TWO NEW LINES

This month see's the launch of our exciting new range of A5 notebooks, photo albums and ceramic mugs, taken from two of our very popular Bella Donna and Florini greeting card collections.

The products will be launched by the licensing company Junction Eighteen, who i've been working closely with since the beginning. We visited their showroom last weekend, and the products look amazing.

I shall be heading to the NEC Spring trade show for the official launch
of our complete range of gift-ware, stationery and mugs this Sunday. It's very exciting!

A WEDDING DAY

This is one reason why i love designing wedding ring pillows.

It's amazing when my customers send me photos of their wedding, together with kind words said about their wedding ring pillow.
It's even more amazing when i see just how happy the Bride and Groom are.

Thank you.

A DREAMY WEDDING

I came across a fabulous and inspirational wedding site yesterday called Clover & Bee Weddings.
As i scrolled down in awe of the dreamy wedding pictures, i noticed something very familiar...

An Anna Whitford Wedding Ring Pillow was chosen for their ceremony and it's been so lovingly captured on camera. What a nice surprise! I'm delighted that it played a small part in making their day so special.

They chose my favourite flowers, fresh pink peonies against an emerald green, which looks incredibly pretty.

“I found a vintage brooch to put on my bouquet and vintage handkerchiefs for my bridesmaids to have wrapped around the stems of their flowers.'

Isn't this the loveliest picture ever!

* All wedding images were captured by the talented photographer Jen at JK Photography.

Please contact me for more information about my floral wedding ring pillows.

NEW LAUNCH

Two of our greeting card ranges have been so popular they are soon to be launched as stylish stationary and mugs at the UK's major retail buying event NEC Spring Fair.

If you are a buyer or distributor, this is the perfect opportunity to view their complete ranges of home-ware, gifts, stationary and fashion accessories including
our exciting new products .

Please contact Junction Eighteen for more details.

BACK TO MY FAVOURITE STORES

Ok so i'm getting a little obsessed with the new store in London's Regent Street Anthropology, but even though i didn't buy a thing, it's one of the most inspiring stores to visit. Whether you're creative or not, i'm sure you would still appreciate its clever mix of art, fashion and textiles.

I found a number of their hand-made chandeliers very imaginative and lively.

'Marrying Western notions of style and grace with African concepts of recycling and re-using so as to create a bespoke second generation work.'

If you look closely, you can spot a toilet roll, an inhaler, coffee tops, plastic spoons etc..to make up a very eye-catching chandelier display. Isn't it great!

It caught a lot of attention from passers-by.

I also loved the colours and mish mash of textiles in this bedspread.

and the decorative soaps, which you really wouldn't want to spoil!

This cabinet was reclaimed, cleaned and is currently for sale. I really love its unusual look and mix of different style drawers.

The store really plays on colour, pattern and tactile textures. So much so, i was too excited to actually shop!

A trip to London wouldn't be the same without visiting Liberty.

After far too much time spent in Anthropology, i didn't have long to browse the entire store.
Ah well, there's always next time.

THE SHOW

Three days standing under 4 spot lights is really quite exhausting, but i'm really happy with what we've achieved.

As well as increasing our UK suppliers, a selection of our occasion and birthday cards will be launching in Australia next month. We're so pleased Rosanna Rossi is going international!

I really loved meeting our buyers and loved chatting to our trade show neighbours. They help make the show much more enjoyable.

Thank You to all that visited!
We're now considering another show this July, but right now i need a little sleep...

PREPARING MYSELF

Today i'm in the final stages of putting together the boards for our Rosanna Rossi greeting cards trade show stand. We're heading to London early tomorrow morning to set up, and with all the major preparations complete i'm HOPING to be finished early afternoon so that we can venture into London. It's a shame not to!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed it all goes to plan...

These are the head boards for five of our display stands.
I've just finished threading the ribbons and am waiting for the glue to dry.

A small selection of our Florini range has been featured in the January issue of Gift Focus magazine, which has caught a lot of attention.

For those who will be attending the Top Drawer trade show, we'll be on stand E20 and look forward to seeing to there! (trade only)

*my camera is coming with me, so i'll be sure to post some trade show pics very soon!x

A MINI MENTION

The creator of Lilybox kindly featured my floral wedding ring pillows on her inspiring design blog yesterday.

I can tell when the wedding season is slowly approaching as my inbox fills with more enquiries. This is when it's time to stock up on all fabric, ribbons, feather filled pillows, coloured threads and a new embroidery hoop!

Thank you to Lilybox for a little mention.

DISCOVER TRENDS

The quality of seminars that are on offer at the Home & Gift trade show Top Drawer is fantastic. Unfortunately i won't have time to sit through them, but with help from my partner, i might just be about to sneak away to attend this one on Monday 18th Jan.

Predict & Discover Trends
By Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish,
founders of notonthehighstreet.com

I'm a little fan of their online shop, which feature and support unique little businesses who aren't widely seen on the high street. Since they began in 2006, the company has grown profoundly and i'd love to get the opportunity to attend their seminar and listen to their thoughts and ideas on this years trends.

*Please note, Top Drawer 2010 is a trade only show. Exhibitors have a ‘minimum order’ policy and will not sell to members of the public.
Top Drawer, 17 to 19 January 2010, Earls Court One, London.

