Fancy grabbing yourself a bargain? Or is your home in need of a spring update?

We have launched a fantastic 50% sale including the ranges of V&A, Thomas Joseph and our own designs and a full range of textiles & bags.

The Ulster Weavers sale is on now so don’t delay nabbing our selected items from our kitchen textile and homeware ranges.

We have everything from cotton aprons and Linen Tea Towels to double oven gloves and Canvas Bags; so snatch up a bargain while stocks last.

Whether you want to implement some spring colour trend into your kitchen or grab a cute gift idea for your auntie’s birthday and don’t forget about Mother’s Day coming soon, we have everything you need with prices as low as £3.25; whopping discount or what!!

The Big Wash Laundry Bag

Abracadabra Child's PVC Apron £4.50

Time To Put Ewer Feet Up Muff Tea Cosy £6.00

Red Stripe Cotton Tea Towel (Pack of 2) £4.50

Spring is a beautiful time of the year, with good weather and a new flower season what better way to bring the freshness indoors with new home-ware such as trays, coasters and placemats.

Theme the outside surroundings and nature in your kitchen with spring coloured appliances and really embrace the earthy, vibrant feel into your cooking.

The season is all about bright greens, light yellows and pastel shades so incorporate this into your colour scheme with fashion textiles and fun fabrics.

It will give your home some personality and create that homely feel without having to completely re-decorate, as well as stay up-to-date and on trend.

Retro

Flashback in time and return to the 1950s with retro bright turquoises and soft grey colours for Teatowels.

Lola Cotton Tea Towel

Amethyst

The colour trend amethyst is set to carry on from Autumn/Winter but with softer more earthy tones of amethyst, biloba and lavender, with teal and flax yellow; in comparison to the glitzy eggplant-fuchsia and plums.

Would look great paired with black and silver, your home-ware would dazzle. Purples can really create a very colourful scene and connote a cool warm feeling, especially by wearing it Aprons.

Aubergine Plain Dyed Cotton Apron

Orange

Work the sexy striking features, tarnish brass and royal golds and your home will certainly look and feel like a palace to eat in.

RHS Oranges Linen Tea Towel

Nude

A fantastic colour palette for your kitchen including beige and anaemic skin tones, it glows with soft peaches and blushing cheeks. Your home will feel warm, snug and cosy and ideal to spend time in as a family cooking. Natural tones and materials create a laid back feel.

Stone Plain Dyed Cotton Apron

New research has found that the top breakfast choice for 36-55 year olds is tea and toast.

For those making time for the most important meal of the day, a bowl of cereal was the number one decision with one in four eating it, whereas for the older generation traditional tea and toast ranked the best.

23% of younger people munch on tea and toast in the morning and a lesser 11% eat porridge.

Completing the top four breakfast choices was a bacon or sausage sandwich with 11%.

The online survey, which supported Farmhouse Breakfast Week in January, found that many people blame their breakfast being burnt as an excuse for turning up late to work.

The findings revealed that four in ten surveyed had overslept and missed breakfast at some point during the working week, with one in seven missing three or more breakfasts.

Karen Levy, from campaign organisers HGCA, which is the cereals and oilseeds division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, said: “Whilst we all like that extra bit of time in bed in the morning, oversleeping can have consequences, like missing breakfast as these results indicate.

“Research shows that breakfast can offer many benefits like aiding concentration and mental performance, setting us up for the working day. This is why we are inviting everyone, as part of Farmhouse Breakfast Week, to shake up their morning routine to ensure they make time for breakfast, as well as arrive at work on time with hopefully no need for excuses!”

Are you one of the many of us who gulp down tea and toast in the morning? If you are, then why not check out these fantastic Tea Cosies; they are super cute and will certainly kick start your day in a bright mood.

Cottage Shaped Tea Cosy

Spotty Pig Shaped Tea Cosy

The weather isn’t the best at this time of year; it is still frightfully cold, windy, there is the regular shower of rain and many high places across the UK may still be experiencing snowfall.

