Lark & Berry Fragrances

Finding only one fragrance that encompasses your style, personality and suits each season can be very tricky. At The Amazing Blog we believe a spritz of perfume adds that essential final touch to not only to how you feel but how you project your look. Today, we want to introduce you to one of our #amazingfinds from Lark & Berry, who have expanded their empire from being an exciting and disruptive force in the world of fine jewellery, to now turning their attention to making a change in the world of fragrances.

Launched in 2018 by Laura Chavez, Lark & Berry was born out of a desire to make a difference, and changing the jewellery industry. Laura noticed that she either found high-quality jewellery with skyrocketing prices or affordable jewellery that was very poor quality. She saw the opportunity to create her unique jewellery using only cultured diamonds and stones (all laboratory grown) which provide transparency, honesty, affordability and a much lower environmental impact. With Lark, meaning ‘playful’ and which was Laura’s favourite bird and Berry, being a pendant her grandmother gave her, she founded Lark & Berry.

Today we want to talk about Lark & Berry and their three fragrances in this new range of Eau de Parfum: Midnight Garden, White Dawn and Alchemy Number 3. This trio is all-natural, made with organic flower compositions and not tested on animals. We tried the Alchemy Number 3, all beautifully packaged in a subtle marbled box with a sweet hidden message (see pic above).  This deluxe bottle has a delightful touch with its gold chain and diamond charm around the neck of the bottle (perhaps it could double up as a ring?) Alchemy Number 3 boosted our senses with its heady key notes combining sandalwood and tuberose. It is deliciously long-lasting and retains top notes of the jasmine and ylang-ylang with the base notes of patchouli, leather and amber musk. As a warm and sensual fragrance, we think it complements this autumn season as the daylight draws in and the nights get longer. Each of the three Eau de Parfums retail at £75.00 for a 100ml here or at their new shop in London here. We also love is the fact that with every item sold at Larry &Berry (whether online or from their London store) five trees will be planted in areas worldwide where they’re environmentally needed the most, by their partnership with One Tree Planted (a US-based tree-planting non-profit).

Handmade Oxford

We love to support artisan brands here at The Amazing Blog and Handmade Oxford is just the event to find unique and beautiful pieces from new craftsmen. The renowned contemporary craft design event organiser, Handmade in Britain, has launched a three-day fair at Oxford Town Hall to bring designers and craftspeople directly to the people. We think shopping directly from the wonderful designers who create our favourite pieces of jewellery or centrepieces for our kitchen makes for an incredibly special experience. Piyush Suri started Handmade in Britain over a decade ago with a mission to support design-makers and create a community where they can promote their work. We love supporting local and small businesses around here and this event has it all in one place.

This three-day showcase boasts over 90 design-makers, so you will be sure to find something to suit your individual style. Located in the heart of Oxford, visitors can enjoy browsing the stands of high-skilled and innovative designers who have perfected their various disciplines. Getting to hear the creator’s story behind their inspiration, process and creation of a certain piece of jewellery or ceramic set is a unique experience and definitely a nice change from shopping on the high street.

At Handmade Oxford you'll find everything from beautifully handcrafted jewellery (perfect for the upcoming wedding season) to ceramics, glass and silverware, furniture, woodwork and mixed media. Most of the designers do not sell their work on the high street, only in exhibitions and galleries like this one, so if you’re on the hunt for something special that will add a touch of style to yourself or your space, don’t miss out on this one.

We love a unique piece of jewellery, so we are thrilled to view the work from designers like Lucy Martin, who specialises in beautiful and colourful contemporary pieces that are sure to become your new favourite accessory. Isabelle Capitain combines traditional methods with new technology to create one-of-a-kind minimal pieces that are to die for. For the home, we look forward to seeing the incredible woodwork from craftsman just like Craig Narramore, a Hollywood prop maker. There is so much more to discover that we are overly-thrilled to see all of the designer’s work.

Handmade Oxford takes place from Friday, May 18th to Sunday, May 20th, so be sure to get your tickets now to ensure you don’t miss a thing. One day entry starts at £5.50 and three-day entry from £13.20 here or here.

Handmade in Britain: The Annual Contemporary Crafts and Design Fair

Forget trudging the high street this November looking for the best Christmas gifts. Here at The Amazing Blog we want to make gift shopping a luxurious and pleasurable experience. Handmade in Britain are hosting The Contemporary Crafts Design Fair in Chelsea Old Town Hall, where you can find 120 of the UK’s finest designer-makers.

This is an interactive shopping experience where you'll have the opportunity to speak to each designer to help understand their work and discover their influences. They'll be on hand to help you pick out the perfect gift - think of them as your own personal shopper. The event is sponsored by House of Artisans who are also hosting a late night shopping even on the 14th November, so plenty of time to pop on down after work. The event will host a variety of exquisite and luxurious products, including ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery and silverware.

