This week is Woolly Hat Week in the UK!

The campaign has been launched by the Sailors’ Society, a charity that helps merchant seafarers on board ship and when they step ashore in port.

The society claims to be among the largest and most comprehensive international seafarers’ support charity and they are calling on the British public to wear a woolly hat this week to raise awareness for the world’s 1.5 million sailors who brave the high seas.

As part of the week, the interdenominational maritime charity is asking for small donations as well as woolly hats. Each year the Southampton-based organisation gives out 15,000 woolly hats knitted by volunteers.

The fundraising director, Jan Webber, said that seafarers battle with the elements regularly and that a hat is appreciated, especially by people who come from warm climates and are unprepared for the less than tropical climates of the UK.

Now here at Ulster Weavers, we don’t necessarily have any woolly hats for people to wear but we do have a vast array of children’s chef hats. From Robot and Farmyard-themes, to London 2012 and Treasure Island, there is a plethora of choices available to let the kids practice baking in the kitchen.

Dress the little ones up in cute aprons and matching hat and encourage them to have fun and play the part of being a professional chef! Why not make some delicious cupcakes that have anchors decorated on with icing?

The common colour associated with seafarers is blue and our Pride The Lion Child’s Chef Hat is just perfect to display British pride. So get involved in Woolly Hat Week by donning some gorgeous homeware and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. And you can carry on the trend outside the home to keep your ears warm in such blustery cold weather.

Many sportsmen and women will have their own regimes and practices that they carry out to ensure that they are in the best shape for the Games.

Some will exercise for hours every single day, others will eat a strict diet, and some participants will have weird traditional customs that they do for good luck.

However, one British team player has confessed that she prepares for the Olympics by spending quality time knitting and reading.

Rachel Cawthorn, a leading sprint canoeist, has admitted that she relaxes in her free time by immersing herself into Harry Potter books as well as getting the knitting needles out.

Cawthorn perhaps may be onto a worldwide trend because knitting really does have its benefits of calming the mind and body which is important just before a huge sports event. A competitor needs to be comfortable and stress-free to be able to go into a sporting race without any other worries and fundamentally, have their eyes on the prize.

But that doesn’t mean that only sportspeople can enjoy knitting as a hobby. If you have come home from a demanding day at work; put the kettle on, put your feet up and let your anxieties melt away by knitting a scarf or jumper for the little ones.

Ulster Weavers bone china mugs are perfect to drink out of when engrossing in some good old weaving and better still, treat yourself to a scrumptious piece of cake afterwards that has been stored decoratively in one of our gorgeous cake tins.

Our cute cosies will keep the pot of tea piping hot so fret not if you become so consumed into knitting that you forget about your brew- Ulster’s tea cosies will keep it lovely and warm.

Check out Ulster Weavers.com today to see how we can make your past-time that little bit special…

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

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.

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 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.