Spring seems all the distance away when looking outside at the dismal clouds and miserable sky. It might not quite be the time to take out and dust off your garden BBQ but you can still keep warm at this time of year with hearty stews and comfort food.

Beat the cold and enjoy simmering soups, filling casseroles and finish off with piping hot puddings.

So grab on your Aprons and get things heated up in the kitchen!

Lamb, red wine and rosemary casserole with herby potato stacks and braised red cabbage

What a perfect dish to warm up your belly and at the same time is healthy!

It only takes half an hour to prepare and you can always put it in a slow cooker before you go to work in the morning. That way it will be ready as soon as you come home for tea and the lamb will be lovely, soft and chewy.

Recipe

Bubble and Squeak Soup

This vegetarian meal is ideal as a starter for any three-course food menu or as a scrumptious lunch option to mull over as you’re sat in your freezing cold office at work.

You can even throw in any leftovers you’ve still got from Christmas such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts or turkey (for non-vegetarians.)

Recipe

Steamed Syrup Sponge Pudding

This classically simple but satisfying pudding is bound to pull at your heart strings during these cold wintry nights.

Why not team it with custard and golden syrup as a little treat?

It is really easy to make and you can feed the whole family with one batch straight out of the oven.

Recipe

While things are getting heated in the kitchen, make sure your ensemble is just as warm and hearty with one of these Ulster Weavers PVC Aprons.

Sorrento PVC Apron

Chambray Red Cotton Apron

Ulster Weavers have launched some fantastic new products in aid of the Royal Wedding!

Here at the home textile office we are super excited about the wedding on April 29^th 2011 between Prince William and future princess Kate Middleton.

Despite the fact that the day has been declared a bank holiday so we get a day off, the great news also brings delight in the fact that we have designed these amazing Kitchen tea towels as part of the royal wedding memorabilia.

Both Cotton Tea Towel designs are extremely different so you are bound to find one that suits your taste. We’re thinking you may not necessarily use it to dry your Sunday tea dinner plates but rather store it as a keepsake; and who knows, in a decade you might even make a few bob from selling it!

Either way, the Cotton Tea Towels are a perfect way to celebrate the Royal wedding in true British style and they would make lovely pass-me-down gifts to your great grandchildren in years from now.

Even though we haven’t had a personal invite to the big day, we might even have to go buy a new hat. (Any excuse to go shopping ladies!)

William and Kate Cotton Tea Towel

The Royal Wedding Cotton Tea Towel

Let’s face it, we all love to flick through the magazines and look at our favourite celebrities and imitate their fabulous dress sense, well at least try on a high street budget.

Many stars have huge fan bases that idolise them and many teen celebs have young followers who copy their every move. The actors and singers are role models for these kids and so their behaviour is vital to ensure that the young girls and boys are not led down a negative path trying to be as famous as them.

But what if the average person next door wanted to copy their much-loved celebrity in the past-time of knitting?

It seems the ultimate fashion craze for 2011 is interweaving your own yarn and cloth, as shown by the infamous stars who have admitted to the media that they like to knit.

Style-icon and trend-setting model Georgia May Jagger has confessed that in her spare time she loves to knit.

The 19 year-old seems miles different from her rock star father Mick and model mum Jerry Hall in that she enjoys living the low-key life in New York by knitting in her downtime with her 26 year-old sister; admitting that she feels like an old woman.

And everybody’s favourite Friend’s actress Jennifer Aniston, 41, has revealed that she too loves the hobby; taking up knitting and creating hats and scarfs.

The celeb, which has recently starred alongside Adam Sandler in “Just Go With It”, was given some knitting equipment recently as a gift and is now making the most of her new interest to make new items for her wardrobe, such as a poncho.

She said: “I’ve been knitting a lot lately. My make-up artist gave me a basket of needles and yarn as a present and I just said, ‘Alright, I can do this. I did it in school.’ Now, I’m loving it.”

