Period Features

Book Crossing

Is your house overflowing with books? Do you find it hard to part with them? www.bookcrossing.com may be the answer that helps you to set your books free on a journey... bookcrossing gives you a way to share your books, clear your shelves and recycle all at the same time. You simply register your books online where they are given a unique bookcrossing identification number (BCID). This book number is then put inside the book - you can download free forms for this at the website or buy special book stickers if you prefer - and the book is 'set free' wherever you choose: a park bench, the gym, a garden centre, a café etc. The finder hopefully registers having found the book, reads it and passes it on or sets it free again. You can track your book's journey around the world and know that it has given lots of other people pleasure too. You can also register the book and give or send it to a friend who can then register it and pass it on or set it free. The bookcrossing website is a joy for booklovers with forums discussing books, bookcrossing groups to join and books to search for 'in the wild'. There are also official bookcrossing zones (OBCZ) in most cities where you can go to pick up a free book or to leave your own books for others to enjoy. Bookcrossing goes a long way to making its slogan 'making the whole world a library' a reality. Find out more at www.bookcrossing.com If you can't bear the thought of parting with any of your books then a new book by Leslie Geddes-Brown, Books Do Furnish a Room, may be perfect for you. With inspiration and advice for bibliophiles on displaying books throughout your house it would make a great gift for a booklover too. Published by Merrell it costs £24.95.

Blue Lotus

Blue Lotus Products sell simply delicious cakes for special diets. Their tempting range includes cakes suitable for vegans, vegetarians, those with food intolerances, food allergies and diabetes. If you know someone who follows a special diet or if you are expecting a guess for dinner or the weekend who avoids particular ingredients Blue Lotus can deliver an irresistible treat to your door for them. The cakes make great birthday cakes, luxurious anniversary, wedding or christening cakes and are a very thoughtful gift to send to people with special dietary needs. For more information visit www.bluelotusproducts.co.uk

Website of the Month

I am absolutely thrilled that our website has been choosed as 'Website of the month' in the Period Living, November issue - on sale now.

Lots of new products are arriving through the door in the next couple of weeks and I am putting a good selection on the website under a new heading 'recenty added products' so do keep an eye on that section.

However, not all of our products are on the website and you are most welcome to visit our lovely shop in the small market town of Leek, on the edge of the Peak District. We have worked hard to recreate a traditional Victorian ironmongers, with its original shop fittings and authentic atmosphere. We are open from 10 am to 5 pm, Mon to Sat.

Staycation!

If you're planning a summer family holiday you might already be dreading the journey there. This year more people are planning a holiday in the UK owing to the recession and the exchange rates in Europe - what is increasingly being called a 'staycation'. If you are planning a long car journey with young children you might be interested in a list of in-car games that take I-Spy to a whole new level that can be found on the netmums website. The 'yeses and noes' game, the pub game and the sausages game... you'll never be stuck for ideas again! Find out more at www.netmums.com/holidays/Travelling_by_Car.1202/

The House Directory

The House Directory www.thehousedirectory.com is a great source of information on interior and garden design and decoration. It's fast, free and user-friendly without any need to register or log in. From the home page you can click on an image of the category of product or service that you are looking for or you can search by company names (if you know which company you are looking for) or by categories. As well as listing over 3,500 companies (including Period Features) you can also 'Ask the Experts' for advice on your decorating or sourcing questions as well as look up relevant events and courses. There's an option to set up a personal notebook containing your favourite suppliers and to receive a useful free monthly newsletter with the all the latest news in trends, events, sales, offers and books.

Planet Barbecue

As a nation we seem to have been bitten by the barbecue bug in recent years with more and more of us rushing to cook and eat al fresco at the first sighting of a few rays of British sunshine. There is plenty of advice available on holding the perfect barbecue. Planet barbecue offers a step by step guide to preparing, lighting and cooking food on a barbecue www.planetbarbecue.co.uk/newtobbq.htm.

St Jude’s

St Jude’s makes and sells unique fabrics. They work with an eclectic range of artists to produce their printed designs. Their products are screen-printed in short runs in Britain.

Collaboration is at the heart of what they do, and has been since they set up in 2005. They showcase the work of these artists at our gallery/showroom in North Norfolk.

They prefer to print the fabrics in Britain. This enables them to develop ongoing relationships with great printers - people who really care about every inch of the work they produce.

Similarly, they involve each of their artist-designers in the entire making process. This spirit of collaboration is reflected in the way they do business too, with their designers sharing the success of our endeavours. Visit stjudes.co.uk for more details.

Leek Arts Festival 2nd May - 20th June

THIRTY years ago, back in the dim and distant past of 1977, a group of like-minded people got together and decided that it was time the market town of Leek did something to show off the wealth and range of its artistic talent.

Thus was born Leek Arts Festival, which began as a single week of events featuring mainly local artists with just a smattering of outsiders invited to take part.

Within a few short years the ad hoc committee of organisers realised that one week was not enough and that to do real justice to Leeks cultural heritage required a much more intense approach to the idea of an arts festival.

So, one week became two and, eventually, two weeks became a whole month.

There can be few market towns the size of Leek that can boast such an achievement 30 years of high quality arts festivals featuring national and international artists alongside home-grown talent.

Phil Edmeades - Festival Chairman

Visit their website for a list of events www.leekartsfestival.org

National Compost Awareness Week - 3rd May- 9th May 2009

Compost Awareness Week is all about learning how to make a difference with compost. We can do that by composting our own household kitchen and garden waste or making the ‘Greener Choice’ of peat-free composts containing recycled materials. This year Recycle Now is working with top chef Arthur Potts Dawson, to promote Compost Awareness Week, and to encourage people to put their compost to good use by trying their hand at growing their own fruit and vegetables.

Find out more by visiting www.compostawarenessweek.org.uk

Who will provide tips and advice on:

• how to make and use compost
• where to buy peat-free compost that contains recycled materials
• downloadable leaflets on how to be greener in the garden
• an events locator which will help you find your nearest compost event

The Garden Station

A restored Victorian railway station in a woodland garden
in Hexham in beautiful Northumberland

Courses in Gardening - Environment - Art - Crafts - Food

A Visitor Attraction - Café, Garden, Woodland Walk and Art ExhibitionsSummer starts on 1st May! From 1st May until 7th September The Garden Station's main café will be open every day from 10 - 5.

They have plants for sale outdoors, arts and crafts indoors. Wonderful stuff!

YOU MAY STILL BE IN TIME FOR THAT COURSE!

They have changed the dates of some courses to give more people time to book. And they are 'Keeping Hens' again! See our COURSES page for the new dates.

Visit www.thegardenstation.co.uk