The National Storytelling Week is an annual event that takes place in the UK by the Society for Storytelling.

The celebration kicks off on Saturday 28^th January-4^th February and it will be the 12^th year that the organisation has aimed to encourage Britain’s in all areas of the community to take part in creating and enjoying storytelling.

Storytelling is the most ancient of communicative arts and last year around 17,000 got involved. According to the website: “The push is on to make 2012 an even greater achievement to give out to all cultures, tales long untold, tales told and forgotten, ancient and modern tales, and stories as yet unbegotten.”

Reading a story to someone be it your child, or a patient in a hospital, can really empower the listener and feed the imagination from one generation to the next. And what goes well with a good book? A nice pot of hot tea!

Everyone loves a good story whether it is a bedtime, fairy tale, or scary story; so sit back this week, enjoy a lovely cup of tea in one of Ulster weavers china mugs and get lost in the world of literacy.

Why not get involved in the event and gather all the family around on the sofa in the evening this January and read stories to each other from your favourite book? Or incite the imagination by making up your own tale!

Nothing sounds better than pouring a pot of tea, using some of our gorgeous tea and kitchen cosies to keep it warm and embarking on a narrative adventure with the clan. 

And after you have racked your brain with jumbling letters and words, gobble down some scrumptious cake to replenish your energy levels. Simply store it overnight in one of our cute cake tins that are perfect for storing cakes, buns and biscuits.

Lounge Cats Tea Cosy

Sorrento Bone China Mug

Rooster Set of 3 Cake Tins

Today marks the official six month countdown until the Olympics!

The 2012 Games is kicking off from 27^th July- 12^th August and the Paralympic Games will start from 29^th August until 9^th September.

So there is no better time than now to get prepared and involved.

But what has been going on as of late to get ready for the summer event?

Well London 2012 has announced plans for schoolchildren across the UK to take part in sporting and cultural activities for World Sport Day on 25th June; and the first major exhibition of David Hockney’s works has been launched as part of a countdown event for the London 2012 Festival.

With only half a year to go, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has outlined the next stages in preparing for the biggest sporting event of the year.

The main structures on the Olympic Park have been completed by the Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) and now London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has started to transform it into a fully-operational venue. It has been fitting out venues and stage testing and licensing events, and constructing 100,000 square feet of Games-time retail space.

Further work includes installing the ‘look and feel’ of the Games throughout the Park and sourcing a million pieces of sport equipment.

As part of the milestone celebrations, get involved with Ulster Weavers London 2012 homeware range.

We have a vast array of products which are perfect for the home, as commemorative memorabilia, and as gifts for the whole family. And there is a plethora of collections to choose from with matching co-ordinates so there is bound to be something to suit your taste.

From tea towels and bags, to oven gloves and tea cosies, there is a whole host of Olympics themed items to purchase to definitely get you in the sporting and patriotic mood!

The London 2012 Games is a significant event for all Brits to remember that will go down in the UK’s history. Being a part of the occasion is vital for kids of this generation to understand which is why we have a range of children’s aprons, bags and chef hats all themed with the official Mascots.

Union Jack Flag Pink Cotton Apron

Pictogram Blue Canvas Shoulder Bag

Tourist Icons Pot Mitt

A teacher from Cheshire has set herself the sweet challenge of baking a Victoria sponge cake every single day for a whole year.

Cath Webb plans to put her culinary skills to the test by cooking up a storm over the 12 months and giving each cake away to someone needy- simply to put a smile on their face.

The 46-year-old was reportedly inspired to start the baking adventure after she made a cake for a friend who had been diagnosed with cancer, and saw the overwhelming reaction.

Ever since, she has put the power of doing good deeds to force and made an array of Victoria cakes with a variety of jam fillings for a plethora of local people including her own family, hospital staff and the homeless.

Despite the time-consuming challenge of washing up, cooking and cooling, the mother-of-three has recorded a diary of every single entry. But the domestic goddess admits that her husband was sceptical at first, and was moaning how much it would cost in ingredients.

