Sunday 29 March 2015

No Sugar Easter Egg Hunt!


We're jumping on the latest fad - no sugar diets......but Easter Egg Hunts are such fun right? So we are having our own no sugar version......hidden around our window display (but not so hard that they can't be seen from outside) are a number of eggs.......How many can you see?  

Pop down with the kid's this week and get them to look really carefully - pop into the shop and complete an entry form with your answer......or tweet it to @mapgiftshop #EasterEggHunt (you are allowed to enter without a child to help!)

All the winning entries will be entered into a draw and the winner picked at random on Saturday 4th April!  What do you win?  No not chocolate!  The winner will receive a £30 map gift shop voucher to spend on whatever you like!  

Saturday 28 March 2015

ASOS move over! Exclusive map gift shop jewellery features on The Ladykillers!

Obviously not the Alec Guiness classic, filmed down the road in Kings Cross, but the new BBC documentary The Ladykillers Pest Detectives 8pm Thursdays.  



Imogen (one of our favourite customers and long term friend of map gift shop) caused a continuity crisis modelling some of our finest classic necklaces - you'll have to watch it carefully (even if it does make you itch!)  




Come and have a look at our silver and semi-precious stone jewellery, made by map  - sometimes even with my own nimble fingers!  They make the perfect easy to wear gift and what's more - you can't buy them anywhere else!


Friday 20 March 2015

The Toy Project

You may have seen that for the last 2 weeks we have been collecting used and new toys for The Toy Project.  Once again we have been overwhelmed by your amazing generosity!  Jane from The Toy Project has been equally delighted with the quality of the toys you gave us and has sent some pictures with some insight as to how the toys will be used in their new homes.  
This is quality stuff! Lovely to be able to use this with the grieving kids. Many & huge thanks!


One of the charities that The Toy Project support is Caris Islington

"We are amazed by the generosity of all the supporters of the Toy Project. Our charity works with children who have been bereaved - mostly children who have lost a parent - so we use all sorts of toys in the play therapy we do. We are SO grateful to you all at the toy project. It's been fantastic receiving the toys your supporters have been sending us. Your project is supporting us in a completely practical and useful way and we can't thank you enough. Lucky us that you are up and running in such a powerful way! Lydia, Caris Islington"

Other donations have been re-homed with PramDepot, the Ifor Ward at the Royal Free and Ambler Primary School!

A huge thank you to all those who donated!  

p.s. I was secretly delighted to see that my teenage heart-throb Jason Donovan has been a supportive patron of TheTOYProject since day one.  He regularly donates personal items that they auction to raise funds.  Those of us "of a certain age" will understand my inexplicable excitement at his fan twitter RT's and following the success of our collection!


Monday 16 March 2015

Great News

We have been selected as a finalist in The Greats Gift Retailer Awards!
We are definitely on a roll - first Time Out Love london award for best shop and now....It's official!  map gift shop is one of the best gift retailers in the UK




All retail finalists were decided as a result of an industry-wide poll of gift suppliers, reps and agents and validation by a panel of experts.

"These dedicated awards for gift retailers have risen immeasurably in status over the years and are now universally acknowledged as being true accolades of excellence," commented Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home. "Being selected as a finalist is a fantastic achievement. There was a huge entry this year, with some outstanding, first class entries."

The winners of this year’s prestigious gift retailing awards  - The Greats 2015 – will be revealed at an Awards lunch at the glamorous Savoy Hotel in London on Thursday May 7 - we'll keep you posted.







Friday 13 March 2015

Exit through the Gift Shop

Jen Pedlar 'Queen of Archway' and dear friend of map gift shop is leading a series of guided walk titled 'Archway my Way'  over the next few months.


"I’ve lived in Archway for over thirty years. Let me show you my manor!" 
Archway is in the throes of regeneration; its brutalist tower is in the process of being re-clad and turned into flats, the controversial gyratory system is soon to be abolished. But this is just another chapter in Archway's long history.


left.  archway tower in full brutalist glory, centre.  archway tower now shrouded during cladding, right. archway tower of the future.
On this walk you will, see the place where Dick Whittington famously turned again.  Learn why a bridge was built where there should have been a tunnel.  Hear why priests disguised themselves to buy a pub.  Stand on a point that's at the same level as the top of the dome of St Paul's & get fabulous panoramic views from some of the highest points in London.


