Let's Go Fly A Kite!

It is believed that the Kite originated in  China over 2000 years ago - how wonderful to think that we still honour and enjoy the tradition of kite flying today! Festivals and events are held around the world  every year to celebrate it. 

                           

Whether you're an avid kite flyer or are wanting to give it a try for the first time, there are plenty of opportunities of for it across the UK this summer!

We found a great website, kitecalendar.co.uk, which is frequently updated with all the places and dates you can join in in the world of kits! Some events are focused on professional flyers that provide exciting entertainment with giant kites of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Other allow you to take your own kite along, get flying or meeting others to give you tips and tricks! 

www.ellieellie.co.uk

Ellie Ellie wears - Summer Scoop!

In true summery style, this weeks Ellie Ellie Wears is inspired by one of our favorite things about the season - Ice Cream! With Mint and pinkish Strawberry shades, we have a lovely little satchel and t-bar sandal shoes to go with this super fun French Farm Print Cotton Sleeveless Shirt Dress  - the perfect balance of casual and classy for a garden party or BBQ! For some contrast of print, go for our Map Personalised Charm Pendant to wear it with. To make an even bolder, sixties-inspired statement, throw on a pair of coloured-frame sunglasses!

Dress - Lowie

Sunglasses - Topshop

Shoes - Orla Kiely

Satchel - Cambridge Satchel Company

Necklace - Ellie Ellie

Stud Earrings - Ellie Ellie

Picnic Essentials

Summer wouldn't be complete without a few sunny picnics in the garden or a lovely park, but have you made checklist for what to take with you? If you haven't, not to worry! At Ellie Ellie we have all the supplies for your picnicking needs!

Our Check Recycled Wool Blanket Rug has many uses indoors and out - its perfect for you and family to sit on while enjoying the food and drink! Will you choose a colour weave or go for the Surprise Me option? Each rug is individually spun, so whichever you choose, it will be one of a kind!

Easy to clean, light and durable, our range of enamelware is a must have! Including bowls and plates, and a traditional teacan for easily transporting your choice of drink! With a lovely vintage feel, these items are guaranteed to add a simple but delightful style to your picnic!

www.ellieellie.co.uk/

Ellie Ellie Wears - Wimbledon

This years Wimbledon tournament is well underway, but what our about our outfits? With the likes of Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham often spotted in the crowd, we can't help but take and share a few style tips for attending one of Britain's biggest sporting events!

Jumpsuits were all over the catwalk at London Fashion Week for Summer - make it denim and you have a perfect on-trend piece for your wardrobe.

 The weather should really be heating up now, so a pair of Sandals is a must, and this super cute boater hat with polka dot band from Beyond Retro can take the look from two weeks of tennis to a summer barbecue or pub garden!

Jumpsuit  -Whistles

Hat - Beyond Retro

Sandals - Clarks

Tote Bag - Cath Kidston

 Make A Wish Earrings & Necklace -  Ellie Ellie

What would you wear to Wimbledon?

www.ellieellie.co.uk

Fruity Summer Treat!

We got into the kitchen this week to muster up a refreshingly summer recipe, which is so simple to make anyone will be able to do it. Using just three ingredients we made some cool raspberry frozen yogurt. All you need to make this recipe is frozen fruit (of your choice, we've heard strawberry also tastes delicious), greek yogurt and a tiny amount of honey.

The method is also very simple too, simply measure out 250g of frozen fruit (make sure your fruit is frozen before making) and 250g of greek yogurt. Also get the honey out of the cupboard, you'll only need 1 tablespoon.

Put all the ingredients into a mixing bowl or food processor and whiz up for 30 seconds until all the ingredients are mixed. 

Not only does it look delicious, it tastes delicious too, it's such a quick and easy little snack, lovely to watch Wimbledon this coming week or when it gets too hot outside!

What Summer recipe will you be making? Have you made any yummy recipes using fruit this Summer? 

Feeling Rosy

The Rose is the birth month flower of June, and at a time when the weather is heating up, our style often changes to match. But it''s not just clothes that we can adapt to sunnier and warmer days. Giving a shimmery and fresh look, we've spotted a huge jewellery trend this summer  - Rose Gold.

