Friday funny...

It's going to be nice on Saturday... head to the beach

(everyone loves it - photo via pinterest)

www.unikgifts.co.uk

Bamboo, the new wonder plant?

I remember in the 90s and 00s it was aloe vera... everything had aloe vera in it... it was the new wonder plant. For me now that we're in the 10s it's bamboo, bamboo is in everything!

People eat it (so do animals), we build with it, we use it for paper, bamboo extracts are used in medicine and now we knit with it!

The sleeve on my yarn tells me that it's a bamboo and cotton mix (all I know is that its super soft!). I've seen bamboo socks for sale, and have even found a retailer that sells nothing but bamboo apparel.

So I've decided to find out a little bit more about this new wonder material.

SOFT
People are surprised by the feel of bamboo, all my softies are silky soft (makes it hard to knit with but worth it in the end). Imagine a strong silk... they feel like that! But Bamboo's soft silky feel comes with other benefits...

CLEAN
It's naturally anti-bacterial (well antimicrobial), preventing skin irritation or allergic reactions naturally.

COOL
Bamboo is cool, no really t's usually 3 degrees cooler than cotton, and removes moisture away from the body quicker than other fibres - leaving you feel cool and refreshed!

PLANET FRIENDLY
Bamboo is a grass, and some species can grow up to 4ft a day when mature! So it's easy to regenerate once it's been cut down for use, a bit like mowing a lawn rather than deforesting a large area!

So bamboo, the new wonder plant and the new yarn of choice for my knitted softies, squishies and mice!

Wordless Wednesday...

Perfect lunch for a hot day

www.unikgifts.co.uk

Teacup Tuesday... a personal touch

Today's blog is really late because we've been sorting out a very personalised order!

We've incorporated reptiles and cats onto a teddy bear memory box; we've avoided girly pink; we've kept to vegan principles (no animal products were used) swapping our silk ribbon for old fashioned vintage material for that end flourish!

We've even delivered the gift by hand to at a local(ish) meet up point on a very hot day!

We're all about going the extra mile for our customers, delivering what they need in time for a big occasion.

We have 100% positive feedback to date; and thankfully everyone is also happy to recommend us to their friends and family.

We thank you for your continued support!

Monday Maker- ME!!

Name:Anna Matthews
Year of birth:1979
Current City:Guildford. (Closest city)
Significant others:Ida Lillian Rosalie, age 3 (AKA BIG Naughty & Smiley Sue) & Samson Allan Grey, 22 months (AKA LITTLE naughty & Sam Sam)





Company name: u-ni-k gifts

U-ni-k gifts - A bespoke gift website established by two crafty mums, who were astounded when their daughters were infants, by the lack of bespoke, traditional infant gifts that last generations. Inspired by the gorgeous gifts hand made by talented friends and family that they will treasure forever an idea was born. Over a cup of tea and coffee, these two mums had a brain wave to make a trove of all things wonderful especially for infants. Delving from their past professions and skills and imputing them into a new project. 
U-ni-k gifts, named after their first Born's and their new project (a totally unique one!)
I am one half of u-ni-k gifts

How would you describe a typical Sunday?

I am a Mum of two toddlers so most days are much the same. Busy and with an early start. Luckily I love the mornings, especially where I currently live. Most mornings the beautiful dawn chorus normally wakes me before my naughties do. 

The day depends on whether my other half is working on restoring the house we bought 2 years ago and currently live in as we renovate it or working in the office or free to play! 

If I'm on my lonesome with the naughties we bake cakes, water the garden, play on the slide and swings, paint, read books and then wind down with a film till Daddy gets home. If he's available we do something fun away from home. I am lucky enough to live in a very beautiful area with wonderful out door amenities for little ones. So we normally head to Farnham Park, Alice Holt or Frensham Ponds. 

When the little ones are tucked up it's wine time and feet up with my laptop working through my emails or conjuring up some new idea I have had whittling through my mind with fabric, paint or paper. That's if the other half allows me!

And here a quite obvious question: How did you become a talented crafts person / designer? What inspired you to do this?

My Mum was always at her sewing machine when I was a child. Making wonderful creations for parties or the school disco. Although I didn't appreciate it at the time it definitely made me who I am today. 

