The Result Post

Thanks so much for all the pics of your fabulous Christmas Trees, it filled our hearts with such joy to see that your Festive Spirit is so strong (and stable) despite the political shenanigans that have dominated the news in the run up to our favourite time of year.  We have  bucked the high street trend of doom and gloom and really enjoyed all the positivity from our wonderful clientele and community.

We carefully considered all the entries and we all were unanimous that this entry from Claudia was a clear winner of the £50 voucher.  We loved the sense of humour, the vintage baubles mixed with new, we even spotted our very own Amy Winehouse bauble too.

We awarded 2 other winners £25 vouchers each too.  The first was this stunning entry from Bobby.  We recognised many of the iridescent clear and frosty white baubles which have obviously been collected over many years......but what made it so special was the 'Love is Love' rainbow heart from this years collection which I think was a super stylish and genius contrast to the frosty white subtlety. 

Finally there is this entry from Arabella, we have awarded her tree a worthy winner of our 2nd £25 Voucher!  It's the sheer fun of the whole scene, including the intriguing exit right of a 'real' reindeer????  

We'd love to see his face Arabella!

Thanks again to everyone who sent us pictures, we have really enjoyed seeing our decorations and treasured decorations used to such creative effect.

Have a very Happy Festive Holiday.

Ian & Kathryn

Cute Gifts for Cute Kids and all under £15

Christmas Tree Competition - £50 up for grabs!

25th Anniversary Christmas Tree Competition

Have you decorated your Christmas Tree?  Now that the season is well and truly festively underway we have launched our annual competition.

We love seeing all the creativity and festive fun inspired by our Christmas Decorations each year.  There are two £25 vouchers up for grabs and a £50 voucher, star prize as well.

We have really enjoyed the innovative community art projects this year (have you seen the Whitehall Park Living Advent Calendar) and we know that not everyone has space for a large tree.  With that in mind this year we are awarding extra points for imagination and creativity.  So as well as Christmas Trees - do send us pics of your alternative Christmas creations, themes and displays.

You can fill in our contact form and attach pics here.

Secret Santa - Cheap & Cheery Gift Ideas for the Office Secret Santa

Secret Santa gifts should be quirky, fun and shouldn't cost too much.  Here's is our 'go to' collection of ideas (many under £10) which are full of festive spirit.

1.  Mr Rugged Hair & Body Wash £7.75
2.  Mr Perfect Soap £6.95
3.  Mr Manly Soap £6.95
4.  Veggie & Vegan London £9.99
5.  Vladimir Putin:  Life Coach £9.99
6.  Jeremy Corbyn Annual £9.99
7.  The Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump £9.99
8.  Mr Pefect Hair & Body Wash £7.95
9.  Amber Bath Essence £16.95
10.Amber Hand Cream £11.95
11.Total Eclipse of the Fart Lav Mist £10.95
12.Get a Load of these Whiskers Socks £10.50
13.I'm Not Bossy Oven Glove £12.95
14.Zen - Pencils £6.95
15. Awesome Stickers £6.95

We're in ......Shop Small with Amex

We're in - check out who else is in N19.

To give a little something back, Amex encourages their Cardmembers to Shop Small with local businesses each year.  When they spend £10 or more at a participating small business from 1 - 16 December 2018, they will receive a £5 credit back.

Putting Small Businesses in the spotlight.  Shop Small is dedicated to supporting small businesses who do big things for their local communities.

Stasi Salons Archway 75-77 Junction Road, Archway, N19 

Battenburg Badger, 706 Holloway Rd, London N19 3NL

Bread & Bean, 37 Junction Rd, London N19 5QU

Pink is the new Black! - Double Loyalty Points this Friday

Pink is the new Black!   You won't find any Black Friday Deals at Map Gift Shop BUT we are giving away double points on your Loyalty Accounts all day Friday 23rd November.....so for each pound you spend you will receive 8 points on your account (the equivalent of 8% cashback).  You'll also be greeted with smiles and free gift-wrapping as usual (don't worry about bringing your card....just mention your name and we will find you).

New this Christmas; A brand new collection of Celebration Crackers to make your Christmas Day a cracking event! Brand new collection of Toiletries and Candles from the Luxury Brand Ortigia, London Underground LightBox - with the option to personalise the stations, our bigger than ever London range of decorations, quirky fun socks which make great Secret Santa Gifts, and a brand new Archway and Beyond range of products with detailed Ordnance Survey maps. Click on the images below to go to the website page. We look forward to seeing you soon. Ian and Kathryn

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Six Sassy Seasonal Themes

We are very proud to unveil our six sassy seasonal themes to adorn your homes this Christmas.  We hope you have as much fun browsing as we have had choosing them.  Take a look at the individual themes or browse the full collection here.

