Archive for the “General” Category
 Once Christmas and Boxing Day are over, the cold turkey in the fridge is past it’s best and a day at the sales has finished us off completely, many people turn their thoughts to re-decorating. Often the bathroom is first on the list of things to occupy us during the cold months of January and February!
Zack has several great ranges of bathroom fittings and accessories to finish off that freshly painted sanctuary and one of the more popular is the Civio Series. Its sleek brushed steel lines add an air of European sophistication that is hard to match when using brands of shall we say “less” quality.
 Offering a wide variety of items ranging from toilet roll holders to towel rails, shelves and hooks as well as a great shower basket and even a hair dryer holder the Civio Series from Zack really does cut the mustard without breaking the bank in these credit crunching times!
Available online from Proleno.
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Posted by Andy in General, tags: Christmas
 It’s that time of year when many people head towards M & S, either to buy underwear as a Christmas gift or maybe to bulk buy for ourselves. New year, new underwear and socks!
Rather than the usual trawl, why not excite yourself or a friend with something a little more “out there”?
We have discovered a brilliant website that stocks a really neat selection of designer brand underwear that really fits the bill. iwantpants.com even has a great name!
 We checked out their site and not only are they offering 20% off selected brands, the new lower rate of VAT plus free UK shipping, they also have sections for Christmas gifts for Her, Christmas gifts for Him as well as a pretty impressive brand list.
Go on, knock yourself out and it will beat battling the department store crowds this weekend!
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Posted by Andy in General, tags: Art
 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.
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Posted by Andy in General, tags: Christmas
 With Christmas fast approaching and the credit crunch hitting the economy hard, it seems many will be looking for affordable gifts this festive season.
With prices starting at £9.95, traditional bakers Meg Rivers offer a clever and cost-effective Christmas solution. Select from their range of delicious cakes and baked goods – ideal secret Santa presents or the perfect token gift for a work colleague, client, friend or a family member.
The individually made goods are delivered to the door and can be ordered online or by telephone, easing the stress of Christmas shopping.
Founded nearly 20 years ago, Meg Rivers has become synonymous with luxury home baking. Using only the finest ingredients sourced from its local corner of Warwickshire, Meg Rivers’ cakes are renowned across the world as family favourites using only wholesome and natural products.
The home-baked treats include rib-sticking chocolate cake, punchy ginger cake, tray bakes and a seasonal Christmas cake. Available in large or small sizes, cakes can be ordered for next working day delivery.
Their telephone number is (+44) 01608 682858 or see their website.
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Posted by Andy in General, tags: furniture
 Finding time to spend hours looking around furniture stores, online or high street, searching for a piece of furniture the right size for your room is so frustrating. Furniture retailer Kettlewood offers a solution by tailor making its furniture for your room without the exorbitant price tag often associated with bespoke furniture.
 All the furniture is made in Lancashire to order which allows them to alter dimensions on pieces, change the type of wood or stain used, and offer a wide range of fabrics for the chairs. You can even supply your own fabric or handles if you find something you like locally.
This flexible service alongside friendly, attentive customer service is proving a hit with customers across the UK.
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Posted by Andy in General, tags: tips
As the days become shorter and cooler, it’s time to move your barbeque, garden furniture and family bicycles into the garage or cellar for the Winter.
To save time and money next Spring it’s worth taking a bit of care of these items now, so we’ve put together a few simple hints and tips to help.
The key thing is to clean everything before putting it away – and to completely remove all signs of rust.
The barbeque…
Heat and humidity cause the barbeque grill to degrade over the Summer, even in a poor one like we had this year!
 So, to save pulling out the barbie next Spring and realising it’s so rusty you have to replace it, give it a thorough clean before moth-balling it. The grill is probably filthy and rust tends to collect underneath as well! Dirt and rust are easily removed – take a look at the Dremel product range for some good tools for doing just this! Seal it using a high temperature tool. Then paint it using the correct metal paint for a barbeque available at your local DIY store.
With a little effort now, it’s one less thing to worry about when you want to use it next Spring.
The bench…
We all love our furniture to be made of natural wood or metal, but there’s a disadvantage. Sun, rain and wind cause metal furniture to age and rust. Find a sunny Autumn day on which to clean and remove rust from your furniture. Clean off the rust. You’ll find it particularly collects in places such as seat backs or the feet of the chair – but it’s easily removed!
Afterwards, apply the exposed metal with a coat of special protecting film which you will be able to find at your local DIY store – and when Spring arrives you’ll be able to sit down in your terrace or garden straight away.
The bike…
Take care to prepare the family bicycles for the Winter break. A dry chain, dirt or rust not only spoil the fun on two wheels, but can become dangerous. After you’ve checked the screws, lights, brakes and wheels, the framework and surfaces can be polished with buffing wheels from the Dremel SpeedClic range. The small brushes and polishing heads can get into awkward places where no rag could reach, for example in the gear shift, brake assembly or the rim between the spokes. Small amounts of rust can be removed with a sharpening accessory. When you’ve finished this, the wheel and the chain should be treated with oil – to ensure the bicycle is ready for that first outing next year.
