New Products

Indoor games

Parlane

We all need a healthy balance in life and having an excuse to switch off the TV, computer, and phone, and spend a few hours interacting with friends and family is a positive move. Getting out and about is great, but when the weather isn’t being kind, indoor games are a useful way to engage everyone - young and old - in an activity that doesn’t involve any form of electronic media. The added benefit is that this leisure time doesn’t cost a penny - apart from the initial purchase, of course.

Traditional games are fun and can be educational for children as a means of teaching tactical skills, problem-solving, and inspiring conversations. For older family members, it’s also an enjoyable experience to teach younger generations an old-fashioned card game, or even a trick or two!

Parlane’s mango wood encapsulated games are incredibly stylish. The lovely boxes look attractive set out on a coffee table. Subtle colours, and modish, pared-down design come together to create a set of games which are perfect to leave out on display when not in use, but on hand ready to play spontaneously.

The various games on offer - noughts & crosses, backgammon, cards, dominoes and chess - encourage multiple purchases to complete the set, and also make stylish gifts. Call: 01451 812712 Email: sales@parlane.co.uk Visit: www.parlane.co.uk

Cuddle time

Rainbow Designs

Rainbow Designs is passionate about creating high quality, joyful forever soft toys for all ages. Featuring some of the most loved story book characters such as Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Rainbow offers contemporary newborn gifts including comforters, rattles and baby gift sets; through to early years’ classic wooden toys. There are plenty of cuddly characters to choose from - and not just for little ones: Rainbow has huggable characters for fans of all ages.

New to Rainbow Designs’ award-winning Classic Pooh Hundred Acre Wood collection are 25cm versions of Pooh’s best friends, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger. These deluxe super soft toys make the perfect playtime, story time, and bedtime companions for fans of Winnie the Pooh and his friends.

In the company’s Peter Rabbit Signature Collection, two stylish friends have joined Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny in this luxury soft toy range. The dapper Mr Todd and Jeremy Fisher make the perfect keepsake gifts for young fans of the Beatrix Potter tales, creating lifelong cuddly friends for little ones, and allowing parents and gift-givers to share happy memories and adventures from their own childhoods. Call: 01329 227300 Email: sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk Visit: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Raise a glass

Enesco

Enesco has unveiled a new glass to raise a toast to upcoming nuptials in its ever-popular licensed collection from Designs by Lolita.

The Bride Tribe Wine Glass is perfect for the wedding party to enjoy a tipple or two to help steady nerves as the bride-to-be gets ready on her Big Day, and is a must-have hen-do accessory as Miss prepares to become Mrs.

Measuring 22.5cm tall, the glass features a sparkling engagement ring complete with glitter writing spelling out ‘Bride Tribe’ on the body of the glass, as pretty pink roses wind their way up the stem to complete the wedding-vibe look. Like all Lolita wine glasses, Bride Tribe comes complete with a cocktail recipe printed on the base. Bride Tribe is exclusive - no two glasses are identical, making them truly unique gifts. After all, with so many ceremonies postponed and rescheduled for this coming year, there’s never been a better time to treat members of the wedding party to a thoughtful present for their love and support during very difficult times.

Just One Kiss

Also new from Enesco is a Deluxe Disney Princess luxury collectable figurine, from one of its best-selling licensed brands: Disney Traditions by Jim Shore.

Elegantly attired in a gown featuring a flowing floral lily pad design, with accents of pearls and genuine crystal, Tiana from Disney’s movie The Princess and the Frog is the fourth Princess in Jim Shore’s Enchanted Princess Masterpiece collection.

Standing 38cm tall, this delicately handcrafted design depicts the ‘Just One Kiss’ Disney Princess holding her beloved Naveen in his frog-like form in a striking pose, with hand on hip and lips pursed, inspired by the iconic scene from the 2009 animated film. Call: 01228 404022 Email: Uksales@enesco.co.uk Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

Get crafty!

ExaClair

ExaClair, the UK distributor for the Avenue Mandarine brand, has announced a new Masks to Sew Kit with wild animal designs.

This creative box contains all the material needed to create three fun wild animal masks: elephant, tiger and giraffe. The pre-cut felt shapes, together with the punched sewing lines, make it easier for younger children to learn how to sew. The plastic needle prevents little fingers from being injured, and the large eye makes it simpler for youngsters to thread it. The small shapes are made from self-adhesive felt to make it easier for youngsters to decorate their masks.

Other kits in the Masks to Sew collection enable children to make their own rabbit, owl and cat masks; or fox, cat and reindeer masks.

ExaClair marketing manager Lawrence Savage says the kits are a fun way to introduce children to sewing and at the same time develop their hand-to-eye co-ordination: “Youngsters will love creating their own brightly coloured masks and enjoy hours of fun transforming themselves into their chosen animal for added play value.” Call: 01553 696600 Email: enquiries@exaclair.co.uk Visit: www.exaclairlimited.com

Environmentallyfriendly jigsaws

Puckator

Jigsaw puzzles are perfect for a developing mind. They help develop cognitive skills such as spatial awareness and problem-solving, while also providing a fun activity to get involved with. Puckator now has jigsaw puzzles of its Zooniverse and Splosh ranges, sporting exotic animals from monkeys to zebras. The twist is that which animal you get will be a mystery until you open the box. Not only are the designs great, but they are also incredibly eco-friendly. They are made from recycled greyboard with soya-based inks used for printing, and are 100% plastic free.This means once a child has finished playing with the puzzle, it can be recycled with ease. With kids outgrowing toys so quickly, environmentally-focused products are something everyone should think about. Call: 0800 011 6969 Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk Visit: www.puckator.co.uk

Hearts and hidden bubbles

Lesser & Pavey

A new addition to Lesser & Pavey’s fragrance range of candles and diffusers, Desire welcomes the popular Pink Champagne scent. Each item in the range comes in a multicoloured glass container with a tassel and reeds, and is presented in shiny foiled gift boxes featuring windows to show off the pearlescent bottles and candle jars.

Meanwhile, the new Hearts Design Madelaine range has four titles: Love, Home, Friends, and Family. Each title has a fine mug, candle, diffuser, and wine glass, and every item features gold foiling and is embellished with a diamante bow. The mug, candle and diffuser are packaged in premium round lidded boxes. Call: 01322 279 225 Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk Visit: www.leonardo.co.uk

Doggy delights

Joe Davies

Our four-legged friends deserve to be dressed in Joe Davies’ popular Equilibrium jewellery brand - because happiness starts with a wet nose and ends with a waggy tail!

With this in mind, new for A/W are Pampered Pooch doggy identity tags and keyrings. The silver and coloured enamel identity tags are blank for engraving on the reverse and are packaged on a cute boneshaped backing card. The fun quirky designs include a dachshund with ‘hot dog’ wording, ‘crazy dog lady’, a paw print with ‘please call my humans’, and a bone with ‘eat, sleep, walkies, repeat’ wording.

Both the tags and keyrings hang on a countertop stand, making them easy to display, and can be bought as a convenient starter pack with the stand and 84 pieces, or as individual designs. Call: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Little Stars