She is due to complete the challenge on her birthday on 6^th April in which she would have baked 366 cakes. 

And the total amount of recipes used included;

- 1098 eggs

- 160lb of flour

- 292 packs of butter

- 160lb of sugar

- 183 pots of jam

- 74 bottles of vanilla essence

- 12 pints of milk

- Two packets of icing/ vanilla bean sugar

Let’s hope the woman protected her clothing from all that baking with Ulster weavers.com delightful ranges of aprons!

We have a cute homeware range called Victoria which is one of Ulster Weavers designs and it would be perfect to cook Victoria sponge cakes in. The collection includes matching co-ordinates of oven glove, apron, pot mitt, gauntlet, cake tins, tea and kitchen cosies and more.

And after all that hard work, we think Mrs Webb definitely deserves her hubby to put the kettle on and give her a nice cup of tea in one of our gorgeous Ulster weavers china mugs!

This week is Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2012, an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of the importance of starting the day with a healthy balanced breakfast.

Run by HGCA, the cereals and oilseeds division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), this is the 13^th year that the event has been run.

Everyone from food producers to retailers and shoppers are being encouraged to get involved with the campaign and eat a healthy brekky!

There is a vast array of products available in the UK for Brits to eat at breakfast time that are full of nourishment and are good for you. Skipping meals may seem like the logical thing to do if you want to lose weight but all you are doing is missing out on valuable vitamins and minerals.

We all know that by eating a meal before we leave for work or school can give us the energy we need to face the day ahead but according to the NHS, there is some evidence to suggest that eating breakfast can help people control their weight. 

The top five healthy breakfasts according to professionals in the industry include;

- Porridge with semi-skimmed milk and dried fruits

- Muesli, fresh fruit and low-fat yoghurt

- Wholegrain breakfast cereal with semi-skimmed milk

- Boiled egg with wholemeal toast and low-fat spread

- Grilled mushrooms and tomatoes on a wholegrain bagel

So when you cook up a healthy breakfast next week, make yourself a piping hot pot of tea and keep it nice and warm with our fabulous tea and kitchen cosies.

We have a plethora of homeware ranges available which are perfect for the themed week including our ‘Farmyard’ collection which consists of everything from apron, tea towels and bags; to cake tins, water bottles and tea cosy etc.

Check out Ulster weavers.com today and purchase some gorgeous homeware to use during Farmhouse Breakfast Week.

Sport Relief 2012 is just around the corner and already the countdown has begun with only 65 days to go.

The annual event is taking place from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th March and it is set to be the biggest year of sport, especially given the fact that it is also the year of the London 2012 Olympics.

Over a million people are expected to take part in Sport Relief and join in with the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile to help raise money and change lives. And a wealth of celebrities are said to be getting involved.

A long list of famous faces is supporting the charitable event including singing sensation Olly Murs, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and actress Kara Tointon.

The money that is raised as part of the campaign will help people living tough lives in the UK and abroad and to generate even more cash, this year’s official Sport Relief single has been made by boy band JLS.

The former X Factor contestants, who have five UK number one singles and two BRIT awards, visited Uganda to see how the raised money helps transform people’s lives with education and assisting them to escapethe dangers of street life. And the lads will perform a special one-off concert during the Sport Relief weekend.

If you and the family want to get involved and take part in the Mile run, make sure you quench your thirst with Ulster Weavers cute child’s water bottles that suit all ages.

Why not carry on the celebrations into the home with our delectable range of ‘Sporting’ tea towels which can quite easily be used to mop up any sweaty brows! *eugh*

And if you like, why not check out our vast collection of London 2012 ranges. Get ready for the Games with Ulster Weavers homeware!

The handiwork of a great-grandmother in Leeds has gone worldwide. The knitting skills of Lillian Phillips from Yorkshire have reached every corner of the planet.

The 92-year-old started knitting scarves 20 years ago which is a great hobby to enjoy whilst sipping on some piping hot tea in Ulster weavers china mugs.