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 Jewellery boxes are traditionally made from leather, wood or glass and although many are practical there are not many that can claim to be stylish, innovative and functional. The Joya Jewellery Box breaks the mould and reveals a new way to store all your treasures.
From the first moment you handle a Joya Box, you realise this is something quite unique. Inspired by this season’s trends, the hugely tactile box unties with a luxurious ribbon to open up and reveal the most beautiful and stylish hand-finished jewellery box you have ever seen.
‘Sleeping Beauty’ is the first from this collection of limited edition jewellery boxes. Made from a combination of Chinese paper and pulp board, the box showcases several unique and innovative features. Necklaces have a unique divided storage layer to prevent tangles once and for all. The 2 drawers open simultaneously for ease of use, and they also reveal two removable sections which give way to two hidden storage sections – the perfect hiding place for all your treasures and mementos. A veritable Aladdin’s Cave just waiting to be discovered.
The ‘Sleeping Beauty’ ribbon box will make the perfect gift for birthdays, Christmas, weddings…it is lavish, stylish, innovative but – most important of all – practical! Don’t miss out – these luxurious hand-finished jewellery boxes are limited edition, and are sure to rapidly become the collectable range everyone is shouting about. You saw it here first! Available to purchase NOW through Joya’s own website as well as other selected retailers.
Keep a look out for future limited edition prints and box designs that will be sure to delight all the women in your life who love and appreciate beautiful jewellery and accessories.
For more information about Joya Jewellery Boxes please visit www.joyaboxes.com
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Despite the recent miserable weather, I’m still hopeful that we will have some summer sun before too long. The prospect of balmy evenings in the garden with a glass of chilled wine (carefully counting the units of course!) is particularly pleasing. So let’s take a look at that essential accessory – the wine cooler.
 The new innovation on the block is the Egg-O, conceived and developed in Vienna. The unique feature of the Egg-O is the lid, which has flexible fins on the inner side. This allows the lid to adapt to different bottle shapes. With the handle incorporated into the cooler, there’s no need to remove the bottle for pouring – the wine keeps chilled for longer and you don’t drip condensation everywhere. The robust construction also makes this great for picnics. The Egg-O is available in four colours – blue, red, green and cream. You can buy the Egg-O at Proleno for £26.95.
If you want something stylish, with functionality, take a look at the Bachus wine cooler by Zack of Germany. In brushed 18/10 stainless steel and incorporating three cooling elements, the Bachus will grace any table indoors or out. The inner cooling pack liner can be frozen before use to provide additional chilling. The Bachus is available at Proleno for £38.95.
 Zack have a number of stainless steel wine coolers in their range. The Oletto, shown right, is the only one that has a mirror-polished finish – this will really catch the sun if it ever comes out!!
You can buy the Oletto wine cooler for £41.95.
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 Finally, Zack’s Combo multi-roll holder is now on the shelves in Proleno’s warehouse. Many are being dispatched today to fulfill pre-orders, but we have more stock on order! If you want more details or to buy this sleek and functional piece of kitchen equipment, click on the image to the right.
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1. American Bagel Slicer.
Having appeared in ‘The OC’ (see video) this useful gadget has become a must have for the safety-conscious bagel lover.
2. Set of 6 Zack Cult Magnets.
These popular magnets are great when matched with a sleek Zack magnetic board such as the Percetto in position 4 – or pinning the children’s art on the fridge!
3. Wall-Mounted Zack Foccio Soap Dispenser
The mirror-polished finish is a clear favourite for chic bathrooms. Of course you can use it for more than soap – shower gel, hand cream or body lotion can all be used (though perhaps not at the same time!)
4. Zack Percetto Magnetic Board (Large)
Durable stainless steel replaces the traditional cork and pins – notice-boards that you’ll want to look at.
5. Zack Duplo Circular Towel Hook
OK – we all need hooks, but they don’t always look as good as this. What’s more, you don’t need to wield a drill – it’s self-adhesive.
6. Bialetti Moka Easy (6-cup)
Who doesn’t love a cup of freshly made espresso? Bialetti is the master when it comes to espresso makers and this electric version of the classic stove-top makes it even easier.
7. Zack Straw Spoon
It doesn’t have to be Christmas to enjoy a cocktail, just make it complete with this combined stirrer and straw.
8. Zack Allessa Cookbook Stand
Clearly all of those cookery programmes on TV are inspiring creativity in the kitchen. The Allessa cookbook stand will keep your recipe conveniently in view then, when you’ve finished creating that wonderful meal, it folds flat for storage.
9. Zack Cius Boston Shaker
For those who prefer shaken to stirred, the Cius cocktail shaker is the quality accessory at party time!
10. Set of 6 Alessi Heart Spoons
Designed by Miriam Mirri, this gift-boxed set of heart spoons is a popular gift for that special person in your life. Enjoy them with ice-cream in front of the fire.
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