Christmas, comedians and kids - an unusually starry poetry event

Harry Enfield and chums entertained a carpet full of children at the new ilovegorgeous shop in Primrose Hill on Saturday morning. Allie Esiri (who Tatler have called 'The Poetry Powerhouse') directed the event, choosing poems from her anthology, iF: A Treasury of Poems for Every Possibility. The starry cast - Harry Enfield, Gina Bellman, Sarah Alexander, Morwenna Banks and Ben Miller surprised the Primrose Hill posse of parents and kids with genius, energised readings. Harry Enfield had the crowd in stitches reading Benjamin Zephaniah's 'Be nice to ye turkeys dis Christmas', and then he told the audience they could boo at his Australian accent as he read the part of the kangaroo, opposite Sarah's sweet Duck in Edward Lear's 'The Duck and The Kangaroo'. But he was way too good to boo!

Poems ranged from Tim Burton's 'The Girl with Many Eyes', which ends with the line, 'You really get wet when she breaks down and cries' to A.A. Milne's winning poem about friendship 'Us Two'. By the end of the hour all the audience were joining in....

Audience members included Gina's husband and daughter, Ben's wife and kids, Sarah's husband, the actor/comedian Peter Serafinowicz, Caroline Spencer and chef and food writer Bill Granger.

Both Ben and Gina then had to race off to do matinees - Gina at The National theatre, Ben to the West End to do The Duckhouse. He said they update the play as the run goes on including the latest MP misdemeanours!

There were of course absurdly delicious cakes from Primrose Bakery and colourful  juices from Belvoir Cordials,  and 20% of all takings on the day went to Save the Children. Festive fun was had by both adults and the little ones, and if you want to know more about Allie's apps where you can read, write and share poems with your friends, visit her website Ilterature here.

If your stuck for gift ideas, we think our Moon Festival Dresses & the iF: A Treasury of Poems for Almost Every Possibility book are the perfect Christmas present combo! We are offering free post & packaging until midnight on the 20th December, AND a free gift wrapping service at the checkout for your gorgeous gifts. 

COMPETITION: WIN - PRIMROSE BAKERY, CELEBRATIONS BOOK - a great gift idea!

Primrose Bakery produce a mouth-watering selection of cakes and treats, and are famed for their gorgeous cookbooks. We are offering one ILG fan the chance to win a copy of their latest title 'CELEBRATIONS'. Beautifully laid out and awash with delicious ideas - this is the perfect Christmas present. (FYI: Primrose Bakery will be providing gorgeous cakes for our Primrose Hill event, in-store this Saturday - see below for details.)

Primrose Bakery began when friends Lisa Thomas and Martha Swift began baking in their home kitchens for children's parties. Fast forward nine years and they have opened two shops in Primrose Hill and Covent Garden and have launched three cookbooks and an App.  We are offering you the chance to win a copy of their fabulous new book Primrose Bakery Celebrations by Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas, photography by Yuki Sugiura. The perfect Christmas present!
All you have to do is like our Facebook post here and you will automatically be entered into our prize draw to win. For an idea of what delightful treats lay in store, our friends at the bakery have given us two exclusive recipes straight from the pages, just for you!

INSIDE THE BAKERY:

Primrose Bakery is THE place to relax with a sweet treat. The delicious smell and pink neon glow lures you in to a cupcake grotto; malted marshmallow, pink lemonade or strawberry daiquiri with rum-butter icing anyone?

Visit the website here and you'll find an emporium of cakes made to order, including personalised celebration cakes.




We will be sampling the winter wonderland themed cakes and gingerbread men decorated with little scarves and wooly mittens.

We love following them on Instagram for news and pictures of their new inventions...

We want to see photos of your own wonderful celebration cakes, so tag us via Instagram and Twitter @ilovegorgeousuk

CHRISTMAS, COMEDY & CAKES - Saturday 14th December 11 & 11.30am, ilovegorgeous, 73 Regents Park Road, London NW1 8UY

Sample Primrose Bakery's sweet treats this Saturday at our Primrose Hill store. Actors Harry Enfield, Ben Miller, Sarah Alexander, Gina Bellman and Morwenna Banks will be reading a selection of quirky, funny & silly poems chosen by Allie Esiri, creator of The Love Book & co-creator of the the iF poems. See details on how to book below...