1. Modern Icons

2. London, Windsor and Balmoral

3. Celestial - For all you stargazers!

4. Woodland Felted Animals

5. Wonderland - Alice and Friends

6. Global Celebration 

Dia de los Muertos

Day of the Dead festivities unfold over two days at the start of November, in an explosion of colour and life-affirming joy. The theme is of course death, but celebrations are joyous in demonstrating love and respect for deceased family members. Throughout Mexico, revellers wear colourful makeup and costumes, often skull or skeleton themed and hold parades and parties, sing, dance, and make offerings to lost loved ones. 

We have for a long time loved the colour and imagery of the day of the dead, and we are really pleased this year to have sourced some Mexican Artifacts to celebrate this intriguing festival.  Ana Maria Araujo has introduced us to a carefully curated collection of traditional Oxaqueña Art made from polychrome clay with intricate designs;  Tree of Life Candelabra, Mariachi Dancers and Catrina and Frida figures.

The shop is splendidly full to the brim with tin decorations, tin mirrors, niches and sugar skull decorations. 

 

Let's get cosy!

Scarves have become a wardrobe essential and they are as easy on the eye as they are on your wallet. With Autumn well on its way, this fun accessory can change the look of an outfit in one second, and keep you a little bit warmer in this transitional season.  They make great gifts too!  You can never have enough scarves right?  or is that handbags?
We have a brand new collection of scarves in store that we are sure you will love; we've even found some great ones which work for both men and women.  

The Roka bag is back - new colours and fantastic new roll top design.

Our new season knitwear is proving a huge success with the first delivery of this Rainbow jumper (together with our new boiled wool coats) selling out as soon as we had received it - but fear not we have the boiled wool coats back in store including this brand new Teal  and we are expecting another delivery any day, do call if you would like us to reserve anything.

Get creative for the school holidays and Festival Season with Face & Body Paints and Chunky Glitter.

Express your creative side and let your imagination run wild with Moon Creations Face Paints & Body Crayons, and Chunky Glitter.  For a fun summer holiday activity or birthday gift idea these paints and crayons are brilliant.

  

For a night out, or a festival, be prepared to shimmer the night away!

Star Pupils

.....Now can everyone see the blackboard?

From the Sublime to the ridiculous - let Ian help you pick out something just right for your child's teacher.  1.  Museums and Galleries Guide £10.99 from our great selection of Metro Guides to London 2.  Quirky Gold Cactus Vase £11.95  3.  Mr Punctual Socks £10.50 

Great Teachers inspire our children to be their best selves from artist to scientist: Frida Candle £13.95 5. We have a great range of Thank You Teacher Cards 6.  Frida Dreams Mug £12.95 

For Teachers who love to pamper, present a bunch of flowers with a difference:  7.  Soap Flowers £13.95 8. Lip Balm £6.95  9. Mini Handcare Kit £10.95

Useful gifts:  10.  Pen & Case £18.95  11.  Gooseneck Clamp Phone Holder £13.95  12. Touch Stylus Pencil £2.95 13. Lavender Candle Tin £10.50 14. Edge Photo Frame £10.95

Gifts for the home: 15. Crater Plant Pot £9.95 16. Mini Potted Succulent £4.95

Perfect for Teachers' Lunches: 17.  Fold up Cool Bag  £5.95 18. Galaxy Water Bottle cover and Glass Drinking Bottle £14.95

  

Ginalicious Proseccolicious Summer Cocktails

We have this great new range in store from a Scottish Company called Plant & Grow.

You could always team the Ginalicious Kit with a bottle of their favourite gin to make a unique gift??

The Ginalicious Gin Botanical Cocktail Garden Kit is a fabulous growing kit from Plant-n-Grow, the ideal gift for a green fingered loved one who likes the occasional tipple!

Immerse yourself in the botanical infused world of Gin cocktails. This great kit contains everything you need to sow, grow & mix a cocktail or two.

