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Summer 2010Well, summer has finally arrived! We've been enjoying lots of sunshine in the Staffordshire Moorlands and our Leek shop has plenty of wonderful items to help you to get the most from all this wonderful outdoor living. Check out the 'gardening' section of our on-line shop for more ideas. This issue has suggestions for websites you can turn to if you are looking for a reputable tradesperson for your home and ideas for great summer days out (or rainy days at home!) for all the family, as well a selection of interesting websites.If you can't see this newsletter properly (this is the case if it's not coming through in glorious Technicolor, with images) you can now view it and all the past editions on our website at www.periodfeatures.net/newsletters Suzy Dymock Summer activities for childrenThe long summer school holidays are just around the corner and thousands of parents will be wondering how to avoid the call of "We're bored!" over the school break. So we took a look at what's out there for families this summer.At www.nationaltrust.org.uk there are lots of outdoor activities for children such as bat walks, pond dipping, mini beast safaris, sheep dog and falcon shows. There are also wild craft activities too. These events take place throughout the country at many National Trust properties. Children who enjoy history, and many do as can be seen by the popularity of the Horrible History series by Terry Deary, would enjoy The English Heritage Festival of History. Featuring many stalls and lots of history re-enactment societies it lasts a whole weekend. More information at www.english-heritage.org.uk For home based activities or things to do on rainy days www.artistshelpingchildren.org is a lovely website with craft activities with well-explained instructions such as how to make an armadillo paper model. If you are looking for summer fetes, fayres, exhibitions, activities or any sort of local activity you might try www.wherecanwego.com which provides listings by date and area. Just to say...My order arrived today, in a wonderful old-fashioned looking proper parcel, and I am absolutely delighted with all the products. They were exactly as shown and of high quality. Thanks very much indeed - I'll be buying again soon.N. Watson. Folkestone, Kent Enquire WithinWhether you have a leaky tap, a broken boiler or need a spot of decorating done, finding a reliable and honest tradesperson is always a bit of headache. Often we go on recommendation but if friends and family can't recommend someone how do you start to distinguish the cowboys from the reputable companies? Some trading standards services offer a Builders' Register with lists of tradespeople such as roofters, plumbers and electricians who have been recommended and been vetted by trading standards. Search by your postcode at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk to find your local office.The Local Authority Assured Trader Scheme Network (LAATSN) accessible through the office of Fair Trading website at www.oft.gov.uk, links together some of the schemes run by 18 local authority trading standards services. These schemes ensure that businesses meet trading standard legislation and do not use high pressure selling and they must have an effective complaints process and good customer service levels. Which?, the consumer magazine and website, offers a local service where members share recommendations for trades people. The site has 70,000 trades people who have been recommended and rated by Which? members. Which? claims to moderate the process so that builders are not able to recommend themselves. The service is only available to Which? members and membership costs £1 for a one-month trial and a monthly fee of £7.75 thereafter. The approved trade scheme run by TrustMark was mentioned in the spring Home Help! newsletter. A not-for-profit government backed scheme supported by trade bodies, local trading standards and consumer groups, you can search by postcode at www.trustmark.org.uk for the type of trader that you need and results within a 50 mile radius are provided. All have been checked for skills, quality of work and financial status. TrustMark also does on-site inspections of a company's work. www.ratedpeople.com allows you to search by location and the type of job that needs attention. The results return up to three 'recommended traders'. The list is made up of traders who subscribe to the service and you can see online how other customers have rated their work. After the job you return to the site to add your own rating. A similar scheme is www.trustatrader.com This service covers not just building trades but garages and retailers. As with www.ratedpeople.com you can check out other customers' reviews of their work and even photographs of completed jobs before contacting the trader. The popular www.netmums.co.uk website also has a section under each local area where members can recommend tradespeople. However, the government backed sites are more able to provide greater assurance for the quality of the work and they often offer a complaints service for dissatisfied customers. Recommendation sites are also vulnerable to traders giving themselves a good review or asking family and friends to visit the site and provide them with a glowing report. Most of the recommendation sites do try to guard against this but it is something of which you need to be aware if relying solely on recommendation sites. Win A £25 Voucher!This month we are giving away a £25 Voucher to spend on any of our lovely products, redeemable in store or online. Just answer one simple question and after the closing date of 31st July 2010, we will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. To enter please take a look at Letterplates, which can be found in our Period Hardware section, then just answer the following question: Which letterplate is the surname of Jane Eyre's employer in Charlotte Bronte's classic novel?Email the answer to us at competition@periodfeatures.net. Good luck! The lucky winner of our April/ May competition, receiving a £25.00 voucher, was Chris Cleave of Ashford, Kent. Many thanks to all of you who entered. Wonderful WebsitesFreedom Flowers say that they like their flowers "to be free, have a happy life and then we can cut them to please us in a vase. They are free from chemicals, free to feel the sun and the rain that moves sideways in the Peak District." They sell many varieties as fresh edible flowers for delicious salads and desserts and bouquets of white iris, cornflower, gypsophila, borage and phacelia are now ready to send out. A beautifully