However, her quest to get one of her creations to every country of the world has been successful and now hundreds of people in over 130 nations have received her homemade accessories.

In appreciation of her handicraft, the OAP has been given lots of gifts and letters including a prayer book from the Dalai Lama’s monastery. The lady, who is now nearly blind, cannot read conventional patterns and therefore she uses a pattern from her memory that had been passed on to her by her late sister.

The lively pensioner takes three hours to complete each scarf when she is working flat out. Here at Ulster Weavers we think the retiree should have a rest and put her feet up and enjoy a lovely brew. And our tea and kitchen cosies will keep the pot nice and hot.

But Lillian is now using her knitting skills to raise cash for a Leeds-based charity and has so far raised over £1,600 for the heart charity ‘Take Heart’ by making 145 scarves. Her handiwork is on sale at the Leeds General Infirmary.

Fancy putting your creative abilities into action? Knitting can be a great stress relief past-time. But ensure that you reward yourself for all the hard efforts and wash the work down with a nice cup of tea in Ulster Weavers.com delectable mugs. 

Crown Paints has unveiled its the shades for the spring/summer season of the New Year and the main colour for 2012 industry experts have predicted is grey.

The company is renowned for being at the forefront of colour forecasting and it has launched four distinctive looks in the s/s 2012 collection consisting of ‘New Direction’, ‘Modern Nostalgia’, ‘Summer Jewels’ and ‘Surreal Botanical’.

One of the concepts was to think beyond the traditional colour groupings like ‘pastels’, ‘brights’, ‘neons’ and ‘neutrals’.

Crown Paints Colour Specialist, Kathryn Lloyd, said: “Colour is our passion. It informs and drives everything we do, so we are delighted to be able to unveil our 2012 trends. The colour palettes we have created feature the tones and shades we expect to see defining the design landscape going forward.”

‘New Direction’ 

Union Jack Flag Pink Cotton Tea Towel

This features bold blends of acid neons and neutral shades, such as bubblegum pink with acidic chlorophyl brights. It reportedly captures the spirit of the post-industrial age.

Ulster Weavers Union Jack Flag Pink range coincides with this collection perfectly!

‘Modern Nostalgia’

Harrison Stripe Double Oven Glove

This collection has a more delicate and subtle palette which is shaped by the Great British seaside. It offers a sophisticated take on pastels based on vintage themes.

Our Harrison Stripe range fits this theme impeccably due to its soft blue stripes but we also have homeware products specific to the seaside.

‘Summer Jewels’

Kaleidoscope Tea Cosy

This assortment of shades has been inspired by retro Palm Springs and ties together blue tones alongside yellows and pinks to create a fresh, clean and upbeat palette.

A fresh and funky pastel design is Kaleidoscope by Ulster Weavers which is based on the spirograph drawing and therefore is bright and cheery. Install the trend into your home with the help of our tea and kitchen cosies in the Kaleidoscope range.

‘Surreal Botanical’

Countryside Cats Linen Tea Towel

The final 2012 collection is a lush mixture of emerald greens with bold bright shades to create a visual clash of the natural and the man-made.

A range that has just arrived and which is bang on trend is the Countryside Cats collection which is based on nature and greenery and the tea towels are just gorgeous.

The V&A Golden Lily range is also an on-trend floral design. 

Today is Friday 13^th and superstitious folklores state that it is a day of bad luck.

Although there is no written evidence for a ‘Friday the 13^th’ superstition taking place before the 19th century, why do so many people believe it is unlucky?

One theory is that the number 13 is deemed an unlucky number and that Friday is a fateful day and therefore the two unfortunate theories have amalgamated together.

But the impact on present society is far greater than one can imagine. The phobia of Friday the 13^th is called ‘friggatriskaidekaphobia’ and according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, America, on average 21 million people in the United States is affected by the fear of this day.

It is reported that some people are so paralysed by fear of Friday the 13^th that they avoid doing their normal routines and stay cooped up indoors. Many cancel flights that they are scheduled to take and it is estimated that the US lose up to $900 million in business on this day.

