anna&sally in the UK
Posted on November 4, 2008
Filed Under News & Updates | Leave a Comment
When my friend Emma said to me she had discovered a new website she thought I might like (called www.notonthehighstreet.com), neither of us had any idea it would be such a perfect launching pad for anna&sally in the UK…yet here Anna & I are - albeit 18 months and 1 new baby each later - expanding into new territory with notonthehighstreet.com as a perfect partner.
Notonthehighstreet.com is a website set up by two friends, Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish, that represents talented small businesses, their high quality products and personal service. I love it because they only select the most gorgeous, stylish and unique small businesses (hence why we were thrilled to be selected!) so in one easy order you can choose a variety of lovely treats from Britain’s best small businesses- and not least you do not have to battle with shopping on the crowded (and more often than not, lacking in unique boutiques) High Streets!
So why are we expanding in the UK? As you have probably already read, Anna & I have a long history of pottering about together creating things. We did this primarily in the house we shared in Balmain, Sydney- painting old chairs, gardening, drawing, sewing, cooking, hosting dinner and birthday parties. We also naughtily used to love going for walks on dusk so we could admire and be inspired by the lovely gardens and interiors of our stylish neighbours!
Here we are now 10 years later still pottering about but living at opposite sides of the world, channelling our energies into anna&sally.
Having moved to the UK for ‘2-4 years’, my husband and I are now in year 8 of our temporary move and this year welcomed our own little British citizen, Max, to the family. Our plan is certainly to come back home one of these days but for now life is happy and settled in Hampshire after the hectic pace of London for many years. Perfect timing for my ’sea change’…
So, as Anna did when she and her family moved from Sydney to the beautiful South Coast of NSW, I am now following in her footsteps and growing the business, and family, here in the UK countryside.
Watch this space for more developments as our business grows…
Garden Glory: Author- Corrina Tough
Posted on November 4, 2008
Filed Under Inspiration, The Art of Relaxation | 1 Comment
I love gardening and you can find any number of books on the subject on my bookcase. The love affair began probably long before I was really able to understand the true meaning of it. As a small child I would sit at my Nanna’s feet knee deep in dirt and help her garden. She always encouraged me and looking back I realise I pulled out more plants than weeds but she was never cross. I treasure the time I spent with her as she taught me the way to nurture my environment and get pleasure from it (probably unintentionally).
There is so much that can be gained from gardening for both children and adults, such as exercise, fresh air and a sense of satisfaction. There is nothing as satisfying as growing herbs or flowers and fresh fruit and vegies, then picking the produce that was loved and tended to by your family. Having a beautiful garden helps the environment by creating eco systems for birds and insects while also providing a peaceful and calming place to be. It gives children a real sense of connectedness to their environment and also to the food they consume- seeing the process of growth from seed or seedling to mature plant and tasting the freshness of organic produce is a wonderful way for children experience nature.
Even very young babies can experience and learn in the garden as it is a stimulating environment for the senses, such as scrunching leaves, smelling flowers, digging and rolling in the grass. Gardening with your child is a special way to promote speech development through conversation, deepen your relationship and to foster an attitude of respect and care for the environment.
At the moment Ruby has been hassling me to revamp the old vege gardens that have been neglected, so I am working on building a raised garden bed which is based on the French idea of a ‘Potager’ which comes from ‘potage’ French for soup, as historically these gardens contained soup vegetables. Eventually, the term evolved to mean a kitchen garden where everything needed or the household was cultivated. This included flowers, herbs, fruit and vegies. I am quite slow at this but am enjoying the process and hope to keep you updated on my progress with some happy snaps.
My can’t live without garden kit
6. Garden fork, trowel, spade, rake
