Three Hundred Thanks! - We have launched a new card!

As a thank you to our loyal customers, and friends who have supported us into our 3rd decade in Archway, we have launched a map gift shop "membership card", and we'd like to giveaway 300 points when you sign up for our card - that is £3 discount off your next shop!

The points collected are converted into cash discounts - crickey, if we think you've accumulated loads, then we can email you and invite you to come and shop for free! (although you'll be able to cash in your points at any time you wish!)

There’s so much to look forward to, every time you shop with us you will collect more points, you will be the first to hear about exclusive discounts and offers.   As a member you will receive Invitations to our Private Views, and exclusive seasonal events such as the Christmas Preview Party (for those planning ahead this will be on Thursday 27th & Friday 28th November). Direct access to product launches as well as collection & seasonal gift updates.  Look out too for some fun competitions for the kids and spontaneous flash sales.

Why not have a browse online mapgiftshop.com now and then pop instore to register and collect your 300 points with our thanks!

Featured Artist - Nina Dogmetchi

How excited were we this week to take delivery of our first order of a wonderful book and to hear the uplifting story from its' creator about how she is 'living her dream'?

Nina Dogmetchi has lived in Archway for most of her life - It was an absolute pleasure to have her work at map gift shop briefly back in 2000.   Since then her career has taken her on an exciting and colourful journey through textile designer in New York, Artist in Residence at Eton College to Graphic Designer at 2 major sportswear labels in Germany.

In 2013 Nina took the daring decision to quit her job at Adidas and set up her own company Imagination Illustrated.  In January this year Nina made a Kickstarter pledge to help fund a small run of "The Lazy Leopard" a book she had both written and illustrated.

"The Lazy Leopard is a story about the importance of dreams, change, and becoming your true self. The Lazy Leopard loves to live his life through his dreams... he sleeps for so long that his beautiful colorful spots drift up and turn to distant stars.


Often in life it can be hard to join our dreams with reality, we can find ourselves lost, realising we are not the colourful leopard we once were... In the story the Lazy Leopard finally makes the effort to change and with the help of his friends he is painted with new spots and ready to live his dreams out for real."

In March 2014 the project was fully funded and Nina's dream became reality with the first limited edition run of The Lazy Leopard in hardcover!  This modern day fable is beautifully illustrated in Nina's distinctive style.  Her prints, cards and other illustrations are for sale on her own online shop, read more about her inspiring story and see more of her work here! Her notebooks and hardcover copies of  "The Lazy Leopard" are on sale instore and online at map gift shop here.  

Click on the photo to watch Nina's charming little movie

Nina is currently working on her next book  'The Bird who Swallowed the Moon' - we can't wait!

Bleeding London - We're in are you?

The London Region of the Royal Photographic Society is inviting Londoners, and visitors to the capital to participate in one of the most ambitious photo projects that the capital has ever seen – to photograph every street in London.  Based on the Whitbread short-listed novel, Bleeding London by Geoff Nicholson ( the ultimate read for any London freak. Nicholson describes the enormousness and enormity of London with a mix of pleasure and disgust as the character Stuart  walks every street in the trusty A-Z, crossing them out as he goes along!)  The RPS are challenging Londoners and visitors to follow in the footsteps of Stuart London and cover the entire A to Z documenting their journey as they go! One of our customers Jen Pedler - local resident and local historian has risen to that challenge and has now succeeded in photographing every street in N19.  If that wasn't enough of a challenge she has been blogging about her journey with witty ramblings and musings about the streets she has walked.  Her posts are packed with amusing insights, local information and historical references (click here to see her blog in full)

"Archway town centre was decimated in the '60s by the creation of the gyratory. There was much protest but gyratories were in fashion then so it went ahead, with much demolition involved, including some early C19 almshouses just east of Archway Road.  What Philistines planners were in the '60s!

Now, 50 or so years later, it's going to be all change again. Much to everyone's relief, after years of campaigning, the hated gyratory is to be abolished. The sins of the fathers...? But then, abolishing gyratories is fashionable these days....."

Jen's blog features loads of interesting photographs - I'd never noticed this house - number 32 1/2 Bickerton Road! 

The genius positioning of McDonalds.

I also liked this one amusingly titled "Alcoholic Reflections" featuring our fellow traders Theatre of Wine.

Jen has now moved on to photographing N6 and is continuing her blog.  She has promised an instalment on Junction Road later in the series - we're really looking forward to it!

The Royal Photographic Society is hoping to have covered all the streets by the end of October, with a view to a major exhibition and book in 2015.

If you are interested in participating - another local photographer Gandha Key has been requesting help with the 180 odd streets of N7!  if you can help sign up with Bleeding London here!