Let's get ready for Summer!!

We all love the Summer season - when the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, and we are ready to embrace the warmer weather and say goodbye to Spring (as lovely as it has been)!

We've got the Summer feeling, and although we have a few weeks to wait until it officially begins we can't wait to get into the garden, have summer picnics and make our favourite homemade lemonade!

What is the best thing you love about Summer?

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Happy Neighbour Day!

Today is a day to celebrate your neighbours, European Neighbour Day is all about the celebration and the friendship you share with your neighbours.

As a huge fan of the humble postcard at Ellie Ellie, we are encouraging people to send their neighbours a postcard or letter this week, even if it just say Hello, how are you! Whether you know your neighbours really well, or you have just moved into a new home and don't know them at all, this is a great opportunity to get to know them and say a big hello!

Keri Smith is an illustrator that has created a great project called Everything is Connected, which includes a book of 50 postcards that send you on a quest to reanimate everyday life and connect with people, we are going to be using this book to send our postcards to our neighbours!

We'll let you know how we get on!

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For the Dad who has everything...

If you're after something a bit more special than a pair of socks or gardening gloves for your Dad this Fathers Day,  a memorable personalised gift is all you need to make him smile! Ellie Ellie's Personalised Father Definition Watch is guaranteed make his day.

You can edit the definition to include what your Dad is known for, loves, and will answer to. Whether he's fanatical about cars, loves beer and football or known for dad dancing, you can add it onto the face of the watch so it's completely personal to you and him. To give an extra special gift that he will treasure, you can even add an engraved message on the back that means something to you both!

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Spring Activity: Painted Pebbles!

Getting outside is great now that the coldness of winter has been and gone. We've found a great activity for the kids (and big kids) to get up to on a Sunday spring afternoon! With pebble painting, you can get the kids involved in finding the pebbles, washing them and then designing some patterns to paint, draw or doodle on once they are dry! 

We've found some fun ideas to get your brains wurling, we particularly love the ladybirds and owls! 

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Ellie Ellie Wears - Festival Edition!

Festival season is fast approaching, so this weeks Ellie Ellie Wears provides a little guide to the essentials! Even though you're likely to get rather muddy, it's still important to look your best and that's what this years festival fashion is all about. This lightweight vest top with crochet detail from Joy paired with a pair of denim shorts makes for a casual but effortlessly cool look. And for the biggest music enthusiasts, our Music Score Sheet pendant Necklace is the perfect accessory go with it!

Any festival style wouldn't be complete without a bit of on-trend fringing - this Suede fringe backpack is great for carrying all your essentials, and small enough to take everywhere with you!

Vest top - Joy

Denim shorts - Rokit

Backpack - Topshop

Wellies & Sunglasses - Joules

Necklace  - Ellie Ellie

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining Friendship Bracelet - Ellie Ellie

What's on your festival checklist?

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Happy Pick Strawberries Day!

We love these little red fruits that are bursting with sweetness - with cream, in frozen yogurt or on top of a home baked pie - they are too good to resist. Today celebrates not eating strawberries, but picking them! They are of course only available in certain times of the year, but that time is fast approaching!

Why not go out as a family and visit one of the many Pick Your Own Farms around the country this summer? It's a great activity for everyone to get involved in, and encourage the kids to get their five-a-day! Once you've picked biggest and juiciest strawberries, there are many ways to enjoy them - with ice cream, melted chocolate, or making your own ice lollies!

You can find your nearest Pick Your Own farm here.

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The outdoor cinema experience!

If you're wondering how to make the most of the warm weather this summer, look no further than the increasingly popular open-air cinemas all around the UK. Developed from the drive-in experience, now anyone grab a deck chair, get some friends & family together and enjoy a classic film in the great outdoors!

There's lots to choose from, so we've put together a little list of the biggest & best outdoor cinemas this year:

The Luna Cinema - The UK's leading producer of open-air cinema events. From Breakfast at Tiffany's, to a Frozen Sing-along, there's something for everyone at number venues around the country. And with then highest quality equipment, you're guaranteed a brilliant experience!

Rooftop film club - The outdoor cinema with a twist! If you fancy something a bit more luxurious, London can offer just that in four different locations on the finest rooftops. As well as the film, enjoy the amazing views of the city while sitting back with a film themed cocktail!

Brighton's Big Screen - Thousands of people have flocked to Brighton Seafront over the past four years to watch the biggest blockbusters and live sporting events, with pop up restaurants and a beach themed bar to give visitors the best experience of an open air cinema! What better way to spend a summer evening than watching the best films on a gigantic 40sqm screen by the sea? Keep a lookout on their website for upcoming dates & times.

Which open-air cinema will you be heading to?

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Brighton Festival: Ellie's Ellie's picks! Part 2

We're halfway through one of Brighton's biggest celebrations of the year, and we haven't been disappointed! There's been something for everyone, from fancy dress and book-reading for kids, to plays and live music performances in the city's best-loved venues.

So what's in store for the last few days of one of the biggest highlights in the UK's event calendar?

Nina Conti: This Tuesday, for comedic fun for all the family, don't miss the ventriloquism talents of Nina Conti (along with her puppet friends of course). See a screening of her 'docu-mockumentary" her Master's Voice, alongside a live performance guaranteed to leave both adult and kids wanting more.