Pearl & Betty Lowe's Christmas Edit - 1 red lace dress, 6 adorable puppies & lots of vintage chic

Pearl Lowe and her family with their six puppies in a recent Sunday Times Style magazine. Betty Lowe wears ilovegorgeous,  Moon Festival Dress and Sparkly Plimsolls in silver

Pearl Lowe knows a thing or two about good style. Having started out in the industry as a singer, Pearl's love of all things vintage have translated into a successful fashion and textiles design career. As well as being a vintage queen, Pearl is a mother to some seriously fashion-savvy offspring, Daisy, Alfie, Betty, Danny and Frankie.

The Lowe's will be spending Christmas together in a stylish vintage setting with their 6 adorable new puppies - so cute!

Pearl and 8 year old daughter Betty are both huge fans of ilovegorgeous (from very early on) so we thought it would be lovely to have them work together on an ilovegorgeous Christmas edit. Together they've hand-picked their favourite items for the festive period. See below for some of Betty's favourite looks, pieces and her 'ways to wear'...

Shop Pearl and Betty's full fashion edit here. Don't forget to take advantage of our free gift wrapping service this Christmas for all your gorgeous gifts, and we are offering a 10% discount on our fabulous Gift Sets.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA - Vintage Craft by Pearl Lowe

Pearl's designing career began when she dyed her lace curtains and before she knew it, the editor of Elle Decoration had snapped up a pair and featured Pearl in her magazine. This lead to a collection of handmade dresses for Liberty, her own line for Peacocks and a stationary range that sells in the likes of Selfridges. Pearl's recent project is "Vintage Craft",  an inspiring book with 50 step-by-step projects as well as a how to guide on sourcing your own vintage treasures. Pearl's favourite periods are the 1920's and 1950's, and she insists that "glamour never goes out of fashion". From fringed vintage lampshades to handmade winter wreaths, the book is packed with unique ways to create, decorate and upcycle beautiful objects for your dream home. You can buy Pearl's book here and visit her website www.pearllowe.co.uk for further collections and her blog "Living the Vintage Life".

Special pop-up bespoke while-u-wait letterpress event with the brilliant Marby and Elm

Meet Eleanor Tattersfield, the queen of letterpress and founder of Marby and Elm, a design studio and online business based in Hampstead. Eleanor's love of pressing began in 2009 in her garden shed, four years on and she now has a growing business, creating bespoke stationary and unique hand-printed gift cards, postcards, tags and a whole host of beautiful and desirable print-based products. We have collaborated with Eleanor on an exclusive range of gift cards and tags that are available to buy very soon. (We'll all be sending friends and family the divine 'Have a Gorgeous Christmas' card!) Eleanor is making a special visit to our Primrose Hill store this Thursday for a one-off-bespoke-letterpress-pop-up event. It will be great fun and a chance to pick up some cool bespoke art.

We caught up with Eleanor as she was about to embark on a stint printing IN the Liberty window for the store's "Get Creative" week!

Eleanor at her wooden workshop window, surrounded by fresh prints - hot off the press... 

Why collaborate with ilovegorgeous?

It’s a beautiful brand of exquisite children clothes made with a combination of tradition and a flair for fun & fashion in a similar way to Marby and Elm, also I love Sophie [ILG designer Sophie Worthington] and see eye to eye with her on many things so feel it is a perfect fit. I believe our clients are a similarly discerning group of people who desire beautiful things made in traditional ways and with quality materials.

Why fluoro?
I have being printing with fluoro pink & orange since I started as a way of exaggerating the juxtaposition of traditional printing methods with a contemporary, funky edge.

Who's been the greatest influence on your career?
My good friend Paloma is a genius and makes things from felted polar bears to illustrated children's books. We spend many days out at exhibitions and art galleries for inspiration and fun.

How can children get involved in letterpress?
Children can start with rubber stamping, which is effectively an inverted rubberised version of printing with letterpress machines. This is so much fun and they can take so much away from personalising school books and pencil cases! I recommend a trip to Blade Rubber Stamps near the British Museum which adults will enjoy too!

