blossom & bill

I've hankered over these for quite some time but at last we have the fabulous 'Blossom & Bill' trays by Isak in the shop! Love them! These coated birchwood trays are designed by graphic designer Sandra Isaksson in Sussex (and are made in a small factory in Sweden where they have a strong tradition for such things).

And if that's not enough we also have Isak's laminated coaster sets and their multi purpose lidded cups/jars. The oak lid of the cup also fits snuggly as a coaster when turned upside down. Ingenius!

trays are £25 (and come in a printed tote bag), coaster sets £12, and lidded cups/jars £8.

caledonian canal & loch ness

Out cycling at the weekend.

on the caledonian canal

on the back road behind inverfarigaig and loch ness

at the top of the corkscrew (a series of steep hairpin bends) at inverfarigaig. overlooking loch ness

inverfarigaig on loch ness. having a wee nosey...I lived in that house when I was very small...it's now up for sale!

lovely pigeon

Just arrived, and giving off a definite retro vibe, are some lovely button brooches & hair clips from Kirsty @ Lovely Pigeon. Each one has been hand-stitched together and backed with felt, and comes individually named (with names such as georgie, florence, & mabel) on a hand-written card.

Prices range from £8 for a pair of hairclips to £10-£30 for the brooches.

my rob ryan calendar

I forgot to show off the calendar I got from Rob Ryan's shop Ryantown when I was in London in January. It was supposed to be for my counter in the shop but since I make a habit of knocking over my tea (which I've just done again 5 mins ago) I've decided to keep it safely at home!

sunlight on closed lids

Also newly in are a selection of cards from Edinburgh based Kate Holliday - better known as Sunlight on Closed Lids who I met when I was down in London recently - and her and her cards are indeed a ray of sunlight! Longing for a bit of sunlight on my own closed lids at the moment......that, and the end of multiple cardigan wearing in the shop!

kate seaward

A little parcel of goodies has just arrived from illustrator Kate Seaward aka I Like Pens. We already have notebooks designed by Kate for Lov-Li so it is great to have some of her other work including notebooks, cards, badges & mirrors.

Prices start at £1, and go all the way up to £5.

burns supper....czech style!

As promised, a few pics to show what those crazy Czechs get up to on Burns night. And since I've pinched a few pictures from their website I'll start off with The Rebel Pipers, an all Czech Pipe band, featuring our good friends David Neckar & Veronika Neckarova, who did a few sets throughout the evening.

As well as the usual haggis, speeches, poems & songs to celebrate our national bard there was plenty of dancing and I have to say they were pretty darn good at it. Out of the 60-70 people there there were only about 5 Scots, and as I was without a stitch of tartan on I did feel a little under-dressed (or bizarrely....under-Scottish!), especially as I'd been told earlier in the day by a Slovak that I didn't have a Scottish accent....eek, how damning!

My multi-lingual partner Ken was asked to do the 'Address to The Haggis'and then 'The Immortal Memory' (a wee run down on the life & loves of Robert Burns) which he decided to do in Czech - to which he got many laughs (and some of them were intentional!). Below is a picture of his notes which were scrambled together about an hour before. I'm afraid just looking at them made my head hurt.

The event was organised by a Brno based group of Scotophiles called Skotský pes (that David & Veronika again) which translates as Scotch Dog - they also do an annual Scottish Ball and St. Andrew's Ceilidh....the mad things!

www.skotskypes.cz

www.rebelpiper.cz

gemma correll

A collection of goodies from illustrator Gemma Correll ready to hit the boo vake shelves! Thanks Gemma.

lov-li cards

New cards in from Lov-li.

normal service has resumed...

It's all back to normal here after a couple of weeks of intermittent gallivanting. Having just got back from London (and still recovering from no sleep on the Sleeper) Ken announced that he had booked a few days away in the Czech Republic, so off we troop again. If you were in the shop on Saturday you'd have met my brother Alasdair or young Cameron (thanks both!).
We ended up having a night in Prague, just enough time for a quick scout around before meeting up with friends. Unfortunately my favourite shop in Prague Futurista was closed (off on their travels too I think). Then it was off to Brno in the east for a birthday celebration and a Czech Burns Supper!! I'll come back to that one soon when I have some pictures!

escape to the woods

boo vake favourite Donna Wilson has a new exhibition Escape to the Woods opening in the Lighthouse in Glasgow tomorrow night. Sadly I won't be able to make it on the night but as the exhibition runs until the 1st of March there's plenty time yet.

london

me in the red

Just back (yesterday 5.30am!) from a trip south to the big place which is London. A mix of catching up with some of Ken's family, trade show, British Museum, a tour of the Houses of Parliament (thanks Pete), sitting on buses, trains, underground...... On Saturday I dragged Ken around a few shops that I quite fancied seeing such as Ryantown and SCP and it was great to see Maria from Lush Designs in their new shop in Greenwich Market.

