Merryn Magazine - issue 1 by Merryn

Merryn Magazine Because everyone needs a l it t l e joy in t heir l if e!

Meet t he t eam who make chocol at e veget abl es

Incl uded in t his issue... Looking f or somewhere t o donat e your ol d wedding dress t o?

Meet t he man who makes t ast y sweet pizzas out of cookie dough

Looking t o dat e a man wit h a beard? Find out how!

VISIT MERRYNMAGAZINE.COM * SPRING 2016 * ISSUE 1

Special mont hs and event s... So, what's going on in the next three months? Let's find out! (Click on the logo to go straight to the webpage) Friday 1st April t o Monday 2nd May National Pet Month Sat urday 2nd t o Friday 8t h April World Autism Awareness Week Sat urday 9t h t o Sunday 17t h April National Beanpole Week Monday 11t h t o Sunday 17t h April National Gardening Week Sat urday 16t h April Record Store Day Monday 18t h t o Sunday 24t h April 2016 Parkinson's Awareness Week Thursday 21st April 200 years since Charlotte BrontĂŤ's birth Sat urday 23rd April World Book Night 400 years since William Shakespeare's death Monday 25t h April t o Sunday 1st May National Stationery Week Sunday 1st t o Tuesday 31st May National Share-A-Story Month National Walking Month EDS (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) Awareness Month Make May Purple: Stroke Awareness Month

Keeley Richardson is bringing to our schools the basic knowledge of how to sew and embroider. We find out more... When we were at school, we loved learning how to sew buttons onto fabric, a key skill we retain now. Sadly, this isn't a skill typically taught in UK schools nowadays. This is something that was also noticed by Keeley Richardson, who now heads a group of nine ladies who between them run an amazing 32 sewing club sessions a week across East Berkshire and North Surrey. They aim to inspire a whole new generation to be creative, whether it's simple sewing or making their own embroidered projects to take home and treasure. As well as running sewing club sessions, they also run regular School Holiday Workshops.

Wh ere el se can you f i nd M erryn M agazi ne? As well as being in this fine, fine magazine, we are also all over social media! (click on the icon to be taken to the account)

You can al so email us: merrynmagazine@yahoo.co.uk

On our wishl ist ... Here are things we're loving from around the internet (click on the product to go straight to the product's webpage)

'Tin Town II mini keepsake cit y in a vint age t in unique art piece'

'Hanging St ar Decorat ions' £2.50 from The Other Duckling

£26.42 from SuperDuperThings

'How Donut s Get Sprinkl es' greet ing card

'Amusement Arcade Grabber Brooch' £18.00 from Frilly Industries

£2.50 from Whale & Bird

'A6 Spiral Bound Not ebook in Heml ock'

'Coral Reef Hair Bow'

£4.50 from Annabel Perrin

£4.00 from Lil & Rubes

On our wishl ist ... 'Swal l ow & Ahoy Anchor Neckl ace' £12.85 from Dolly Cool

'Cl oud Coast ers in Whit e Acryl ic' £16.00 from Pygmy Cloud

'Teacup Keychain'

'?Beach Hut s? Wal l Art '

£10.00 from Clairey Lou Creations

£24.00 from Sand and Seagulls

'Forest Orchid Large Bat h Soap' £5.99 from The English Soap Company

'Bright on West Pier Neckl ace' £28.00 from Fawn and Rose

Alfie Moon Designs was founded in 2015 by husband and wife team Julian and Christine Brown. Working from a small office and studio in the Shropshire town of Bridgnorth, they design and make character-led gifts, which can be personalised for special occasions. They also cater for the corporate market producing merchandise and promotional items for small businesses.

