For budding olympians...

It's been an exciting year for the UK, London and Dorset alike. After a huge celebration for the Olympics that saw London and Weymouth in particular come alive with a series of excellent sporting successes, we've seen a nation inspired by a series of incredibly talented Olympians! Here at Loving Dorset we've been caught up in this as much as the next person, which is why we jumped at the chance to take a peek at some of the great products from The Medal Hanger Shop - a company selling a unique range of sporty-themed hangers for your budding athletes! We opted for the 'Wall of Fame' and the 'Runner Male' and we certainly weren't disappointed! 

Our first thoughts when we opened the hangers were just what great quality they were! Well packaged, and made of thick, good quality metal, perfectly shaped and smoothed. Although even better than that, they come with a little packet containing all the bits and bobs you need to put them  up on the wall! They're also much bigger in real life than they look on the website which was a pleasant surprise! All in all, they serve as the perfect way to display medals without using coat hangers, door knobs etc! 

Their range features an excellent choice of hangers for all sorts of sports including swimming, running, football and triathlon, as well as some with humorous mottos! They make the perfect accessory for your little one's rooms, but they are also a great gift for a sporty friend! 

To get your hands on one of these all you need to do is head over to their website! Prices start at an excellent £20.99, and gift vouchers are also available starting at £15. You can also catch them at this years London Marathon Expo on April 17th so be sure to pop and say hello and mention Loving Dorset! 

Relax, Rebalance and Revitalise at Charmouth Reiki

Reiki is pronounced Ray-Key. It is a method of healing through light touch which helps to promote the body's natural ability to heal itself. Reiki is a way to de-stress yourself without spending heaps of money on retail therapy or watching films and turning your brain to mush! This therapy encourages personal development on all levels, including emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. 

Janice Pritchard, the driving force behind it all, is a wonderful  Reiki Master. She practises and teaches Reiki in Charmouth and Bridport. Janice worked for the NHS as an Occupational Therapist and also has a qualification in Anxiety Management, so we know you're in good hands! She enjoys teaching Reiki and offers teaching on a one-to-one basis because she understands that everyone is on their own path. As part of the Reiki workshop Janice gives Reiki attunements, a simple spiritual ceremony which activates your chakras, and allows you to give Reiki. Janice says, 

I love to give attunements at sacred sites and stone circles wherever possible such as at Kingston Russell stone circle or Nine Maidens stone circle near Winterbourne Abbas. Reiki is my passion and is all I can do now! It has truly changed my life and thousands of people around the world will say the same too! 

Janice offers taster Reiki treatments for charity events and ladies pamper evenings. We love this idea, here at Loving Dorset, and think this is a great way to discover Reiki for yourself as well as meeting the genius that is Janice!

Our followers (you guys) are eligible for a 15% discount on Reiki treatments during October and November and  10% discount on all teaching workshops! Don't miss out. Get down there asap for a lovely atmosphere and tranquilizing experience. 

Visit her website: Charmouth Reiki or pop along. We hope to see you there!

Puzzle Pandemonium in Hope Square

We have recently discovered an ingenious new shop which we are very excited about. You can find the Jigsaw Shop in Brewers Quay, Hope Square, Weymouth. Run by Dave Evans, this business produces high quality bespoke hand cut wooden jigsaw puzzles from everyones favourite photographs, art prints or posters. All the products are hand made by Dave himself, who was trained and worked at the world famous Victory wooden jigsaw puzzle manufacturer, so you know you will be in good, and very skilled hands. This shop provides the perfect gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and many more occasions. 
One speciality of Dave's is the wedding jigsaw. The idea is that each of the guests write on the back of a piece so the happy couple has a more interesting memory from the wonderful day. This is big in America but fairly new to Britain so you could be ahead of the trendand show your friends how much fun jigsaws can be. 
 
















