I wanted to check out some art and craft ideas and came across two products for sale which really caught my eye.  These will both make a great gift for a lady in your life.

The first is the Bamboo Knitting Pin Set in Rose Fabric Wrap (QVC price £16.28).  This is the perfect gift for those we know who love to knit.  The Bamboo Knitting Needle Sets comprise of a very pretty fabric wrap with roses, and within that you have eight different-sized pairs of Bamboo knitting needles.  With this set, you will never lose a set of needles again, and will always have the correct size available whenever needed.  The Knitting Needle sizes are; 3mm, 3.5mm, 3.75mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm and 6mm.

Another great gift is the V V Rouleaux Feather Rosette and Headband Kit (£QVC price £20.24).  With this, you actually get to make your own pretty headband, of which can also double up as fantastic hair facinators.  The feathers are in vibrant tones of peacock blue, green, black and grey, which I am sure, will match in with a lot of outfits you may have.  The kit also contains 2 silver-toned metal brooch clip, a white headband and diamante buttons.  Don’t be worried about putting you Rosette and Headband together as it comes with step-by-step instructions, with diagrams to help you out.

Check out other arts and craft ideas at http://www.qvc.com.

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I was asked to trial the ibrew home beer brewing kit, and I thought “well, why not? Nothing to lose”. Although I am sure I lost a micron’s worth of stomach and throat tissue from my last home brew attempt nearly twenty years ago, but I will do anything in the name of research!

Cheap beer making kits that produce great tasting beer. Available for just £64.99, the ibrew starter kit offers a complete re-usable home brewery with everything you need to begin brewing – including ingredients to make 40 pints in two batches. Re-fills cost £9.99 for 20 pints, which means home brewing costs from just 50p a pint.

So, cheap beer. Never normally bodes well. You get what you pay for.

Not so with ibrew! There are three varieties – a refreshing lager, a hoppy bitter and a rich stout, all of which are ready to drink within a mere 21 days.

I was sent sample bottles of the lager and a bitter brew kit. In the name of testing, I tried to reconstruct an optimum time for drinking lager. With the lager nicely chilled, I cut the grass in the back garden on a scorching day. With me tired, hot and sweating, I had reached that optimum point…I tried the ibrew lager.

This is as good as homebrew is ever going to get. Clear, sharp, crisp lager that you would think had been professionally brewed. It was so nice and I was so hot, I had another. Just to be sure (research) I had one more after that.

There are many commercially brewed lagers that I would leave on the supermarket shelves and go for the ibrew lager instead. It really is that good.

The ibrew pack includes a fermenter, which also doubles as the outer packaging, and a clever dispenser tap unit that fits onto the storage bottles. These bottles are designed to sit neatly on the fridge shelf making it simple for you to pour your draught beer ready chilled. The ibrew kits include the finest UK-grown malt and hops and require the addition of yeast (which is supplied) and water. All ingredients are 100% natural.

As far as ease of use goes, I had no issues setting up the bitter beer making kit. Very simple and concise products and instructions – and I normally have trouble making the bed.  It’s brewing away as I write. My little baby.

ibrew kits and refills are available to buy online at http://www.ibrew.co.uk and in numerous retailers nationwide (visit website to find nearest stockist).

The ultimate gift for beer lovers.

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Making an ideal gift for the home is the warm and cosy Hot Water Bottle Covers. They come in a selection of colours and designs, and some come in two sizes.  I know a lot of people who would use one of these.  It is the perfect gift to give someone for the cold, winter evenings.  The Knitted Hot Water Bottle covers collections start at £30.00.

What I also love in the knitted range is the selection of Knitted hearts.  These really are delightful, all tightly packed with wheat and soothing lavender.  Now these you could put anywhere within your home, out on display somewhere, or in your wardrobe to help keep your clothes smelling fresh.  I actually have mine on my bedside table.  I find that the lavender helps me drift off to sleep easier, aiding a good night’s sleep.

Another fine product coming to The Fine Cotton Company in September 2010 is the White Porcelain Tea light.  These are really sweet looking, with each one comprising of a different design.  They just ooze quality and will add a touch of luxury to the room you have it displayed in.  Made of magical porcelain, it is clear glazed making it become almost translucent when lit.

All the mentioned plus much more are available at http://www.thefinecottoncompany.com.

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I therefore would like to introduce the Flexibath, an amazing baby folding bath tub!  Wow, talk about space saving!  This is an unbelievable baby bath that will allow you to store it literally anywhere once you have finished using it, unlike traditional infant bathtub, which are big and bulky!  You can easily store it against a wall or even in your wardrobe, simplicity at its best.

