First Sainsburys then…

...The world, mwah-ha-ha. Yes, this month we are in Sainsburys magazine. It’s a really good read, packed full of tasty recipe ideas too. I’m planning a day of Christmas cooking. Our little hanky looked pretty on this page, we’re so proud!

Getting Glam with Grace Pham

Tara and I popped along to Grace Pham’s Photography studio to get some new shots done for the press (get us!). We really enjoyed the day and Grace made us feel very welcome and comfortable – so much so that we were even coaxed into revealing more than I thought we would! Those pictures are private (ooh la la) but here are some of our behind-the-scenes shots.

We’d both recommend Grace’s services! This is her website: http://getglam.carbonmade.com/

A Lovely Souvenir

We always get excited when we find a gorgeous shop and my friend Cassie's gallery, Souvenir in Highgate, is quite a find. Packed full of striking illustrations, animal-inspired knick-knacks and gorgeous stationery, this is where I will be buying all of the Christmas presents I don't craft myself. And now the hankies are being stocked there too.

Bianca
x

249 Archway Road
Highgate
N65BS

Wedding Fever

Lots of people have been buying our hankies as bridesmaid's gifts so I decided to do a bit of research and headed down to the National Wedding Show last weekend. I couldn't believe how many wedding businesses there were out there! There were companies who organised weddings abroad (Italy and Greece were popular choices) and some of the most amazing cakes I had ever seen. There was one which was covered in shredded rice paper which looked like feathers. I got pretty excited about all the dresses too. There is no man in my life at the moment but I am enjoying looking for pointers for all of my engaged friends. I'm going to be a maid of honour (for my lovely friend Nicola) next year too so I've been keeping an eye out for good hen party ideas too. Maybe, just maybe, I am considering starting my own 'wedding file' too...

Bianca x

The Olympia Beauty Show 2012

I popped along to the Olympia Beauty Show last Sunday to have a good nosy at some nail varnish (mmm Essie, mmm OPI) and go and see make-up artist Lou Page who was hosting an amazing make-up competition. Tara and I gave her 10  Helpful Hankies to go into the finalists' goodie bags and she kindly put our lil' logo up in her stand.

Chatting at Mary Portas

We went to House of Fraser on Oxford Street last Saturday to talk about our Helpful Hankies to customers. We chatted to the other designers who sold in Mary Portas’ shop – it was great swapping tips and advice. We especially enjoyed meeting Carola van Dyke whose fabulous cushions are sold in the same section as ours. She brought lots of work along to show customers, including her amazing fabric animal heads. It was great chatting to our customers about our work – if you want to share any ideas or tell us what you think, just drop us an email, Bianca@moiself.com or tara@moiself.com.

 

It's Not Goodbye Just Au Revoir

I am tooting my own horn here but I have been saying Au Revoir to soooo many people lately and I honestly have found that our 'It's not good-bye just au revoir' Helpful Hanky has been the perfect farewell gift.
First of all I had to say bye to all my lovely White Stuff buddies as I moved on to a new job at Oasis, I could have given everyone a hanky but then I would have ran out of stock! One of my best friends at White Stuff, Naomi, left a week later and then two of my Aussie friends Jess and Katherine left to go back to Aus. It was so nice being able to personalise them with my own special message on the back (it meant I didn't have to go shopping for a soppy farewell card too!)
Here are my a few of my besties with their hankies...good luck girls!

Love Tara x

On the Town

Even busy Moi girls make time to play! Here we are with the lovely Ruth P at the Queen of Hoxton - it was really fun, there were bands and boys.

B
x

Tara Moves On

Tara has left White Stuff now which makes me sad because I won't see her lovely face at work everyday. But it also makes me happy because she has moved on to an amazing opportunity at Oasis. Here she is modelling a tea cosy and holding the 'happy rock' I found in Brighton.

B
x

Jerry Kennedy

I bought this little china dog in Ireland! Isn't he cute? I've named him Jerry Kennedy (from P.S I Love You). He's a Moi dog if ever I saw one.

B
x

My Birthday

My lovely Tara took me out and spoiled me for my birthday. We went to Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch and drank yummy cocktails. She bought me a beautiful stationary set from MOMA (her trip to NYC) and a gorgeous wax stamper thing (can't remember the technical term!) from Italy. Both pressies are amazing! Thanks Tara, you're amazing - Moi Girls 4 Ever (now I'm 27, am I too old for text speak?)

B
x

Visiting Bastyan

We went along to the Bastyan autumn/winter press day yesterday. Held at the Cavendish Club, it showcased pieces from the brand’s upcoming autumn/winter collection. It looked so gorgeous, we wanted it all. We love our Bastyan dresses (we are modeling them in this pic!).  We also heard about the exclusive ‘Bastyan Society’  it sounds amazing – we’re joining up.  You can here.