Are you superstitious? Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry, but if you really do feel compelled to stay inside your house on this day, entertain yourself and the family with fun arts and crafts with the help of Ulster Weavers.com

Don one of Ulster weavers gorgeous apron ranges to protect your clothing and spend time as a family doing homemade projects. Why not print out a paper calendar for the year and encourage the kids to be creative and decorate each month with a theme?

Children and parents will be going back to school/work in the New Year, so why not incite the little ones to draw some colourful pictures for you to put up in your office or on your desk?

Is there a relative’s birthday in January? Support the kids to make homemade cards with crayons, glitter and bit and bobs. The extra effort will really show how much as a family you care and the personalisation is a lovely sentiment.

And after all the hard work, sit down as a household with some scrumptious tea and biscuits and keep the pot of tea piping hot with our tea and kitchen cosies.

Stripe Child's PVC Apron

Vintage Rose Cotton Apron

Jack Child's PVC Apron

It is a bizarre dedicated event, especially with it being winter time, but this Sunday is National Hat Day.

Whether your head is suffering from the harsh cold weather and in need of a great solution, or simply your little ones enjoy fancy dress, get involved on Hat Day with the help of Ulster weavers.com.

Why not devote the day to spending quality time with the family baking cakes, sweets and cookies in the kitchen. The kids can dress up and act like a professional cook in one of our cute children’s chef hats.

We have a vast array of child’s hats to choose from to suit all ages and genders and you can even start getting excited for the London 2012 Games with our mascot themed Olympic child hats.

Dress the little ones up in matching aprons to avoid any nasty spills going on brand new clothing they were given for Christmas; and have fun stirring, mixing, decorating and baking lots of scrumptious food this weekend.

Please be cautious though of any hot plates coming out of the oven when the kids are running around in the kitchen. Cover any scalding tableware with tea towels to ensure no fingers get burnt.

And after everyone has had fun pretending to be a chef wearing special hats, wash the delicious grub down with a piping hot cup of tea with the help of Ulster weavers china mugs.

Better still, all the children’s chef hats are only £5.50 so you can join in National Hat Day for a bargain!

Home Sweet Home Child's Chef Hat

Treasure Island Child's Chef Hat

Mandeville Child's Chef Hat

We are already a week or so into 2012 and although the majority of the world has celebrated it already, it isn’t until 27^th January that China commemorates its New Year.

The Chinese zodiac year of 2012 is the Dragon.

Astrology is very important to Chinese communities and this year is said to be extra special because the dragon is so revered. In Chinese astrology the dragon is seen as a powerful almighty king because it is made from different parts of animals such as an eagle, snake, fish and tiger and so it holds superior significance.

Even today, people from China associate the dragon symbol with power and wisdom and therefore if one is born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon they are said to be wise, powerful and have a certain aura about them.

A dragon can breathe out fire and has a long sharp tongue and this reflects in a person’s personality who is born in the zodiac year in that they can be a hothead and be quite sarcastic. But with regards to the celebrations, regions across the UK with large Chinese communities will be throwing fun and fantastic festivities including dances, parades, fireworks and rides.  

Why not join in the events by donning some Ulster weavers.com PVC aprons and making dragon arts and crafts?

Entertain the children by making your own dragons to celebrate the Chinese New Year with paper and coloured pens and use colourful bits and bobs to make it as bright and flamboyant as possible. Try using red tissue paper to create a lively dragon that is breathing fire and colour him in with crayons.

If the kids really want to get involved, pass the hours by on a horrid rainy afternoon by making dragon masks that the little ones can wear and role play around the house. Or why not make a dancing toy paper dragon using paper, chopsticks and lots of glitter. Just simply fold a piece of paper in half length-wise and fold it over to create a bendy effect that will form the animal’s body.

Check out Ulster Weavers today for gorgeous aprons that will protect the children’s clothing during arts and crafts.