I was constantly with a pen, paper, paint or some type of Art shop equipment to hand. At birthdays or Christmas I would ask for Dryad Craft making kits or paper. A parcel of pretty papers is my idea of heaven! Of an evening you would often find me happily scribbling, designing or making lists......Nothing much has changed!

My biggest learning curve was at secondary school whilst sat drawing in class one day. I watched  a girl who is now a very dear friend, swooshing paint, mixing, making it sludgy and being quite free. I was in total awe. I loved the end result and the look of fun she had creating her picture. On that day I vowed that I would no longer stunt myself by trying to forever paint the perfect picture. I wanted to "play" and enjoy my pictures. Making an expression rather than a flat picture is far more fun!  

I went onto study Fashion at University which I know to many intellectuals sounds like a cop out. But learning to research, design, cut, sew and market a collection was much more than pretty pictures. It was about having a vision, justifying the vision, creating and marketing it! I was lucky enough to have my collection shown on the catwalk at London Fashion week, not a bad accomplishment for a girl who didn't know how to sew till she started her degree. I was known more for my ability to break a sewing machine than sew with it! My degree certainly made me thick holistically and wholly about a creation rather than just the pretty physical drawing. Perhaps a perfect insight to running a business too!

My love of creating from fabrics comes very much from my mum. Even today she makes beautiful dresses for my daughter......much prettier than anything you'd find in the shops.

My love of collecting beautiful things comes from my Nan. She worked in a charity shop where we often hung out. To a child it is like a massive fancy dress shop! Heaven. Rows of beads and pretty fabrics. These two people certainly had the biggest creative impact on my life.

Its Fill-in-the-blanks time. So, please fill in the blanks:

I love the early mornings with my dawn chorus  because it is a moment of still, contemplation

and beauty before the chaos of my life wakes! 

If I could live anywhere I'd live in Farnham where I am now. But my house

would be finished, decorated and beautiful. And I would have a cleaner to tidy up after my three messy

naughties!

If I weren’t a designer / maker , I would be a Witchy potion maker. 

Picking my herbs, flowers, spices, and medicinal plants while the sun rises and making potions and poultices as the moon sparkles!

People who like Treasure shopping & Charity shopping (and Magpies!) will like my creations.

unikgifts.co.uk

* I am currently in the process of making something new for unik.

Hopefully by week 4 of this series of maker blogs it will be finished and I will be able to

share it with you!

Friday funny- Dual

My week in fragments...

Daughter found peeing in watering can.

Daughter watering the garden with her pee!

Brother trying to drink sisters pee

Little brother realising that peeing in the loo is boring. 

Peeing everywhere else is much more fun!

#mayaswellbetwins!

unikgifts.co.uk

It's All about the INDEPENDENTS!

Today celebrates Independents day. 

A day to support the little people who keep originality and unique products alive. 

So support local independents by buying from local independent traders today only. 

No Sainsburys, No Amazon & No Asda

Pop to the local Independent Butcher and Baker to shop for tea time ingredients.

Buy some local jams and chutneys to relish and enjoy.

And treat yourself or someone special with something lovely, wonderful and unique from the array of local independents with live beside every day.

Here are a little collection of u-ni-k gifts favourite independents we love and have shopped with recently.

Blaghah jewellery

Handmade Vintage inspired jewellery made by local lady Vicky.

*Commissions available.

Jolly spoon

Molly makes the most fabulous, retro, whimsical, funny cards. I LOVE them and could find one fitting for almost everyone i know. Her little haven is a must to visit.

*Commissions available

Tall grey bird

Wonderfully handsome Bird, Bee and Bat homes made by hand by Tim- he himself a Tall grey Bird.

I've be longing for one of each for my garden since i was first introduced to his wonderful wares.

Ollo foods

Dileep is the KING of Chutney in my eyes. I am addicted to his Tamerind Chutney.

Quite simply heaven!

The Portable Pottery

Claire superbly throws post at her wheel. Sample one of her pots or let her teach you in her calming and wonderfully knowledgable way. She is quite honestly fabulous!

ActOne Adventures
Where imaginations Fly!
Adventure, play, dance, craft and imagination classes for the under 5's
Parties and Special events for 2-11years
Highly recommended

And of course....unikgifts!

#retailindieday

Please support us!

Wordless Wednesday...

www.unikgifts.co.uk

Teacup Tuesday... making time for friends & family

Most my work is done at night, turning me into a night owl

If you're thinking of starting a small business take heed: your 'you time' will disappear first, and then you'll struggle to make time for friends and family. Making a small business work is hard work, there's no way around avoiding the fact that you need to put in the time and effort to make it a success.