I saw Kylie!

The pint-sized princess was filming her new music video in Soho. She looked great!

The Writings on the Wall

Spotted on the girl’s toilet wall in the Book Club  - inspirational ladies!

Bianca x

Living & Giving

We went along to the Shop Style event at Mary Portas’ Living and Giving shop in Westbourne Grove last night. It was great fun, the clothes were gorge and stylist Mrs Jones (she of Kylie catsuit fame) was on hand to offer style advice.

Tara fancied some ASOS dresses and I was after a Peter Jensen blouse (must pop back and get that, actually). I always love it when charity fundraising is creative and imaginative. I’m sure the event raised lots of money for Save the Children.

Our hankies featured in the goody bags!

If you love a designer bargain (who doesn’t?) then pop along to a Living and Giving shop – they’re brill. You’ll find one in Edinburgh, Parson’s Green, Primrose Hill, Westbourne Grove and Barnes.

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/get-involved/charity-shopping/marys-living-and-giving/westbourne-grove

Bianca

x

 Lovely Isabelle Mary's Living and Giving Brand Ambassador (wearing a Mrs Jones coat that Ana Matronic from Scissor Sisters once wore!)

 We meet super stylist Mrs Jones

Decisions, decisions

Atishoo or two!

Our new friend Brenda has been collecting souvenir and commemorative handkerchiefs for the past fifty years. She has hankies of Coronations, Jubilees, Liberty prints, Festivals, others bearing in-flight menus, regimental badges, etc. There are now more than 4,000 in her collection, from all over the world. She has been interviewed

on television and radio about them several times and regularly writes articles and give presentations about all things hanky. Brenda spotted our hankies in the Sunday Times Style Magazine a while back and got in touch with us. She said she had several powder puff, rouge and

lipstick design hankies from the 1930’s but that she thought very few unusual hankies were produced these days. If you’re in the area, Brenda will be putting on a large display of her hankies at the South of England Showground, Ardingly this July.  

We sent her some of ours for her collection!

Bianca

x

Brenda holds the Helpful Hankies we sent her

meeting Mary, queen of shops!

A few weeks ago we went to Mary's launch of her new shoe range in Clarkes on Oxford Street. After a few cocktails she arrived and B grabbed my hand and said "come on we are meeting her!" We introduced ourselves as the Moi girls, gave her the "Go and buy some shoes" Helpful Hanky (so appropriate) and said we were excited to be stocked in her shop. She was really lovely. She loved that our hankies are made in the UK as she is a big supporter of UK manufacturing. Go Mary!! x

Helpful Hankies back in stock!

Besides eating lasagne and watching endless episodes of 24 today, I have managed to upload more stock to Five Go Mad. After completely selling out of 'Thinking of you sweetie" and "Fix your mascara", they are back in stock and ready for you and your friends. Buy them now at http://www.fivegomad.co.uk
http://www.fivegomad.co.uk/product/design

love Tara
xx

Helpful Hankies hit John Lewis!

John Lewis is stocking two styles of Helpful Hankies, "Thinking of you sweetie" and "Fix your mascara, you're amazing!" B and I went tonight to have a look. They can be found in Fashion Accessories near a few other hankies and clutch bags and also on the tills in that area. We really hope they are a hit! They are trialling them in Oxford Circus, Peter Jones Sloane Square, Edinburgh, Bluewater and Cheadle! Get down to John Lewis and buy one for yourself!

Love Tara
xx

All hands on deck!

This is my lovely boyfriend Andy helping me stick 500 barcodes to our recent John Lewis order! John Lewis are trialing two of our designs in 4 shops! London ladies you can get yours in Oxford Circus and Peter Jones Sloane Square. We will keep you updated! We are hoping to get an even bigger order if they are successful (we might have to get a few more barcode sticking helpers though! haha)

Love Tara 

xx

Awww!

Flat-hunting is driving me to distraction but Tara wrote me this lovely message for me today to cheer me up! 

Bianca

x

Mary Portas-Queen of Shops!

I thought I would write a quick update from me! Bianca is just so good at this blog thing, I am yet to get it!

I literally had my heart in my throat when pitching to the House of Fraser directors and Peter Cross, Mary Portas business partner. Thankfully they loved helpful hankies and want them to be stocked in 5 of Mary's shops that she will open in March! A bit of an excuse for us to travel around and go shopping I think!

Tara xxx

It's not goodbye, it's just au revoir

My lovely friend Camilla is going off to explore South America and Australia. I will miss her very much (not least because she would have been a great Moi Self model!) but I know she will have the time of her life. We met up for cocktails in the Keston Lodge, Angel on Saturday and sobbed over drinks that were far, far too strong. She loved her Helpful Hanky!

We'll miss you girl!

Bianca
x