Easter..... more than just chocolate

We are always being asked for ideas for Easter gifts as an alternative to chocolate - so here are our top 10

At 10 From the award winning range "Birdy" by Cubic these cute egg cups - a set of four featuring british birds Thrush, Wagtail, Blue Tit and Robin this lovely gift comes in a beautifully illustrated box!

Birdy Egg Cups £17.95

At 9 These snugly slippers called Ruby Rabbit are irresistible they are made in Kathmandu by shaping the wool with soap and water by hand pressure, no chemicals are used during this process. The Tibetan lambs wool is first carded and then dyed into different shades, the pigments used are all environmentally friendly.

Presented in an organic cotton drawer string pouch!
................particularly relevant this year as the arctic conditions continue..........

Ruby Rabbit Slippers £22.50

At 8 - Any special occasions this Easter - Weddings?  House warming?  For a very special gift this Easter - how about this vase by Rob Ryan with the wonderful wish from the flowers 

Please smell us!

Rob Ryan Vase £39.50

At 7 The wild bird "Matilda Hen" What a great bird! With cream unruly feathers and a red crest on the top of her head, we think she is a quirky addition to the fabulous Jellycat range!

Not recommended for children under 1 year - due to fibre shedding

"Matilda Hen" by Jellycat £14.50

At 6 Easter is traditionally a time to get out in the garden and get on with all those spring jobs - for those of you brave enough to brave the garden this weekend your'll need a nice cuppa to warm you up!  "Listen to the world" Enamel Cup

Rob Ryan Enamel Cup £9.95

And for the top 5

At 5 More Egg cups these colourful eggcups from PiP studio have a nest of eggs inside - so cute!

PiP Studio Egg Cups £3.95

At 4 Continuing the Egg cup theme - Our featured Artist for Spring is Rob Ryan.  "Happy Egg" has the lovely sentiment -" this Egg will be enough....as long as I still have you!" This beautiful gift comes as a set of 3 in Rob Ryan's signature gift packaging.

Happy Egg Set of 3 Egg Cups £17.50

At 3 Baking is a current national obsession so how about making some easter egg crispie cake nests?  These nesting cake tins are the perfect presentation!

Birdy Small Nesting 3 Tins £12.95

At 2 Easter wouldn't be Easter without the Easter Bunny right?  This adorable bashful bunny from Jellycat will make a great gift to be loved - for a very long time!

Bashful Bunny £8.50

And finally at number 1 - Our top favourite Gift for Easter is this Bunny Night Light.  An absolute winner of a gift and a great alternative to a chocolate Egg!

Bunny Night Lite £4.95

Wishing All our customers a very happy Easter our opening hours are:

Good Friday Open 11am-4pm
Saturday Open 10am - 6pm
Easter Sunday Closed
Easter Monday Closed

Archway N19 & Tufnell Park - Coaster Giver Away

The Archway N19 and Tufnell Park coasters have been enormously successful - so much so we are adding new neighbourhoods all the time - Kentish Town will be in store soon!  

As you know we love Archway almost as much as you do - and since most of customers live locally we decided we'd like to give away some coasters in return for a review on google map!

So what to do if you'd like to take up this offer is:
For our shop customers:

Please come in (and take advantage of out 20% "Happy Birthday" discount - tell us you have written a review of map gift shop - we will check your review and give you a coaster absolutely free with your purchase.

For our online customers:

Please write your google account name and which coaster you would like to have in the comment  box in our shopping cart when you purchase - then we will pop a coaster in with your purchase!

The way to write a review on google+

1. You need to login with your google account.
2. Search "map gift shop archway" on google map or click the direct link
3. Find "write a review" button on the top right side, like the image below.

Thank you for all your help and hope you will enjoy our special coaster!

Celebrating 20 Years in Archway!

Happy Birthday to us!

We have been in Archway for 20 Years – and to kick off our Birthday celebrations we are having a massive 20% off everything YES EVERYTHING Sale until the 6^th April, as a thank you to our loyal customers many of whom have become friends over the years.

