The deep freeze

Snow, Snow, Snow

Well, it's nearly April and I have never felt so cold! If this continues for much longer I am just going to wholeheartedly embrace it and get myseld an outfit something like this:

Do you think the hat would be a little OTT?

I have been trying to plan my daughter's 3rd birthday party. We have booked the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Farm, but I am seriously doubting that the snow will have melted by then. They do have an indoor covered play area, and maybe if the children are so excited and giddy from  ice cream and party food they will run around and play and not feel the cold?

So anyway, positive hat on, I'm sure it will be fine. (That's the spirit!) So, I had better start thinking about the details. As it is an ice cream farm, well, the theme had better be ice cream! I have been having a little search around the internet and found these cute cake pops by Peggy Porschen in her new Boutique Baking Book image via sweet craftiness

and another version:

 daisypinkcupcake.blogspot.co.uk

Balloons, 

these look very easy to do, just brown paper and helium ballons. I think I would use the ballon sticks though as I get huge guilt about using helium during the current shortage. (It's essential for all sorts of medical equipment! Who knew?!)

And for the actual cake, how about this by and everything sweet

or my favourite from one charming party

I have easter Monday to make it all the treats if I am going to, so we shall see if I can get it done in time!

Posh Sellotape!

We are so thrilled with our new branded parcel tape! #easilypleased yes it's true but it's the little things that make all the difference.

Hopefully when our parcels land on the doormat the recipient is as excited opening it as we are packing it!!

this mummy loves: mumprenuer feature

Today we have been the featured business in the mumprenuer series, over on This Mummy Loves. Below is the interview, and you can also enter the competition to win sandwich the cat!

23January 2013

New Business Mum – Christine Asher & Fab Giveaway Too!

posted by SONIA LEAVE A COMMENT

The very lovely Christine owner of Herbert & Stella is my new business Mum on the blog today, she not only comes offering a fantastic discount of 15% code for her fantastic website – please use thismummyloves at the checkout (ends Valentines Day 2013); she is also offering a gorgeous prize which you can find out about at the end of the post!

Thank you so much for your time Christine, I wish you every success in your new venture! Your shop looks absolutely gorgeous and I wish I was close enough to visit you… one day maybe 

Who are you?
 I am Christine Asher, former Doctor of Chinese Medicine, wife to Tom, mother to Romilly. Dizzy blond, recovering crisp addict and magpie for all things fabulous.

What do you do?
I have a small shop in Ilkley, and also online, selling a carefully selected range of clothing, toys, gifts and décor / furniture for babies and children aged from birth to five.

When did you establish your business?
We opened the shop, and the webshop on the 20^th July 2012

What made you start your own business?
I had been very ill with PND and social phobia following the birth of our daughter. As I got better, I realised I wanted to work again but did not want the responsibility and stress of my previous career, using Chinese Medicine to assist fertility treatments. My husband had bought me a sewing machine, and I learnt to sew and make vintage inspired children’s clothes.  I thought about just selling the items I made, but I didn’t think I would ever make much money, or leave my spare bedroom! I spotted a gap in the market in our local town for quality, children’s clothes and toys that you don’t find easily on the high street, and that were priced at a similar point to Boden or Monsoon.

What do you love about working for yourself?
It doesn’t feel like work, in all honesty. Every day brings new challenges and the opportunity to meet new people. I am so glad we have a shop as I have the opportunity to build relationships with many different people in the community; I was worried I may have felt isolated if my business was online only. I thought very hard before I committed myself to the business if it was something that would hold my interest long term, but there is always something fresh to work on and get excited about as the collections change seasonally, and I have lots of opportunity to be creative within the shop – window displays, packaging, visual merchandising etc

Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
My husband helped me to realise that I do not need to try and be wonder woman. There are several hugely important skills that I simply do not have, but it is absolutely fine to delegate! I am so lucky to have the most wonderful member of staff who has worked with us from the beginning, and happily, she excels where I fail miserably! I have always worked for myself so the uncertainty of income when working for yourself is normal for me.

Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could? 
I knew setting up the shop would be a lot of work, but I had no idea it would be as much work as it was. On the whole I am very pleased with the decisions I have made, and the look and feel of the shop, however we have had a few problems along the way. One supplier went bust, owing us money, and our promotional material to launch the shop was truly appalling and not what we had asked for, but we had to use it as we had no time left! Oh, I forgot – our dog had a litter of puppies in September that was hard!!!I would definitely change that bit, although they were incredibly cute. It was the most emotionally and physically exhausting night ever, being the dogs birth partner!!!

