Monthly Archives: July 2011

The Best Bed Linen In The World Review

Posted on by Abi

Apparently if you live to be 80 years old, you’ll spend something like 20 of those years asleep! That’s a huge proportion of our time that we spend in bed and yet we probably don’t apportion the same amount of outlay to bedding as we do to our clothes or shoes. But when so many of us suffer from sensitive skin or allergies it really ought to be one of our top priorities when it comes to designing our bedrooms.

I’ve always loved staying at top hotels (who doesn’t) and a big part of the luxury is a wonderfully comfortable bed covered in supersoft, super comfortable bedding. What if you could recreate this hotel luxury at home, every day and more importantly every night! With this in mind I have recently discovered the wonderful webstore The Best Bed Linen In The World. Already suppliers to several top hotels they now offer their luxury bedlinen to the general public.

I had the good fortune to test out two pillows from their Bed Linen Separates Collection recently. On the website there is an FAQ section that offers a wealth of information relevant to bedding and cotton. Much of this goes to dispel myths or beliefs about what constitutes luxury both in term of cotton production and thread count. I like to think I know a thing or two about cotton, but it still offered new information to myself.

I started by examining the pillowcases themselves, I received a Plain White Oxford and a Satin Stripe Oxford Pillowcase. They were well constructed, with properly finished and deep seams. I saw no stray threads or mediocre sewing.

I washed them both, both had minimal shrinkage at 40C, which I was expecting. After one wash they did feel a little more coarse to the touch, but a subsequent wash saw their original softness return. Aesthetically they look very classy, my personal favourite was the Satin Stripe Design.

The real test of course was to sleep on them, for no profound reason I preferred the Plain White Pillowcase, it seemed slightly softer overall. The quality of the cotton meant I didn’t overheat and they retained their shape. I also have very sensitive skin and found that neither irritated or annoyed.

Would I recommend this product?

Yes, at £11 a pillowcase (more for Duvets etc) they are pricey, but not so far above high street stores as to make them unaffordable. I also think the quality is reflected in the price, you get the luxury you would expect.

Could they be improved in anyway?

Other than more products appearing in their ranges or perhaps special offers not really.

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Crochet Tin/Jar Cover Tutorial

Posted on by Abi

We don’t use much in the way of tinned food, but just occassionally we find use for a tin of tomatoes or baked beans. Of course they can be recycled, but they can also be reused to make a funky pen pot or desk organiser. Anne created this crotchet pattern, but we have since found several others online for jam jar covers etc. so if tins aren’t your thing then  a quick search should find you an appropriate variation.

Back to our pattern :)

What You’ll Need

Clean tin or Jar (make sure edges are smooth)

3.5mm Crochet Hook

Cotton DK Yarn

Abbreviations:

ch - chain

dc - double crochet

sl st - slip stitch

tr - treble crochet

 

Start with a slip knot and work 5 chain, join to make a loop with a sl st into first ch.

Round 1: ch 1, 9dc into central loop, sl st into 1st chain to close up the circle.

Round 2: ch 1, *1 dc into first stitch, 2 dc into next*, repeat from * to *round the circle and then close using a sl st.

Round 3: ch 1 and then 2 dc into every stitch and then close the round using a sl st.

Round 4: ch 3, * 1 tr into first 2 stitches and 2 tr into 3rd*, repeat from * to* around the circle and close with a sl st.

Round 5: Join second colour into top of any tr st from last round, ch 3 and the work 1 tr into each stitch until you have completed the circle and then join with a sl st.

Rounds 6 – 13: join in a new colour for each round and then complete in tr stitch as round 5.

Round 14: Join a new colour and ch1, dc into each stitch until the round is completed.

To finish, darn in all the ends of the cotton and place your tin inside.


 

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La Maison Du Chocolat Summer Collection Review

Posted on by Abi

After my recent visit to La Maison Du Chocolat in Piccadilly, I was fortunate to bring away a box of the new Summer Collection. Called ‘Chiberta’ it promises to take you on a tongue tingling ride to the Basque country in France. The birthplace of La Maison Du Chocolat founder Robert Linxe, it is also the first place in France that Cacao arrived in 1609. The collection is very beautifully designed with a wonderful watercolour painting of the Basque country adorning the box.

Each box of Chiberta contains 5 different varieties of chocolates. As I’m sure you can imagine it wasn’t much of a chore testing out the various flavours, but I shall do my best to describe each variety in detail.

First I tried the one and only Milk Chocolate in the box, called ‘Eztia’ it is a Milk Chocolate filled with a Basque Honey Ganache. Beautifully smooth milk chocolate covers a strong and intense honey ganache. The honey is thick whilst retaining movement, it made me think of a quality manuka honey. The honey flavour is heavy and rich with delicate floral tones. Somewhat reminiscent of a good Heather Honey.

Next in the box came ‘Txokolate Lluna’ a dark chocolate bonbon. The scent of this chocolate is heaven itself, the kind of amazing Cocoa scent that radiates from a luxurious cake batter before baking. The bonbon is rich with a lightly malty taste and intense smoky after tones. The taste lingers tantalisingly on your tongue.

‘Praline Macaron’ is next in line. An amazingly silky praline lies at the centre of this gorgeous bonbon with crunchy slivers of chocolate macaron. An intense chocolate tempered by the delightful crisp almond tones, not heavy but delicate and with a quality flavour.

‘Almond Paste with Patxaran’ this ganache chocolate tastes almost like the worlds most refined and delicate marzipan. Lightly touched by Patxaran liqueur (a liqueur of blackthorn berries macerated in anise alcohol) it leaves a delightful flavour upon your tongue. Despite being a part of the summer collection, this would be a wonderful flavour at Christmastime.

‘Espeletako Piperra’ instantly you are drawn into this bonbon by the delicate and soft Espelette chilli pepper. A sweetness radiates first, followed by a warm spicy after tone that will linger beautifully on your palate. The pepper serves to intensify and amplify the amazingly rich dark chocolate.

Would I recommend this product?

Without a doubt, it’s a wonderful collection. It would make a fantastic gift, but I doubt you’d be able to part with them. It’s been my favourite chocolate collection I have tried so far this year.

Can it be improved in anyway?

I will be very sad to see this collection go after the summer, I would love to see some of the chocolates become a permanent fixture at La Maison Du Chocolat.

Details

Available to purchase at boutiques and online at www.lamaisonduchocolat.co.uk.

Sizes:

Box of 10 Chocolates £12.00

Box of 30 Chocolates £33.00

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