Like other businesses some days we are emailed magical business courses / seminars which seem to sell business success in 30 days by just working 3 days a week!

The adverts usually say something like: 'Build your business in just 30 days, sign up now and receive my free eBook on Making Your Business Work For You' and then in smaller print Just £100 to join'. In really small writing there's mention of a monthly subscription but no mention of cost. If you ignore this email you'll have another one in a few days saying 'Now with out a sign up fee - Join now and save £100' - John from Bishopsford did and he's now running an internationally successful business. Read more about John and his success story by clicking here...'

Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

I'm very conscious that the time I spend on u-ni-k is focused and task orientated. I make sure that I maximise the time I have available on doing tasks that need to be done, that will bring the maximum return and that can be completed in the time I have available. Usually there's not enough time available so I sacrifice making that overdue call to an old friend, or jumping in the shower at the end of the day instead of having a long relaxing bath. You make these sacrifices to make things work, so I'm not sure what magic formula the courses and seminars provide.

Perhaps I'm just too cynical. Perhaps, just perhaps I could work less and earn more... if I could only believe that for a price some magic business advice could change my life that much.

Monday Makers...

Calling all makers? Are there any of you out there?

We've tried to find someone who can make us a boat to sail on a pond, but we've hit troubled waters.








We've tried to find someone to make us a friendly dolly to play with, but dollies all seem to have been thrown out of the pram ?

We've tried to find a wendy house or teepee maker... but like the little piggy that made his house out of straw our idea has been blown down even without a big bad wolf huffing and puffing.








So please, one last call before we feature one of our lovely makers... Can anyone help us find some traditional makers to join us? We're dedicated to supporting small businesses like ours!

Friday Funny, NEW shoes!!

My two naughties & shoe shopping

Big girl naughty will spend all day talking about going shoe shopping, perusing the pretty shoes, choosing shoes, looking at her shoes in the mirror, smiling at the lady as they are paid for and swinging the bag around, swooning over them all day and talking about her NEW shooooes all week.

Completely forgetting her old shoes.

Little boy naughty simply cries and cries THE WHOLE TIME whilst taking off his shoes, having his feet measured, trying on new shoes, choosing new shoes, 

buying his new shoes, on the journey home and on. 

Turns out he doesn't want to be parted from his old shoes.

:(

Goodness me!
Boys and Girls

unikgifts.co.uk

New babies, new mums

I have a lot of little friends with babies due this Summer and Autumn.
It's all very exciting.
The poem below was sent to me by a lovely soul when my smallest naughty was almost due.
So for all the babies due soon, the new mummies and new babies, I share it with you.

Only One Mother

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,

Hundreds of shells on the shore together,

Hundreds of birds that go singing by,

Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,

Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,

Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,

But only one mother the world over.

By George Cooper

Love u-ni-k x

Wordless wednesday- or almost wordless!

Tomorrow this cheeky wotsit is a year old!

Wishing you a happy HAPPY birthday little E.P

May you always boss my naughties around, keep them on their toes and keep them covered in paint, sand, snot and giggles.

Love Auntie A x

Teacup tuesday- TUNE!

It's supposedly summer- a time to be musical.
I'm a big music fan and with this weekend being Glastonbury weekend it's a time to turn the music up!
I normally have music coming out of every room so I can hear it where ever I am in the house.
It helps me think, relaxes me, inspires me and makes me happy.
I am often found bopping or wiggling with the naughties.....
Lunch is often eaten while head banging or doing some type of bop as we eat. Normally resulting in giggles.

With that in mind I share a few blogs I have written on Music.....it inspires, it provokes and it can change a mood in a second. Use it productively and it can feed your soul!

So if your having a lull or a non-productive day switch on the radio or put on a favourite CD. It can certainly change your mood for the better!

I call it MUSE music........inspirational tunes! Here is my MUSE music blog here.
It can also capture a moment perfectly! Here is my sentimental music blog.....which I wrote while reminiscing with tears in my eyes. Soppy date!

So..........turn on your tunes and get to it!


unikgifts.co.uk

Monday maker... wendy house!

I was forever building dens when I was younger... explains a lot about why I seem to have a constant stream of builders in my life, I'm now just building a bigger den!

