Ryan Stanier, Director of The Other Art Fair handpickeds his favourite gifts from The Handpicked Collection. Our Mr Messy Mug (£5.95), Sandstorm Odyssey Weekend Bag (£124.95), Green Alpaca Socks (£34.95) and the Family Croquet Set (£25.95).

Ryan’s experience running successful fairs spans across fashion, wine and art. Working on London Fashion Week, The Wine Show and the British International Motor Show he left to set up a pop-up art gallery enabling young artists the opportunity to showcase their work in the Covent Garden Gallery. Following  it’s success he set his sights higher by founding The Other Art Fair, London’s first fully curated artist led-fair giving some of the UK’s most exciting young, artists a platform to showcase their work to a wider audience.

We’re very pleased to offer our customers a special offer on tickets to London’s newest and most exciting art fair. The Other Art Fair will showcase 100 of the best and brightest of young, emerging and unrepresented artists and you can get two tickets for the price of one as a Handpicked customer.  We’ve also got 10 invitations to the exclusive private view on the 24^th which we will hand out on a first come, first served basis…if you’re keen email heather@handpickedcollection.com asap!

Visit www.theotherartfair.com and type HANDPICKED.

Apiarism

One of those lovely words that doesn’t sound like what it means, (the raising of bees). Like ornithology.

Until the 27^th of March, The Robin Collective is holding a beehive event in Leather Lane Market, Ec1, London and we’re really excited about going.

There’s going to be food, cafes, workshops, flowers, bees, talks and we definitely expect to see a couple of those slightly disconcerting apiarist suits walking around.

Taste Britain’s best honey and see what types of food can combined with honey at the café. London is in line for the sunshine this weekend, this sounds like a wonderful family event or somewhere to pop along to read a book and people-watch. Then on the 27th there will be a craft market where Etsy and other sales organisations will combine to what we’re sure will be a beautiful collective.

Look! We’ve handpicked some lovely bee hankies. A lovely gift idea.

The exhibition is free at Paul’s Walk, Blackfriars, City of London, EC4 and runs until the last day of this month. Viewing times are from 4 – 11pm.

The company was established in 1851 as a single pharmacy store in New York. They became recognised as a reliable purveyor of good quality hair, skin and body care products. You may have noticed their revamp around 2000 when l’Oreal bought them. Thanks Wikipedia.

We first caught a glimpse of his (strangely long fingered) profile at Latitude festival in the summer where he won Best Newcomer. Dazzled and enthralled by his performance, we revisited Eric some months later to find he has a jazzy website and some entertaining videos.

Here’s one a nice one about the weather which we do enjoy. There are some more here.

We can think of no place better than www.ericlampaert.com to while away hours of flu. His biography comes highly recommended from us too.

Eric is performing all over the shop in the next few months. Check here for live dates.

From the 1^st until the 24^th of December, available for private hire, is a pop-up Swedish Ski Lodge complete with Swedish hostesses, schnapps, Scandi food and an all important giant gingerbread house. They’ll throw in a smattering of reindeer for good measure too. We think it sounds like really good fun! And also like their use of the blue deer, looks a little familiar.

For more information email nadia@etmgroup.co.uk.

http://www.downthewell.co.uk/

We like the idea of such a long standing brand like Hermès having a contrastingly temporary shop. Head over to Spitalfields from the 17^th to the 25^th November to view beautifully made designer leatherwear. Or maybe a nice neckerchief.

They will be showcasing their new collection J’aime Mon Carré and the shop coincides with the launch of their new website.

The website is based around Hermès’ recent collaboration with photographer Mark Irwin who, to show the diversity of the classic Hermès scarf, took four models to four different capital cities.

After its first stint at Spitalfields, the shop will move to the Rochelle School of Art in Shoreditch, followed by another store opening at 79-81 Ledbury Road in Notting Hill.

We’ll be heading to our local Battersea Park for an evening of pyrotechnic activity. At 6pm the gates open as well as the bar and food stalls all around the park. The bonfire will be lit at 7.30 and the fireworks (arranged by internationally renowned company Pain Fireworks) lift off at 8.

Also around town are:

Clapham Common (display 7.30pm: food, funfair, admission free)

Crystal Palace ( display 8pm: food, drink, funfair, no alcohol policy, admission £5)

Bishops Park, Fulham (display 8pm: food, funfair, admission £6, £4 in advance)

Kingston (display 8pm: funfair, admission £6, £4 in advance)

Southwark Park (display 7pm, food, drink, admission free)

Totteridge (display 7.30pm: bonfire, food, bar, admission £7)

Walthamstow (display 8pm: food, funfair, admission £4)

Westway (display 7pm: bonfire, fire jugglers, admission free)

Wimbledon Park (display 8.30pm: bonfire, refreshments, funfair, admission £7)

SATURDAY 6th NOVEMBER

Barking Park (display 8pm: concert stage, no alcohol policy, admission £5)

Battersea Park (display 8pm: bonfire, food, bar, admission £6)

Beckenham (display 8pm: funfair, no alcohol policy, admission £5)

Blackheath Common (display 8pm: food, drink, admission free – donations requested)

Barnes (display 7.55pm: bonfire, jazz, food, bar, admission £10)

Carshalton (display 7pm: bonfire, admission £4)

Chislehurst (display 7.30pm: bonfire, funfair, food, drink, admission £6, £5 in advance)

Danson Park, Welling (display 8pm: food, drink, admission £6)

Ealing (display 7.30pm: bonfire, food, bar, BBQ, admission £5)

Enfield (display 7.30pm: funfair, refreshments, admission £6, £5 in advance)

Epsom (display 7.30pm: bonfire, funfair, admission £7)

Leeds Castle (display 5.30pm: food, drink & entertainment from 2pm, advance tickets only £17)

Morden Park (display 8.30pm: bonfire, funfair, refreshments, admission £7)

Norman Park, Bromley (display 8pm: bonfire, funfair, food, drink, admission £5)

Ravenscourt Park (display 8pm: bonfire, funfair, food, admission £6, £4 in advance)

Roundwood Park, Willesden (display 8pm: funfair, food, admission free)

Southgate (display 8pm: funfair, food, bar, admission £6, £5 in advance)

SUNDAY 7th NOVEMBER

Richmond Park (display 7pm: bonfire, hog roast, mulled wine, funfair, admission £10, £8 in advance)

Victoria Park (display 7.30pm, admission free)

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park over Christmas, for me at least, has become an iconic and exciting sight. The lights of the ferris wheel can be seen clearly from far away, the largest ice rink in the city is situated here, there are circus shows, craft markets and roller coasters.

For the first time Hyde Park is extending an earlybird viewing of the fair on 18^th November. You can buy tickets here. This preview event is in aid of all the participating charities.

Not that I live in a hotel lobby, but I do love this two faced clock. It reminds me of ones in big railway stations.

Trunks. I have a bit of an obsession and these are lovely.

I thought this lamp was really sweet. I like the colour of the feet too.

All images are from www.elemental.uk.com.