Raspberry & Rose Petal Cocktail infusion bag (just add Gin)
Earl Grey & Blue Flower infusion Bag (as above – just add Gin)
1 seed packet of Cucumber ‘Burpless Tasty Green’ – produces delicious crisp fruits with no bitterness. Packed with flavour and easy to digest!
Rosemary Officinalis Seeds x 1 packet. Adds a wonderful pine fragrant flavour
Basil ‘Aristotle’ Seeds x 1 packet. A variety easily grown on a windowsill in pots
Thyme ‘Olde English’ Seeds x 1 packet. Subtle mint and lemon notes provides a slightly floral aroma to a cocktail. (During the 18th century, thyme was used as a hangover cure – which may come in handy with this growing kit!)
6 Page Cocktail Recipe Book bursting with recipes for fresh and aromatic cocktails.

Team with a bottle of Prosecco – it makes a really special gift

Love Prosecco? Want to try your hand at growing something? Then try “Proseccolicious” – the Prosecco Botanical Cocktail Garden Growing Kit from Plant ‘N’ Grow.

Prosecco Botanical Cocktail Garden Growing Kit includes:
High Quality Seeds: One packet each of Sage, Orange Scented Thyme, Viola & Lemon Basil (Sow by end June 2018 – herbs grow all year indoors)
Mini Greenhouse (propagator)
10 x Compost discs
6 x wooden plant markers
Perfect for growing indoors or in small outdoor spaces
Beautifully illustrated instructions
3 Botanical Infusions for your cocktail recipes : Lavender Buds, Strawberries & Raspberries
Cocktail recipe book for 6 delicious recipes to pimp up the Prosecco.
Simple way to grow herbs, try out some cocktails and impress friends.

Dad's Day Covered.

Father’s Day is fast approaching with just over a week to go (it's Sunday June 17th).  We have loads of quirky gift ideas & gadgets plus a huge selection of cards too.  With our signature gift-wrapping all part of the service, we have Dad's Day covered.

Here are just a few ideas to help show him just how much you love him.

For Wannabe Head Chefs, Rock Gods and Rappers alike, these fun oven-mitts are guaranteed to make laugh.

The ideal gift for a green fingered loved one who likes the occasional tipple!

Each handpicked item in this range has been sourced, selected, made and crafted with some of the world’s best artisans. Together they form a

unique collection of the finest goods that tell a story of seasonality, 

provenance and uncompromising quality.

Frida-mania

London is in thrall to the cult of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), in anticipation of a major show opening at the V&A on June 16th. 

Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up 

In 1954, following her death, Frida Kahlo's possessions were locked away in the Casa Azul (Blue House) in Mexico City, her lifelong home on instruction from her husband Diego Rivera that they remain concealed in one of the bathrooms for at least 15 years. Half a century later her collection of clothing, jewellery, cosmetics and other personal items was re-discovered.  Experience a fresh perspective on Kahlo's compelling life story through her most intimate personal belongings, decorated corsets, outfits, jewellery, letters, photos and medicines. Kahlo’s preferred lipstick was Revlon’s Everything’s Rosy, and her Ebony eye pencil is still in its wrapper.

Kahlo's powerful style is as integral to her myth as her paintings.  It is her construction of identity through her ethnicity, her disability, her political beliefs, her rejection of gender orthodoxy as well as her art that makes her such a compelling and relevant icon today.  People continue to want to have a little piece of her in their lives and it is the unflinching gaze of the Artist’s self-portraits that have been a gift to merchandisers.


We literally cannot wait.  Here's a little preview of our ever growing Frida Collection.

1.  Frida Kahlo - Making Her Self Up £35.00
2.  Frida Kahlo Flower Earrings by Diana Wilson £39.95
3.  Frida Necklace by Diana Wilson £120.00
4.  Frida Cushion by Diana Wilson £69.95
5.  Frida Cushion by Diana Wilson £69.95
6.  Peacock Glasses Case £12.50
7.  Frida Cushion by Diana Wilson £69.95
8.  Frida & Thorns Notebook £10.50
9.  Frida & Flowers Notebook £10.50
10.Frida Soap £3.95
11.Frida Crewel Work Cushion £46.00
12.Frida Dreams Mug £12.95

Weddings & Anniversary 'Etiquette'

The idea of a theme for every year of marriage dates back to 1922 when Emily Post, an American writer, attempted to solve the issue of what gift to give on the occasion of an anniversary by drawing up lists of anniversary themes in a book titled “Etiquette”.  The idea has been revisited and a modern list curated with alternatives of colours and flowers for each wedded year.

