Celtic Sheepskin

We all like a pat on the back!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I have mentioned before in the blog how much we appreciate customer feedback to help us to continuously improve and we suggest that you leave reviews on the products you buy from Celtic Sheepskin to assist other potential customers with their choices.

We British are sometimes thought of by other nations as being self-deprecating and shy to come forward when we do something well. With 2012 being a year of celebration however, it seems that we have plenty to fly the British flag for, with the Diamond Jubilee almost upon us and the Olympic Games to look forward to over the summer and an unspoken feeling that both events will be memorable for generations to come.

As a Great British company, we thought it was only right that we follow suit. So today, I simply wanted to share with you a letter that we received recently from a very happy customer which made us smile from ear to ear…

“Dear Nick, dear Kath,

This is just a quick note to say how impressed I am with the people who work for you. My daughter has worn 2 pairs of Celtic boots to death and I asked her if she would like another pair for her Birthday later this month. Her old ones were both classic calf length in black and stone. I decided to surprise her and replace both pairs. Unfortunately I found out that you no longer make the classic boots in stone so I ordered the second pair in spice (not listening to Tess who did tell me that oatmeal was the nearest colour to stone). Over the weekend I found out that my daughter does not like the colour spice so the upshot is that I have returned that pair to you and placed a special order for oatmeal ones. I am sorry I am so long winded but because of this I had various phone conversations with your company.

What impressed me most was a) the friendliness, b) the efficiency and knowledge and c) the speed of delivery of both pairs. I would very much like you to pass my thanks and compliments on to Tess and Bernie. I think you are lucky to have them on your staff.

I too am the owner of a pair of Celtic boots and they are wonderful. I am certainly going to recommend both your company and your product to all my friends.

With best wishes for your future success.

Sylvie M.”

Thank you for your kind comments, Sylvie! I asked Bernie – our Assistant General Manager – for her thoughts and she said “It’s lovely to receive such positive feedback from our customers as we have from Sylvie. When it comes to special orders, we always aim to create the customer’s dream boot and in this instance, through discussion and a bit of creative thinking, we have been able to come up with a suitable option which is being handcrafted as I speak and which will hopefully make Sylvie’s daughter very happy!”

As you can probably imagine, we love receiving letters like this as you – our customers – are at the heart of everything we do and it is great to know that we are making you happy. Of course, we know that occasionally things don’t go so well so we always aim to rectify any issues as quickly and satisfactorily as possible so that we can continue to offer you exceptional service.

If you would like to share your own feedback (good or not so good!) you can contact us at sales@celtic-sheepskin.co.uk or via Facebook or Twitter.

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A creative way of recycling our sheepskin scraps!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

As many of you might know, here at Celtic Sheepskin we like to fly the flag as an eco-friendly company and we do our best to carry this throughout all areas of our business. While I’m not going to go into too much depth about how we do this (although if you are interested, click here to be directed to the relevant section on our website), I thought today you might like to see one of the fun ways that we have made use of our sheepskin scraps.

Of course, we do our absolute best to use as much of every sheepskin as possible during the process to make a pair of boots or slippers - it’s amazing how many ways you can use a sheepskin! Even so, once we have squeezed as much use out of a skin as we can, there are often little scraps left over so we are always searching for innovative ways to recycle them. Last week Lou – our Warehouse Supervisor – came up with a brilliant idea: Rather than disposing of the sheepskin leftovers, she suggested that it would be a great opportunity for local school art departments to offer students the chance to work with sheepskin to make their creations.

Sheepskin scraps come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so they are perfect for collages and artistic creations. So Lou and Emma - who works in her team – spent a morning travelling around Newquay armed with boxes of sheepskin scraps to deliver to local nurseries and schools in the area. Judging by the photos they took, they seemed to be very well received! The staff and children kindly posed for some photographs for us so thank you very much to them all…

I can’t wait to see what the children (and their teachers!) will make out of the scraps. Hopefully they will let us know when their creations are ready for viewing so we can take some photos to post on the blog. Perhaps they will come up with something like this one which Lou and Emma made and are proudly displayed in the photo below...