So who knows who else will jump on the fashion-knitting bad wagon next? Can you imagine Simon Cowell knitting a pair of gloves in his million pound mansion?

Or you can purchase one of our fantastic knitted Tea Cosies instead; it’s a lot quicker and probably better quality (no offence!)

Thomas Joseph

Thomas Joseph

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

Show your partner how special they are and treat them like royalty by cooking them some posh nosh in a splashed up meal tonight.

You don’t have to have the culinary skills of Gordon Ramsay or Jamie Oliver to wine and dine your loved-one; simply follow these easy to make recipes and enjoy spending quality time with each other over a romantic candlelit dinner.

Did you know that certain foods act as a natural aphrodisiac? Foods for love that will stir up your emotions include asparagus, bananas, chocolate, chilli peppers, raw oysters, strawberries, ginger and nutmeg.

So serve up your sensual dishes with a Valentine’s Day special Teatowel and have a lovely evening.

Remember, the way to a man’s heart is through his belly….

Sexy Shrimp Scampi

For those of you who aren’t fans of eating meat, why not kick-off your meal off with shrimp scampi for starters?

It is simple but easy to make and can be ready to be served up in as little as 45 minutes.

Season with butter, garlic and salt; and why not pair with a nice glass of chardonnay wine to drink.

Recipe

Heart-shaped Pizza

How cute is this! Why not bake a pizza in the shape of a heart?

You can put whatever toppings on you want, with layers of cheese and tomato.

OK it might be a little bit tricky to cut into shape but it will be totally worth it when your partner sees how much effort you have gone to.

Recipe

Lemon And Thyme Lamb Chop Lovers

Why not make this juicy lamb chop for your special meal. Instead of lemon and thyme you can use mint and honey, whatever will tantalise your taste buds.

You could serve with the natural aphrodisiac asparagus for vegetables and depending on how you like your meat cooked it shouldn’t take more than an hour to make.

Recipe

Strawberry Tiramisu For Two

This Italian pick me up is a perfect choice for a desert to wind down the romantic meal, or start to sizzle up the evening’s festivities.

The strawberries decorate the desert wonderfully and get the taste buds tantalising, delicious!

Team with cream and sugar for a sweet appetiser.

Recipe

Serve up these romantic meals and have a fantastic Valentine’s Day with an Ulster Weavers Tea Towel. Or, if you are making breakfast in bed as opposed to an evening meal; you can still get in the spirit of things with themed Cosies.

Domestic Goddess Linen Tea Towel

Chambray Red Cotton Tea Towel

Domestic Goddess Heart Shaped Pot Mitt

It is almost Valentine’s Day, the 14^th of February, so tell your loved-one how much you care and send them a home-made card.

Ultimately, it is about celebrating the love and affection between intimate companions and what better way to do that than making your special partner a card.

Putting that extra little bit of effort in will show that you have really thought about your gift idea, brighten up their day and reveal that you are romantic and sentimental.

Write a special message explaining your feelings or if you are not that articulate, repeat a corny poem instead.

Words are very powerful concepts and it doesn’t have to be a long-winded essay to get across how you think; it’s the thought that counts. Just speak from the heart and reveal the passionate lover that is deep inside you!

Doing homemade projects like arts and crafts is a fantastic way to keep present giving on a low budget.

You can use coloured pens to draw a heart, or glitter, stickers and gems to really make the card sparkle; really go to town with drawing whatever you want, be as imaginative as possible!

Ulster weavers have found some really fun card ideas for you to replicate, so get your Aprons on and get creative!

I Love You

A very simply but effective card that is easy to make!

Just use glitter glue and a blank card and design till your heart’s content.

You could template the heart shape but why not just freehand it, the less perfect it looks the more personal it feels.

Make sure you wait until it dries fully before putting it in the envelope.

Tissue Paper Hearts

This is a really cute card design that doesn’t require too much time to make and is perfect for arts and crafts beginners.

It is perfect for kids to make for their mums or grandparents as it involves glue and mess.

Layer up the hearts in different shades of pink and don’t worry about being too neat!