Carousel: What goes on at fairground after closing time? You'll find out in this enchanting journey through dramatic movement with an equally enticing soundtrack - meeting all the weird and wonderful characters along with way. For a breathtaking performance of energetic choreography and music, visit the Southpaw Dance company on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 to experience at atmosphere you won't find anywhere else. 

How We Used To Live: This is definitely one for history enthusiasts and vintage lovers. Narrated by Ian McShane, it's a film of rare footage of London from the fifties through to the eighties. See the transformation of England's capital and an insight into its developing nightlife, vehicles and housing. The brains behind the idea and who made it a reality are nineties band Saint Etienne and filmmaker Paul Kelly, who will be on hand to give a special treat to their viewers with a live performance of the intriguing soundtrack too!

www.ellieellie.co.uk 

DIY Garden Markers

Having time to get out in the garden is one of the great things about Spring, and getting into your vegetable growing can be a fun way to spend the afternoon. Watching your vegetables growing can be so rewarding and the kids can learn a lot about where their food comes from if you grown your own.

If you are embarking on a vegetable patch we have some great ideas for some vegetable markers that are simple to make and easy to do.

These ones have simply been made using sticks from the garden, peel away a slice of the bark and with a sharpie or permanent pen, write your chosen vegetables.

These ones have been made with old wine corks and forks, simply write your vegetables on the cork and stick into the fork! The twine is a lovely extra touch too! 

These are slightly more colourful (and could be more easily spotted) and have been painted using brightly coloured paint and pens! 

How do you mark your vegetable garden?

Trends: Have a striking summer!

We've all most likely started to make the transition in our wardrobes to a little more suitable for Summer. The jumpers & knits are put away to make way for short sleeved tops and floral dresses! But what styles, colours and shapes dominated London Fashion Week for Spring 2015? We've put together an easy guide to being bang on trend this season:

Stripes: Either horizontal, vertical or completely mismatched, this year you couldn't turn your head without being met with stripy garments or accessories. From a nautical feel at Preen to a more sleek & sporty look at Topshop Unique. And even Jonathan Saunders added a subtle nod to the stripe combined with print and contrasting textures.

Flats: If you don't fancy walking around in towering heels this summer, you're in luck. Flats were a big hit with designers far and wide, showing us that they can be dressed up or down for every occasion. Gothic-inspired with fur trim, colour blocked sandals and laced up pumps - the shoe game is extra strong this season, you'll be spoilt for choice!

Vibrance: The happiest of summer wardobes are those with a pop of colour! London Fashion week favorite Matthew Williamson included busy tropical prints on both dresses and top and bottom combos, while Roksanda went for asymmetrical, abstract style blocked pinks and blues. And who can't love Burberry's passionate watercolour-inspired prints with a touche of tulle?

The best of British designers offer us all we could ever want for this Spring and Summer. There's surely no print, size, shape or length missing from the diverse and inspiring collections - so whatever you choose to take from it, you'll undoubtedly leave a mark!

What will you be wearing this season? 

We Love Pastels!

Pastel colours are a huge trend this Spring and Summer, within jewellery and homeware. A popular trend is pastel colour blocking, which has become very prominent in peoples homes this season. Another area where this trend is becoming really popular is stationery and events, with many people adopting the pastel colour palette for their events, with their food as well as decor. We personally love the pastel trend (these dipped marshmallows and macarons look delicious).

We are excited to have launched our new Artist pencil necklace and cufflinks this season, in monochrome pastel shades, which look great dressed up or dressed down!

What pastel colours are you using in your home this Spring?

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Brighton Festival: Ellie Ellie's picks! Part 1

This year, the early May Bank Holiday Weekend is kicking off with a bang - marking the start of Brighton Festival! The highly anticipated event is now in it's 49th year, and from tomorrow until the 24th of the month, has plenty of amazing acts, art, and exhibitions to keep its growing reputation as one of the most exciting festivals in the UK for all ages to enjoy. 

When there's so much to do and see, it can be hard to decide where to begin! So this week we've chosen our top recommendations of what you definitely shouldn't miss in the coming days:

- Children's Parade: What better way to open a festival than with thousands of local children stepping out in extravagant and obscure costumes that they have designed and made just for the special event! Several schools from around the area get involved in the parade every year, with kids from infant to secondly school taking to the streets along with their teachers and parents. Always based on different subject, "taking flight" has been announced as the theme for 2015. From Kensington Street to Madeira Drive, you can expect some spectacular sights!

Louder than words - it wouldn't be Brighton Festival without some showstopping dance acts. This Sunday 3rd, The Cathy Walker Company brings us some explosive choreography alongside live instruments being played, with two talented dancers caught up in a complex and competitive dance-off! Taking place in Woodingdean Central Park, this is definitely where to go for some mesmerizing excitement for all the family.

A Morning with Jacqueline Wilson: On Sunday 10th, head down to the Brighton Dome Concert Hall where the best-selling author will be chatting about her work and novels, including how she created much loved characters such as Tracy Beaker and Opal Plumstead. Tickets are £6 and there is also the opportunity to purchase pre-signed books, as well as hear all about her brand new creation The Butterfly Club (which is her 101st novel!) for younger readers.

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