Al f ie Moon Designs ? One Year On "As we approach our first anniversary trading as Alfie Moon Designs we took some time out to reflect on and share our experiences of running a craft based business with our friends at Merryn Magazine. Here?s what we had to say in our quick fire interview: Q: How did Al f ie Moon Designs come about ? A: I have always loved designing and making things. I particularly take my inspiration from everything around me ? the beautiful countryside we live in, British wildlife and most of all my cats. Having worked in a corporate environment for over 20 years, I felt the time was right to use that experience to run a creative business, doing the things I love every-day and getting to work with my husband! (Christine) Q: What ?s your f avourit e design or gif t you?ve made t his year? A: Without a doubt it has to be the Crazy Cat Lady range. It?s had an amazing response and sums up at least of half of the team at Alfie Moon Designs! (Julian) And for me, my favourite design is one of my first designs to be sold and that?s Slouchy The Penguin. We?ve put him on lots of gifts but by far my favourite has been our new glass clocks. (Christine)

Q. Are you working on anyt hing special at t he moment ? A. We are working on a new sparkle range which involves converting a selection of our most popular designs into rhinestone stencils to put onto bags and clothing. It?s meant learning new techniques and getting to grips with new materials. (Christine). We are working on a new range of denim bags and taking our existing designs to the next level to reflect the look and feel of the new materials. (Julian) Q. Describe a day in t he l if e of t he t eam at Al f ie Moon Designs? A. No two days are the same. Julian leads on the production (making our lovely goodies) and retail side (dealing with customer orders, managing the web site and running our Ludlow market and other fair commitments) and I focus on the design, marketing and PR side. (Christine) Q. Have you got any advice f or peopl e set t ing up a new craf t based business? A. (Christine) My three top tips are: 1) never forget that the customer is king. Always design and ?make? with them in mind. Great customer service will not only guarantee repeat business but word of mouth recommendations are priceless. 2) Do your sums before you start ? whilst you need to be priced competitively don?t forget those hidden costs and the fact you need to pay yourself a salary. 3) Join the pro crafters guild ? after all it?s your business not just a hobby and having that professional badge helps people to take you seriously, as well as providing you with a network of support from like-minded people." Find out more about Alfie Moon Designs at www.al f iemoondesigns.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @al f iemoondesign

Are you always searching for that perfect present for the cat or dog lover in your life? Well, look no further, Present Purrfections is on hand to help you wow with your next gift! We all know someone who isn't very easy to buy for, but if they like cats or dogs, then we have the gift shop for you! Julie Martin-Davy opened Present Purrfections in 2014 after she found it difficult to find good quality dog and cat themed presents.

Present Purrfections is on the High Street in Kirkcaldy, but if you're not local to Kirkcaldy, you can order online. The website is split into "cats only", "dogs only" or ""shop all", as Julie also stocks non cat and dog related gifts too. The shop is open from 9:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Saturday and is closed on a Sunday.

Cont act det ail s Websit e: ht t p:/ / www.present purrf ect ions.co.uk Email : inf o@present purrf ect ions.co.uk

Tel ephone: 01592 328610

Social media

Are you looking for an alternative gift for your wedding? The Recipe Giftbook is a great idea! Here at Merryn Magazine, we know that when you're planning a wedding there are many things to think about and plan. With so much to do, the whole "wedding gift list" conundrum can cause couples problems. Do we have enough toasters? Do we ask for euros for the honeymoon? Asking for money, even if it is in another currency can make some people feel uncomfortable. So, we think that the lovely people at The Recipe Giftbook have come up with THE perfect solution! Many families have recipes handed down through the generations, and the Recipe Giftbook is a great way to keep all of those cherished recipes in the one place. How it works 1. Register yourselves on the website (it is recommended that you register at least 8 weeks before your wedding date). 2. Choose from one of 6 beautiful designs (you can see them on the opposite page). 3. You will also need to choose a name for your recipe book. 4. A unique code will be generated. Share this code with your wedding guests. You can add the code to your wedding invitations, or you can request complimentary insert cards which you can include with your invitations. 5. Over time, your guests will submit recipes, photos and personal messages to be included in the book. 6. You will receive a notification email whenever a recipe is added to your book! 7. Your wedding guests will pay ÂŁ4.99 to add a recipe to a page in the book. 8. Registration closes 2 weeks after your wedding date. It is at this point that you review and edit your book, but you can also add up to 3 recipe pages of your own, for free. 9. Once you are happy with your book, Recipe Giftbook will send it on to their printers where it will be printed on high quality paper, will be hardback bound and will be gift wrapped before being sent to yourselves. 10. Once you have received your book, you can start making beautiful creations! If you'd prefer a surprise, you can always nominate your chief bridesmaid or best man to take care of everything for you!