What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business? 
It is very important to try and think rationally, not emotionally about the business. You may think it is the most wonderful idea, and be so passionate about it, (which is great) but it must stack up financially. We worked out the daily and weekly break-even figures, in the business plan, and then thought hard about whether we felt that realistically, it was manageable. I also thought hard about the initial sacrifices I was prepared to make, and ultimately, what my ideal working week would look like, so I know what I am aiming for.

Christine is offering this gorgeous Sandwich the cat soft toy from Bla Bla Kids worth £29.00 to one of my lucky readers…

All you need to do is enter via the rafflecopter below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

mini rodini SS13 bon voyage

Bon Voyage! mini rodini SS13

We are so excited to showcase a sneak peak of the SS13 collection by mini rodini. 

available soon from www.herbertandstella.co.uk

mini rodini was founded in Sweden by one of the country's most popular illustrators, Cassandra Rodin. Hailing from a family of artists, actors and filmakers; she takes her inspiration from her own childhood, her two sons, and the historical legacy of her great grandfather and his legendary connections with Romani gypsys and the circus in which he was star.

Begining with robot prints in 2006, the collections grow and develop with each season; playful and humorous, they are a tribute to all children, imagination, and the sense that everything is possible. Sustainability is a primary focus throughout the design process, and such the modern children's brand appeals to conscientious parents. 

The Christmas Fairy

Its fast approaching the big day, and we are starting to get pretty excited at Herbert and Stella. The shop is all trimmed up with hundreds of twinkling lights outside, and garlands, baubles and feathers inside.

At home I haven't yet started - it usually takes 3 - 4 days to get it all done, we like Christmas! However, for the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no giant inflateables, humongous Santas on the roof, and no 'lights - lookers' drive to our place to gawp! No, in fact you would struggle to find any tinsel, or horreur - lametta. However I am not ruling it out as it could be fab in an ironic kind of way one year, or on a 'kids tree' that can be as kitsh as can be!

When I had my daughter, I started to think of the traditions we did as a family at Christmas, and the kind of traditions that I wanted to start, for my little family. One of my favourites has to be 'The Christmas Fairy'
Every year, on Christmas Eve, just before bath time, the door bell mysteriously rings - everyone rushes to look who is there but there is only a big box with a huge ribbon on top. The Christmas Fairy usually delivers a new pair of pyjamas for everyone, a Christmas story, a movie and a few little treats. Very exciting, and everyone has super new PJ's for the photos on Christmas morning :)

Here are my favourite PJ's for the family this year

Christmas Babygrow - frugi
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/babygrow-christmas-print.html

Maximilian Moose Romper - Olive & Moss
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/maximilian-the-moose-playsuit.html

Mushroom Forest Nightie - Helen Gordon
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/nightie-mushroom-forest.html

Birdhouse PJ's - Old Rectory
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/pyjamas-birdhouse.html

Patchwork Monster PJ's - Frugi
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/patchwork-monster-pyjamas.html

T Rex PJ's Ava & Luc
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/pyjamas-t-rex.html

Horses PJ's Ava & Luc
http://herbertandstella.co.uk/pjyamas-horses.html

And for me, these..

 Or maybe these, both from Fatface.

 

And for Tom, maybe a onesie, just to see his face! Onesie from Jack Wills

Monster Mash

Are you feeling spooky? We certainly are here! Boo! Ahem.... Anyway, as its that time of year we have decided to embrace everything ghostly and spellbinding and get into the 'spirit' of Hallowe'en.

One of our suppliers, the fabulous Frugi is running a Hallowe'en window dressing competition. They have had some amazing entries, so we aren't expecting a win, but we thought it would be fun to enter anyway. So, here is our attempt!

We are now stockists of Oskar & Ellen toys. You can see the crocodile dressing up set in the photo above, and in our competition window version #2 the 'ghost ship' Jolly Roger Pirate Galleon is floating around. (We sold the Mini Grand Piano, so had to adapt the display). The Fairytale castle is also in shot, with the witch on one of the castle turrets!

Other spooky items in stock include:

Frugi Spider Detail Rugby Top

mini rodini kitten dress

monster top - frugi

To every season turn, turn...

The sky is clear and blue, the sun blindingly low and there is a definite chill in the air - Autumn is certainly here! With that in mind I thought I would do a round up of our favourite items to keep your children cosy.

Frugi Cord Dress with Elephant Applique

boys reversible padded pram suit

mini rodini biker onesie

parka by mini rodini

Frugi Snuggle Fleeces

Belle & Boo. First Meet Day Dress