The flexibath is made of hard plastic, with the folding lines made of rubber.  This makes the bathtub stable whilst also flexible.  It also hosts a nonslip surface which will only help when it does come to bath time.  It may look slightly smaller than a traditional baby bath, but 2 babies can easily fit into it.  It also has a drain plug to make emptying the bath so much easier.

The Flexibath retails at £29.95 and without a doubt will make a fantastic gift for new mums and dads.  I know I will be using one if I ever get around to baby number 3!  It is available to purchase from http://www.flexibath.co.uk.

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The revolutionary cuddledry baby apron towel will make a wonderful gift for new mums and dads across the country.  This is a fantastic and brilliant towel which offers the unique combination of safety after bath time whilst providing the upmost luxury for the most special thing in their lives.

I have 2 boys and know how difficult it can be to get your slippery baby out of the bath and wrapped up in a little towel.  Yes, I know that we have all been using the simplicity of this for years on end, but, just think how long it actually takes!  You lift your baby out of the bath, onto a towel, and then wrap the baby up.  This can take some juggling at times.  At times you just wish you had an extra hand to help things along.

What the Cuddledry Towel will do is to allow mum or dad lift the baby out, straight into their arms and wrapped up all cosy within seconds.  The towel sits around your neck, just like an apron will, leaving the main towel lay against you ready for the baby to be lifted onto.  Baby is safe and warm, and mum and dad get that extra time for cuddling your little one dry.  Sounds just perfect!  This will make for a much easier and enjoyable experience for you and your baby.

Only the highest quality materials are used in the making of the cuddledry, as with other products within their range.  All the fibres are unbleached and coloured using only natural dyes. This makes it completely eco friendly – just the way it should be with your new baby.

Cuddledry designers Helen Woolridge and Polly Marsh have got to be so pleased with themselves for producing this product.  I think it is such a great idea.  The Cuddledry is getting ever so popular now, being used by tens of thousands of parents throughout the world.  Approximately 1 in 20 parents now possess one.  Celebrities love it, and even midwives and maternity nurses are recommending it.  Now I also recommend it. 

The Cuddledry is available in oatmeal, natural white, soft pink and soft blue, and is priced at £24.99.  Or if you would like to add a fun element to bath time, the cute cow print and wild giraffe designs are available for £29.99.

The Cuddledry apron is available to buy from Mothercare, John Lewis, Harrods and Debenhams as well as the Cuddledry website http://www.cuddledry.com.

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Fabric Flavours ranges are just spectacular, they bring back so many memories.  But then, I have 2 young boys and they love watching the same cartoons that I loved when I was a child, so my childhood is relived every day anyhow.  So to have your most favourite character put onto a T-shirt for your little one is just fantastic, trust me, you will be jealous of their wardrobe!

Their ranges include the following:- Ali, Bruce Lee, DC Comics, Dennis The Menace, Dr Seuss, Elmer, Gruffalo, Horrid Henry, Hungry Caterpillar, Little Miss, Lone Ranger, Maisy, Marvel, Mr Men, Noddy, Roald Dahl, Sesame Street, Spot and Star Wars.

There is such an amazing array of wonderful characters from our childhood to choose from, and knowing that your own kids will get just as much fun out of them makes it extra special.

If that isn’t enough, Fabric Flavours offer a selection of colours to choose from, which they like to call Flavours.  These includes Ice Blue, Pistachio, Sunflower, Strawberry, Blueberry, Sweet Porridge, Blackberry, Tangerine, Coconut, Candyfloss, Custard and Banana; something more than delicious for your child.

My little boy has now got the DC Comics super hero Superman T-shirt (£16).  His daddy loves it, I love it and most importantly, he loves it himself.  I can’t get it of his back!  As far as kids retro tshirts go, his is the best in town!  All Fabric Flavours T-shirts are 100% cotton and are finished of with particular attention to detail.  Pure quality is what you get with these T-shirts.

The exclusive limited edition vintage style t-shirts, the best kids retro clothes, are available in selected boutiques across the UK plus Selfridges in London, Birmingham and Manchester, Harvey Nichols, London, Leeds and Edinburgh.

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This brilliant Welsh Whiskey outsells scotch whisky in Wetherspoons pubs across the UK. There is a reason for this – It’s packed full of flavour with hints of Toffee.

It’s also very, very strong! (46% ABV)

The packaging of Penderyn whiskey matches the product, delivering a classic, quality design. This would make the ideal gift and is also something slightly different.

In the UK, Penderyn is available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Threshers, fine wine and spirit merchants, websites and online from http://www.welsh-whisky.co.uk.

It retails for approximately £30 a bottle. Half bottles, miniatures and gift packs are also available

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