Fabric Heart Card

Instead of drawing your Valentine’s Day card why not use different fabrics and materials?

You can trace, cut and stick pictures and images on to the card and show your loved-one how much you love them.

Alternatively, you could use a card with a heart shaped aperture and stick a square of your fabric to the back of the aperture.

Why not wear one of our fantastic fun PVC Aprons to really get yourself in the mood for Valentine’s Day?

Chambray Red Cotton Apron

Domestic Goddess PVC Apron

It is almost 14^th February which can only mean one thing; Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is one of the special days of the year purely celebrated to showing your loved-one how you truly feel about them and that you care.

It is an annual commemoration held every year, rejoicing the love and affection between intimate companions and partners.

The day was named after an early Christian martyr called Valentine and it was established as early as 500 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 but still exists today, as a day for lovers to express their feelings for each other.

Whether you are male or female, show your other half how romantic you are by wining and dining them, treating them special and giving them a gift.

Popular present ideas are the usual bunch of flowers but why not make that extra little bit of effort and make your own gift?

Homemade offerings are a fantastic gesture as they require time and energy so it shows that you have really thought about the gift and that you care.

So grab one of our PVC Aprons and get creative, imaginative and romantic!

Hearts Frame

This frame is super cute and you don’t have to be a pro to make it. It only takes an hour altogether and you can mix the design up with whatever you want.

Why not do one big heart instead or put a picture of you and your loved-one in the middle?

Instructions

Heart Box

This box does require a lot more attention and is aimed more at the intermediate level.

It takes slightly longer, taking about an hour and a half but the end result will pay off; just look how beautiful it is!

Use dried flowers and odd bits of jewellery to personalise the piece and add little pebbles that you can colour in red to create that overall impressive gift.

Instructions

Decorated Candles

This gift is a perfect choice as it is sentimental and decorative for your home. You can colour coordinate the candles with the décor theme of the house and when you light them, they will smell gorgeous and give the room a real romantic aura and ambience.

Use anything from gems, glitter or diamantes to make them sparkle.

Why not place in the middle of the dining table whilst you cook a meal?

Instructions

Why not wear one of these fantastic Ulster Weavers aprons?

Domestic Goddess Shaped Cotton Apron

Sorrento PVC Apron

Spring has arrived which means we can start to ditch the over coats and trenches and dig out our over-knits and flares!

Updating your spring wardrobe doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg; you can keep bang up to date on the latest fashion trends and looks by simply accessorising with Canvas Bags.

So think 70’s bohemian chick, girly floral pastels and fashionably knitted cardigans; let’s make a stylish statement this season.

The Flare

Take style notes from the 70’s and go back 40 years in time in a pair of this season’s essential flare jeans.

Wear yours with cream hues and chunky heels for maximum impact and simply accessorise with an oversized bag to finish the look off.

This look will suit all body types and is perfect for those chilly spring evenings.

Bohemia

This look is similar to the above; however it embraces the softer side of the seventies in floaty chiffons, light wash denim and pretty prints.

This really is for the girly girl but others can pull the trend off too by wearing chunky boots or blunt extras to give it that little bit of an edge.

Spring Knits

If you think knitting is for your granny alone then think again because the hottest trend this season is the knit-wear!

Pair it in neutral tones with tan accessories for an easy yet stylish spring look.

Just think oversized jumpers and dresses; perfect for pro-Christmas eating!

True Romance

Mix lace, chiffon and silk with light wash denim for pretty and sweet spring style.

This is ideal for those who may not necessarily like wearing floral prints as you can team it with silks and lace to really create a well-together look that is perfect for both casual and dressing up.

So why not accessorise your key looks with Ulster Weavers Canvas Shopping Bags?

Buying them to take shopping with you is the easiest way of being environmentally friendly and our wide variety of designs will leave you spoilt for choice and remember… a girl can never have enough bags!

RHS Hooker's Orchard Shoulder PVC Bag

Kaleidoscope Small Canvas Bag