Debenhams A/W16

Events

A few months ago I went to the Debenhams Autumn/Winter press show to celebrate the launch of my new collection with them (which is starting to appear online now).
My collection is called "Into the Woods" and is inspired by the beautiful British woodland. 
Leafy, botanical prints sit on dark grounds this season. I was hugely inspired by turn of the century wallpapers and prints, which is reflected in the collections main pattern.
The range is full of intricate mix and match patterns, moody autumnal colours and charming quirky woodland creatures which add a playful touch to the designs. You'll find Hedgehog salt and pepper pots, an super sweet owl trivet, beautiful tea sets, dinnerware and an adorable measuring cup set featuring an owl handle.

The products were displayed on tree trunks and crispy leaves and tree branches. Which set off the designs beautifully and set the tone for the collection.




Hedgehog Salt and pepper set, coming soon. Click here to shop my collection.




Above is one of my favourite products, Set of four measuring cups, £14 Exclusively at Debenhams


The products have started to appear online and in stores now, but should be fully available in September. Exclusively at Debenhams.

Christmas in July 2016

Events



Last week was the Debenhams Christmas in July press show. It was held in the beautiful Fritzroy Square in a gorgeous Georgian town house. I was asked to host a cupcake decorating workshop with the visitors in the stunning kitchen on the ground floor, which was nearly as big as the whole downstairs of my house! It was an invite only event and visitors were journalists and researchers from short lead magazines, newspapers, TV shows and independent writers and bloggers. Debenhams presented products launching in store soon within the house. Including my new Christmas homeware collection which will be out in September.



The event workshop was so much fun, I do lots of baking at home and it was a lovely opportunity to talk to everyone about my new range whilst teaching a simple buttercream icing recipe which I use for my cupcakes.




Here's some of my workshop victims having a go at pipping their own icing onto the cupcakes.
If you want to have a go at home here is the recipe we used...

For the cupcakes...
100g Butter, 100g Caster sugar, 1 tbsp Cocoa Powder, 1 Orange, 2 Eggs,
50g Dark Chocolate, 125g Self-Raising Flour

For the icing...
350g icing sugar, 150g butter, Orange food colouring
Edible silver balls, Edible glitter, A piping bag & nozzle

To Make...
Preheat the oven to 170oC
Beat the sugar and butter together, add the cocoa powder,
grate in half of the zest of the orange and squeeze in 2 tablespoons of the juice.

Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie and then add to the mixture.
Whisk the eggs together and mix into the mixture well.
Then fold in the flour.

Spoon the mixture into 12 cupcake cases, they should be 3/4 full.
Bake in the oven for 20mins, allow to cool completely.

Make your buttercream icing in the meantime, 
weigh out 120g/4oz of icing sugar and 50g/2oz of butter.
Sift the icing sugar into a bowl.
Chop the butter into small cubes and mix in to the sugar using the back of a spoon.

Add a few drops of food colouring to add colour to your icing.
Grate in some of the orange zest or add a few drops of vanilla extract
or caramel flavouring to add flavor to your icing.

Cut the piping bag to fit the nozzle. (about ¾ of the way down)
Insert your nozzle inside and push into the hole to fit snuggly.
Holding onto the end of the nozzle, turn the bag inside out and spoon in your icing.
Shake the icing to the bottom of the bag and twist the end.
Squeeze the bag to decorate your cupcakes.

Use the large open nozzles to create the classic blob or the large star nozzle to create rose and ruffle shapes or use the smaller nozzle for spikes and mini roses.

Top with a variety of decorations such as silver balls,
chocolate stars, twirls, mini jazzies or cherries.




Christmas in July 2016

Events
Next week is the Debenhams Christmas in July press show.
I'll be doing a cupcake decorating workshop here with the bloggers, press and other visitors on the day. I realise it's a little crazy talking about Christmas in July! But the glossy magazines are starting to work on Christmas issues now. They work around 3 months ahead in general. I'll be promoting my Christmas Collection at Debenhams. In the hope that we get lots of lovely features in the upcoming months. So stay tuned for a sneak preview of the event and the first look at my range.



Country Living Fair, London

ashley thomas
 I'm off to the Country Living fair in London's Islington next week, 
come and visit my little pop up shop on stand: MF26

Come and browse my range of handmade cushions, limited edition tea towels, British made notebooks & cards, unique sewing kits and conversational embroidery hoops. All made in England.

For discounted tickets use my unique code: EX16S34 
and you will receive £1 off the advanced ticket price. 

To book, please visit - www.countrylivingfair.com


Country Living Fair 2016

country living fair
 

Come and see me at the Country Living Fair this March. Banish the winter blues and celebrate the bright new season with a visit to the Country Living Spring Fair. You'll find great ideas to help you brighten up your home, give your garden a new lease of life or refresh your wardrobe. Come to the Fair and enjoy an inspiring day out!

Find me on Stand: MF22





Exclusive Event: Open Studios

ashley thomas
Next weekend is our exclusive Open studios & Christmas Market at the Harley Gallery.
It's an exclusive opportunity to come and have a look around my design studio, talk to me directly about my work and products, as well as an once a year opportunity to buy directly from me and other designer makers who work at the Harley Gallery Studios.
There will be 70 art and food stalls and Paint-a-Pot workshops as well.
So come and start your Christmas shopping in style!
Opening times

Friday 27 November, 10am to 5pm

Saturday 28 November, 10am to 5pm

Sunday 29 November, 10am to 4pm


For more information, visit www.harleygallery.co.uk

The Christmas Art Market and Harley Open Studios 27-29 November 2015

Events

The best of the region’s contemporary artists and designers will be showcasing their work, from jewellery and ceramics to prints and textiles at the Christmas Art and Food Market at The Harley Gallery on the Welbeck Estate this month.

Now in its 15th year, the popular event is opening fully for three whole days for the first time to allows the thousands of visitors more browsing time at the 70 art and food stalls.

There's also the opportunity to explore The Harley Studios and buy directly from the community of resident artists from potters and jewellers to textile designers. Only open to the public twice a year, this is a rare chance to explore this fascinating hub of creativity and meet the makers in the studios housed within the 5th Duke of Portland’s Victorian Tan Gallop and Kitchen Garden.

Paint-a-Pot workshops for visitors looking to create a special gift will also be running in the new Harley Ceramics Studio. A charge applies and advance booking is required.

With more than 20 food stalls in the Courtyard, alongside the award winning Welbeck Farm Shop, the event is also a great place to pick up the best of locally produced fine food and drink from Stichelton Cheese, Welbeck Abbey Brewery ales and meats raised on the Welbeck Estate itself while the Welbeck Christmas Pudding and Welbeck mince pies created by the estate's own bakers at the Welbeck Bakehouse are sure to be popular.

The food market promises to leave visitors spoilt for choice with stalls offering tasty delights from sweet treats from Wollaton Honey; Dotty about Jam and Hedgerow Preserves to specialities such as flour from Tuxford Windmill and cider from Scrumpy Wasp.

For the Art Market, The Harley Gallery is presenting a carefully curated selection of 56 designer-makers drawn from across the region to showcase a stunning selection of crafts and designs that make for unusual and fantastic Christmas gifts.

As well as Harley favourites such as jeweller Jennie Gill and printmaker James Green, the market will be the chance to view exciting new exhibitors too.

One of these is Olivier Leger, whose exceptional work first came to the attention of Harley when he entered the Open Exhibition earlier this year and scooped two of the top prizes. He will be showing his highly detailed pen and ink drawings alongside a collection of prints. 

Another new exhibitor at the market is the award winning maker Louise Mary Muttitt, a South Derbyshire silversmith and jeweller whose work has been showcased at prolific art fairs including the Goldsmith’s Fair in London and shown in prestigious galleries including the V&A. 

The Christmas Market takes place in the newly re-landscaped Courtyard, The Harley Gallery, Welbeck Farm Shop and The Harley Studios but please be aware that this is mainly an outdoor event and the site can become muddy. Visitors are advised to arrive early. Parking and entry is free.

Opening times
Friday 27 November, 10am to 5pm
Saturday 28 November, 10am to 5pm
Sunday 29 November, 10am to 4pm

For more information, visit www.harleygallery.co.uk

Debenhams Bake Off

Events
Last week I was invited to judge a bloggers bake off hosted by Debenhams. Twenty food bloggers came along to have lessons in trendy Islington within the kitchen of Jenius Social. A fab organisation which aims to create connections through food. I arrived just in time for the first lesson. We were taught to make cookie dough with different favourings. Then we tempered chocolate and made a variety of toppings such as honeycomb ready for decorating our cupcakes. After a champagne top up the bloggers got their game faces on, mixed up different coloured icing with the aim to make the most spectacular cupcake to impress me and Sarah from Kenwood. We had the tough decision to pick a winner who was fighting to win a brand new Kenwood kitchen aid. So the stakes were high! It was such a fun event hopefully we make it a regular event. Here's some fab photos below of the whole event.
 


Top Drawer, Autumn 2015

ashley thomas

I'm off to London this week.
I'm launching my new designs at Top Drawer in London Olympia on Sunday.
Visit my stand: P19 in the Greetings & Stationary section
on 13-15 September 2015, 9.30am - 6pm

At Top Drawer you will find the hundreds of products that will make your store stand out from the rest.
The show brings together an inspirational showcase of thousands
of carefully selected British and international suppliers and designer-makers,
Top Drawer is London’s largest design-led gift trade event.

Register for free now at...
http://www.topdrawer.co.uk
or by calling 0207 384 7742

Hope to see you there!

Christmas Gingerbread Workshop

Christmas

I've had a busy week in London at the Debenhams Christmas Press show. I know it's July!! But all the glossy magazines always work well ahead of time. So Christmas in July is actually common practice. I was asked to attend the Press show and do a gingerbread workshop with the visitors to celebrate my Christmas collection launching soon in a Debehhams store near you! (Around September/October).
Here's lots of snaps of the gingerbread workshop in progress. It was so much fun, but after countless recipe trials and making over 300 bespoke gingerbread biscuits. I'm completely ginger-breaded out!
Stay tuned for the recipe to make them at home yourself.







Country Living Fair

ashley thomas
I've returned from the Country Living Spring Fair in London. My stand was a huge success and I even won the award for "Best New Stand" handpicked by the editor of Country Living Suzi Smith.
I was absolutely overwhelmed to receive this award. I nearly burst into tears! 
It just goes to show if you give everything your all it pays off. I made my stand a home from home and even though it was a small space and homemade in parts I was really happy with the overall feel. It's so lovely to know that other people loved it too. Especially the Editor-in-chief of the magazine, this is a huge compliment. Here's some photos of my stand. 
I'll definitely will be going back next year.