Here's our fun edit (tenuous, and bending the rules just a little) but great gifts none the less...

The first Anniversary is paper, and all gifts need wrapping!  We wrap for free - all part of our famous customer service - see our google reviews here and maybe leave one yourself?  Your 2nd Anniversary is China - this quirky vase is from a selection from PiP Studio, The 3rd Anniversary is Glass, it's my third wedding anniversary this year and I'd love to receive this Water Decanter and Glass Set also by Pip Studio.  The 4th Anniversary is Silk - we have a gorgeous range of Silk tops and dresses by Gabrielle Parker.  5th is Wood, what better way to celebrate a wedding or an anniversary than with great pictures.  This Multi Frame with an 'Edge' from Umbra can also house little keepsakes and trinkets.  Jumping to 9th Anniversary - it's Leather!  Our good friend Harriet Wilde makes bespoke leather wedding shoes for your special day - or buy your loved one a Leather Wallet from our new range from Golunski Leather.  10th is Tin - we have a huge range of  Hand-decorated Tin Decorations and Mirrors from Mexico in store.  25 is the Silver Anniversary - just take a look at our range of Silver Jeweller, and finally if you make it all the way to Gold at 50 years - what better way to celebrate half a century together than with a Gold Cactus Vase? Perfect!

April Product Launch - Four New Fridas & Yvonne Ellen China

Hooray.......we are absolutely delighted to announce the arrival of 4 new Frida in the form of Crewel Work Cushions.  These Fairtrade cushions are hand-made in Moradabad by a team of mostly women. Their motto is "talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships". It is important to us to know that the workers are provided with regular health check ups, bonuses, conveyance allowances and provident funds towards their pensions.  We literally cannot get enough of them, since they are made by hand their output is limited and we are therefore permanently on a waiting list for further supplies - get them while stock lasts!

Back in stock this month by popular demand are the bright and colourful leather wallets from Golunski.  Made in the UK from premium quality leather they really do make spending money a joy.

We have also launched a quirky range of ceramics and giftware by London Designer Yvonne Ellen her 'Birds of a Feather' range - feature beautifully illustrated unexpected juxtapositions of animals and birds.  Each item is hand-finished with gold detailing and comes gift packaged in a hat box style box, making them an ideal gift for someone special.

In other exciting news we had a mini refub over the Easter weekend so we'd love you to pop by and let us know what you think of our new displays.  

We have an important favour to ask - we are working really hard to raise our Google rankings, to spread the Map Gift Shop love further around the world (in a sort of David versus Goliath way) - if you love what we do please consider writing us a review.  A few words here would mean an awful lot to us.

1.  Religious Frida Cushion £46.00  2.  Frida with Cat Cushion £46.00  3.  Frida with Horns Cushion £46.00  4.  Frida with Bird Cushion £46.00  5.  Leather Wallet £35.00  6.  G and Tea Cup £22.95  7.  Leather Card Holder £23.50  8.  Yvonne Ellen Tea Pot £52.50  9.  Yvonne Ellen Zebra Tea Cup & Saucer £23.50  10.  Flamingo Tea for One Pot and Cup £52.50  11.  Yvonne Ellen Elephant Tea Cup & Saucer £23.50

Happy Easter!

It's Easter already!  As the long weekend approaches we thought we'd drop you a quick round up of new product launches and a note of our holiday Opening Times.  

Good Friday 10am - 6pm

Saturday 10am - 6pm

Easter Sunday Closed

Easter Monday Closed

We had such a phenomenal response to our new toiletries range from Fikkerts - we have introduced a new fragrance - Jasmine, see the whole collection here.

At last we have received a new cushion to add to the Frida Crewelwork cushion collection.  We have a full range of spring scarves & purses,  new jewellery and a brand new collection of silk dresses, tops and kimonos.

We may be closed for 2 days but the exciting news is that we are having a mini refurb.....do pop back after the holidays to see our new look.

1.  Jasmine Bath Oil £16.95  2.  Frida Crewel Work Cushion £47.00  3.  Tunic Design Scarf £14.95  4.  Grey & Silver Tassel Necklace £25.00  5.  Chiara Eye Tassel Earrings £16.00  6.    Moroccan Paradise Purse £12.95  7.  Purple and Pink Silk Kimono £57.00  8.  Turquoise and Olive Top £37.50  9.  Pink and Purple Top £37.50  10. Paisley Purse £12.95  11. Dream Circles Large Purse £16.95