Beautiful ceramics can really hold a room together, talented artists such as Elizabeth Renton, Chito Kuroda and Jill Ford will showcase their different styles. Choose from muted toned tableware, modern porcelain pieces, and contemporary vases. The likes of Samantha Sweet, Elin Isaksson and Vicky Higginson will also display their beautiful and elegant glass art/vessels.  It is surely going to be a feast for the eyes, as well as the wallet.

Winter may be upon us, but the numerous textile stalls will leave you feeling cosy in their range of knitwear from Hattie Kerrs and Katie Mawson. If you don’t feel like succumbing to winter clothing, keep the colour in your wardrobe with vibrant silks from Taisir Gibreel. There is something to appeal to everyone’s taste. We are particularly excited at the prospect of Catherine Aitken’s collection, the Scottish designer is known for her quality tweeds, the pure strength and luxury of her work. Take some time for yourself and indulge. Step out of your jewellery comfort zone and take a look at the unique pieces showcased by Sabine Konig, Victoria Walker, and Joana Cunha to name a few. The innovative, vibrant and unique pieces would make the perfect gift this Christmas, or cheeky treat for yourself. It doesn’t end there, silversmiths like Adrian Hope and Sally Cox will also showcase their stunning silverware both contemporary and traditional. Spoil yourself with some lavish new Christmas tableware. 

This is a rare and unique shopping fair that is not to be missed, so get on down to Chelsea Old Town Hall from 13th-15th November 2015. Book your tickets here or pay £10 on the door.  

Crafty Fox Easter Market

Every year as spring slowly rolls around again, I begin to let my inner creativity come out. As Easter quickly approaches, Crafty Fox Markets are hosting a special event this weekend. At The Amazing Blog we try to attend something that is going on in London every weekend, while we have free time to ourselves. Many of my friends have told me that Crafty Fox Market is unique and fabulous with something for everyone – I surely will not leave empty handed.

During March 23^rd and 24^th there will be around 100 designers set up with their handmade crafts and art work at The Dogster in Brixton. Each of these designers are hand picked to represent their crafts and go through a thorough selection process in order to gain a spot.

Each of these designers display their handmade and unique crafts for only one day, in order to allow other designers to showcase their crafts on the second day of the market. As you walk around the market you will notice a foxy theme. You cannot go wrong with this craft market as you can pick up cards, prints, jewellery and homeware.

Some designers showcased on Saturday include Yas-Ming Ceramics, Superfumi, Hope and Eden, and Lucie Ellen provide you with homeware, unique toys, ceramics, and stationary.

New designers that are showcased on Sunday include Jimbobart, Agata Duda, Kirstin Stride, and Georgia Bosson offer eclectic cushions, hand drawn jewellery, and expressive animal drawings.

This market is spread out across three floors of the Dogstar and if you are feeling inspired after shopping around, attend a screen-printing workshop for only £5 and let your inner creativity shine. Feeling a bit hungry or thirsty after a full day of shopping? Stop in Tea’s Knees pop-up shop and indulge with the best British cream teas, cake, and sandwiches.

Come out either Saturday or Sunday from 11am until 5pm to discover new and exciting artistic pieces of work at Dogster. View the different designers and stalls here to have an overview of exactly which people will be displaying what on Saturday and Sunday. Families are more than welcome to come with their children and spend the day browsing, eating, and drinking. I have no doubt in my mind that Crafty Fox Easter Market will surpass my expectations from the reviews I have received.

Sultanesque - My Turkish Delight

I always get very excited when I make a new discovery… and this month it’s the fabulous Sultanesque.  Recently whilst idly wandering around the Ideal Home Show - yes I know, not very me but was there purely to satisfy my sad addiction to gadgets - a small jewellery stand close to one of the stages caught my eye.  There’s nothing like a bit of twinkle and shimmer to draw me in to take a closer look. This is where I met the two young designers Havva and Berrin who are the founders of the newly launched Sultanesque. They are indeed the purveyors of the finest and most affordable contemporary handcrafted Ottoman jewellery. These two Turkish friends formed an alliance in 2011 in order to follow their passion for jewellery making. Thus they’ve combined their creativity and vision to produce these authentic statement pieces. Each of the items is traditionally made by special workshops in Turkey.  A favourite with The Amazing Blog are the rings that are made using bronze that is then hand plated with 22 carat gold and  have  either three or four large semi-precious stones  from just £30 (very YSL catwalk a/w 12 we think!). I bought the Aydan Three-in-One Rings which are crafted from 925 Silver, with white zirconia and semi- precious stones. These fit snuggly as either all three rings together or can be worn separately and for such well-constructed rings, they’re an absolute steal at £45. Ahem… and my purchases didn’t stop there, I couldn’t resist the real freshwater pearl Vahideh Bracelet with its intricate design great attention to detail; a stunning clasp fashioned in bronze then hand plated with 22 carat gold, with semi-precious stones all of which gave it a truly vintage feel. And with the temptation of yet another exceptional price-point from Sultanesque at an astonishing £55 for this finely crafted item – it was a done deal. All pieces are limited so don’t wait too long to purchase. Best of all you’re not going to find yourself wearing the same jewellery item as your peers (i.e. you know, like from that well-known emporium Top****).