Many people follow the latest fashion trends to stay up-to-date and incorporate their own personal style into life.

Whether you want to update your wardrobe with state of the art shoes, or install a fresh colour into your home, it is important that all individuals display their own particular tastes be it in the clothes they wear or the property décor to show everyone their personality.

Now it is possible to merge your own style with the latest trends because they are open to interpretation. One trend for 2012 is such a blank canvas that anyone can get involved and that is to install environmentally-friendly products into the home.

Industry interior design experts have predicted that the upcoming year will focus on ‘green’ items being somewhat fashionable. If something is popular, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one has to follow suit but if you do like the concept of reducing your carbon footprint and doing your part for the environment then use a reusable bag rather than boring plastic shopping bags.

It is forecast that many retailers in 2012 will increase their efforts on recycling goods and you can too by adding the final touches in the home that scream individuality as well as nature.

Being environmentally-friendly doesn’t mean being drab and dull; you can still display bursts of colour, vivid patterns and funky shapes with the help of Ulster Weavers.

Our delectable range of Canvas and PVC bags are perfect for any fashionista to go shopping in style and there are dozens of designs to choose from in all different shapes and sizes. Invest in some quality tableware that is timeless and cosies that will never go out-of-date to ensure that you cut down your carbon footprint.

Songbird Canvas Messenger Bag

RHS Rose Catalogue PVC Shoulder Bag

La Dolce Vita PVC Packable Bag

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. 

One of the biggest traditions at Christmastime is to deck the halls with some festive decorations!

Many people choose to hang holly wreaths on the front door, suspend mistletoe above the doorway and embellish each room with bright and colourful tinsel.

Try to choose one main colour scheme and convey this through the whole house; popular favourites are green, red and gold.

Get the whole family involved by adorning twinkly fairy lights wrapped around the Christmas tree, spraying snowflakes onto the windows and tying little replicate robins in the plant pots. Don’t forget to put the traditional figurine on top the tree whether that is a pass-me-down fairy, angel or shining star; and hang a stocking for each family member on the fireplace mantel.

Why not treat the kids by decorating the kitchen with advent calendars crammed with scrumptious chocolates? But you can save money and make your own decorations this year with the help of Ulster Weavers. Money is tight for many Brits but that doesn’t mean you cannot fill the home with some festive cheer!

Entertain the kids as well as create some home-made trimmings at the same time with some imaginative arts and crafts. It is a perfect project for a snowy day. Just make sure you wear PVC aprons to protect your clothes and ensure that the scissors are child-friendly.

Stockings

Have fun this year and knit your own stockings! They are easy enough to make and the possibilities of shape, size and colour are endless. To make the classic stocking just get two pieces of fleece and cut one piece from each material.

Take care that the toes match up and point in the opposite directions to each other and then pin it together before stitching it in place. Just make a cuff on the top and then go to town decorating it with cotton wool, glitter and felt tip pens.

Tree decor

Make your own ornaments to hang off the Christmas tree and let the creativity flow with anything from snowmen to Santa. Parental supervision is recommended at all times though. To make a mini tree knick-knack all you need is a lolly stick, some sequins, ribbon and craft glue.

Why not cook and glaze some Christmas cookies that remain inedible; or if you want to make some baubles, choose from Santa designed, festive polka dot or glitter. Use any old light bulbs and recycle them for the basic shape but be careful in case the glass breaks.

This winter is all about pastels in the home and it is a super easy trend to follow.

From soft bedding and delicate curtains in the bedroom, to neutral vases and accessories in the living room, any domestic goddess can be bang on trend this season and install a fresh update for the home.

Being stylish doesn’t have to result in a complete décor overhaul. Ornamenting each room with small doses of pastel shades can still create a fashionable scheme but without the hefty price tag. And the kitchen is the best place to do this with pale textiles and homeware.

Updating the kitchen appliances like cutlery and tableware is a simple but effective method and the pale palette suits any home whether it is a bachelor pad in London, or a quaint village cottage in Wales. The gentle tones when co-ordinated with other furniture can look both traditional as well as edgy modern; so whatever your current style décor is there is bound to be a way to induct the trend into your home this winter.

And homeowners can inject the wishy-washy colour into the festive décor too. So when you start decorating the home for Christmas with sparkly gold and silver, mix in some shades of baby or rose pink.

Ulster Weavers Cassandra Rose table runner and placemats are just perfect to makeover the kitchen in pure prettiness. And our vast array of floral collections includes everything from tea cosies to aprons to make sure you look fashionable as well as practical.

The Victoria range is another great line with pastel pieces, so you can serve piping hot tea this winter in themed bone china mugs alongside some scrumptious cupcakes with our Victoria cake tins.

Install the trend into the living room with an Apple door stop and carry on the retro apple and pear style with Ulster’s Lola range; as the cotton tea towel is cool with fresh pastel shades.

Lola Cotton Tea Towel

Cassandra Rose Table Runner

Victoria Set of 3 Cake Tins

And finally, show a sense of British pride in your home this winter with Ulster’s vast array of British homeware. From British Cats and Union Jack canvas shopping bags, to our specific London 2012 Olympics range, pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen with our expert help.

RHS Etchings Table Runner

Red Cotton Hand Towel

Chambray Charcoal Peg Bag

Blue Stripe Double Oven Glove

As years go by, new trends in society flourish whether it is a new fashion trend, homeware trend or more.

At the start of 2011, the trend of ‘planking’ started to arise that involved a person mimicking a wooden plank and lying face down in an unusual or odd location.

Millions of people took part in the game and posted pictures of themselves on the internet and on social networking sites, as players competed to find the strangest location in which to play.

