Try something new with PitstopX London's jewellery-making classes!

Long gone are the days when a giving home-made present comprising of pasta shells lovingly glued to a piece of coloured cardboard or a blackened batch of burnt jam-tarts resulted in a forced smile and a stiff thank-you. And with the dreaded recession still impacting both the media and our bank balances, there has never been a better time to utilise, or indeed learn, a new skill. As a self-confessed accessories addict, but lacking somewhat in the artistic department, I had never previously considered making my own jewellery until I heard about PitstopX London. Run by Penelope Akester - a London-based jeweller with over 17 years experience – from the comfort of her home in Camden, she offers a variety of jewellery-making classes and workshops with a four person limit, designed to ensure that each student gets paramount attention.   From the Jewellery Making Starter Day to the Japanese Braiding on a Disk Day – there’s something for everyone, whether a novice wanting a taster class, or an accomplished jeweller wanting to hone and develop your skills. I’m hoping to try out the starter day – aimed at complete beginners it covers the basics of how to professionally create beautiful beaded jewellery, including both necklaces, bracelets and, time permitting, earrings. The course teaches how to string a necklace, add a clasp, and knot a gemstone necklace – perfect for amateurs like myself. And for the more learned pupils, the Repairs and Recycling Jewellery Taster Class schools students in the art of turning an earring into a pendant, and repairing broken clasps – ideal for those with hoards of jewellery that has seen better days.

So whether you’re bored of the ten-a-penny jewellery offerings from the high street, or want to make a unique and personal gift for a friend, PitstopX London is definitely worth a visit. And with courses starting at a very reasonable £35, it’s not going to break the bank balance and will almost certainly make a fab change from the aforementioned kitchen crafts!

Any readers of this page can have a £10 (ten pound) discount on any course booked  before the end of September! Just mention  'TheAmazingBlog' when you book at http://www.pitstopx.co.uk/Book-a-Workshop.html - happy jewellery making!

http://www.pitstopx.co.uk/Book-a-Workshop.html

Who made YOUR pants?

They say the basis of a great outfit is underwear, and having stumbled across a fantastic new lingerie brand, it’s never been more true;  at Amazing PR we love a brand with a story behind it – and whomadeyourpants? is a story and a half.

Selling gorgeous, ethical pants from materials sold on by industry at the end of season, whomadeyoupants? is a worker co-op specifically formed to empower marginalised women. Founded by Becky John in 2008, who has recently been nominated for Everywoman’s Innovator of the Year Award, she wanted to establish a connection between producer and consumer. It was as a result of this concept that she has ensured flexible employment, education, a social space and most important of all, a secure sense of community for all the women she employs.

Many of the women who work for whomadeyourpants? are refugees from Afghanistan, Somalia, the Sudan, Iraq, Turkey and Kosovo and they also hire women lacking either the education or opportunity they need to progress in a positive direction.

As well as buying into a very worthy cause, the knickers themselves are gorgeous – they have a fabulous, snug fit, and sit flat under your clothes – therefore avoiding the dreaded VPL. With an array of colours to choose from, from Lucky Heather to Ivory Blue, there will never be an excuse to wear those grey knickers again!

Check out their website now for their special September offer.

My Tiger Bag

When it comes to bags for life – y’know, those canvas or heavy duty plastic affairs, readily available at check out points in supermarkets, one rarely thinks of such accessories as the height of chic. They’re there to serve a purpose – and a worthwhile one at that – but certainly don’t win any brownie points in the world of fashion.

So hoping to do my bit for the environment without wanting to make a sacrifice in the style stakes, I was delighted when I came across My Tiger Bag – an online retailer selling a beautiful, reusable bag with extra kudos for its tiger design and stylish metallic finish.

They come in four colours – blue, bronze, gold and pink – and as well as using material that comes from recycled plastic bottles, a donation of fifty-pence from the sale of each bag is made to the WWF Save The Tiger Fund.

Combining green living and fashion with a charity donation makes the My Tiger Bag a real must have for anyone with a conscience - for this season and beyond. Get yours before they become extinct - and at just £5 a pop, they’re in danger of doing so very soon!

Decadorn

Anthropologie is always great for offering  one-of-a-kind shopping, you always feel you are getting something a little bit unique and different. So it makes sense that they should be the stockists for the gorgeous collection of jewellery from Decadorn.

When they first discovered the Decadorn line at Spitalfields East London market, they were instantly enamoured with the one off pieces and from there a beautiful, bohemian collaboration was born. Decadorn products are made from hand carved crystal or gemstones and plated in 18ct gold, leather and feathers add a hippy/boho touch. I adore these leather wrap bracelets, ideal for tapping into the current trend for armfuls of friendship style bracelets. What I love most about Decadorn is that they have managed to produce a collection that offers unique, striking pieces that are affordable, meaning they can be worn and loved every day.

Decadorn will be available in Anthropologie UK from early September, or from their website.

DANAQA

Bags, bags, bags, us girls can never have too many, they fill our wardrobes to the brim so much so that when we open the door we are a human block to stop them falling to the floor. But we will keep adding to the collection. I have just recently started at Amazing PR and this is a rather exciting first blog entry for me as I have to admit, I used starting here as an excuse to buy a lovely new bag. Then, during my second day I came across this fabulous and unique soft leather bag and thought hmmm..i think this would be a perfect bag to add to my wardrobe for Winter. Detailed with large tribal straps showing a distinctive design, this bag can be carried either over the shoulder or by hand (which can be easier if like me, your bag is stupidly heavy because of the amount of unnecessary items weighing you down).

This DANAQA bag is handmade in Ethiopia by people using traditional designs, skills and materials (this bag uses amazingly soft sheep skin) to give us a beautiful handmade bag that cries out for a home in that already packed wardrobe! This bag retails at £190 so I am prepared to stick a few of my old bags on Ebay and invest in one of these beauties!