plaisir

We've Moved!

2011-03-11T03:03:00.001-08:00

Plaisir has upgraded to a shiny new blog - check it out right here. Hope you'll drop by!

Clare and Anthony x

Goodbye January Giveaway - Saturday 29th

2011-01-29T02:45:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the end of the gloomiest month of the year, we're giving away ten Freya cards to the first ten people through the door after 1pm today. It's also the end of our January sale, so we're making final reductions on our remaining sale stock, and it's cake of the week day too! Free cards, free cake and fashion bargains - what better way to kiss January goodbye!

January Holiday and Sale Preview

2010-12-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

Bethan Light String was £28, now £24.99

Bess dress was £44.99, now £34.99. Grace dress was £64.99, now £47.
Origami dress was £49.99, now £30.

Julia Decanter was £43, now £33.99

We're taking a short break in January - Plaisir will be closed from the 1st to the 7th, open on Saturday the 8th, then closed until the 11th when our normal hours will resume. Our sale kicks off properly when we get back, but we thought we'd leave you with a few of the highlights! Wishing you a very happy new year,

Clare and Anthony

Christmas Colours Gift Guides - Green, Red, Blue

2010-12-14T03:58:00.000-08:00

"Culter Road" ink and watercolour original by Miren Hayek - £120 (framed), Bottle Rocket Kit - £13.99, Juggling Kit - £9.99, Brainwave Aromatherapy Candle - £13.99, Pina Colada Lip Gloss - £4.50, Tabletop Games - assorted £3.75 each, Sea Minerals Shower Gel - £4.50, Polar Bears Christmas Card by Emily Hogarth £3.75.

Chocatoodle wrist-warmers - £16, Tea Revives You Mug - £7.50 or two for £13, Maroon Cowdray Sweatshirt - £45, Christmas Card - £3.00, Cashmere and Angora Blend Socks - £16, Heart Hot Water Bottle - £8.50, 7 Piece Condiment Set - £49.99, Word Grab - £5.99, Francie Top - £29, Origami Kit - £5.50, Medium Red Bowl - £26.50, Red Hare Print by Dee Beale - £25

Grove Sweatshirt - £34.99, Grace Dress - £64.99, Shaving Cream - £9.50, Small Coffee Press - £43, Sheringham Jeans - £59, Rio Mix and Match Light String - £28, Spearmint Exfoliating Polish - £19, "Do Not Be Scared" original artwork by Paul Revie - £80, Dogs Perpetual Puzzle - £9.99

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2010-12-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

View from Knowehead

Whitmuir Farm, Lamancha

Frosty Trees, Crosscryne

Trees at Knowehead

It only seems a minute ago that I was blogging about how irritating it was tramping through a foot of snow to get to work in the morning. That was last December. Turns out it wasn't the 'once in a lifetime' crazy, snowy sub-zero winter we hoped it was. Well, today the temperature hasn't got higher than -10 degrees C! It's so cold that your ears start to sting if you are silly enough to go out without a hat on for any length of time (as I was when taking these pictures). It makes the world pretty darn beautiful to look at though, every tree is covered with hoar frost, there are icicles dangling precariously from every gutter, and the hills look like they're coated with royal icing. I'm being pressed into buying a pair of 'proper boots', as my city-boy trainers are deemed inadequate for these conditions. It's true, I've had to roast my toes in front of the fire twice already today to get the feeling back, but you can guarantee that the morning after my boots arrive, the snow will be gone, the icicles fallen, and it'll be a balmy 1 degree C.

Anthony

Lisa Eldridge - Smokey Winged Eye Make-up Video

2010-12-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

I have a huge crush on make-up artist Lisa Eldridge at the moment, having discovered her brilliant tutorials on India Knight's blog. Watching her is so relaxing - she's warm, witty and knows exactly what she's doing. Even if you're not that into makeup, I defy you to watch her and not feel soothed. If you do have a passing interest in skincare and makeup, she's a goldmine of information - I tracked down the French cleanser Bioderma because Lisa said it was really good, and it really is! She rocks, in conclusion. Check her out right here.

Clare

Christmas Fashion Show Photos

2010-12-05T05:37:00.000-08:00

A few photos from our Christmas fashion show on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who braved the snow to make it, our wonderful models and the lovely Angela McCormack who came along to talk about the excellent work done by Macmillan Cancer Support - we're delighted to have helped raise funds for such a good cause. A new collection from Joules will be arriving in the new year, and we'll be holding another fashion show in the early spring - if you fancy coming along to the next one, please join our mailing list and we'll drop you a line with the details.

Clare and Anthony

Fashion Show Preview

2010-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Bess Dress £44.99, Grace Dress £64.99, Origami Dress - now £30

We're really looking forward to our fashion show this Friday, and thought you might enjoy a preview of some of our favourite styles. For one night only we're taking 10% off our entire fashion range so it's a great time to find a new party dress or pick up a few presents, and you'll get a free gift bag containing the very cute wrist-warmers below! If you'd like to come, please give us a ring on 01899 220600 or drop in to the shop.

Cowdray Sweatshirt £45, Grove Jumper £38, Francie Top £29

Sheringham Jeans £59, Ruffle Dress £39.99, Kingston Shirt £39

Christmas Fashion Show - Free Gift Bags!

2010-11-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

Free Chocatoodle Wrist-warmers from Joules!

Plaisir is holding a Christmas fashion show in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support this Friday, 3rd December at 7.30pm, and we'd love you to join us. Whether you're looking for a party dress for the festive season or want to wrap up in style this winter, we've got gorgeous clothes we think you'll love. Our models will be showing off new collections from Joules and Rise, brilliant stylist Loretta Atkinson-Ward will be on hand to give mini hair consultations, and we'll be giving away free gift bags containing these fab chocatoodle wrist-warmers worth £16 to everyone who buys a ticket! It promises to be a great night in support of an excellent cause - tickets are £5 or £4 for concessions, and to book your seat just give us a ring on 220600 or drop in and see us.

Coming soon - Joules arrives at Plaisir!

2010-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

image by Joules

We're very pleased to say that Plaisir will soon be stocking an exciting new brand! Joules is British company designing fresh and colourful clothing with a relaxed and offbeat style. The quality of their clothes is incredible - we were amazed to see that even the laces on their hooded tops have little metal enclosures so they can't fray - and we're sure you'll love their styles at first sight and for years to come. Our first delivery arrives in the week beginning the 22nd of November, and we'll have cute gilets, tops, a fleece and sweatshirt, a beautiful silk blouse, their brilliant jeans and loads of bright and cosy socks. No photos yet, we're afraid, but sign up to our newsletter and we'll drop you a line as soon as they're available. For an idea of their style and prices in the meantime, please click over to their website.

Everything Should Taste Like Bacon!

2010-11-08T07:07:00.000-08:00

We like bacon, but some people obviously think there's just not enough of it in daily life. While checking out the snappily named Malt Salt (vinegar flavoured salt so your chips don't get soggy,) on the Guardian this morning we came across these amazing creations from American company J&D's - Baconnaise and bacon flavoured lip balm. You can also get bacon flavoured envelopes (they're called Mmmvelopes) and bacon-flavoured popcorn with added cheese. They don't call the States the land of opportunity for nothing, although admittedly in this case it's the opportunity to ingest pig products at every turn.

Clare

Arriving This Week - Exploding Frogs!

2010-11-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Exploding Frog - £2.50 each

Just a quick post to say there's something very unusual on the way to Plaisir this week - exploding frogs! These little beauties are made from luxury milk chocolate and are packed with popping candy, so when you bite into them they really do explode! An extremely fun stocking filler, or should we say stocking thriller. I'm blushing over that shameless pun right now.

Clare

Five Brilliant Books

2010-11-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

Five books which have caught my eye this autumn - a couple of interiors ones, a couple of spooky ones, and one about type which I am fascinated by to the point of nerd-dom.

Details Details: A Stylist's Secrets for Creating Inspired Interiors by Lili Diallo

Lili Diallo is a designer and prop stylist based in NYC - the late lamented Domino magazine loved her "deft balancing act between the haphazard and the composed," which is more than enough to pique my interest. Check out her beautiful portfolio here, and the book is out in the UK on the 7th of December.

Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley

I love Chris Priestley's books. I bought Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror while we were on our honeymoon, and was captivated by the delightfully scary stories and creepily beautiful illustrations by David Roberts. In this novel, lonely Michael Vyner is left to his own devices in the desolate country house which belongs to his guardian, but it soon becomes clear that lonely doesn't mean alone...

Just My Type by Simon Garfield

This book investigates the origins and influence of type. Why have some, like Times New Roman and the much derided Comic Sans, taken over the world? Why did an email written entirely in capital letters get the writer sacked, and why do some fonts make us feel all warm and fuzzy while others have the same sobering effect as an unexpected brown envelope from the Inland Revenue? Fascinating reading, especially for a type geek.

A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life by Mary Randolph Carter

This book is a series of essays about what makes a place to live your home, and not simply a house. Writer, journalist and photographer Mary Randolph Carter visits creative people to see how they really live.

Dark Matter: A Ghost Story by Michelle Paver

Another scary book which pretty much had me at hello - I think some of the best new writing is for young people. Here's the lowdown: "Twenty-eight year old Jack is poor, lonely and desperate to change his life. So when he's offered the chance to be the wireless operator on an Arctic expedition, he jumps at it. At last they reach the remote, uninhabited bay where they will camp for the next year. Gruhuken. As night returns to claim the land, Jack feels a creeping unease. One by one, his companions are forced to leave. He faces a stark choice. Stay or go. Soon he will see the last of the sun, as the polar night engulfs the camp in months of darkness. Soon he will reach the point of no return - when the sea will freeze, making escape impossible. And Gruhuken is not uninhabited. Jack is not alone. Something walks there in the dark."

Clare

Heavenly Button Boots from Jeffrey Campbell

2010-11-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

Blue Button Beauty Boots by Jeffrey Campbell

I just came across these gorgeous boots on Modcloth: was ever a boot so aptly named? They're by American shoe company Jeffrey Campbell and are $174.99, although sold out at the moment. Postage to the UK would be scandalous, no doubt, but these are such boots as dreams are made on - and I usually hate anything to do with feet. With the exception of my little nieces who have adorable toes, everyone's legs taper off into a pleasantly rose-scented mist below the ankles as far as I'm concerned. I love these boots though.

Clare

Honey and Almond Cake

2010-11-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Honey and Almond Cake

Well, no sooner is this week's Cake of the Week being eaten up by our customers, here I am posting about it! I'm getting better at this blogging thing. This is a really lovely recipe, but first things first: I have to apologize to whoever came up with it originally. I can't credit them here as I found it ages ago, wrote it down in my Tome of Cakes and promptly forgot about it for months. I found it by googling 'almond cakes' and trawling through the search results for a while. So if anyone wants to find out where it came from, my advice is to do the same. It's not particularly revolutionary anyway, just a good solid foolproof recipe that is probably as old as the hills.

Ingredients:

300g unsalted butter at room temperature

300g caster sugar

4 medium eggs

150g wholemeal self-raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

150g ground almonds

50g flaked almonds

4 tbsps runny honey

Grease and line a 24cm springform cake tin and preheat the oven to 170c/GM3

Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy - a good five minutes in a mixer should do it

Sift together the wholemeal self-raising flour and baking powder in another bowl

Add your eggs to the creamed butter and sugar one at a time, mixing thouroughly, and adding a spoonful of the flour after each one

When fully combined, fold in the ground almonds by hand

Then sift in the remaining flour and fold in until just combined

Flop the smooth mixture into the cake tin, smooth the top and scatter the flaked almonds over (fairly) evenly

Put in the oven for around 50 minutes (definitely check on it at this time, but it might need 5 mins more)

When a skewer comes out clean, it's done

Drizzle the runny honey over the warm cake and leave it to seep in as it cools

When it's totally cool, remove from the tin and EAT IT!

Anthony

Lemon Cake

2010-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Lemon Cake with lemon curd and fresh cream

I've been promising customers that I'll post Cake of the Week recipes on the blog for ages, and I'm finally getting round to it. I thought I'd start with a recent cake, which I was inspired to make after seeing it on the BBC's Great British Bake Off last month. This recipe is by Ruth Clemens who ended up finishing a creditable second in the competition. Her blog The Pink Whisk is full of her recipes, including the original three-tier version of this one, with instructions for making the lemon curd filling. I'm not going to include that here, as when I tried to make it, it didn't thicken properly (my fault, not hers) so subsequently I've chickened out and used a jar. Also, I've missed out Candied lemon peel from the original, as I'm not a fan. and it's certainly lemony enough without it. Anyway, here it is in slightly wider two-tier form.
Ingredients:

350g/12oz butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

350g/12oz caster sugar

4 lemons, zest only, plus juice of 2 lemons

6 free-range eggs

3 tsp baking powder

300g/10½oz self-raising flour

50g/2oz cornflour

1 Jar lemon curd (if cheating like me)

300ml double cream

A little icing sugar

Grease and line two 24cm springform cake tins, preheat oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Add the lemon zest and juice and mix.

Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time, until the mixture is well combined.

Sift the baking powder, self raising flour and cornflour together in a bowl and fold into the cake mixture.

Divide the cake batter among the sandwich tins and bake for 35-40 minutes or until risen and golden-brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
Remove the cakes from the tins and set aside to cool completely on a rack.
When they're totally cool, spread your lemon curd (very) liberally onto the bottom layer.
Whip the double cream until soft peaks form, whipping in a little icing sugar if you want. I tend not to, just because the lemon curd is pretty sweet anyway.
Spread thickly (mmm!) on top of the lemon curd, then place the top layer on, pressing it down a little so that the filling bulges perilously out of the middle!
Sieve some icing sugar over the top.

Now EAT IT!

Anthony

Charity Fashion Show - Call For Models

2010-11-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

Plaisir fashion show, June 2010

Plaisir is holding a Christmas fashion show in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on Friday 3rd December, and we need models!

Our clothes are all about looking and feeling happy, so we couldn't care less about your dress size or age - if you're 16 or over and know how to rock an outfit, we want to hear from you. We held our first fashion show in June and it was a really fun night - click here to check out some photos.

In return for modelling, you'll get the first look at our new ranges, lots of pampering and a fashion discount to use on the night. For more details, please give us a ring on 220600, email us at hello@plaisirshop.co.uk or drop in and see us!

Places We Love - Stobo Castle Spa

2010-10-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

images by stobo castle

When we mentioned to our friends Matthew and Mirka that we were cheesed off by the erratic opening hours of our local gym earlier this year, they suggested we try the spa at Stobo Castle, which is about ten miles from Biggar. Although this seemed wildly extravagant to us at first, we gave it a try and we really, really love it! An evening membership is £55 a month, which is only slightly more than we were paying, and means we can go from 5pm to 10pm. Incredibly, most evenings we get the place almost completely to ourselves, and the facilities are amazing - spotlessly clean, beautiful and very high spec. There's a 25m ozone pool, a laconium, crystal steam room, fully equipped gym and lots of different classes taught by the kind and helpful fitness team. It's so marvellous, we're voluntarily giving up the evenings we used to spend watching America's Next Top Model and Deadliest Warrior in favour of doing some exercise! And we actually enjoy it! Thanks to everyone at Stobo for making the time we spend there so enjoyable.

Anthony

Kate Spade Pop Up Shop

2010-10-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

kate spade pop up shop

I have a bit of a crush on London. When we lived there, I hated it: the noise, the crush of people on the underground, the pigeons. Whenever the weather forecast came on, I would look longingly at the map and wish I was in the north. When we moved away, I was a little bit happier with each passing mile, and when we finally arrived in Manchester I actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, strangely, I can't get enough of London and am overjoyed when I get to spend a couple of days, or even a couple of hours, in the capital. The long-term relationship might not have worked out, but having a fling with the big smoke every now and then is pretty thrilling. Visiting Anthropologie and the wonderful Mexican street-food restaurant Wahaca is heaven as far as I'm concerned, and now that Kate Spade's pop up shop is open in Covent Garden, it's very hard not to start booking flights right now. Selling fashion, accessories, stationery and homewares with a colourful, witty and joyful style, we find Kate Spade very inspiring. As I discovered on the brilliant A Design Affair blog, they do exciting windows too. The pop-up shop is open until the 10th of November - check out more photos of their beautiful flat on Henrietta Street on facebook, right here.

Clare

Just In - Cherry Cardigans

2010-10-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Cherry cardigan - £34.99

We've been waiting for these fab cardigans to arrive for weeks, and we're delighted to say they're finally here. A cosy knit with a fun pattern to see you right through the winter. Available now in the shop and online right here.

Sneak Peek - Party Dress!

2010-10-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Sienna Dress - £49.99

The first of our Christmas party dresses is on the way, and we thought you might like an early look. The Sienna dress is a sparkly little number, and we particularly love the unusual folded details on the skirt. It's also available in black, and will be in the shop and online ~~very soon!~~ In stock now, and available online right here.

Making Magazine Launch Issue

2010-10-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

Making magazine - launch issue

Have you noticed this new magazine yet? I came across it today, had a quick flick through and thought it was rather good. There are pages of detailed instructions for cool sewing projects, which is great if, like me, you're not exactly on first name terms with your sewing machine. There are lots of other good projects too, with more on their website, right here. The section on learning how to make bath bombs appeals to me - I always wish the ones I buy were a bit more explosive. The first issue of Making is on sale now for £4.99, which is rather pricey, but probably worth it if you like crafts and want to learn some new skills.

Clare

Oliver Jeffers - beautiful illustration

2010-10-19T04:12:00.000-07:00

Oliver Jeffers is an artist and illustrator from Belfast who, among many other things, writes and draws picture books. We first came across his work just before our niece was born, and loved it so much that we bought it for her as a "welcome to the world" present. His drawings are wonderfully spare but full of humour and feeling, The world of his stories is big and surprising, but his clear-eyed characters make their way through it with wit, courage and friendship, without a shred of sentimentality. We particularly love The Incredible Book-Eating Boy, Lost and Found and The Way Back Home, and will be definitely be buying his latest books The Heart and The Bottle and Up and Down for certain small people this Christmas. I may not be that small anymore, but they're on my wish list too, along with Oliver's wonderful prints - available right here.

Clare

all images by Oliver Jeffers

Joanna Newsom

2010-10-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to see Joanna Newsom at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and have been too busy in the shop to post about it until now! I just think she's a total genius - despite the fact that I'm surrounded by fools who don't appreciate how amazing her music is (yes wife, mother, father, father in law - that means you). Okay, I'll admit that her voice is something of an acquired taste (kind of like olives, I suppose. I love olives.) Her lyrics are full of incredible poetry, wit and vision and her harp playing is completely mesmerising. She played tracks with her band from her new album Have One On Me, as well as some older ones that I hadn't heard before, being somewhat of a recent convert to the cult of Joanna. The highlight for me was an absolutely beautiful song called Sawdust & Diamonds, which she played alone on the stage with just her trusty harp for company. I don't mind telling you my jaw was on the floor by the end! She's the kind of artist that you might have to really listen to a few times before you get her, but when you do, there's nothing to touch her.

Anthony

Autumn Fashion Collage

2010-09-14T05:44:00.001-07:00

Fifties Flashback by plaisirshop featuring clothes from our Autumn Collection

We're taking the trend for fifties-inspired fashion for a walk today, and have just put this collage together on Polyvore using items from our new collection by Fever. Have you tried it yet? It's incredibly easy and fun, although you might look up and discover two hours have somehow disappeared from your day *embarrassed cough.* Click anywhere on the picture to see a bigger version, and check out the post below to see prices and our full range.

Autumn Collections Now In Stock!

2010-09-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Stella Dress - £47

Floriade Ruffle Dress - £69.99

Alice Shift Dress - £64.99

We're channelling the marvellous Joan Holloway this autumn at Plaisir, with silhouettes that skim curves and emphasise the waist. Max C and Fever, two of our favourite designers, have looked to the fifties for inspiration, and come up with sophisticated and stylish collections which prove you can turn heads without baring all. Easy to wear and perfect for layering, we think you'll love these classic styles. For more details and sizes, please get in touch or drop in and see us!

Botanic Wrap Dress - £69.99

Cherry Cardigan - £34.99

Available late September

Alcona Cardigan - £34.99

Happy Birthday Plaisir!

2010-09-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

It was Plaisir's first birthday last Saturday, and we celebrated in style with jelly, cakes and mojitos! We've had a wonderful first year, and would like to thank all of our customers for their support, encouragement., suggestions and kind words. We've got big plans for the rest of 2010, beginning with the delivery of our autumn collections from Max C and Fever next week. We're very excited to say a colourful and well-known brand will soon be joining them - keep you posted!

Bear Hug Cards Now In Stock!

2010-08-04T04:51:00.000-07:00

We spotted these beautiful cards a few months ago, and thought they were a brilliant new idea.

They're called the Grizzly Bear Hug card, and are by Kathryn Hunter at Blackbird Letterpress in Louisiana. Each card is 8 inches high, comes with an envelope, and is printed onto 100% recycled card. As you can see, the bear design is letterpressed and then die cut around the paws to create tabs. This innovative technique means you can write a message on the back of the card, and then slide something special into the bear's arms - a photo, concert tickets, birthday money or anything you choose.

The card can be used for any occasion, and we think it's a witty and thoughtful present in itself. Kathryn's clever design certainly caught the eye of the judges at the recent National Stationery Show in New York, where it won Best New Product in the social stationery category. It's also been featured here on DesignSponge as a lovely congratulations card for new parents.

We're proud to be the only stockist of the Grizzly Bear Hug Card in the UK, and they're on sale now at £4.

Wedding Windows

2010-08-04T04:31:00.000-07:00

You could be forgiven for thinking we'd branched out into wedding dress design judging by these recent windows! We wanted something spectacular to celebrate the wedding season, and had lots of fun making these skirts out of paper. We were pretty pleased with how they turned out, and since we had a few wedding dress related enquiries they must have looked quite convincing - from a distance at least!

Summer Sale - Now On!

2010-07-22T03:18:00.000-07:00

green goddess dress - was £68, NOW £56

paris dress - was £50, NOW £35

ribbon top - was £32, NOW £20
more colours available

Plaisir's summer sale has just started, and there are fantastic discounts on our entire fashion collection including all our bestselling styles from Max C and Fever. Click here to see the full range, and drop in to grab some serious bargains!

Alice Melvin

2010-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

cut out and sew owl puppets kit - £9.99

cut out and make menagerie - £10.50

We love crafts and we love illustration at Plaisir, so these brilliant kits from Alice Melvin definitely tick both boxes! Alice lives in Edinburgh and is one of the UK's most highly regarded young illustrators. She designed these kits for the Tate where they've been a runaway success, and we're delighted to have them on our shelves.

We have three kits in stock - the Cut Out and Make Bird Mobile, Cut Out and Sew Owl Puppets and Cut Out and Make Animal Menagerie. Each contains high quality card or fabric illustrated by Alice and clear step-by-step instructions, making them ideal projects for children or adults. We also have the mini book bag which has a beautiful owl design on the front and back - we think it's a lovely gift for a child, or indeed anyone who likes to travel light.

cut out and make bird mobile - £9.99

fully lined mini book bag - £12.50

New Kits

2010-06-29T03:11:00.000-07:00

3D drawing pad and glasses - £3.99

hypotrochoid set - £5.50

mini art to go kit containing crayons, pencils and oil pastels - £7.99

Some brilliant new kits have arrived at Plaisir, just in time for the start of the summer holidays. We particularly love the hypotrochoid set - watching those amazing shapes appear will never get old!

Gala Fashion Show

2010-06-15T03:16:00.000-07:00

photos by plaisir

We held our first ever fashion show on Friday, and couldn't be more delighted with how it turned out! Our models looked wonderful and showed off our new collections by Max C and Fever to perfection. We really enjoyed putting it together, and are already planning our next show for the autumn. Huge thanks to Celebrity, our friends and neighbours across the road for styling our models' hair, our make-up artist Kirsty, Sara for taking care of the music and everyone who came along to support us and Biggar Gala Committee.

More New Dresses and Last Few Tickets

2010-06-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

Tiffany Dress - £65

Paris Dress with Net Petticoat - £50

Maya Dress - £68

Hollywood Dress - £65

Our new brand, Fever, got such an amazing response during its first week in the shop that we just had to order more in time for our fashion show. The show is taking place at Plaisir tomorrow night, Friday 11th June, at 7.30pm and there are a few seats left - if you'd like to come, please drop in or give us a ring as soon as you can!

Summer Collection and Gala Fashion Show

2010-06-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

bow top by max c - £29
also available in royal blue and black

green goddess dress by fever - £68

feathers maxi dress by max c - £45

detroit dress by fever - £60

We're kicking off summer in style with our first ever fashion show in the shop at 7.30pm on Friday 11th June. With the help of ten customers who very kindly answered our call for models, we'll be unveiling high summer collections by Max C and new brand Fever.

Fever is an exciting boutique label with a great reputation for designing fashionable but timeless clothes for both work and play. We love to hear what you think about our fashion collections, and you've told us that you'd like to see a wider range of sizes - we'll keep working on this, but we're pleased to say that Max C has recently made all sizes from 8 to 14 larger, and Fever will be in stock from size 10 to 16.

After the show we'll be serving champagne with French macaroons, there will be a special one-night-only discount of 10% off our entire fashion collection and a range of other promotions across the shop. Tickets are £5 or £4 for concessions, with proceeds going to Biggar Gala Committee, and are available now from Plaisir. Seats are limited, so please book early.

It promises to be a fun evening, and we really hope you'll join us to support a great local cause, enjoy the show and perhaps pick up a bargain or two!

New! Cable And Cotton Light Strings

2010-05-31T05:13:00.000-07:00

Cable and Cotton light strings - £26.99

We love going to trade shows to see new products, trends and ideas. At Top Drawer earlier this year, we were really keen on these beautiful, ethically produced light strings by Cable and Cotton, and we weren't the only ones - their stand was so busy we could hardly see through the crowds! Our first order of lights has just arrived, and since we've already sold out of one style it looks like these lovely strings are going to become a bestseller at Plaisir. The balls are made from high quality cotton and can easily be slipped on and off the 5m light string, so it's lots of fun mixing and matching colours to make a design that's unique. Cable and Cottons also look just as pretty when they're not lit, making them a fun and colourful addition to any room all year round.

Craft City!

2010-04-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

spring crowns and decorated pots at our Easter craft workshop

making castles at a fairy-themed birthday party

It's been a very crafty couple of weeks here at Plaisir. First we hosted two art workshops for children over the Easter holidays with Catriona Ross, a marvellous local art tutor. Then we transformed our second room into a magical fairy garden complete with twinkling lights and hanging lanterns for a crafty birthday party. As always, we were amazed at the wonderfully inventive and imaginative creations children come up with! More details on our craft parties and upcoming events here.

Prize Draw Winner

2010-04-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

We've been running a prize draw for customers signing up to our mailing list, and we're delighted to say that Claire Ramsay is the winner of a beautiful Azeti salad bowl and servers. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Holiday Craft Workshops

2010-04-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

We've teamed up with a lovely and experienced local art tutor, Catriona Ross, to offer two art workshops for kids during the Easter holidays. We're hosting a bigger series of workshops with Catriona for the Biggar Little Festival later in the year, so these sessions are a taster of what's in store. Here are the details:

Tuesday 13th April, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Decorate a pot, plant a seed and make a springtime crown

Wednesday 14th April, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Make a sparkly sun decoration and a cherry blossom picture

The workshops are suitable for children aged 4 and above, and are £6.50 per child including mid-morning refreshments. Places are limited, so please give us a ring on 220600 or drop in to book.

Spring Fashion

2010-04-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

marina top - £32.50
also available in coral

peaches dress - £44
also available in navy

coco dress - £34.99
also available in blue

cherry top - £34.99
also available in black

Our latest collection arrived from Max C a few days ago, and we think it rocks! This is our biggest ever fashion collection, and from the reaction so far we'd say it was a winner. Some items are already selling out, so drop in and have a look when you can. We've got quite a few fashion events coming up this year, including a fashion show in support of Biggar Gala committee, and a major collaboration with Biggar High's art department for the Little Festival in October. Please click over and join our mailing list to receive news and invitations to special events at Plaisir.

Mother's Day Windows

2010-03-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

mother's day windows

Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday, so we thought we'd dedicate this week's window displays to our own lovely mums!

Balance Me Skincare

2010-03-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

balance me aromatherapy skincare products from £12.50
image by balance me

Here at Plaisir we're very keen on natural products, and they hardly come more natural than this marvellous new skincare range from Balance Me. Containing pure essential oils and bursting with essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants and vitamins, this range will optimise your skin's condition and help to keep it soft, supple and smooth. Concern is growing that the petrochemicals and parabens traditionally used by the beauty industry can have long-term health consequences, but Balance Me products contain none of these and have a minimum natural content of at least 98.7%.

As great as this is, however, we think you'll really be won over by this lovely range as soon as you take a sniff! The fragrances are delicious, with everything from a zesty lime and ginger wash to wake you up in the morning to the exquisite, luxurious scent of rose otto to send you to sleep. Balance Me has been recommended by the prestigious Green Beauty Bible and Red, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Glamour and Elle have all raved about it. We're stocking all the key products, including washes, lotions, handcream, an exfoliator and the incredible Super Oil which tackles dimples to give your skin an all-over glow. Prices range from just £12.50 to £23, and we think any of these products would make a particularly gorgeous present for your Mum this Mother's Day.

New Windows

2010-03-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

valentine windows

sale window

We thought you might like to see some of our recent window displays. The first two were for Valentine's Day, and were inspired by Love Letters, a mural project led by former graffiti artist Stephen Powers and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. For our sale window, we borrowed from the famous woodblock print "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" by Hokusai.

Miren Hayek Paintings

2010-02-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

broad law - £120 framed

We're really excited to show you a few of the most recent additions to our shop - these beautiful watercolour and ink paintings by local artist Miren Hayek. Miren's work has been influenced by time spent in Bohemia, California, Australia and Scotland; and we love the way she's captured the distinctive light and energy of the local Borders landscape in these vibrant works. Pop in to Plaisir and see these two paintings and more - we're sure you'll love them as much as we do!

borders - £120 framed

images by miren hayek

I Love Biggar Bags

2010-02-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

I Love Biggar canvas bags - £4.50 each

These fab canvas shoppers have just arrived, and they're already selling fast! We commissioned these fairly traded, sustainably sourced bags at the beginning of the year and we're really delighted with them. With lots of space inside, strong handles and playful take on the classic "I heart NY" design, you can show pride in our community while carrying all your stuff in style. We've certainly enjoyed a warm welcome and lots of support and encouragement from our customers, friends and neighbours since we opened Plaisir in August, and we feel very proud to belong to Biggar.

Since it's almost Valentine's Day, and to celebrate the arrival of our spring collection, we're going to spread the love this Saturday by giving away a free I Love Biggar bag with every purchase from our new Max C range! We've also moved Cake of the Week to Saturdays, so drop in and see us this weekend for free cake, a free bag, and lovely new clothes! Hooray!

Limited Edition Spring Collection - Sneak Preview!

2010-02-06T06:32:00.000-08:00

heart cardigan - £32.99
also available in grey and black

stripes top with black bow - £29.99

floral jersey dress - £35

floral jersey top - £22.50

navy coat - £59.99

floral dress - £45

We're delighted to say that our first spring collection from Max C London arrives on Tuesday, and we couldn't wait to show you some of the highlights! Our first Max C range was a huge hit over Christmas, and we think you'll love this collection just as much. With grown-up floral patterns, fresh stripes and interesting details, these pieces are easy to wear while nodding to the current trends for structure, americana and botanical prints. This is a limited edition collection, so it's also worth mentioning that our fashion ranges sell out quickly, particularly in sizes 12 and 14. If you like the look of a dress or top but can't drop in straight away, please just give us a ring and we'll keep it aside for you. Check out the full collection in store from Tuesday 9th February.

High Road House

2010-01-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

images by high road house

We're just back from a fantastic weekend at the Top Drawer trade show in London, and thought you might like to see a few pictures of the brilliant hotel we stayed in. We chose High Road House in Chiswick after reading about it on decor8, and it's just as beautiful as it looks. Our room had Shaker style panelling, a huge bed and a lovely bathroom with gorgeous toiletries from Cowshed. We've stayed in quite a few hotels but none as thoughtfully pulled together as High Road House. It's very clean and simple but still has lots of personality which is rather hard to accomplish. We had a fabulous dinner in the brasserie and wonderfully kind, friendly service from everyone we encountered. If you're going to London - stay here!

We found lots of interesting new items at Top Drawer and are really looking forward to sharing them with you over the next few months. A limited edition spring collection from Max C will be in store in a few weeks and after visiting the inspiring Liberty, Anthropologie and the Shop at Bluebird over the weekend, we've got some surprising new display ideas up our sleeves. And the snow's gone! Bring on 2010, we say!

Flights of Fancy

2010-01-09T03:38:00.000-08:00

origami teabags by Nathalia Ponomareva

How marvellous are these teabags by Russian designer Nathalia Ponomareva? The bird gently expands as you let it steep, giving you something beautiful to look at as well as a great cup of tea. This is a prototype at the moment, but we're hoping Nathalia's brilliant design will be soon be picked up by a smart tea company. Discovered via wee birdy and inspire inspire.

Incredible Ice

2010-01-07T04:24:00.000-08:00

images by Oyvind Tangin

To stick with our wintry theme this morning, I just came across these extraordinary photos taken by a Norwegian sailor 1700 miles south of Cape Town. Found via the beautiful blog Black Eiffel.

Frozen Beauty

2010-01-07T03:34:00.000-08:00

all images by plaisir

Here are a few pictures we've taken around Biggar this week. It may be amazingly cold at the moment, but it's amazingly beautiful too.

A Very Frosty January Sale!

2010-01-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

some of biggar's finest icicles!
image by plaisir

Well, happy new year everyone! 2010 is here, and it seems to have brought a mini Ice Age with it! Who knows, perhaps by next Christmas the snow may have finally melted. It certainly looks beautiful, but trudging through it on the way to work in temperatures of minus four is rapidly losing its appeal. It's a good job then, that we've got our very first January sale to lift the spirits! Among the many lovely items discounted - including gorgeous jewellery, luxurious soaps and our own exclusive calender - we should pay special mention to our hand-knitted, lambswool hot-water bottles by Catherine Tough. Guaranteed to keep you toasty when the temperature plummets! Spring seems such a long way off....

hot water bottle - was £44.99, now £30!

image by catherine tough

Anyone For Sprouts?

2009-12-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

silver-plated heart dishes - small £24.95, big £34.95
image by plaisir

We thought you might get a kick out of our new seasonal bath display. Anyone got a recipe that calls for 9kg of sprouts?

Enchanted Evening Windows

2009-12-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

all images by plaisir

Biggar's annual Christmas Shopping Evening was held last Friday, and we'd like to thank all of our customers for making it such a fun and successful night! It was fantastic to see so many people having a great time and supporting local businesses. Our chocolate cocktails went down a storm, and our new fashion range Max C became an instant bestseller. We wanted to create a dreamy, romantic window to show off our gorgeous new dresses and came up with this snowy landscape. We picked out some of the peacocks' plumage in bright colours, so it looks fab when it's dark outside.

all images by plaisir

Just In - Exclusive Keep Calm Calendars!

2009-11-21T04:55:00.000-08:00

The reassuring message and classic design of the famous Keep Calm and Carry On poster have made it a worldwide hit, so we were delighted to discover a beautiful calendar inspired by it. We asked American designers Nichole and Evan Robertson of Little Brown Pen to create a British version of their hilarious Keep Calm and Send Up calendar especially for Plaisir, and they've just arrived! We love the witty text, the bright colours, heavy paper and clean lines. What's more, the pages are held together with a clip instead of a ribbon, which means you can easily detach and frame each one when the month has passed. That's what we call useful and beautiful!

We only have a limited number, and at just £15 we think these calendars are going to fly off the shelves this Christmas. If you'd like one, drop in and see us or give us a ring and we'll keep one aside for you.

keep calm and send up calendar - £15

all images by little brown pen

Hooray for Teacakes!

2009-11-21T04:04:00.000-08:00

caramel and teacake badges - £2 each
images by plaisir

If you've been into the shop lately and noticed our bath filled with teacakes, you can probably imagine how delighted we were to discover these brilliant badges. Nikki McWilliams is the talented Dundee artist who makes these little beauties - perfect stocking fillers and ideal for adding a flash of wit and colour to any winter outfit. Thanks Nikki!

Dee Beale

2009-11-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

winter doves and nordic hares - £25 each
all images by dee beale

These extraordinary prints arrived yesterday and we're so pleased with them! Dee Beale is a British artist who uses a Japanese screenprinting machine called a gocco to make these amazing designs. We used a gocco to make our wedding invitations and we know how difficult it is to produce perfect result. Dee is clearly a master! There's a Scandinavian feel to the clean lines and intricate patterns of her prints, and we think they'd make a gorgeous present this Christmas. Drop by to see Dee's beautiful work up close.

Fight The Weather!

2009-11-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Strawberry Polka Hottie - £45

It's wet. Very wet. The road outside the shop looks more like a river, and the rain shows no sign of stopping. What's more, it's cold too! On a day like this, we reckon there's nothing for it but to admit defeat and curl up at home with several cups of tea, a hot water bottle, and the longest, thickest socks you can find. Happily enough, we've recently started stocking all of the above - well, apart from the tea! These lovely, luxurious items from Catherine Tough are hand-knitted from soft, snuggly lambswool. We have the bed-socks in grey, pink and blue stripes, and the hot-water bottles in grey, pink and blue polka-dot designs. Perfect for cosying up to, drifting off to sleep and dreaming of spring!

Lambswool Bedsocks £23.50

All images by Catherine Tough

Hula Glasses

2009-11-05T06:24:00.000-08:00

hula glasses set - £13.99

image by LSA

We are very happy to announce that one of our best-selling items is back in stock! These Hula Glasses from LSA flew off the shelves when we opened in August. They're just so much fun. Their official function is as vodka glasses, but we say why limit yourself to that particular spirit? And if you happen to be tee-total, they also make lovely tea-light holders. They come in sets of four, and are available in two colour palettes, Cool and Hot. Their unique round bottomed shape brings back fond memories of a particularly cool children's toy from the 70's and 80's - if you're of a similar age to us, the slogan 'Weebles wobble but they don't fall down.' might ring a bell! They make fantastic gifts so catch them while you can!

Winter Surprises - 10% Off Fashion

2009-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

We've taken 10% off our entire fashion range this week, and not just because of our winter surprises sale. We're also making room for a brilliant new collection arriving next Tuesday - gorgeous dresses in jewel colours, cosy knits and fab bootcut jeans!

Biggar's Big Day Out

2009-10-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

Our craft windows celebrating Biggar Little Festival's Big Day Out last Sunday. We had a lovely time meeting loads of new customers and showing participants in our craft workshop how to make origami decorations out of old newspapers and magazines. Thanks to the festival committee for organising such a brilliant day!

Aromatherapy Candles and Thanks Indie Quarter!

2009-10-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

domestic goddess candle - £12.99

Another delivery of our eco-friendly candles arrived at Plaisir today after selling out in our first few weeks. This range is made from soy, which means it burns cleanly and is much less damaging to the environment that paraffin wax. Each candle has a lead-free wick, comes in a recycled glass jar and is scented with natural oils which smell delicious.

love potion candle - £12.99
all images by canova

We'd also like to say a big thankyou to Jenny who featured Plaisir on her fab blog Indie Quarter earlier this week. We read Indie Quarter all the time and found some of our favourite designers and artists through it, so we're really delighted.

Winter surprises - 10% off Tea Balls and Coffee Pots

2009-10-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

6 cup stainless steel tea ball - now £52.20

4 cup stove top espresso maker - now £63

Our beautiful tea balls and coffee pots from Freud are real attention-grabbers. We chose this range because we think these items are very friendly. We've all had the misfortune to come across gadgets that seem to throw a spanner in the works at every turn: the toaster that joyfully incinerates your bread no matter what the setting, or the mobile phone which only receives a signal if you bound around waving it above your head as if you're being attacked by a particularly determined wasp. Some objects are just mean. They hang out in the corners of your house like the cool kids at school, sniggering and whispering to each other whenever you pass by. We once owned a set of expensive wine glasses which were beautiful to look at, but just didn't feel right in the hand - when I used them, it felt as if they were tutting at everything from my choice of wine to the state of my hair.

In contrast, we think these tea balls and coffee pots are great to have around. They jolly up your kitchen no end and bend over backwards to make your day a little better every time you use them. They're stainless steel and have a drip-proof spout, but their best feature is that tactile handle which means to pour you simply rotate your wrist. A subtle difference, but one which makes the daily routine of making tea or coffee a more interesting and pleasant experience. If only all gadgets were so eager to please!

We're taking 10% off our large and mini teaballs, coffee pots and espresso makers for one week only - grab one while they're still in stock!

8 cup stainless steel cafetiere - now £47.70

3 cup stainless steel cafetiere - now £38.70

Fly Away Window Display

2009-10-11T05:22:00.000-07:00

fly away window

This week's window design. We've gone for a clean and simple style this time, inspired by the v-shaped flocks of geese that have been flying over our heads as we walked to work all this week. We love coming up with new windows every Thursday - here are a few of our favourites so far.

good dog window

We learned how to make balloon dogs for this window so our model could gather up all their leashes and take them for a walk. Everything was fine and dandy until they exploded in the sunshine.

poem window

all images by plaisir

For this display, we linked our windows with a line from a poem by Khalil Gibran - the dew drops contain handmade jewellery. Have a look at all our windows by clicking on our flickr stream.

Magical Paper Sculptures

2009-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

image by Yu Jordy Fu

We were having a look through the exhibitors at the Origin Craft Fair taking place at Somerset House in London this week, and came across these extraordinary cloud lampshades by Yu Jordy Fu. Paper cutting is an ancient and intricate technique, and it's pretty jaw-dropping in the usual two dimensions, but Jordy's work goes even further. We love the ethereal, dream-like quality of these pieces - they're amazingly delicate but brimming with energy and movent. See more of Jordy's work here.

image by elsita

Another artist who works with paper is Elsa Mora, who owns the etsy shop elsita. As well as traditional paper cuts, Elsa makes exquisite paper sculptures, like this bee which Clare has been coveting for months. Each piece is individually cut and shaped before Elsa carefully assembles them, ending up with a little creature who looks like he's about buzz off in search of nectar. Check out all of Elsa's incredible pieces here.

Yummy Wool Kits

2009-10-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

yummy wool kits by rachel henderson

These fab crochet and embroidery kits arrived today from Rachel Henderson, and we couldn't wait to share them with you. Rachel is a talented textile designer, teacher and author based in Edinburgh who has a passion for introducing people to traditional hand craft techniques. In each kit there are three balls of soft, brightly coloured wool, a crochet hook or embroidery needle and full instructions. The depths of winter can then be spent in front of a roaring log fire using your newly acquired skills to make your warmest, cosiest clothes even more warm and cosy. At £6.99 these kits are a great present for a friend or a really easy way to try something new.

images by nick mailer for rachel henderson crafts

Freya's Perfect Prints

2009-10-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

large sunshine print - £52.50

In the months before we opened Plaisir, we thought long and hard about choosing the items in our very first collection. Whose work said exactly what we wanted to say with our shop? Which items would make our customers feel as happy as we want them to feel? It wasn't easy, and much sleep was lost before we finally felt that we'd got it right. There were however, a few designers, artists and makers that were dead certs right from the start, and one of them was Freya.

We love her vibrant, colourful prints that somehow manage to be bold and delicate, wise and naive at the same time. The text she uses as the basis for each piece has been known to reduce the occasional customer to tears (seriously!) so we're delighted that a new delivery of her prints and cards has just arrived. As well as medium and large prints, we also have six of her designs as greetings cards, which means that you can own a little piece of Freya art for the princely sum of just £4.

medium new to this world print - £37.50

all images by freya art and design

Winter Surprises Sale and Beautiful Beads

2009-10-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to announce a special promotion today - our winter surprises sale!

Although it's just a dot on the horizon for many of us, some of our particularly organised customers are already ticking Christmas presents off their lists. Although we've never managed it ourselves, early bird shopping does take the stress out of choosing gifts. At half past five on Christmas Eve you can be sipping egg nog in front of a roaring fire instead of frantically offering a stony-faced shop assistant one of your kidneys if they'll just stay open for five more minutes. Not that we've ever done that.

To help out the super-organised, and brighten up the wintry chill for the rest of us, we've come up with our surprises sale. Here's how it works.

Beginning today, we'll be taking 10% off a different range of items every week for the next twelve weeks, all the way up to Christmas. It could be our beautiful glassware, enamelled dishes, gorgeous tea balls or winter fashion - to discover the surprises each week, drop into the shop, give us a ring or check out our blog every Tuesday. Each range will be reduced in price for that week only and while stocks last.

This week, it's 10% off all jewellery! This also gives us a chance to show you the work of one of our favourite and most popular designers, Beads by Sam.

amethyst pod earrings - £16.50

We love this beautiful range of handmade jewellery, now back in stock after it flew out the door first time around. Sam works with semi-precious stones and silver, stringing vibrant beads onto waxed cord to make earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Prices start from £15, but drop in before next Tuesday for 10% off this and all of our jewellery ranges.

hot pink aventurine o-earrings - £17.50

sterling silver lotus charm earrings - £27

yellow jade fizz earrings - £15
all images by Beads by Sam

Welcome to Plaisir

2009-10-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Plaisir is a brand new boutique in Biggar, a beautiful market town in the Scottish Borders, about an hour south of Edinburgh. We offer a fresh, colourful take on fashion, homewares, jewellery and gifts, specialising in handmade work by artists and designers. Drop by for the latest from our neck of the woods: new items, events, ideas, displays, discoveries and cakes. Especially the last one.