I'll be away for a few days so the shop will be closed tomorrow (Fri 16th) but will be open on Saturday from 12-2pm (courtesy of the lovely Pip!).

happy new year!!

Christmas at the Black Isle.....freezing but gorgeous!
Shop open again tomorrow!

gift guide...cosy christmas!!

let our designers keep you toasty warm and curled up this Christmas!
1. cosy slouchy bedsocks by Catherine Tough in lambswool. a variety of colours/designs £18. UPDATE: not many left!

2. horse cushion by the girls at Lush Designs £34

3. sleepy pom by Donna Wilson. he loves a snooze too! £34

4. who wouldn't want to cuddle up with harry hairy head by Donna Wilson! £45

5. breakfast in bed tray by Donna Wilson.......wouldn't that be nice! £28

6. buckwheat & lavender filled heart cushion by Catherine Tough. can be gently warmed on a radiator. in various colours £32

7. short cosy bedsocks by Catherine Tough £10. not many left!

8. robin cushion by Donna Wilson in lovely soft lambswool £57

9. cuddly cloud lambswool cushions by Donna Wilson for those of us who have our head in the clouds. mini £30, medium £42

10. rainy days lambswool cushion by Donna Wilson £42

11. hotdog wheat bag warmer by Showpony. pop daisy in the microwave for 2 minutes and she'll keep you warm for a couple of hours! £24

12. ...and if you have to venture out wrap up warm with a dotty lambswool scarf by Closeknit £25

gift guide...accessories

1. felted grey & red wool purses by Donna Smith. made in Shetland. £15.
2. Harris Tweed bag by Cadadh. made in Poolewe. Available in grey, blue & brown tweeds and in 3 sizes. £54, £60 & £64
3. another pair hand screenprinted leather purses by London's Miss Budd. £32
4. jade & tigereye bracelet by Mojo. made in Glasgow. £34
5. lambswool scarf by Saltire Designs. Available in red, green, pale green, pink, pale blue & grey. Made near Loch Lomond! £22
6. maya Harris Tweed bag in bubblegum pink by Edinburgh designer Katherine Emtage. £125
7. Borders & Harris Tweed corsages by Katherine Emtage in assorted colours tweeds. £15
8. love bird hand screenprinted gold leather purse by Miss Budd. £45
9. handmade felt corsages by Lynne Ramsay. assorted colours & sizes. made in Edinburgh. £6-£11
10. vintage curios bracelet by Louise Pringle. £45. made in Mid Lothian. many other of Louise's pieces available.
11. mariposa hand screenprinted silver leather purse by Miss Budd. £35. also available in gold in smaller size. £32.
12. gertrude bag in Borders tweed by Katherine Emtage. also available in indigo Harris Tweed. £60
13. biomorph necklace by Islay Spalding in hand dyed resin and silver. made in Broughty Ferry. £82.50
14. sandwich bracelets in felted wool by Edinburgh designer Lynsey Walters. £20 each
15. felted wool escher scarf by Donna Smith. in assorted colours. £29

gift guide....be creative!

1. recycled leather covered notebooks by Artbox£9.50
2. make-a-book kit by Alison Hardcastle. screenprinted cover, A4 sheet & instructions to make your very own artist's book. a great introduction to bookbinding £8
3. paper making kit by Flights of Fancy. with deckle, mould, press & instructions £18
4. a bright idea notebook by Sukie. a different lightbulb on each page for all your eureka moments!£9
5. make-your-own monster kit by Donna Wilson. each kit unique with pre-stitched shape £14
6. handmade notebooks by Pumpkinsputnik £3.50-£8
7. turn over a new leaf notebook by Sukie. a different leaf on each page £9
8. make yourself a sausage dog by Lucy Jane Batchelor. with 2 balloons & instructions! £3.70
9. create your own daisy chain mobile by Lush. £13

gift guide.....under £50

1. hedge warbler by Hannah Turner £36
2. blah blah blah cushion by Donna Wilson £42
3. Mr & Mrs Jones ceramic bottles by Polly George £22 & £18
4. jade, onyx, turquoise & agate bracelet by Mojo £43
5. stealth lamp by Blue Marmalade. complete with 7 colour filters £36
6. breakfast in bed tray by Donna Wilson £28
7. rainy days cushion by Donna Wilson £42
8. screen printed leather purses by Miss Budd £32
9. wild pig cushion by Lush £29
10. cyril sqirrel-fox by Donna Wilson £47
11. digging ceramic relief by Hilke MacIntyre £25
12. vintage curios bracelet by Louise Pringle £45
13. monkey lampshade by Lush £26
14. vessel ceramic tile by Ceri White £23
15. horse cushion by Lush £34