Come and join us and buy your loved ones their most memorable present yet! Check them out at : The Jigsaw Shop (www.jigsawfilms.me)

Angel Additions - Beautiful Accessories

Earlier this year we visited a little craft fair in Lyndhurst in the New Forest where we came across a wonderful lady selling a range of beautiful jewellery. Her range, Angel Additions,  specialises in accessories that adorn the mind, body and spirit. They are the only authorised worldwide stockist of crystals charged by Judy Hall. Just has charged some of the crystals that they have available to buy, many of which are from her own private collection. After looking on her website, I particularly love this one:

While at the Craft Fair, I did buy this one, which at the time I claimed was 'for a friend's birthday' but I did end up keeping it! It's one from her range of Tibetan Silver Jewellery:

Angel Additions products are available to buy from various craft fairs and on their Groovy Cart page

A Catch up with Dorset Newbie, Gina!

Dorset does have a real arts-y feel to it, what with Dorset Arts Festival, and who can forget the never ending beautiful scenery and landscapes that make artists and photographers weak at the knees! So we couldn't blame Gina for heading to Dorset to embrace her inner-art! 
Gina works under the name Zuleikha's Art, named after her daughter, with her work varying from land seascapes and floral displays. 
Since moving to Dorset, Gina is planning to exhibit and sell in local galleries and craft boutiques, which includes a new online craft event 'Craftfest' with whom she will be listing work and selling prints! 

Zuleikha's Art comes in all shapes and sizes including bookmarks, greetings cards, silk painting, quilling, various sized paintings and watercolours, and more interestingly, aceos. "I create aceos which are miniature works of art, measuring 2.5 by 3.5 inches (small I know but really popular for those who do not have the wall space or budget to collect large works of art but still love art none the less.)" she said. 
If you want to find out a bit more about Zuleikha's Art, you can visit her website, or follow her journey via her blog. In the meantime, we'll leave Gina to get arty, as she's itching to get creative on her new surroundings - and can you blame her?! 

Escape, Unwind & Find Yourself at Middle Picadilly Holistic Spa Retreat

You can be forgiven if you have never heard of Middle Piccadilly Holistic Spa Retreat.  It’s not particularly well hidden and lots of people know and love it, including Loving Dorset, but Middle Piccadilly, like its owner and guiding hand Dominic Harvey, is understated and discreet. 

Located on the outskirts of Sherborne, Middle Piccadilly attracts guests from all over the world – many head down to Dorset from London and there is a loyal following of more local clients too.  I was introduced to Middle Piccadilly by a good friend a while ago but it was only when I actually visited the retreat recently that I really began to appreciate the tranquillity and the real opportunities offered there to reflect and ‘find yourself’.

Accommodating a maximum number of 9 guests at any one time the atmosphere is very informal and guests are made to feel instantly at home.  Dominic’s view is that only when people are completely relaxed can they truly unwind and be receptive to holistic treatments and rejuvenation.

Middle Piccadilly was originally the brainchild of Dominic’s mother – anecdotally her father was the first osteopath to practice in Harley street London.  Established in 1985 the retreat has evolved and is still evolving to meet the needs of guests looking to escape the stresses of everyday life for a while and re-charge their batteries.  

Radios and TV’s (with the exception of one room) are nonexistent and other electronic equipment is discouraged.  Food as you would imagine is organic, locally sourced and delicious. Celebrity guests over the years have included the likes of Lulu, Maureen Lipman and Terence Trent d’arby!

 A six sided stand alone wooden building on stilts in the grounds provides a tranquil location for yoga practice and meditation

Dominic explains his philosophy, “In order to meet the demands of stressful 21^st Century working life, it’s important to implement sustainable strategies to enable you to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will allow you to manage all the daily challenges at home and at work.”

Middle Piccadilly’s recipe for positive change, a renewed sense of self and an empowered outlook on life includes:

·          An inspiring list of transformative, potentially life changing and empowering healing  treatments for the body mind and spirit.

·          Therapists that work from a holistic perspective – considering all the aspects of your being in wholeness

·          A ‘home from home’ atmosphere to assist you to be your most comfortable

·          An opportunity to clear away anything in your life that doesn’t serve to benefit you

·         Mouth-watering ‘Feel Good’ vegetarian cuisine, the taste sensation that is Roaw Food and all our own freshly prepared recipes

·         Specific and tailored breaks with Detox, Raw or Retreat options.

