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Talking Tables' stand at Top Drawer almost made us wish Christmas was closer...we're debating what to choose for our Christmas table - will it be a sparkling silver spread, a punky, tartan Vivienne Westwood-inspired extravaganza or a nostalgic Victorian look? We'll wait and see, but one thing's for sure - we'll be decking the halls with far more than boughs of holly!

A stunning display of fair-trade jewellery by Mirabelle greeted visitors at Top Drawer this week, including beautiful starburst shell pendants, a collection of Grecian-inspired cuffs and a whole host of charming charm pendants and bracelets featuring seated Buddhas, Fatima hands and other global talismans available for loans from October onwards....

Just got back from Maison et Objet, where Portrait Communications clients Original BTC, Compagnie de Provence and Gone Rural were exhibiting. As usual, the show was a feast for the eyes - and an enormous post-show seafood platter at La Coupoule with Original BTC founder Peter Bowles and family was a feast in every way imaginable!

New launches for Compagnie de Provence include a black-packaged luxury line, Edition Noire, while Original BTC showed new designs including a collection of metallic pendant lights, a rather raffish 60s-inspired desk light and amazingly textural bone china and prismatic glass table and pendant lights.

Gone Rural was part of the stunning Design Africa stand, with a collection of home accessories woven from mountain grass, recycled fabric and plastic bags - with the addition of home-made sequins, perfect for all you magpies out there!

We're chuckling away at the latest Christmas cards by young illustrator Hazel Bee. Hazel's quirky, line drawn characters and witty observations are heart warming and hilarious in equal measure. Hazel does away with the usual seasonal sentimentality, with Christmas greetings voiced by boozy angels, overstuffed turkeys, Christmas puds and our favourite rabbits, Ralph and Allen.

Hazel card's are made from recycled pulp card, printed with vegetable ink and packaged in biodegradable bags. You can buy them directly from www.hazelbee.co.uk - or drop us a line at info@portraitcommunications.com - tell us when your birthday is and you may just get lucky!

Christmas has come early at The Old Dairy!

We're in a festive mood thanks to a delivery from new client, online party and entertaining shop, Talking Tables.

We've got crackers, poppers, sparklers and games galore - here's us in our Daft Disguises. Who knew Rachel could look so fetching in a moustache?

If you love fireworks as much as we do, hands-down favourites will be the Talking Tables ice fountains - just pop one in a cake, light the top and stand back for a dazzling display of sparkling loveliness!

Mr T has nothing on us today - the Portrait girls are laden down with jewellery by new client Mirabelle. We think we've died and gone to heaven.

Rachel's loving the Harmonia bangle (pictured) and Jo thinks the cowrie bangle is the bee's knees.

Founded five years ago by Veronique Henry, Mirabelle's collection of hand-crafted, fair trade jewellery is synonymous with relaxed, easy glamour. Bridging the gap between high street and high end, Veronique's designs are characterised by a love of texture, form and natural materials.

If you've searched high and low for the perfect bangles or hoop earrings, you're sure to find what you're looking for amongst Mirabelle's accessibly-priced jewellery box essentials.

Don't forget to check out Mirabele's eclectic, fashion-led seasonal collections, including the stunning talisman-based Vega - someone buy Jo a Chakra ring NOW!! 

PORTRAIT CLIENTS ON THE HOME SHOW!

Have you been watching Channel 4's makeover programme, The Home Show, presented by architect George Clarke? We've been loving it, and according to The Independent's reviewer, we're not the only ones...

"It has to be admitted that George made the money go a long, long way. By the end of the show, the family had a house that looked exactly like you'd expect a house done over by an architect to look, and the rest of us had a post-crunch property show to gawp at every week. The Home Show was a sort of Grand Designs for normal people, and really rather soothingly watchable. Hurrah! Maybe the downturn won't be so grim after all."

Well, quite.

So we were thrilled when the Home Show decided to feature two of our clients on last night's episode - a red table light by British manufacturer Original BTC and design-lead natural bath and body care by Compagnie de Provence.

The Portrait showroom is ablaze with colour thanks to a delivery of beautiful handicrafts by the ladies of Gone Rural. Direct from Swaziland, the collection of hand-woven fairtrade bowls, trays, plates, placemats and table decorations is available for loans....contact us to see more!

We're delighted to be representing Harris & Jones. Founded by husband and wife team Steve Harris and Nessie Jones, Harris & Jones make hand-crafted decorative storage boxes for homes and offices. Using specially designed papers from Welsh printers Elanbach, Steve produces each piece by hand, covering boxes in a range of co-ordinating prints. Attention to detail is key: each box features a soft material base to avoid scratching surfaces while metallic card holders are manufactured in Birmingham in order to maintain 100% British production.

Steve and Nessie work and live in rural Aspley Heath with their two young daughters and Lisa the Labrador, using traditional craftsmanship and local sourcing to create a range of storage products that are as beautiful as they are useful.  

Cut out photography from British lighting manufacturer Original BTC is now available to download from the Portrait Gallery. Table, floor, wall and pendant lights are assembled in Oxford from hand-spun Sheffield aluminium, while bone china shades are hand-cast in Stoke-on-Trent. With their neat styling and instantly classic feel, Original BTC lights can be spotted in the chicest of interiors, from Paris' latest concept store, Merci, to Carrie Bradshaw's New York apartment, Kirstie's Home Made Home and the new Daylesford Organic cafe on Westbourne Grove. Original BTC lights are available in a range of finishes, from polished chrome to pleated  china and prismatic glass, in a classic palette of gold, silver, black, cream and red. Can't find what you're looking for? Drop us an email, we've got plenty more!