Ever fancied pizza for breakfast? You can! Courtesy of the very fabulous Jonny Craft, you can now have your, erm, cake and eat it. We catch up with Jonny to find out all about his sweet creations. If there's two things we love at Merryn Magazine, it's pizza and pudding. Never before had we realised that you can now get hold of a pizza that is a pudding! This was welcome news to our ears, so we had to find out more... Back in July 2014, Leeds lad Jonny Craft started his small dessert business after identifying a gap in the market for sweet pizzas. The sweet pizza bases come in two different styles: Brownie base and Cookie dough base; - the Brownie base is made of dark chocolate and is available "straight up" or, if you prefer, you can have it topped with sumptuous toppings such as cherries or chopped walnuts - the Cookie dough base is a bit sturdier than the brownie base As well as creating handmade fresh to order pizzas for collection from the Leeds 8 area (please allow 48 hours notice/ 2 working days), his sweet pizzas are also stocked in a major university in Leeds! Pizzas are available to collect between 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday to Saturday and they re-stock on Sundays.

Themost popular sweet pizza isthe awesomelooking OreoMedley Chocolate BrowniePizza Baked on a vanilla cookie dough base and smothered in vanilla butter cream sauce, the 12? Oreo Medley Cookie Pizza is then topped with Oreos, Mars, Snickers, M&M?s, marshmallows and finished with a drizzle of milk chocolate sauce.

We'relooking forward totrying the 7? Mint Feast BrowniePizza! Baked on a dark chocolate brownie base and smothered in vanilla butter cream sauce, the 7? Mint Feast Brownie Pizza is then topped with crushed Aero, After Eight mints, mint poppets and mint matchmakers. It is then finished with a drizzle of milk chocolate sauce.

We love celebrating all things artisan! There's nothing more rewarding than being able to buy someone's finished product, knowing the love, sweat and tears that's gone into making the finished article :)

O ur editor Jenny is a Yorkshire lass, and flat caps hold a special place in her heart. At Kempadoo-Millar, they're proving that you don't have to be from Yorkshire to appreciate real style. Back in 2010, Rhian Kempadoo-Millar was inspired by her dad's love of wearing flat caps, though she wanted to showcase flat caps as being more 'funky than farmer'. In 2013, Kempadoo-Millar Headwear was launched and began selling online. In keeping with flat caps being synonymous with Yorkshire, the hats are actually manufactured in Yorkshire, and they are one of the last remaining cloth cap makers in the UK. The caps are made from locally produced luxury tweeds, cords, wools and cashmere blend cloths. Their suppliers are so local that their locations can be driven to within 20-40 minutes from the main offices! Every cap produced is cut, sewn and finished by hand, meaning that every cap is unique, individual and made to last. Below are some of our favourites!

Buccoo Bl ue Cap

Capo Green Herringbone Tweed Baker Boy Cap

Cont act det ail s Websit e: ht t p:/ / www.kempadoo.com Email : sal es@kempadoo.com Tel ephone: 0113 368 9365

Dapper Grey/ Camel Check Fl at Cap

Social media

If there's anyone who's able to express how we feel here at Merryn Magazine, it's the fabulous Anita Perry. Her designs at Sugar & Sloth speak for us most of the time, especially her Cat Video Connoisseur Button Badge! Anita is based in the beautiful city of Bath where she creates the cutest, cuddliest designs! Here are some of our favourites!