wrapped, hand tied bouquet of seasonal flowers in your colour choice, delivered with your hand written message to any UK address by next day service, on a weekday of your choice Tuesday to Friday, costs £28.50 to order call 01335 350195 01335 350195 to place your order or complete the order form at www.freedomflowers.co.ukBased in the heart of the Peak District, Squeak Gift and Party offers something for everyone, including baking accessories and aprons for children, specially selected books and bespoke cards, ribbon and wrap. Hand made porcelain hearts, tags, and wedding favours are produced in their village studio, based in Calton on the edge of the Staffordshire and Derbyshire border, by Squeak Gift and Party designer and founder Lyn Abraham. Finishing touches such as stylish birthday candles, edible hearts and glitter are also available, as well as locally produced natural ribbons. Visit their website at www.squeakgiftandparty.co.uk Talking Tables sells everything you could ever think of to decorate your table - whether for a children's party or an elegant evening dinner party - and many things you will never have thought of too! This must be one of the widest ranges of party, table and cake accessories available on-line. You are bound to find the perfect accessory at www.talkingtables.co.uk from posh party poppers to masquerade masks and from firebags to paper candelabras (don't add a match to those!). Planning to hire a car on your summer holiday? According to specialist insurer www.icarhireinsurance.com at least 1bn is spent annually by British tourists on expensive 'excess' car insurance from car rental firms, rather than pre-buying it more cheaply online before they go. 45% of drivers take out 'excess' cover that reduces their liability to zero in the event of a crash or damage to the hired vehicle. The average price of this top-up insurance is £9.99 a day on top of the rental charge but buying ahead of your trip could mean that you will pay as little as £2.99 a day saving you as much as £49 a week. Pre-buying insurance also offers more comprehensive cover as not only will the hire car be covered against theft or damage but it will also be covered for damage to the roof, tyres, windows and undercarriage. As well as www.icarhireinsurance.com, www.insurance4carhire.com also offers a specialist excess insurance for car hire policy. As the nation begins to feel the pinch following the coalition government's emergency budget, this might be a good time to mention again www.moneysavingexpert.com This truly 'wonderful website' is still 100% owned by the financial journalist, Martin Lewis, and describes its mission as 'consumer revenge'. www.moneySavingExpert.com aims to "save you money on anything and everything by finding the best deals and beating the system. It's based on detailed journalistic research, cutting edge tools and has one of the UK's largest web communities". It's the UK's official no 1 site with over 7 million unique users each month. The site's honours include Radio 2's Most Useful Website of the Year, a Parliamentary Motion commending the site and the B&B Personal Finance Awards New Media winner. You can sign up for Martin Lewis's weekly money saving email full of deals and tips or use one of the helpful budget planners to re-organize your personal finances. Whichever aspect of your life you are seeking to save money on there will be advice and tips at www.moneysavingexpert.com One Last ThingThe Festival of Quilts, the patchwork and quilting event in Europe, takes place from 19 - 22 August 2010 from 10.00am - 5.30pm (5pm Sunday) at the NEC in Birmingham and boasts a host of gallery exhibitions from leading international artists and groups. Over 250 companies will be selling all those hard-to-find patchwork and quilting supplies and The Quilt Academy has a stunning programme of nearly 100 master classes, workshops and lectures. The Quick & Easy workshops provide another 166 sessions aimed at beginners. However, you don't have to be keen quilter yourself in order to enjoy the show - the Festival features an exhibition of over 1,000 competition quilts from all over Europe. Tickets cost from £11.00 for one day (£10.00 concessions) for an adult and are available from www.twistedthread.com.As ever, if you have any comments on this newsletter, top tips you would like to share with us or suggestions of great websites please do contact us.Email us at One Last Thing Kind regards, Suzy Dymock, Proprietor |
 This traditional post holder measures 330mm high x 510mm long and 170mm deep and has a background colour of white. The board is then painted in any Farrow & Ball colour of your choice. Please contact the shop for a free Farrow & Ball colour card and specify your colour when ordering. This piece is subject to availability and usually delivered within 2-3 weeks. All items are 'made to order' and therefore they do not attract a Returns Policy. (This does not affect your Statutory Rights). It costs £122.50.
 This attractive heritage lantern with an antique finish and hanging loop is quite substantial, measuring 19cm high and 15cm in diameter. It can be used with the heritage night lights or any tea light (candles are not included with the lantern) and it costs £20.00.  These miniature herb snip shears for harvesting home grown herbs measure 16cm in overall length and cost just £8.00. They would make a thoughtful gift for the keen herb grower or cook. Fruit and flower snips are also available priced at £10.00  These lovely crystal cupboard knobs will enhance any kitchen, bedroom or bathroom cupboards or indeed anything you choose to put them on! The knobs measure 30 mm diameter, backplate measures 23mm diameter and they fix from the back with a threaded bolt. They are priced individually at £18.00. They are also available with a polished chrome or polished gold finish to the base and with a larger 40mm or 50mm diameter crystal ball knob at £21.00 and £26.00 respectively.
 These hand spun jute rugs have a raised knotted pattern and are imported from India on a fair trade basis. Although practical and hard-wearing, they are nonetheless relatively soft under your feet! The medium size measures 70cm x 245cm and costs £36.00. Simply vacuum or shake, to keep them looking at their best. A larger size of 70cm x 305cm is also available and costs £48.00  This simple, metal, garden arrow sign for pointing people towards your flower beds and hanging baskets is double sided and measures 46cm x 16.5cm and costs just £12.00. Perfect for directing guests to your summer garden parties and BBQs! | ||||||||||||||||||
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