Left.  map gift shop in 1904 and 2014 right top Whittington's cat right centre. views from Archway Bridge, right bottom Archway Bridge (also known as suicide bridge)

And what's more..... if you fancy a bit of retail therapy, this is possibly the only guided walk that exits through the gift shop

This circular walk starts at Archway tube station (meet in the ticket hall) and lasts about two hours - you can book tickets through eventbrite!  We'll post more information about future dates soon!

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Mother's Day - Sunday 15th March


PiP Studio have launched a new range and we love it!  It has a surreal dreamlike quality to the design which juxtaposes vintage elements in a uniquely contemporary way with gold details too - it is a very special design Mum will treasure for years! See the full range here


1.  Tropical Flower Tea Lights by Thang Tho £6.00
2.  Wine Makes Mummy Clever £4.99
3.  You're Beautiful - Don't Change Luxury Soap Bar £3.95
4.  For Mum by the Kids £5.00
5.  Super Mum Candle £9.50
6.  PiP Studio Royal PiPland Jug 29.95
7.  PiP Studio Royal PiPland Cup & Saucer 15.95
8.  The Most, Most special Mother £9.50
9.  Best Mum Peruvian Rosewood Candle 11.95

Or how about instead of a traditional bunch of flowers - you get just one huge one? from £13.50




Wednesday 4 March 2015

World Book Day - we choose our favourite books from the shop

World Book Day is now almost upon us, with schools everywhere putting the finishing touches to their plans of events and activities to celebrate the art of reading, and literature as a whole.  Bookselling has become a surprise new growth area for us, so I asked everyone at map gift shop to pick their favourite book from the shop for World Book Day!



1. 'Friends are Cheaper than Therapy' - Cath Tate chosen by Ian

Cheer up!  Your friends love you – they really do!

Cath Tate brings you over 50 beautifully tinted vintage photos, each paired with the perfect witty caption to reveal your friends as they really are.  Designed to lift your spirits and remind you what friendship is all about, this hilarious book is for kindred spirits everywhere.


2.  Enza chose 'The Lazy Leopard' By Nina Dogmetchi "because of how beautifully it is illustrated and the sentiment of the story. It can be enjoyed by all ages." 

This is a stunning hardcover book by local Artist Nina Dogmetchi, an uplifting modern day fable - it is a story about the importance of dreams, change, and becoming your true self. read more and enjoy Nina's video here.

3. Roisha chose the amazing 'Ocean' Photicular "because the imagery is very clever - the creatures move and look amazingly life-like!" - What a great choice!

The reader is swept into the magic of an underwater world, face-to-face with a floating Yellow-Banded Sweetlips; with a glow-in-the-dark Deep-Sea Anglerfish; with a Sea Horse swaying in balletic motion; with a Sand Tiger Shark gliding along the ocean floor, its gaze haunting, its hook-toothed mouth gulping open and closed. The text by Carol Kaufmann enchants with its descriptions of coral reefs; a journey on Alvin, the 17-ton submersible; and a meditation on our oceans.  The Photicular process uses an innovative lenticular technology, sliding lenses, and original four-colour video imagery. The result is like a movie in your hands the dance of life in a book. 

4. Declan strives to 'Do one thing every day that scares you' (inspiring advice attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt!)

This journal offers an inspiring quote, activity, or prompt for every day of the year, with space to contemplate your own fears and acts of bravery, big and small. The journal is undated and can be started at any point in the year. In the face of everyday uncertainty, it provides a daily dose of courage from famous writers, leaders, athletes, artists, and other daring figures.


And me?  Well I can't resist the opportunity to revisit Camden Lock and Market by Caitlin Davies.  Featuring our very own Ian Morris in the 80's.  Full of both character and characters…If you know the market well, and witnessed much of its short but eventful history, you will savour every sentence!

Sunday 1 March 2015

Toy Collection for The Toy Project - 1st March - 14th March

You may remember just before Christmas we helped the Islington Met Police collect over 300 gifts to be given to children in care across the borough!  We were bowled over by your generosity and so when we were approached by The TOY Project earlier this year - we knew that we'd like to help again!


The TOY project provides basic support tools for children across the UK who have lost a family member or friend. Every year in the UK over 20,000 children under the age of 18 experience the death of a parent – that is around 60 children and young people bereaved of a mother or father every day.

The Toy Project RECYCLE unwanted and un-needed toys, With no government support they rely solely on the support of the public. These could be toys to use in play therapy to help children open up about their feelings or simply a teddy bear to comfort them at night. So here's where you come in!  Spring clean your toy cupboards, all the toys your children may have enjoyed but outgrown can be recycled and given a new loving home. 


Please bring your bags & boxes of Toys into the shop before the 14th March, when we will hand over to the TOY project.