Before we spoke to window dresser extraordinaire Sarah Dare, we at Merryn Magazine had no idea just how much work goes into great window displays. We caught up with Sarah to find out more. We will seriously respect shop window displays in future! Q. When did you f irst real ise t hat your t al ent s l ay in design? A. I first realised I loved to design and create when I started my GCSEs. I picked Sculpture and Textiles and fell in love with clay and fabric, and the limitless creative possibilities of both the materials. I went on to study 3D Design specialising in ceramics and exhibited my work up and down the country. I guess I realised I was good at what I did from tutors and other people's positive reactions to my work, which has continued to push me forward throughout my career. Q. What has been one of your f avorit e displ ays or campaigns, and why? A. My favourite window so far has been the 'Monster Hippie' one I did for Revamp Fancy Dress last Summer, to coincide with 'Camp Bestival' (a summer festival that every year has a fancy dress theme), the theme was 'Summer of Love'. I had great fun designing and making the monsters, although I did have fur fabric up my nose for about two weeks afterwards. I find traditional mannequins a bit stiff so set about creating my own monster mannequins. I used plastic mannequin torsos as a base and designed and handmade the heads, arms and legs from fur and felt fabric. I drew my inspiration from images of the Woodstock festival and the Psychedelic art of the 60's, and, of course, the Muppets. Apparently the finished monsters look a bit like me and my husband. The reaction on the street was fantastic, with queues on the street of people taking photos with them, and in turn the shop did great business, and received loads of exposure. I love making people stop and smile when they see my windows and campaigns, it makes me super happy. Q. Pl ease can you expl ain what you mean by int egrat ed market ing campaigns, f or t hose peopl e who don't know what t hey are. A. I've got four elements to my Integrated campaigns. The first one is I design, make and install a bespoke window display. The second element is the marketing campaign which is focused around the theme of the window, I use both online and offline platforms for this. The third is a grand unveiling event or launch at the shop. The fourth element is that I organise a professional photographer and videographer to come and document the event, creating fantastic content which is then sent to press and used on social media. Integrating these elements is so effective because it creates maximum exposure for the shop and a real buzz both online and in the high street.

We are a big fan of Rachel's craft items, especially her Antony Gormley's Another Place cushions (Another Place is one of our favourite places to visit!). Rachel Gilbertson set up Roxiie's Treasures back in May 2013 at the age of 19 years old. She started selling online and at craft fairs, and then rented out her own space within an an arts and crafts emporium. Only one year later, Rachel opened her own shop on the high street in Crosby in Liverpool not far from the tourist attraction of Anthony Gormley's Another Place (Iron Men statues) on Crosby Beach.

We all like to enjoy a day at the beach. What we don't love to do is sit in other people's mess and left behind belongings. In an ideal world, everyone would clean up after themselves after a day on the sand or shingle, but many don't. The Marine Conservation Society champions for clean seas and beaches as well as the need to protect marine wildlife protection and keep the fisheries sustainable. They organise beach cleans, and you can help out at a variety of locations. The next Great British Beach Clean will take place between Friday 16th and Monday 19th September 2016, however there are plenty of beach cleans taking place between now and then. Even though the Marine Conservation Society's beach litter work is supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery, as a charity they rely on your generous support. You can become an MCS member from as little as ÂŁ3.50 a month. You can find out more at ht t p:/ / www.mcsuk.org/ beachwat ch/ great brit ishbeachcl ean.

Mark Twain once said "Clothes make the man", but he clearly hadn't met Men's Finest Pocket Square. If you're going to wear a suit, you really do need a bow tie and pocket square to finish the look. We were lucky enough to meet Michael at an event, and his passion for dressing smartly was definitely infectious. We must admit that prior to meeting Michael, we had never given bow ties and pocket squares much thought, but Michael set us straight! As well as being able to buy individual pieces, you can also buy sets (containing a bow tie and pocket square) and even snazzy socks. Here are some of our favourites!