      For more information visit their website or email Dominic E.dominic@middlepicadilly.com

She certainly is all art!

This week we've been musing over the great work by Claire Streather, a Dorset based artist with a small studio  on Portland. Claire recently set up She Is All Art which see's her exhibiting around once a year, selling online and putting a name to her work!

Claire has studied painting, photography, textiles and graphic design and continues to research, study and explore, in order to keep her work informed, exciting and fresh.
Some of Claires many influences include the feminine form, the changing seasons, nature, paint, photography, film and digital, textiles, colour, layers, texture, surface pattern, light, the modern world, graphics and advertising. 

Claires future looks promising with continued development both artistically and professionally. Her work has been stocked in Mary Portas’ Living and Giving shop in Kensington, London, with 50% of the proceeds going to Save the Children, her work is also widely available around Dorset at the following locations;
- Poundbury Garden Centre, Dorchester

- Every Cloud Boutique, Dorchester

- Gallery on the Wey, Upwey, Weymouth, 

- Bibis, St Alban Street, Weymouth, 

- Miss Trudy, Bridport,

- Whitestones Cafe Gallery, Easton, Portland,

- Elite, Chiswell, Portland

You can also purchase pieces of the She Is All Art collection from Claires Etsy and Folksy. 

Claire creates all sorts of things, including paintings, photographs, cards, cushions, bags and many more and describes making things as "like breathing, it's essential". 
When we asked her who inspired her work, she gave us an eclectic mix which included Frida Kahlo, Tracey Emin, Howard Hodgkin, Moholy Nagy, Rothko, Damien Hirst, Itten, Stella, and Vivienne Westwood to name but a few.
Loving Dorset loved the entire She Is All Art Collection, but this one of the red rose particularly caught our eye - we love the contrast of colours! 
Claire's personality is what we can only describe as a perfectionist and she is constantly striving for new ideas for her artwork, as she combines different techniques to achieve new and varied outcomes.
If you're loving Claire's artwork as much as we are and want to see more, She Is All Art is currently exhibiting at The Engine Room in Dorchester until 1st September so make sure you go down and check it out! There is more information on our Events Page.  To find out more about She Is All Art, you can visit her Facebook Page or follow Claire on Twitter @SheIsAllArt 

  

Spring Fashion

With spring in the air we find ourselves thinking  – our clothes are drab and we can’t find anything to wear.  Sound familiar?  Well, if like us your thoughts turn to clothes shopping, why not take a look at Yard, Clothing and Lifestyle at Poundbury, Dorchester- one of our absolute favourite places to shop! 

Walk into the Yard and you are met with a smile and an offer of a coffee – so you immediately relax and, even if you are in a rush, make yourself find the time to take a good look at all the gorgeous clothes, accessories and gifts. 

We took a sneak peak at their latest Spring range and while we were there asked for some tips on what we should be wearing as the evenings get lighter and the days hopefully warmer.

What’s the big fashion trend for Spring 2012? 

Spring summer 12 is all about brights, with the newest shades being lime,  royal and coral. Print is still important, as are 'easy to wear' naturals. Shirts and jackets have made a big return, and skinny jeans and chinos remain the firm favourites.  High summer is all about maxi, with the maxi skirts and palatso  pants, wear these with super high wedges and a skinny top.

4 Wardrobe Essentials

- Bright Skinny Jeans from Amazing Woman offer a perfect fit and come in royal, red or white £90

- A Silk Tee by french brand American Vintage is a must. My favourite is the lime green at £

- Maison Scotch Chino in Coral are a fantastic fit for £110

- A Cotton Shirt from Great Plains in rather ballerina or coral just £55


To help you update your wardrobe, we've secured an exclusive Loving Dorset discount for you to use. Just print off the voucher below and take into the store!

Join them on Facebook and Twitter too! 

Loving Life with Medusa Apothecary!

