Well, we’re almost there. Only two and a half hours before we turn off the monitors, pull down the blinds and close for Christmas. It’s been a great year. We’ve worked with a number of diverse and exciting companies, Indie Quarter has gone from strength to strength and we even received a nomination for the Big Chip Awards. Indie Quarter now receives on average a whopping 6,000 visits per month (that’s visits not hits!) and this is growing month on month.

We’re taking an extended break this year and will be back on 8th January. We’ve got lots of interesting projects planned and we look forward to sharing them with you in 2007.

Thank you for reading and for all your kind comments and emails. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2007!

Jenny

Okay, so we all like to buy indie products. (If you don’t you’re probably on the wrong blog.) But sometimes it can be time consuming to surf through lots of sites (not something that’s ever bothered me but I can see why it might be a draw-back for some people) or to visit lots of designer studios that are often off the beaten track. Thankfully, over the last couple of years we’ve seen the rise of the online shopping mall and in particular, shops dedicated to rising designers and brands not usually found on the High Street.

Two such indie emporiums are Big Red Bow and Style Scene. I’ve blogged about Big Red Bow before but I wanted to mention it again because two new designers have recently been added to their growing collection. pH by Phillia (top left) is an exiting clothing line, mixing vibrant colours with stylish simplicity and Helen Rochfort (designer of H.R.H. Prince Edward’s Royal Wedding Album) brings us a quirky and unusual range of handbags. You can find these designers along with a lots of other indie, creative types at www.bigredbow.com.

I’ve also recently discovered Style Scene. The team behind this exciting new online store says that they were sick of the ‘cookie cutter styles’ at the mall and want their customers to feel special. Therefore the majority of their products are made in limited runs and come fresh from the designers’ studios, direct to your door.

I picked out the Doll Factory Sheer Sweater by Zeto and the Sinners Zip Up Hoodie by Rtyst. Check them out at www.style-scene.com.

There’s lots of cute charms and vintage goodies over at www.thischarminggirl.com - from kitsch hearts and bows to classic cameos and pretty sterling silver necklaces. The Strawberry Drop Earrings and Cuckoo Clock Necklace caught my eye.

Everything is handmade by Jacqueline Currie - office worker by day and jewellery designer by night. The prices are all very reasonable, with the Strawberry Drop Earrings at just £5.00 and the Cuckoo Clock Necklace priced at just £10.00.

And while you’re browsing check out the Book of Love Necklace in the Handmade Necklaces section. The pages really open!

If (like me) you’re on the last minute with your present buying, I have a good tip. Hoolala has a stunning range of unusual jewellery and frippery. Sam Gannaway-Jones is the creative force behind the company. Her handmade charms have been created from her own personal photo archive and ephemera she has collected over the years.

So, here are my recommendations:

For your sister/best friend - the Gnaughty Gnome Sterling Silver Charm Necklace (how could you resist him?)
Stocking fillers - Dolly Dimple Hair Grips (my favourite)
For the man in your life - Ouija Cufflinks (deliciously dark)

Hoolala is still posting in the UK up to Christmas (Royal Mail permitting). You can order online from www.hoolala.co.uk or from Hoolala’s Etsy shop at www.hoolala.etsy.com.

A few weeks ago I discovered Helen Chatterton’s beautiful tweed patchwork cushions. Each one has been hand-pieced and quilted. The tweed is of the highest quality, sourced from the Outer Hebrides and Scottish Borders.

Helen’s obsession with fabrics and yarn began at an early age when her Scottish mother taught her to sew and knit. As well as the tweed cushions she has also produced a luxurious collection of velvet and silk cushions and made to order velvet scarves.

To introduce a little bit of Scotland into your home, check out www.perfectionofproduction.co.uk.