Bl ue Anchor handmade pocket square

Must ache handmade pocket square

Red Pocket square and bow t ie set

Grey Pocket square and diamond point ed bow t ie set

We love make up, so just imagine how excited we were to discover a new cosmetics range: C.A.K.E Cosmetics. Five minutes with C.A.K.E Cosmetics... Q. How did C.A.K.E Cosmet ics come about ? A. C.A.K.E Cosmetics came about 3-4 years ago when I noticed there wasn't enough makeup diversity on the high street. I would see my friends having to buy luxury makeup stands or stores to find the correct shade for them. So, I saw the opportunity to create a brand that everyone can buy and not feel excluded. Since our launch in April last year I have seen other brands introduce more shades, which is great. I believe over the years we will see a great progression in every beauty brand. Q. Are t here any pl ans t o expand t he range? A. Yes, we are hoping by the end of this year to expand our foundation colours, lipsticks, eyeshadows and introduce mascaras too. Our main focus is to offer products that everyone can buy. You will notice we like to include every race and showcase how our products are extremely diverse. Q. I not iced on your Inst agram t hat your make up is cruel t y f ree. Pl ease can you t el l me more about your product devel opment and how t he make up is t est ed. A. Although we don't officially have this on our packaging our makeup is made in a cruelty free environment and tested on volunteers to meet the requirements.

Cont act det ail s Websit e: ht t p:/ / www.cakecosmet ics.co.uk Email : Inf o@cakecosmet ic.com

Social media

There may be many dating websites and apps on the interwebs, but there isn't one quite like Bristlr. Do you have a beard? Do you like men with beards? Then keep reading, this is for you! Five minutes with John Kershaw... Q. How did you come up wit h t he idea and name of Brist l r? A. I used to work as a freelance software developer, and one afternoon I was procrastinating from working for a client I really hated. I was trying to come up with a fake startup idea; one that was cliche sounding. I was stroking my beard, as one with a beard does when thinking, and the tag line struck me; Connecting those with beards to those who want to stroke them. I spent the rest of the afternoon brainstorming names, and eventually came up with Bristlr on the train home. It's a name that's just so perfect, I knew it'd fit. Q. How f inel y det ail ed is t he beard inf ormat ion, can I specif y what t ype of beard I am l ooking f or (sof t / brist l y, curl y/ st raight )? A. Currently not, we just ask the question "do you have a beard?" We'll be expanding the options soon, and we're in early talks with a company who do some super fancy image learning stuff who we want to collaborate on to add some AI to Bristlr. It'll learn your beard preferences, and match you accordingly. Q. Are you pl anning any more speed dat ing event s? A. We are! We're not sure when, but all the ones we've run so far have been great fun. Q. For t hose who have a beard and want t o keep it l ust rous, what are your 3 t op beard care t ips? A. 1. Beard oil. It's magic. And if you buy it online you can get some really nice smelling stuff. I currently have some jelly bean scented oil on, and it's as amazing as it sounds... I think most people with beards go for the gruff lumberjack smells, but I prefer my face to smell like sweets. 2. Keep it neat. All our data shows a small tidy beard beats a massive unkempt beard any day. Trim your moustache, and every few weeks shave your neck and maybe give the sides a quick trim. There's loads of video guides online to help. 3. Love your beard. Confidence is key! You have the best beard you're going to get, and you need to accept it and love it for what it is. Be proud, and your beard will thank you. Cont act det ail s Websit e: ht t p:/ / www.brist l r.com

Social media

Now in its 19th year, this is one of the biggest guitar shows in the UK featuring more than 100 exhibitors in four halls with bargains in new, secondhand and vintage guitars, amps, effects and accessories. Live music with bands and solo performers all day. Admission is ÂŁ7.00, pay on the door. (Accompanied under-12's free). Free parking. Licensed bar and cafe. The event brings together major retailers, distributors, manufacturers, luthiers, boutique specialists and even private collectors all with bargains in everything guitar related. It is a unique opportunity to buy, sell and trade new, vintage and second hand guitars, amps, effects and accessories and to be entertained by live music from top guitarists in the 400 seater live music hall. The Show is sponsored by Fret-King & Vintage Guitars, John Hornby Skewes, PMT, Reidy's, D'Addario, Joyo and the Musicians' Union. A fantastic day out for any guitarist!