At Loving Dorset we wanted to introduce Medusa, established by Scott Duncan and Dean Newton, in 2006. We love their concept for the business - to bring 'city-based premium product ranges within reach of the West Country community' and re-introduce 'the sheer pampering and pleasurable experience of shopping'. In other words, treat ourselves to some luxurious goodies!!! 

Medusa Apothecary are relatively new to Dorset's historic country town Dorchester, but has quickly established a loyal following and clientele (us included) , thanks to its incredible range of sensational products and fun, friendly and skilled staff! 


We couldn't resist congratulating Medusa on their recent success! 


Firstly, they have been named 'Best for Health and Beauty' in the Telegraph Magazine's 'Best Small Shops in Britain Awards'. Mary Portas (Queen of Shops!) explained that "these awards give the cream of the crop the recognition they deserve" and from our point of view, that's the most important thing! The awards themselves were held at Novikov in Grosevnor Street...which the team said was "just wonderful, and the cocktails were flowing far too freely....hic!"

Secondly, they have pulled out all the stops to make a great success of The Moreton House Masked Ball - a great event organised by a committee of 10, headed by Liz Frampton-Hobbs (it is her husbands family's estate!) Scott Duncan from Medusa told us all about it...


Who should the thankyou's go to?
"Oh so many - the wonderful guests that made it such a fantastic night, the contributors without whom we would have had nothing to auction (they've all been so generous!), Rebecca Green and her team for the wonderful food, Sheila and Jim for the bar, The Frampton-Hobbs family for allowing us to use the fabulous space and for sharing their house, REN skincare who provided us with goodie bags (and some goodies to go in them!), and of course the rest of the committee who have given time and love to the project. A special mention must also go to Eleanor Gallia for helping to materialise our decorative vision. She is a true star!"


What was the highlight of the night for you?
"Seeing the ladies and gents on the bucking bronco...."


And most importantly, how much money was raised?
"Over £18,000. We expect the total to be between 18 and 20k. The main benefactor is Julias House"

Our First Discovery - Red Brick Glass

We wanted to find the perfect way to kick off Loving Dorset and couldn't resist popping for a chat with Wendy from Red Brick Glass! 


From the website alone, we knew we were in store for something special, and we weren't disappointed! We asked Wendy a few questions to find out a bit more about the face behind it all...


How did you get into glass making, and how did Red Brick Glass come into existence? 
I studied Glass and Architectural Glass at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating with a 1st Class Hons Degree in 2000. I then received funding from the Crafts Council's Setting up Scheme to start up The Red Brick Glass Studio. 


What do you love about glass making? 
Glass is such a magical material, unique in terms of colour and transparency, and when lit it seems to come alive. Working in my studio is so peaceful, i just love it! My studio space is my converted double garage in the garden of my Dorset home, it gets flooded with daylight (and even has a rather gorgeous pink floor!!)


We love your designs - what's your inspiration?
I just love pretty things, things that glow and sparkle in soft and fresh colours. I often incorporate my screen printed designs of florals, polka dots and stripes which give a quintissentially British feel.



How do you juggle family life with running a business?
I love the work/home flexibility that comes with working from home, and selling my glass products online is wonderful. I can check my orders, take the children to school, go for a run, make orders in the studio, do my accounts, post orders and do a spot of online marketing without leaving my village.


What is your favourite thing to do when you have some precious time to yourself?
As a family, we love to hop into our 1964 Morris Minor and go to the beach for a picnic. For 'me-time', I find running energises me, and chills me out all at once. Running also helps me solve any creative problems and it is often the time I will think up new designs and products. 


What do you want to be doing in 10 years time?
I try not to think that far ahead. I enjoy today, and plan for tomorrow. I am sure I will still be making glass, so hopefully people will still be buying it!

We couldn't leave there empty handed...... 

April bought some of the Blue Glass Fairy Lights Small (£34) to go around her living room mirror! 

 

 And there we have it! - If you love Wendys designs as much as we do and want to find out more about Red Brick Glass then there is the website and they're also on Facebook 

Loving Dorset have secured a 10% discount for our members on all Wendy's products and Glass Making Lessons when you buy directly from Wendy (wendy@redbrickglass.co.uk). Just mention us in the email!