We'd like to offer a wendy house, den, tree house, teepee even! Help us find one that is u-ni-k (like these lovely ones from Judith Needham).

Dreaming Spires from http://www,judithneedham.co.uk

Where you can play

 Where you can personalise it as much as you want

 


Somewhere that will always be home, no matter how old you are because it holds many happy memories!

Please tell us where we can find the lovely makers that can join our u-ni-k team.

sales@unikgifts.co.uk

Friday funny

Have a great weekend!

www.unikgifts.co.uk

Sometimes even the best plans go awry!

Today's blog is written off the cuff, in between saving the builders from a very curious toddler (she's already taken a fancy to one and wants to point brick work with another) and organising the personal touches for the next phase!

As a former project manager, I had all this in hand and organised weeks ago but a short telephone call has put this into disarray!

The wall tiles I wanted in the bathroom are now out of stock & discountinued! So my floor tiles don't match the new ones they want to replace the discontinued stock with.... Must go and choose all new tiles and have them delivered tomorrow.

So sometimes your best laid plans don't work... which is where Anna & I can help. If you suddenly realise that it's your god child's birthday on Saturday, drop us a line and we'll see if we can gift wrap & send special delivery a gift of your choice. We try to keep an example of each of our stock pieces with us here at u-ni-k so that we can send off at short notice.

So never fear, we are here!

www.unikgifts.co.uk

(just don't ask us about builders)

Wordless Wednesday- Beetroot Press is here!

unikgifts

Tea Cup Tuesday- Low Cost Marketing

Marketing is a necessity in my opinion when it comes to running a business. In my finding’s, normally also a costly one!

However there are forms of marketing that are free and if you play it right can really help your business bloom.

Here are a few free forms of marketing that I can recommend.

Facebook

Set yourself up with a business page. Update your status with friendly talk, engaging conversation, images of you and your products and lovely links to your website. 
Give yourself a personality. From my experience I have found that people like to know how things are made, what makes them unique and who makes them. 
facebook.com

Twitter

A free way of networking and communicating with like minded businesses. Creating a little fan base by tweeting about your products and following and engaging with potential clients.
twitter.com

Mailchimp

A fabulous way of sending out emailable campaigns to your clients. It’s easy, it’s simple and really quite clever. Sending bulk mailings out via mailchimp means they are less likely to hit the trash or spam files of the recipient.

Mailchimp also helps you design your email in a simple aesthetic way if that isn’t your forte!

mailchimp.com

Community Sites, for instance-

UKhandmade

If you are a handmade crafter UKhandmade have a section on their website where you can advertise your business or product. You are invited to write about what you do and share it with their readers. 

ukhandmade.co.uk

Clearly crafting community,

A great place on facebook & twitter to ask crafty related questions, reply to the client requests,  reply to the CCC requests for products in colour or a beginning with a certain letter and generally follow the chitter chatter of like minded crafters and clients looking for unique products. These community sites are great at marrying a wanting client with a capable maker

Networking

Join local networking communities. Help, ask for help, get your product out there by people seeing your name, you talking about what you do and getting to know like minded business people.

Markets & Events

If you are a maker, book a stall or table at local events and fetes. It's the perfect place to not only sell your product but market it to local lovelies. And don't be disheartened at the end of the day if the cash taken isn't much. If you have had a day of talking positively about your product, smiling and handing out business cards to prospective clients it has definitely been a positive one. The selling experience quite often goes beyond market day....with sales following weeks or months later. Clients taking cards on the day and making purchases in later months is still a market/event sale!

Word of mouth

Always the best form of marketing! In my opinion one of the BEST forms of free marketing!
Talk about your business positively. If you are sold your positive vision will inspire others. Always have a sample and flyers to hand. You never know when you may need them.

unikgifts.co.uk

Monday Maker- finding a new maker

It's our birthday month and Sarah and I have set ourselves the task of finding four new makers this month.
We have made a  plea for a dolly and teddy bear maker.
This week we ask for something very special.

A boat maker.

Not a pretty one that just looks lovely. But a toy boat you can take out and actually floats, sails and keeps you captured at the park and boating lake for hours.....
A working boat.

We have both searched high and low but cannot find a suitable toy boat!

So help!

If you make, know of one or know of someone who makes something similar let us know!

PEEPO by Janet & Allan Ahlberg

unikgifts.co.uk