, dye and create texture.

ISSUE˚62

Hot Brands Cool Places Review This is book is moving free-motion embroidery up another level, with detailed illustrations of flowers, woodlands and landscapes. As well as basic stitches Alison illustrates how to use photographs, silk painting, and three-dimensional images. There is amazing detail in her designs, which from a distance look like paintings, this is an amazingly inspirational book!

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H OT B R A N D S CO O L P L AC E S S P R I N G T R AV E L I S S U E

We are constantly bombarded with noise, if you want to start 2019 in a quieter, calmer state of mind we have two sources of inspiration.

Paint Yourself Calm Colourful, Creative Mindfulness Watercolour - Jean Haines

Quiet Learning to silence the brain chatter and believing that you’re good enough - Fearne Cotton Synopsis: "This book is about taming the bad inner voice - the one that has the power to overthrow gut instinct and talk us out of new adventures. We are all brimming with inner wisdom, yet we allow negative thoughts to confuse us. We forget how capable and strong we can be. There is confidence there even if it's hidden; there is courage, beauty, wisdom and belief we just need some quiet to notice it.

Love, Fearne xxx" From Sunday Times bestselling author Fearne Cotton, this is the handbook for modern life we all need.

Including expert advice, ideas to put into practice, adventures to complete and interviews with everyone from Bryony Gordon to Billie Piper, Quiet seeks out ways to help you tune out the negative backchat that holds you back, so you can hear the positives that will guide you forwards www.amazon.co.uk Hot Brands Cool Places Review This is a very honest book, by sharing her own personal challenges Fearne illustrates the challenges that we can all face and encourages reflection and ways of moving forward.

Beautifully presented and full of helpful advice and encouragement to create moments of quiet within our busy lives.

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Synopsis : Unwind with watercolours, allowing the movement of brush on paper to calm and soothe you. Jean Haines' takes you with her to explore the many benefits of painting to your wellbeing, so you can escape from stress to a personal place of mindful calm.

Meditative, peaceful and calming, watercolour painting offers a sense of control and self-worth to everyone, with no judgement or goal beyond the joy of painting itself. This book shows you how to calm and enhance your outlook through the movement of brush on paper.

Master artist Jean Haines leads you on a journey through paint, showing you how to wipe away your worries with the soothing, gentle strokes of watercolour paint. www.searchpress.com Hot Brands Cool Places Review This book is absolutely beautiful, full of gorgeous images, colour and inspiring quotes, ‘Anyone can paint. Not only anyone, but everyone’ ‘Working with peaceful colours and restful thoughts can help us reach a relaxing state of mind.’ In Paint Yourself Calm, Jean has created an inspiring and uplifting book that will encourage anyone to pick up a paintbrush, dip it in your favourite colour and experiment. Magical!

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Cool Places ISSUE NoËš64

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