gift guide...£25 and under

1. tape-measure wash/make-up bag by Erin Hensley £22
2. felt coasters by Donna Wilson £12
3. vintage shopper by Showpony £12
4. trevor the tiger necklace by Haberdash House £25
5. lambswool bedsocks by Catherine Tough £18
6. Rex & Regina tea-towels by Lush £11 each
7. short lambswool bedsocks by Catherine Tough £10
8. Borders & Harris Tweed brooches by Katherine Emtage £15
9. lambswool dotty scarf by Closeknit £24. Lots of other scarves available too!
10. make-your-own monster kit by Donna Wilson £14
11. small fused glass pendants by Alicia MacInnes £21
12. limited edition tea-towel by Donna Wilson £16. Hang it on your wall!
13. butterfly candleholder/wee bowl by Polly George £12
14. stripey head by Donna Wilson £19
15. flock ceramic horse tile by Ceri White £22

santa's swallie

Another idea for those especially difficult men in your life.....how about a mini-cask of real ale from The Inveralmond Brewery? A 5 litre mini-cask of Santa's Swallie or Ossian Ale will set you back around £16 (from memory). For more information you can phone 01738 449448 (if George isn't by the phone then you can leave a message). If you're not in Perth you can order online from Cellarman Direct.

gift guide....mangifts!

1. space hopper by Edinburgh designer Kate George. box framed to sit on shelf or hang on wall. £36
2. recycled leather covered diaries in many manly colours! small £16 and large £21
3. screenprinted leather keyrings by Prod. £2
4. Pea badges by Kate Sutton for the budding gardener. £3
5. Twig pencils by Flights of Fancy. thin £1.50 and chunky £2
6. mansocks by Catherine Tough. Cosy lounging socks in size 8-10. £18
7. driftwood clocks by Garry Brown. £68-£105
8. catapult pencil by Flights of Fancy. £5
9. groover by Kate George. For all those groovers out there! £36
10. fused glass cufflinks by Alicia MacInnes. £24
11. screenprinted hankerchiefs by Sukie. £8
12. beetle and mini - retro digital artwork by Kate George. boxed out to sit on a shelf or hang on a wall. £22 each
13. angry ginger by Donna Wilson. He's grumpy but soft inside,- sound familiar!! £34
I think there's going to have to be a part 2 to this one!

open every day!!

We are now open every day until Christmas!!! On Sundays we will be open from 12-4pm, Mondays from 10am-5.30pm.....and if you are in town tomorrow join us for some mince pies and mulled wine!

katherine emtage

Just in....tweed bags & brooches by Edinburgh designer Katherine Emtage.
above from left to right: bubblegum pink Maya bag in harris tweed(£125); poppy red & indigo Gertrude bags in Borders or Harris Tweeds (£60). below: assorted colours of brooches in Borders or Harris Tweeds (£15).

gift guide....£10 & under

1. Prod leather screenprinted badges (£2, £3), earrings (£8), pendants (£5);
2. Soop rings...wear together to make a country scene on your finger! (£6 each);
3. 'I've joined the circus' wooden brooch by Haberdash House (£10);
4. Lavender Bod keyrings by The Black Rabbit (£4.50)
5. Tape Measure purse & corsage by Erin Hensley (£10 each);
6. Scented candles byPintail. Cinnamon & orange, mulled wine, cranberry spice, mistletoe & wine, warm gingerbread and many more! (£7)
7. Lush hanging wooden birds. Orange, teal, grey, pale blue & green. (£10)
8. Handmade felt flower brooches by Lynne Ramsay (£7). Also heart brooches (not shown £6)
9. Set of 4 pencils made from a variety of Coniferous (or deciduous) trees by Flights of Fancy. All from managed forests in Scotland. (£8). Also catapult pencils (not shown £5) and twig pencils (not shown £1.50 & £2)
10. Sukie plain/lined notebook in pink, blue, green or yellow (£7). From one side lined paper for notes and from the other plain paper for doodles.
11. Bothy bottle stopper by Glenshee Pottery. Variety of colours (£2.90)
12. Monochrome mug by Dundee designer Johanna Basford from her very popular hand drawn designs. Black on white or white on black(£9)