SNOWED IN BRITAIN

I just had to feature this image, as i've never seen Britain so white.
brrr...it's COLD.

'The Winter whiteout conditions affecting the UK are clearly visible in a striking image of the whole country.' The Times
(NEODAAS/University of Dundee)

TOP DRAWER SPRING 2010

I'm preparing for the first trade show of the year, which begins on the 17th-19th January. It's one of my favorite shows to kick off the spring/summer buying season with 100's of business all under one roof. We will be launching a wedding and anniversary range (advert featured below) together with birthday add on's to our existing collections.

Our Rosanna Rossi advert was featured in the Essential Guide Booklet which is distributed to over 45,000 buyers prior to the event.

We're making props for the stand this weekend and putting together our new catalogue. There's lots to do! If you're a buyer and haven't yet registered, you can do so here.

We look forward to seeing you soon!
Stand E20

A SNOW STORM

So when they said it would snow
Oh it
SNOWED

And because of the snow, i'm now waiting patiently for the post to arrive...

Sorry mr. postman but i'm relying on you!

* it looks amazing and although it's been bitterly cold, it's also made a lot of us smile.

IN THE PRESS

Two of our Rosanna Rossi greeting cards have been featured in two major greeting card magazines this month.

Our Ruby Anniversary Love Birds, taken from the new 'Cherish' range, were featured twice. As part of the Innovations page, and pictured again as part of a story about weddings and anniversaries.

'Rosanna Rossi brings Romance to Top Drawer Spring with a line of new anniversary designs featuring love birds.' Progressive Greetings.


Greetings Today magazine kicked off the New Year with one of the most contentious issues in Greetings. The magazine asked why men get a rougher deal when it comes to greetings cards? I agree that male cards are simply rubbish! Sadly we catagorised men to love either/or all three things:
Beer
Sport
Women
And although this is sometimes true, not all men are stereotypically like this (phew!)
So we replied...

Our male range has been going really well since its launch in January 2009, and we are due to add to the collection later this year.
(Whilst staying clear of the three stereotypical topics!)

HORSE RACING

It was my first time at Cheltenham's annual new year races, which plays host to the best jumping action in the world surrounded by the beautiful Cotswold hills.

However freeeezing the temperature was, the sun was bright and the crowd were really excited.

We placed a bet on horses which had a good history of winnings.
(I however, didn't really know what i was doing...)

and because of this, i sadly didn't win a penny. oh well!

Our friends however managed to go home with lots of money!

Although our first outing for 2010 was fun, i wont return until i have a better understanding of how to win!
We left before the crowd to cook an apple and blueberry crumble, which cheered us up in no time.

* we saw Avatar at the cinema nye and it was AMAZING! A must see.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

(image with thanks to i heart it)

I hope you all have a fantastic new year celebration.
We're heading to the cinema to see Avatar. Looks really great!
Then back home to cook our first paella in our humongous paella dish. A Christmas gift.
We're looking forward to it!

Thank you all for being such fantastic readers, and thank you to all my amazing customers. Your support, kind words and big hearts have been a huge help throughout the year.
We have lots of new and exciting products and cards to be launched from January, and you'll be the first to hear about them.
We are so excited for 2010.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
xxx

A HAPPY BRIDE-TO-BE

I received this really lovely email this morning from a sweet bride who will be getting married in January 2010....

And these are her wedding ring pillows.

The Silver and Purple Waterlily Wedding Ring Pillows were custom made to co-ordinate with her wedding bouquet.

And this is the most stunning engagement photo of the happy couple.
Gorgeous!

I wish them all the best for the special day!

WHITE WINTER

I hope your Christmas was merry.

We had a festive few days visiting friends and family.
We took a drive around the snowy Cotswold hills Christmas Eve, and spent the evening amongst friends.
We ate lots of food Christmas day with the family, and ate yet more food just hours later with friends whilst trying our best to win trivial pursuit. (we lost...twice!)
We spent Boxing Day morning catching up on sleep, visited more family and ate more food during the evening. (we are very full!)

I know a lot of you have seen a great deal of snow these past few weeks, and we are forecast to wake up to a few centimeters tomorrow morning. yey!

(Images: Creature Comforts, Anna Whitford Wedding Ring Pillows, Style Me Pretty)

In the meantime, i've put together a mini winter inspirational mood board for those of you who LOVE winter weddings. I know i do.

CHRISTMAS TIME

...is here already!

It's time for family, snow, friends, holidays, food and warmth.

I wish you all a very
MERRY CHRISTMAS.

NEW COLLECTION LAUNCH

I am in the middle of producing product shots for the NEW wedding and anniversary card range, 'Cherish'. These wont be available until January 2010, so instead of waiting, i've put together a mini preview of the collection for you.

They feature delicate love birds which sparkle with glitter and pearls.
...and i love them.

TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH

I am in the process of presenting a wedding ring pillow booklet for all press and buyers.
Below is a preview of some of the pages...

You should start seeing a number of these little floral ring bearer pillows in wedding magazines from Spring 2010. Please contact me for more information.

*I've been waiting for today to arrive for some time now, as our NEW range of Rosanna Rossi wedding and anniversary greeting cards have just been delivered from our printers! I've been running up and down the stairs carrying boxes to the studio and can't wait to open, view and take product shots of them.
I shall post some images very soon!