The weather has got really quite chilly the last couple of weeks. The last few leaves are clinging to the trees - there is a beautiful Rowan in a garden down my street that I walk past every day on the school run. It's leaves are a little smaller than the wild version (as is the whole tree), delicate and such vivid colours. The berries are a delicate pale yellow and the birds don't seem to like them much so they stay after the leaves. Some years we get redwings in and they devour the lot in a day or so. Such a gorgeous tree.

If you are looking for some ideas for keeping warm this winter we have some great owl products. This gorgeous microwavable knitted hottie is scented with lavender for a relaxing snuggle and there are matching gel pack handwarmers to slip in your pocket or gloves!

This week we have a 10% discount on these and one or two other of our favourite winter products.
All available at The English Owl Company! (www.englishowlcompany.com)

Last week was national knitting week! There were some lovely pictures and posts flying around facebook including this sweet one on our page:

We have got an increasingly large following on facebook now and it is where I post and share photos of owls and owl related snippets as well as our own products and news. You can find us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-English-Owl-Company/208055549290356

We have even more new stock in this week! These candles will help set the tone this Halloween ...

.... though it has been suggested that you should cut the wicks off and keep them as ornaments!

Some time ago I fell in love with some cute little hand painted ceramic owl beads. I have been playing about with what to do with them and have finally made them up into beautiful ear ring and necklace sets. I have matched them up, with the help of some little glass or pearl beads, to the colour and stone associated with birthmonths. So there are 12 sets, one for each month. Each comes with a card detailing the colour, stone and characteristics associated with that month. I am really pleased with them, I think they make a lovely owl gift or a pretty little treat for yourself :)

The beads...

The birthstone jewellery sets ...

Key ring with my birthstone owlie :)

I LOVE searching out and ordering new owls for you!

We have been stocking up on all our favourite products - our fluffy owl friends ready for personalising with your messages this Christmas; our best selling line of childrens owl lunch boxes and accessories (still waiting for those to arrive!) ; and, or course, our wise owl and mosaic owl ornaments.




 
We have got some fantastic, stylish, owl decorations - vintage style hearts (love the blue colour of these), handmade festive felt owls, simple and elegant white ceramic baubles and these fabulous fun owl carol singers.








So, that's the owl decs sorted - wait till you see the lovely new owl gifts we have just arrived in stock! Snuggle up with our gorgeous microwavable owl hotties and keep your hands warm with the click and heat gel pack hand warmers. Keep the kids warm with 100% wool, soft fleece lined, fair trade owl hats and mitts.





 
And finally, as that wasn't enough, take a look at our pretty owl jewellery. These little handpainted ceramic beads have been made up into earrings and necklaces to represent your birthmonth.

Our owl Christmas shop is now open with some lovely owlie Christmas decorations! We will fill it up over the coming weeks and months with loads of gorgeous Christmas owl gift ideas. As well as the new decorations already in we have just ordered some owl microwavable hotties, owl handwarmers and the most adorable owl slippers - watch this space (or follow us on facebook, or keep looking at our website www.englishowlcompany.com)

Well the children are back to school! Those who follow our face book page will know that my eldest started secondary school yesterday (and I survived the day!) and now today her sister has gone back to school as well and I am left to my own devices.

We have got new stock arriving and more ordered  so... we need to have a tidy up in the stock room! There are a few listings where we have 1 or 2 items left so we are having a clearance sale! Yay! There are huge reductions on these few items but get your order in quickly because once they've gone they've gone. All available on the website www.englishowlcompany.com. Enjoy :)

 £7.95 reduced to £5.00

 £8.95 reduced to £6.75. Tea light holder. Can be hung or can stand.

 £8.95 reduced to £6.75. lampshade 

 £29.95 reduced to £14.95 Beautiful quality - piped edges and feather inner

 £29.95 reduced to £14.95. Beautiful quality, fully adjustable + useful pockets

 £19.95 reduced to £12.50. Handmade, unique acrylic painting on glass.

 £24.95 reduced to £15.00. Handmade, unique acrylic painting on glass.

 £19.95 reduced to £12.50. Handmade, unique acrylic painting on glass.

 £10.95 reduced to £8.50.

 £29.95 reduced to £20.00. Wooden owl shaped hanging nest box/ garden ornament.

 £4.50 reduced to £3.00. Wind chimes

 £9.95 reduced to £7.50. Sasse and Belle fabric bag/ purse - zip fastening.

£13.95 reduced to £9.95. Set 3 printed card suitcases.

Summer holiday bliss! Enjoying spending time with my girls. Had a lovely day in York earlier this week walking the walls - something I've never done before. We went in the little museum at Monk Bar which was all about King Richard III and the story of the 2 princes in the tower - very interesting as I've been really enjoying Philippa Gregory's White Queen on t' telly.

Juggling work and kids is always a challenge at times - thank goodness for my Mum and Dad helping out with despatches!

Got some great new stock coming in, thinking, inevitably of Christmas. Our Christmas shop section will open in September when we have all the Christmas stock in. I am in a dilemma about when to launch the Christmas products - I hate seeing Christmas shoved in your face in the shops and supermarkets as soon as the schools go back at the beginning of September. On the other hand I know many people (myself included) like to spread the cost and if we leave it too late we will miss out on sales. Comments appreciated on the subject!

Anyway - wanted to show you this lovely vintage style heart hanging decoration - £4.95 + £2.95 p&p. This is available now but here is a sneak preview of the most cute owl Christmas decs ever!

Excited! We have a new range of stationery just in! So new I haven't even finished photographing yet. I have listed on the website an A6 chunky page to view 2014 diary, A6 notebook, A5 notebook, exercise book and (the one I need most) a to-do list pad that has a fridge magnet on the back so you can't loose it!

Yey - school has finished! Can't believe my big girl has finished primary school, really doesn't seem like last week she started. Looking forward, new uniform purchased, new class and teacher met ...

We have an extensive and gorgeous range of greetings cards, all made in the UK and featuring UK artists. This week we are offering a wopping 20% discount on ALL greetings cards! Stock up! You will need the code "07cards" at the checkout.

The school year is coming to an end already! I can't get my brain out of the academic calendar - I think it is because I have always lived by school years - school, uni, teaching/ lecturing, kids at school ... Teacher gifts ought to be sorted by now but if you still need some come and have a look at ours.

I am busy with new projects and thinking ahead to autumn. I am developing a directory page on the website of birds of prey centres, owl conservation groups and other interesting owl organisations. I also want to develop the number of links to our website and increase its presence on t'web.

Also looking at new stock - I've found a range of glass owl ornaments that I would love to stock, have already ordered owl hats and mittens and am seriously admiring a new range of owl stationery (I am a bit of a  stationery nerd! A girl can never have too many note books ...)

I'll post a picture of our some of our lovely craft kits. If you are stuck for ideas for what to do with your little darlings over the hols come and look at our craft kits - we have simple sewing and cross stitch kits, a wood construction kit, a lovely copper foil scraper picture, and more. The owl  flower press is ideal for summer projects.

Oh, it has been a while since my last blog! Life has been rather hectic the last few weeks.
Anyway, things should ease off a bit now, once I have caught up a bit on my VERY long "to do" list. I will enjoy the last couple of weeks of term with my girls - assemblies, leavers plays (the big one is going to high school in September!), sports day ...

If you still need to say thank you to your child's teacher we have some lovely little owls to help: One of our best sellers is this lovely little ceramic owl which we can personalise for you with your teachers name or with love from your child ...

Did you know that the collective noun for owls is a parliament? We have 4 lovely owl mugs that would all make great teacher gifts - teachers NEED mugs, particularly wise owl mugs.