Its the perfect colour tone to go with almost any outfit, and we've got several head-turning pieces of Rose Gold Jewellery within our beautiful British Idiom range!

You'll find something for every occasion in this collection - whether it be an encouraging good luck gift for a friend, a thoughtful token of love for a family member or just a little treat to yourself! View our full British Idiom range here.

https://www.ellieellie.co.uk/

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?

www.ellieellie.co.uk

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.

www.ellieellie.co.uk

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?

www.ellieellie.co.uk

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? 

Crossing the teas project - Volunteer and visit!

It’s no secret that the British love a good cup of tea, but who ever though it was a fact worth exploring to the extent of an art project? From this month until June, ART;sync; a network of creative professionals, are building a collection of memories based purely on the concept of drinking tea.

Funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, ART;sync have partnered up with several Brighton-based associations to bring us a fascinating study of the tradition that so many of us simply see as an every day part of life! From a cuppa and cake on an afternoon with friends to the celebrations during Iranian New Year, the project involves nine groups of people with varied cultures and backgrounds hosting their very own tea party. The stories captured will then be on display in Jubilee Library from 22nd June until 16th July 2015.  It's also a chance to see some beautiful and historical crockery from around the world, as well as the stories behind them!

Sound interesting? Good news! The organisation, whose vision is to "mainstream cultural diversity in the arts", is accepting volunteers to get involved right now!. They are on the lookout for Memory Collectors, Community Heritage Facilitators, and Photographic Assistants. So if you're handy with a camera, fancy gathering stories or just looking to find out more about the whole idea, head over to ART:sync to find out more!

The best of Summer!

There was a lot happening in the Summer months at Ellie Ellie, moving offices and a mammoth 13 mile midnight walk being only a couple of them. We thought we would take time to reflect on the  best bits of Summer in pictures!

We had great fun on our Summer photoshoot, where we prepared a yummy picnic and homemade lemonade to put in our recycled glass dispenser!

Our midnight walk was challenging at times, specially when the rain started when we were gearing up for our last 3 miles! A 4.30am finish was definitely worth it for the Martlets Hospice!

Being included in Notonthehighstreet.coms new book was a great achievement for Ellie Ellie this summer! As well as being selected to go on the Partner Panel at their annual Make Do & Meet Event!

The arrival of our Ellie Ellie aprons got everybody very excited, as well as posing for our staff photoshoot with our summer props!

Winning the Online Business Award at the Sussex Women of the Year Awards was a highlight of the summer!

What were the highlights of your summer?

Ellie Ellie Wears

It's the start of September, and although August is behind us, that doesn't mean that we have to wrap up straight away. We are optimistic that the sunshine will stay with us (as reports suggest it may be here to stay for another 12 weeks) and this weeks outfit reflects this positivity, we are not ready to give up on the summer just yet. It may be the last time we get to wear shorts but lets hope Winter doesn't arrive too quickly.

This denim shirt from Rokit works well with these printed shorts from Lowie, with a fun retro print they are perfect for the Summer. The denim shirt can alternatively be teamed with jeans or a skirt or thrown over a dress! Finish off the outfit with these leather boat shoes from Bertie for a cool summer outfit. Our new Lucky Sixpence Date Coin Pendant works really well with this relaxed look, which you can customise with a special date.

Denim top - Rokit

Print shorts - Lowie

Leather boat shoes - Bertie

Sixpence necklace - Ellie Ellie

Garlic Garlic Garlic!

We wrote about the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival last year, and this year we finally got to go! We set off on the Ferry to the Isle of Wight to the islands biggest summer show. We saw a number of cookery demonstrations, of course all using the vital ingredient - garlic! As well as the giant garlic marquee, with was full to the brim of all kinds of garlic in every shape and size!

There is also so much to do with the family, with activities and fun for the kids and live music and delicious food!

If you get the chance to go next year, go! We will give you a little reminder before the festival so you don't miss it!

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival!