Copy of the Press Release for the forthcoming Trade Fairs.....

\"You probably already know Danielle, you may not have met her, but if you are in the Toy and Gift industry then I am confident that you will know her vicariously through her creations.

Her designs have won numerous toy awards over the past 20 years and her style is instantly recognisable. I am sure you are familiar with her distinctive flair and creative talent through other companies she has designed for over the years. After spending many years in Indonesia working closely with the Mentari factory, it became apparent that the natural step was to partner with Mentari and create Tender Leaf Toys and to bring this fabulous new brand in to the UK marketplace.

Having recently established ThreadBear Design with Nick Shirley who is in himself a renowned authority in the Gift & Textile industry Danielle has also created a fabulous contemporary range of Children’s textiles, which has enabled her strong aesthetic style to bridge the 2 companies and so become perfect partners with Tender Leaf Toys in the Childrens' Gift Industry. Both Danielle and Nick are passionate about thoughtful and mindful design not just in the way our products reflect the beauty of the natural world but the way they are manufactured, presented and packaged. Speaking with Danielle, who is incredibly proud of what they have achieved in such a short time, is looking to the future.... ”We care deeply about the planet and it’s dwindling resources, but we also care deeply about ethical trading, customer care and good practice along the supply chain.” In just over one year of real trading they have already attracted some wonderful and renowned retailers and both companies are continuing to grow with a consistent flow of original well designed, plastic free, utterly desirable toys and gifts.

Danielle studied graphic design and animation, starting her career at the BBC producing title sequences. A qualified teacher & lecturer in Art & Design she now lives in Southwest London with her husband and their 3 wonderful Children.\"

","meet-the-designer","gid://shopify/Article/30005559347","image",{"_13":278,"_279":-5,"_21":280,"_281":282,"_283":284},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/8479932467","altText","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0009/4083/4867/articles/IMG_6446_copy.jpg?v=1562765094","width",1125,"height",1050,"publishedAt","2019-07-10T13:24:00Z","MEET THE DESIGNER",{"_258":259},{"_269":290,"_272":291,"_258":292,"_13":293,"_276":294,"_285":299,"_36":300,"_255":301},{"_15":271},"Autumn is in the air, and what better way to embrace the season than by indulging in a healthy and visually appealing snack? Straight from the ThreadBear Kitchen, we present the delightful Leafy Crisps! Not only are they incredibly simple to make, but they also make a fantastic addition to a wholesome soup or a dip. Plus, they’re a healthier alternative to regular crisps, made without a drop of oil!\n

Ingredients:

Potatoes (sweet potatoes can also be used)
Beetroots (optional)
Paprika for an autumnal touch (optional)
Sea salt to taste
Twiglets for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 180°C.
Using a mandolin, slice the potatoes (and beetroots if you’re using them) very thinly.
Employ a leaf-shaped biscuit cutter to cut out leaf shapes from the slices.
Arrange the leaf-shaped slices on a baking tray.
Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. Keep a close eye as they can turn brown quickly.
For an extra autumnal flair, sprinkle some paprika over the crisps.
Once the crisps are baked to perfection and start to curl up like real leaves, remove them from the oven.
Sprinkle sea salt to taste.
For a perfect autumn presentation, serve them atop a thick, hearty soup and garnish with a couple of twiglets. Alternatively, they are fantastic for dipping into some fresh guacamole.

Not only are these Leafy Crisps utterly delicious, but they also capture the essence of autumn with their leafy shape and delightful crispness. This easy and healthy recipe is sure to become an autumn favourite!

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See the rest of the series on easy children's recipes.

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So its the start of half term and its pouring with rain out there, and nothing is going to get you all out in the wet....so here is a colouring in sheet for you to download and give to the little ones to colour in while you think of something else to do with the kiddies....

Press here for the download link

$\"colouring$

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The Day of the Dead is a cultural tradition that celebrates, not mourns the passing of loved ones to the 'other side'

Not to be confused with Halloween which is full of terror and scary stuff, This 2 day festival is full of love, colour and parties, and making offerings to lost loved ones.

There is a great article over on National Geographic which discusses the history and origins....

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https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel-and-adventure/top-10-things-know-about-day-dead

The first and second day of November is an explosion of colour and joy compared to our misty dark evenings with crunchy cold leaves underfoot, which is why I think its a wonderful excuse to get out the coloured felt tips and do some crafty activities with the children!

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There are predictably loads of sites to get some inspiration and I have collated a few which are on my pinterest board - ART CLUB

My favourite one, probably because it was the easiest to do and the tastiest, was to decorate giant marshmallows with food colouring pens...keeping the decorations simple is a good tip as the skulls tend to lose part of the scariness which is good for little ones...

Please do scroll down the ART CLUB pinterest board as there are lots of lovely craft ideas to do with the children...

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ThreadBear Design news.

MEET THE DESIGNER

Homemade vegetable crisps

Rainy Day activities for children

Dia de los Muertos