A new contemporary art project has launched this month. The murmurART site launch will present 40 of the most talented emerging artists in the UK and exhibit their work for sale online. Many of the pieces will debut at the site’s launch. It is the first high quality online platform dedicated to the promotion of a handpicked selection of emerging artists.

Over the last six months murmurART, with the help of the former editor of Art Review, Catriona Warren, has searched through hundreds of the best artists who have emerged over the last few years to represent on the site.

Catriona and murmurART are committed to supporting emerging artists of outstanding potential and engaging the widest possible audience in contemporary art. As well as a place for collectors to source unfound talent, the site provides an open platform for newcomers to contemporary art.

Co-founder William Conibear explains “Although the thrust of the website is promoting quality emerging artists, it also provides the perfect platform for newcomers to the art world to discover, learn about and invest in contemporary art.”

Artists invited to showcase their work on the site include names such as Laurence Owen, Hugo Wilson, Kevin Harman, Giles Ripley, Emma Wieslander and Alex Robbins. murmurART have chosen from all practices including painting, sculpture, video art, photography, performance art and installation.

Catriona Warren highlights, “What is exciting about murmurART is the quality of work on the site: it features some of the strongest emerging artists of the last few years at a stage in their careers where their work is still affordable to collect.”

The project will also host online exhibitions of work selected by internationally established and emerging curators, as well as holding a London-based show this May with help from Creative Consultant Flora Fairbairn, organiser of the Concrete and Glass festival. The murmurART online magazine, covering the less established side of the contemporary art world, launches in February next year.

The Volta Oil Lamp from Zack is great for creating romantic mood lighting this Christmas (or any other time of year for that matter)!

And as it’s an oil lamp you even get to save on electricity!

We think that they look great as a pair at each end of a mantelpiece or maybe on a couple of side tables or it would look equally as good as a table centrepiece.

It has an opaque glass funnel to diffuse the light and a polished 18/10 high grade stainless steel base.

It would even make a great gift as it comes in a sturdy and attractive gift box. What’s even better is that Proleno is currently offering this lamp with a great discount!

Now here’s a Christmas gift idea that’s a bit “off the wall”. We’re only kidding as this is possibly not going to be your Christmas gift of choice but we just spotted this new design and had to share it!

From Dutch designer Rogier Martens, this garden bench comes complete with wheelbarrow-style wheel for easy moving. Clever idea and really quite practical.

There is not too much more to say really as the picture speaks for itself. His website is in Dutch but we guess that Rogier probably speaks good English so if anyone is interested in an unusual garden addition get in touch via his website!

We get asked all sorts of questions but one that raised a smile recently was when a potential customer told us that she wanted to buy a Marino Magnetic Soap Holder but she wanted to know if we sold magnetic soap for it and, if not, where could she buy it as her local supermarket did not stock it!

When we had recovered from our amusement we told her that its not the soap that is magnetic but the holder itself and that a magnet comes with the holder to attach to the soap bar!

The customer was delighted to hear this, made her purchase and has since been back to buy several more for friends and family, all of whom have admired it when using her “facilities”!

We have to say that we think that the Marino Magnetic Soap Holder from Zack is the coolest magnetic soap holder in the world! We googled it and everything else is, well, frankly a bit tacky so its no wonder that this product has been a spectacular success.

Made from high grade 18/10 stainless steel, as with all things from Zack, the soap holder has a brushed finish and obviously complements the other items in the Marino range.

We would say that we love it, but actually judging from the sheer numbers sold worldwide its clear that the discerning buying public who admire quality, form and functionality love it just as much!

Available online from Proleno.

Or were they ever out of style? Civio bathroom accessories from Zack have been around for a while but the ever expanding range has definitely kept it at the forefront of cutting edge design and style for your bathroom!

The sleek and simple style that typifies the range is hugely successful and the range looks great whether in a home bathroom, a swish hotel or a high end office complex.

Complementary items mean that you can use them as accent pieces or go all the way as the range includes everything from a toilet roll holder to a stunning towel shelf and rail through to towel hooks , a great slatted shower shelf, a standalone toilet butler and even a hairdryer holder.

Nothing has been forgotten. And chances are that Zack will add even more items to the range!

Available online from Proleno.

London’s Design Museum has been in touch to tell us about their upcoming events for children in the run up to Christmas so if access to London isn’t a hurdle then this might just keep your little ones amused and inspired!

Christmas is coming and it’s time to get crafty! Choose from a whole host of exciting, mini design projects to get your festive fingers into, including stylish greetings cards, contemporary decorations and gorgeous gift ideas to create for your friends and family.

Places for these ever popular workshops go as quickly as hot mince pies, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

The workshops are running on Sundays 7th, 14th and 21st December and are suitable for children aged from 5 to 11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Workshops are £4 per child and accompanying adults are £8.50. This price includes entry to exhibitions.

Advanced booking is essential as places are limited. Please call 020 7940 8783 for further information and bookings.

Originally launched back in 2007 when it proved a huge success new stock of Oliver Hemming’s outstanding combination Jug Kettle and Toaster Set from his Attitude range has finally made it back to British shores in time for Christmas.

Last year they sold out incredibly quickly and judging by early sales it looks like this year with be a repeat performance!

The twin pack of jug kettle and four slice toaster, both in matching brushed stainless steel, really look the business on any kitchen worktop. The cool simple lines that define its designer status make this a great Christmas gift.

Available online from Proleno.

When it comes to style in kitchen accessories it is difficult to beat Zack products. Although not new to the market their Vivace range continues to impress and remains at the top of the best seller list.

Superbly manufactured in high grade 18/10 brushed stainless steel and available in a variety of shapes and sizes the range includes the obligatory tea, coffee and sugar canisters as well as containers for pasta, chocolate and parmesan.

Heavy enough to shout quality and inexpensive enough to not risk your pension fund (there are plenty of other things doing that right now!) the Zack Vivace range offers simple, sleek European style to the discerning eye without breaking the bank.

Great as a gift, even better for yourself! Available online from Proleno.

It’s frustrating and incredibly irritating but we have all been there, knowing that you put your keys somewhere safe but unable to remember where that “safe” place is! Now there is no more need for mislaid keys.

The Ergo Key Board from Zack is a stylish high quality home (or office) accessory that looks good wherever it is, whether thats in the hall, in the kitchen, or in the office.

Manufactured from high grade 18/10 brushed stainless steel and complete with all required wall mountings its a breeze to fit and as long as you have a drill (or know somebody who has) then its on the wall in a matter of moments!

Eight hooks, each with a stylised groove to stop the keys slipping off, provide ample space to hold all the keys of the household or office in a safe but easily accessible way.

Available online from Proleno.

Colin Heavingham is now the artist in residence at the Old Boy’s Club at Dalston, UK.

Steve Savage, of the Old Boys Club, has purchased eight paintings of Colin Heavingham’s work and has hung them as a permanent exhibition. When other exhibitions take place the pictures can be privately viewed by emailing Steve.

The title of the exhibition is “Chaos and Nonconformity” and it deals with the “other” side of life, the people and situations that arise from disorganization or radical thoughts.

The “Nude Shopper” is an example, then the “I Love My Dog” painting is a cool look at sex on the net involving beasts. The “Bad Businessman” painting is a cartoon of the violent bully who wheels and deals and “The Puppet” is a picture of one puppet working another of another race.

The list of titles is available on request again by emailing Steve Savage.