Participants ‘planked’ on top of roofs, in vehicles, on tables and even on top of poles! But when the craze went viral, with it came many variations which included ‘tea potting’ and ‘owling’. Tea potting consisted of simply bending the arms in the shape of a teapot; and owling involved a person squatting and crouching in a perched position and looking off into the distance, like an owl.

So jump on board the trend with the help of Ulster Weavers and our fantastic owl and tea cosies homeware!

We have some super cute owl shaped tea and egg cosies which are great for when you are finished ‘owling’ and wish to replenish your thirst with a nice hot pot of tea. Ulster Weavers has some fun owl linen tea towels and packable bags so you can install some animal craziness into the home or into your wardrobe!

And if you are a fan of social networking site Twitter, like millions of people across the world are, then you may want to buy one of our brilliant owl Twitter ranges which consists of an apron, double oven glove, gauntlet, bone china mug in a tin, pot mitt and more.

So whether you take part in the online game by ‘planking’, ‘tea potting’ or ‘owling’, make sure you follow the fad with Ulster Weavers fantastic homeware, giftware and textile ranges.

Twitter Bone China Mug In A Tin

Owls Arrived Linen Tea Towel

Owl Shaped Tea Cosy

Spring has arrived with its bright flowers and blossoming plants and what better way to bring the freshness indoors than incorporate the pretty breeziness into your kitchen home textiles.

Celebrate the season with crisp cute Cotton Tea Towels and nice-looking Linen Tea Towels to revitalise the kitchen after a cold icy winter.

And lightening your appliances will liven up your zest for cooking springtime recipes and bring some cheer to the home.

Here some of Ulster Weaver’s favourite top picks to theme your kitchen for the spring season.

Victoria Cotton Tea Towel

RHS Catalogue Of Seeds Linen Tea Towel

V&A Agra Linen Tea Towel

RHS Spring Linen Tea Towel

Poppies Linen Tea Towel

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

As we get closer to the end of 2010 more and more colour trends information is being released. That being colour palettes, fun fabrics and fashion textiles for your home for the New Year.       

So it is no surprise that Crown has released their colour trends for 2011 and key themes and styles that are popping out are vibrant and earthy; and loud but serene.       

In a previous blog post we chatted about how important it is to colour co-ordinate your home, to ensure all appliances and furniture match to create that homely feel and give it some personality.       

Ulster Weavers have put together the colour styles from Crown’s intelligence, so you can think of some ideas to decorate your home in 2011 if you are wanting that new start and fresh slate.       

Or instead of re-decorating, why not match your home textiles to one of the new schemes so you can stay up-to-date and on trend.       

1950s       

Image Credit: Crown

2011 sees a flashback in time over a decade ago and a return of the 1950s, which can only mean retro with bright turquoise and soft grey colours.       

Amethyst       

Image Credit: Crown

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.       

Gold       

Image Credit: Crown

Crown is working the sexy bachelor look here and it’s very striking. With striking orange features, tarnish brass and royal golds, your home will certainly look and feel like a palace to eat in.       

Nudes       

Image Credit: Crown

A fantastic colour palette for your kitchen including beige and anaemic skin tones, it glows with soft peaches and blushing cheeks. Perfect to co-ordinate your tea towels and tea cosies with! Your home will feel warm, snug and cosy and ideal to spend time in as a family cooking.       

Natural Primary       

Image Credit: Crown

Here we have natural tones and materials creating a laid back feel but then bright colours adding a vibrant accent to the scene. With the Natural Primary trend we have splashes of unadulterated red and yellows.       

So now you know what colour schemes to go by, check out www.ulsterweavers.com for high quality kitchen textiles that make a house a home, which have become famous all over the world.

Owls are beautiful birds of prey and are turning heads on the high street as more and more fashion designers bring out owl clothes and accessories throughout 2010.

And as Halloween approaches what better time than now to look at the wise old owl and how it has burst out onto the fashion scene.

Many people are questioning the arrival of the owl trend and where it came from. While trends and styles drop in and out of the fashion world, the emergence of owls reappeared in autumn 2009 when Marc Jacobs introduced a few owl fashion designs in his collection. Before then, owl trends have dipped in and out of fashion but the last time they were big, bold and heavily on the scene was during the 70s when everyone adorned owl necklaces, bracelets, tops and earrings. It was all the rage.

And from the high street stores to the homeware world, Paper Source and Martha Stewart have introduced owl style place cards and aprons, as well as door mats for in and around the home.

“Owls are a charming trend in home decor. They add a fun, quirky element to living spaces and they fit right in with darker, retro looks and even brighter, more natural settings,” said Aimee Beatty, Pier 1 Imports’ corporate in house stylist.

And while everyone is twittering about owls we thought we would give a little hoot about our wildlife owl collection at

Twitter Double Oven Glove by Ulster Weavers

UlsterWeavers.com. During June 2010 our designers launched a fabulous homeware collection called Twitter. Our jazzy little owl design, in a full range of cotton kitchen textiles, is beautifully printed in soft neutrals and finished with detailed appliqué embroidery on some of the products to make the owl stand out as the main feature.

Complete with an apron, tea towel, muff tea cosy, pot mitt, gauntlet and double oven glove, our Twitter collection is perfect for your home this winter and puts you right up to date with the latest homeware and fashion trends.

And it’s not just our Twitter collection that features these beautiful birds of prey; we have a collection called Natural World designed by Karen Phillips, a British professional wildlife and animal artist. The Natural World collection features a range of tea towels and shoulder bags designed with a variation of natural wildlife including a shoulder bag and tea towel of two tawny owls.

All our animal homeware collections can be found on our website ulsterweavers.com today.