Do you have any suggestions for inventive uses for our sheepskin scraps? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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The Sales and Support team model the new Summer collection.

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

You can feel the buzz of anticipation at Celtic HQ today with the thought of the long weekend ahead. Our Sales and Support team in particular are excited for the bank holiday with plans of rendezvous with friends and family to look forward to. Having had a few weeks to immerse themselves in the new Summer collection since the catalogue launched and after talking through the range with many excited customers over the phone, four members of the team were very eager to show off their favourite pieces from the collection.

For today’s blog post, the lovely ladies have kindly modelled their planned outfits for their relaxed bank holiday weekend outings to give you – our blog readers – some extra inspiration and so that you can put some faces to the friendly voices who answer the phone when you call Celtic Sheepskin!

First up, Lucy’s favourite piece in the collection is the Sheer Cable Knit, which she is beautifully modelling here...

As you can see, as well as black, this also comes in a gorgeous stone shade which would look fab with a tan! Lucy told me that she loves the Sheer Cable Knit because it is it is comfortably sheer with a pretty, delicate lace knit design. Lucy said that she thinks this is a really adaptable piece: she could wear it during the day on the beach, then on to the evening, for a smart/casual look. She could picture herself drinking cocktails at the beach bar on Fistral beach (here in Newquay), over some skinny jeans. Lucy, I couldn’t agree more!

Vicky’s favourite pick was the more casual Bamboo 2 Pocket Tee in Smoke/Smokey Grey Stripe...

Vicky is a loyal fan of our jersey range and owns quite a few of our bamboo and organic pieces. She said that she loves how practical the tops are to wear yet they still make a statement – something which other standard tees don’t always do. Vicky explained that she loves the longer sleeves on the Bamboo 2 Pocket Tee because she feels the cold easily and is always on the lookout for generous sleeves. She also likes the length and how it sits flatteringly on the hips.

Tess was keen to model her favourite cardigan from the summer collection, the Cotton Box Cardigan…

I love the accessories Tess chose too. The bag is our Raffia Spotted Basket (medium – it also comes in large and small sizes) and I had to take a close-up shot of Tess’s shoes – the Tie Espadrilles – to show how well they work with jeans. Tess loves the Cotton Box Cardigan because of its intense colour which she finds goes with most other colours in her wardrobe and the feel of the cotton which she said is cosy and soft yet light for summertime. As well as with the bag and espadrilles above, she pointed out that it can be dressed down with jeans and a complementary scarf for daytime or dressed up over a maxi dress with her favourite silver jewellery for an evening out.

Last but by no means least; Lorraine modelled her favourite Summer collection item, the Short Suede Jacket…

I just love the poster in the background behind Lorraine - great positioning (it’s as if we planned it!). I also love this jacket and I think Lorraine looks great. This is her favourite piece because of its wonderfully flattering shape and the fact you can wear it during the day casually and then slip it on over a dress for the evening. The adaptable colour can be worn with so many different prints and colours too.

Thank you ladies – you all look fabulous!

How will you be sporting Celtic this bank holiday weekend? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Summertime blues...

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I can’t believe today marks the start of May! I don’t know about the rest of the country but here in Newquay it feels almost wintry, so much so that I am wearing multiple layers in an attempt to warm up.

With a long weekend ahead of us, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some more seasonal weather: Being based in Cornwall, we see an influx of visitors to the county over long weekends, hoping to make the most of the beautiful surroundings and, while it is still beautiful on a cold and windy day, it’s definitely more enjoyable when it’s warm and sunny!