We love vintage, so we were so excited to hear that Vintage Victory Rollers are opening a new salon in Swindon. We chatted to Raye Leonard to find out more... I have always had a love for the vintage scene, from the flawless make up and wonderful hairstyles to the fabulous clothing. Wearing vintage clothing you know that you're not going to pass someone in the street wearing the same dress that you picked up in a vintage store. I love being able to put my own spin on the vintage look, not always wearing a vintage item but vintage inspired. I have a huge love for the 50?s style dresses and make up. Hair can complete a look and change a whole outfit. The vintage hairstyles seem to come naturally to me as I have a huge love for vintage and I am allowed to let my creativity loose on someone's hair! I wanted to bring the vintage scene to my own home town, so I set up a monthly vintage fair having guest spot hair stylists as well as vintage clothes and homeware. This is where Vintage Victory Rollers was created, after watching endless hair tutorials and styling many of my friends' hair I decided to put my knowledge and passion to the test! I always wear my hair in a vintage style and this has been my walking advertisement. In 2013 I was given an opportunity to have a regular spot at Carry on Vintage in Swindon, where customers could come in and have an updo if they were going to a dance, wedding or just a night out. I can still be found in there on occasional Saturdays, pre-booking essential though! Now VVR has become so busy we have a team of stylists and make up artists. We have contracts with large festivals throughout the UK bringing our pop up hair salon, such as BBC Children in Need, Carfest, Royal International Air Tattoo, Alternative & Burlesque Festivals and many more... Vintage Victory Rollers, offering vintage inspired updos from the 20?s to the 50?s. So if you are attending a Gatsby themed event or going to a Rockabilly dance we can cater for all! Vintage Victory Rollers: bringing thrifty yet gorgeous hairstyles to you! After having a salon in-store it's recognised that there is a need in this town and there are other lovers of the vintage world, so VVR are teaming up with Lady Locks and we are now opening a salon based in Cricklade Road in Gorsehill. We will now be able to offer the following services - cutting - colouring hair re-conditioning - hair extensions - vintage hair - vintage make up. The salon will also be available for hen parties, pamper parties, dolly day parties and our regular workshops. We are also looking to work with the community and offer setting days for the silver haired ladies, playing music from different eras for them so they can reminisce. I believe that we have lost the fun and passion in glamour and the biggest part of getting ready or going to an event is getting ready, I think we have lost that and I want to bring that back. I want people to walk into our salon and take a step back in time. On Saturday 9th April we are having our Grand Opening and welcoming people to come visit the new salon to see what we have to offer. All welcome from 12-4 at 41 Cricklade Road, Swindon. We are planning to have live music, fizz and cakes!

Cont act det ail s Websit e: ht t p:/ / vint agevict oryrol l ers.co.uk Email : vint agevict oryrol l ers@gmail .com

Social media

So many people nowadays have allergies and health issues that affect what they can use. Signature Soaps bring you natural products. Signature Soaps are a Bolton-based artisan producer of handmade soaps and bodycare products, who produce small batches, made to the highest standards. All of their products are free of SLS and Parabens. SLS stands for sodium lauryl sulphate and is like a detergent which enables a liquid to foam. Parabens are from a group of compounds which are used as preservatives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and in the food industry. They say, "With regard to our handmade soaps we believe there are 5 top reasons for using them: 1. Our handcrafted Signature Soaps blend science with art, integrating traditions with present-day methods. Timeless, simple, straightforward, conditioning and moisturising soaps for discerning skins. 2. Our handcrafted Signature Soaps are made from cooking-quality ingredients, olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butters, seed extracts, botanicals, and are fragranced with essential oils and the best cosmetic fragrance oils. 3. Glycerin, a natural by-product of the soap-making process, moisturises the skin. Most commercial soap manufacturers remove the majority of glycerin. As handcrafted soap makers, we leave the glycerin in the soap to nourish your skin and for a mild and gentle cleanse. 4. Our Handcrafted Signature Soaps are made in small batches, carefully supervised and made to strict cosmetic assessments. Our commitments to quality is evident. 5. Our Handcrafted Signature Soaps are "cruelty free", made from carefully selected vegetable oils and many are vegan friendly. Better for the environment than many commercially-produced products. We only use sustainable palm oil as approved by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) www.rspo.org" We love these!

Cont act det ail s Websit e: ht t p:/ / www.signat uresoaps.co.uk

Social media