We have major news about some big changes at our little corner shop which we have been secretly planning for almost a year - so watch this space over the next few days and we will spill the details of our new look for the next 20 years!  

It's beginning to feel a lot like.....Spring

Rob Ryan's designs are delightfully spring like, full of joy and optimism.  Wistful and whimsical, he freely admits his pictures and stories are unashamedly sentimental. 

I really love his reinterpretation of the classic antique Staffordshire pairs which were exhibited last year at Charleston - the bohemian home of the Bloomsbury group.  Rob Ryan was inspired by the work of the Omega workshops as a student in the early eighties - the influence of their subtle palette and spontaneous use of pattern,  as well as their broad approach to the decorative arts is reflected in his own work and philosophies.

“What I saw with my own eyes was all I needed to know. Amongst that (quite crudely) painted and decorated furniture, screens and ceramics was a joy in making that I just didn’t see in the contemporary art of the eighties that surrounded me.”

He has collaborated with many different artists & designers as diverse as Lulu Guiness and Paul Smith.  At map gift shop we are delighted to stock his range developed with Wild & Wolf and his card range by Roger La Borde!

The "Four Seasons" Set of 4 Plates makes a great gift - especially for weddings or spring birthdays.  Each plate depicts the season through the cycle of a tree- with words typically sentimental quotations, and packaged in a stylish branded box.

"Four seasons Plates" £29.95

Perfect for some spring blooms - this lovely vase stating the flowers wish "Please Smell Us.........."

Rob Ryan Vase - Please smell us £39.50

And my personal favourite - who wouldn't want to save their pennies for a rainy day in this delightful money box?

Money Box £20.95

Perfect for Mother's Day

Even if it has now turned all grey and dreary, Spring is just around the corner.....Mums would really love one of these cheerful scarves to brighten up their Spring wardrobe!

We love this new twist on the iconic skull print - intricate patterns - day of the dead inspired skull design in this seasons must have colour - tangerine!

Tangerine Skull Print scarf £10.95

Or the  more muted pastel pink colourway......

Pink Skull Print Scarf £10.95

Wow them with this vivid green and purple version.......

Cotton Green and Purple Scarf £10.95

Spring Birds on a Turquoise Blue Background......

Turquoise Birds £10.95

Wow with this bright green colourway......

Veridian Bird Scarf £10.95

Dazzle with these vivid florals.......

Hot Pink Floral £10.95

Turquoise Floral £10.95

Play it safe with the "Lucky Cat" Design

Cat Print Scarf £10.95

"Every Cloud has a silver Lining" Gifts for Mum this Sunday

Guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone's face this Mother's Day.  We love these new make-up and Wash Bags from Disaster Designs.  With clever attention to detail, print and applique and scripted sayings...........

Make up Bag £20.95

Go the extra mile and pop in a lip balm or 2 from our "what's your tipple?" range!

Earl Grey Lip Balm £6.50

Earl Grey Lip Balm £6.50

"Shower me with love" Wash bag £24.95

Go the extra mile and pop in a couple of products

Rose & Neroli Body wash £14.95

Rose & Neroli Body Lotion £15.95

New Birdy Tea Towels - Mum will love

Wagtail and Thrush Tea Towel £12.95

Washing up is clearly not exclusively for Mothers, but let's face it most Mums do more than their fair share.  Brighten up this boring task with these fun and springlike Tea Towels new in store from the award winning "Birdy" design range by Magpie

Blue Tit and Robin Tea Towel£12.95

Mother's Day - Treat your Mum on March 10th

If you are looking for something a little less predictable this year for mother's day - watch this space. We have loads of new product ranges in that hit the right note.

This quirky range from Bath House is the latest addition to our toiletry range - based on favourite beverages - what's your tipple of choice?

Gin and Tonic Lip Balm £6.50

Gift Set including Rose Tea Bath Soak & Salts and Bucks Fizz Bath Salts £25.95

For a little luxury..............

Pink Champagne Lip Balm £6.50

Cocktail Hour........

Fancy a nice cuppa?

Earl Grey Lip Balm £6.50