I thought a chilly, wet and downright miserable day would be the perfect opportunity to highlight a few items from our collection which are well-suited to cooler summer weather. After all, a British summer wouldn’t be a British summer without rain and sub-average temperatures to dress for! Rather than showcase our entire knitwear range (you can of course see it all on our website), I thought I would stick with the theme of summertime blues, for no other reason than it’s a great play on words bearing in mind the gloomy forecast…

One of our best-selling shapes, the V Neck Slouch now comes in a striking spa blue shade to liven up even the darkest summer days! As with all of our Geelong pieces, this is a great wardrobe staple which can be thrown over other layers or accessorised to the max, depending how you feel.

My other two picks for today’s blog post are both made from cotton which is one of our favourite warm weather yarns because it is so soft and looks great. As you can see, these two might be made from the same yarn but they look quite different, each with qualities of their own…

The Cotton Fisherman’s Jumper is a lighter-weight version of our Fisherman’s Cable Jumper (one of our bestsellers for Winter) and it has the same stunning cabling pattern knitted in a summer yarn. I think that this jumper is great for days like today when you need long sleeves without the bulk of a winter woolly – it’s a fabulously wearable colour too!

The other cotton piece I thought I would bring to your attention is the Lace Knit Slouch which comes in a stunning Chambray colour, as well as the pure white version which you will see on the front cover of our Summer catalogue. As Amelie shows in the picture above, it looks great over a white vest. Of course, when it’s warm enough, it also looks brilliant over a bikini top and the colour will show off your tan!

Will you be embracing all things blue this summer? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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Lovely linen: a Summer must-have...

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

As our loyal customers will know, we love natural fibres. In fact our entire range is made from yarns which are sourced from nature, something which we are very proud of. Each season we like to introduce new yarns to our collection and Summer 2012 is no exception. If you have flicked through our catalogue already you might have seen and abundance of beautiful linen pieces which we have designed for the high summer season.

Now of course, being based in Cornwall, we know that ‘high summer’ for this country sometimes means more umbrellas than parasols so we have specifically designed linen pieces that can be layered effortlessly on non-summery days. We do like to think optimistically as well though so if you have a lovely summer holiday to look forward to so, or perhaps - like me - you are just keeping your fingers crossed for a beautiful British summer, you might like to see our linen range being worn as nature intended; simply thrown on after a day on the beach. So for today’s blog post I thought I would highlight two of my favourite pieces, one for each instance.

First up, here’s my favourite linen piece for layering…

I love this Linen Cowl Top. I think it works really well over the Organic Cotton V Tee as in the picture above and is a great combination for days when the sun won’t make its mind up as the Cowl Top is so easy to throw on and take off. I would also wear this over a simple vest top and for a day on the beach over a bikini. Being linen it is brilliantly lightweight and has a gorgeous sheerness to it which I just love – I think it looks really feminine. I particularly like the Woodpigeon shade pictured above (it goes with anything!) but it also comes in Navy and White too.

Following on, for those days that we dream about – warm sunshine and a beach to laze on, I love our Sheer Linen Tunic….

I think that this is one of those pieces that really come alive when you put it on. It’s such a wearable style; very versatile and would suit all shapes and sizes. It’s sheer without being revealing and looks brilliant over a bikini although I think it would also look fab teamed with a pair of brightly colour skinny jeans (you might like a simple vest top underneath to protect your modesty too!).

Do you love our linen range as much as we do? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Transitional styling with our key summer dress

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I went into town at the weekend to have a browse around the shops and I came away thinking that summer must be just around the corner because the shop windows were brimming with pretty sun dresses, almost begging to be worn on a sunny day to show off our sun-kissed legs while basking in the summer sun…

Back to reality and looking at the forecast today it doesn’t look like the rain is disappearing yet. Some of you might think that this is reason enough to keep your dresses on their beckoning hangers for a while longer and I must admit that briefly, so did I. That is until I remembered my Short Sleeve Cable Dress which I treated myself to the other day (a brand new addition to our Summer 2012 collection)…

As you can see, Amelie is wearing it as most of us would imagine a short summer dress should be worn; with bare legs and a smile! For those of you who are about to embark on a sunny holiday, this dress is a perfect day-to-evening look; and I love wearing it with pair of wedge heels to make it even more girly and of course show off my pins! Being made from 100% cotton it doesn’t feel overly warm but definitely keeps the evening chill away. I think its best accessorised with a sun hat and a glass of Pimms!