Here Eleanor gives us an inside look at the printing process on our very own fluoro pink birthday cards...Marby and Elm

 

Don't forget to come along to our free event Primrose Hill event on Thursday 7th November, where we will be offering 20% off our gorgeous clothes and accessories and some truly scrumptious treats from our friends at Primrose Bakery will be on offer!

Autumn adventures - things to do in London this month

We couldn't help feel overwhelmed with all the exciting activities and attractions on offer in London this month, so we have hand picked the best family events just for you. Make sure you note these gems in your diary....


Time Loop BP Family Festival @ The Tate Britain, Pimlico, Sat 2nd-3rd Nov

This free event for families explores 500 years of British art through music, performance and dance. Grab your traveller kit on arrival which includes tickets and vital explorer's tools such as time-loop glasses and a log book.

Amazon Adventures @ The Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, until 24th Nov

The adventure begins on board the the Vicyoria Amazonica riverboat with your captain telling tales of electric eels and mysterious pink dolphins. This interactive fun-fest also lets your children touch the tummy of a cat fish whilst learning about different cultures and the dangers facing the Amazon.

 

Bonfire Night

You can't beat a firework display in the country's capital, so here are child-friendly picks...

Central: Coram's Fields, 5th Nov 

www.coramsfields.org 

North: Alexandra Palace, 2nd Nov

http://www.alexandrapalace.com/
South: Crystal Palace Park, 5th Nov 
www.crystalpalacefireworks.co.uk 
East: Barking Park, 9th Nov 
www.barkingroundtable.org.uk  
West: Byron Park, 9th Nov,  

www.harrowfireworks.co.uk
 

Drive-in Film Club @ Brent Cross Shopping Centre

Sing along to Grease whilst being served by roller-skating staff in this vintage-American cinema with a twist. There's also a delicious Mexican street menu or you can snack on hot dogs, soda pop and candy. 

Dora, The Unicorn Theatre, Greenwich

If you are after a bit of live theatre to entertain your little ones, don't miss the charming tale of Dora, a hoarder who stores everything from biscuit tins to birdcages. Eventually trapped by her own clutter, Dora learns that giving away can also bring happiness.

The Natural History Museum Ice Rink, South Kensington, 31st Oct - Jan 5th

Ice skating is the perfect after-school treat this winter and this beautiful setting has a smaller rink for children. Non-skaters can play on the fairground carousel or watch people fall over from the balcony above (with a hot chocolate!).

We're always looking for cool and unique events for your gorgeous guys and gals in London, so please share with us your experiences!

 

Lula’s fashion diary

Recently I went to the ilovegorgeous party where I tried the beautiful, yummy cupcakes and got my nails done in awesome colours by Little BU. I also got to try some funky pieces from the new collection. Here's my favourite outfits for this season.....

Hanging about in London, in my fabulously funky Trinny Suit and my simple fluoro orange top. I really like it when the cuffs are folded up on the jacket so you can see the bright green lining. I've also thrown on my new blow up flowery backpack!

In my velvet Winter Cape, I prance about the sreets of the city feeling elegant yet incredibly cool. To allow the cape its place in the spotlight, I wear it with a simple black crop top and a pair of checked trousers.

HALLOWEEN is approaching and the pumpkins are out on display! Here I am in a crate of plump fluoro pumpkins wearing my Malcolm Jumper and a black mini skirt. This is one of my favourite jumpers for winter – it’s so cosy and stylish. Trick or treat? 

                     love from Lula x

The ilovegorgeous autumn collection party...

At the weekend we celebrated our autumn collection in style with a whirlwind of of sparkle, cupcakes, mini manicures and party dresses galore! What's more our generous friends from Little BU, Belvoir Fruit Farms, Abra-ca-deborah pancakes, Dorset Cereals and Space NK provided us with some irresistible treats for the party, including presents for our tremendous goodie bags. Here's a little insight into our day of fun and celebration...

With thanks to.....

LUCY'S INSPIRATION FOR AW13

Ever wonder where the ideas behind our new collection of funky fabrics and gorgeous colours really begin? Winter sunsets, magnified snowflakes and a healthy dusting of glitter are just a few fabulous things that inspired one of our designers Lucy Enfield when it came to creating this season's pieces...

"Walking in the arid hills of Tuscany, Sophie and I came across a stunning single flower which seemed to be surviving against all odds. The low evening sun shone through the petals creating what we thought would be a beautiful skirt. In designing the Westbourne Top and Grove Skirt we thought of how lace is deep rooted in nature - flowers, snowflakes and winter sunsets. Here the white lace of the skirt sits over the pink lining to give a glowing warmth, and the pink lace on the soft jersey top is a counter balance which translates into a cool party outfit. The Coral Cardi and tights complete these memories of a sunset. The search for more stunning inspiration could continue with further treks down the lane when wearing the practical yet pretty golden glitter pumps."

Favourite party dress?

"The Tokyo Nights Dress. I like the dichotomy of the girly, glittery fabric."

Favourite accessory?

"The Tiger Necklace - it's a little mad and irreverent!"

BACK TO SCHOOL - HANDMADE NOTEBOOKS

The end of summer is approaching but we think the best thing about going back to school is picking funky new stationary and (even though we already have five pencil cases). And what could be cooler than a personalised notebook for your secret scribbles and bright ideas? Just follow these simple steps….

1) First step...pick an old fabric, your favourite wrapping paper or postcard and cover the bottom page using glue or hard card with your choice of print or image. This makes sure the book has your own personal design and look - be creative!

2) Stack your left over paper in a pile – cut them all to the same size. Do not worry about being different colours, lined or not lined this is all part of the fun of it being your own individual notebook!

3) Lay the stacked sheets of paper down…so the edges meet. Fold the first sheet of paper in half - draw a line with pencil down the fold if it helps to show where to sew - fold back to the rest of the pieces of paper.

4) Using a sewing machine sew down the penciled line using single thread stitch. If you are using a needle and thread, then take a bull-dog clip (if you do not have any – use a clamp or something to hold paper still). Push your pencil or needle along the line making holes to sew through.

N.B. Depending on how thick your book is you might be able to do this in one go. If not, separate into smaller chunks and sew together once finished.

5) To use needle and thread, tie a knot around the head of the needle this will stop the thread from falling out of the needle as you go. Weave you thread in and out of the holes you have made down the line of the paper. Sew three to four times as tight as possible.

6) When you reach the bottom for the final time, chop! Cut the left over threads off or tie spare threads in a nice bow – whatever you like best. Then fold the book and, Volia! For the wow factor you can customise with bows and ribbon, or some sequins and gems for a bit of bling!

SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE WEDDING BLOGS.

1) Belle Amour – This is an easy viewing, alternative wedding blog that offers quirky and creative wedding ideas with a “Less of the traditional more of the original” approach. http://www.belleamour.co.uk/







2) Festival Brides – This one is for the free spirited. Founders Laura and Kelly hope to inspire like-minded individuals who are planning the most important day of their lives. www.festivalbrides.co.uk









3) Love My Dress – A vintage inspired wedding blog that has collated tonnes of glamorous and chic ideas, set to make you feel fabulous on your big day. A truly fab blog! http://www.lovemydress.net/









4) Style Me Pretty – An American Wedding blog showcasing only the most fabulous imagery and fashion forward ideas. www.stylemepretty.co.uk









5) Rock My Wedding – Another fabulous UK based wedding blog filled with gorgeous images of other people's weddings, the perfect source of inspiration for brides-to-be. www.rockmywedding.co.uk









6) London-Bride – The London Bride is a fresh and stylish wedding blog for all those looking for alternative and creative ideas for weddings in the big city. 
www.londonbride.com






7) Whimsical Wonderland Weddings – With stylish and beautiful content, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings is all about the couple's behind the images who get the chance to tell their story.
www.whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com






8) Boho Weddings - ‘Create the wedding you want, not the wedding you’re told to have!' The tagline perfectly sums up this great blog.
http://www.boho-weddings.com/







9) Before the Big Day - A great blog for the bride looking for inspirational tips, pics and ideas. 
www.beforethebigday.co.uk

Images from the ilovegorgeous classic collection - beautiful, vintage inspired dresses for bridesmaids, flower girls and confirmation gowns: http://www.ilovegorgeous.co.uk/index.php/bridesmaids/