Now I did say at the beginning of this blog post that our inclement weather shouldn’t be a reason not to wear a summer dress so let me explain. The beauty of our Short Sleeve Cable Dress is that it is as adaptable as any true jumper dress should be: All you need is a pair of leggings or skinny jeans and a light jacket over the top and you have a great transitional outfit that you can wear long before sun puts his hat on. Here’s Lauren modelling my suggested ensemble to help you visualise the style…

(Pictured above with Classic Boots and Short Suede Jacket).

I think that this is a really easy look which can utilise many combinations of layers. If you prefer to go without a jacket, our Organic Cotton Henley would work well layered underneath the dress as the capped sleeves of the dress would pull the look together. I predict that this dress will fly off the shelves as it is so flattering and comfortable to wear and, as with all our products, it will see you through many-a-season to come.

Are you embracing the opportunity to wear a summer dress already? We’d love to hear your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter.

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Video: Behind the scenes at the Summer 2012 photo-shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Hopefully you have received your summer catalogue by now. If not, it should be with you any day. Have you picked out your dream pieces yet? The orders are already flying in thick and fast and it’s great to know that despite the dreary weather, you –our customers-are looking ahead to your summer wardrobes!

I thought today I would continue the summery feeling in this blog post but rather than talking about our products in the usual way I am letting a different medium do the talking!

For the very first time on our summer photo-shoot, we were accompanied by a videographer who has created a brilliant behind-the-scenes video for us. As those of you who have browsed your new catalogue will know, there are some gorgeous new summer pieces in the collection and I think this video is the perfect complement, highlighting the fit and feel of many of our key garments plus the fun we have on our shoots, which I think is a key ingredient when working such long days!

So without further delay, here it is - our behind-the-scenes video of the Celtic Sheepskin Summer 2012 photo-shoot…

(If you can't view the video, please click here.)

What do you think? I particularly love how the products seem to come to life, giving you a real taste of how they will look and feel. If I had to pick, my favourite featured piece would be the Sheer Cable Knit which Amelie (the gorgeous blonde model) wears – it looks so good over a bikini!

What do you think of our behind-the-scenes video? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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We’re going all patriotic with thoughts of the Diamond Jubilee!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It might still be a couple of months away but I’m sure I’m not the only one to have noticed the excitement surrounding the Diamond Jubilee celebrations have started in earnest. 2012 is of course a brilliant year for everything with a ‘Great Britain’ story and there will no doubt be a sense of patriotism as we welcome visitors from all over the world who want to join in the celebrations and be a part of only the second ever Diamond Jubilee (the first being that of Queen Victoria back in 1897). I think that the mood feels reminiscent of this time last year as we were enjoying the Royal Wedding; there seems to be a sense of community and a generally jovial outlook on the forthcoming festivities and I can’t help but want to get involved!

This brilliant official website has lots of interesting information about the Diamond Jubilee and the planned celebrations if you’re interested to find out more; http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/

Needless to say, with a busy Cornwall-based factory we like to fly the flag when it comes to all things British. 70% of our sheepskin footwear ranges are still handmade on site here in Newquay, Cornwall by our skilled team and the other 30% of our sheepskin footwear ranges and much of our clothing pieces are also made in Great Britain, so we are extremely proud to support the GB manufacturing industry.

In light of the patriotic start to this blog post, I thought you might like to see our special edition boots and slippers which have been created with the Diamond Jubilee in mind.

Aren’t they brilliant? These have been specially designed with the Jubilee in mind and we have created slippers to match so that you can relax in patriotic style in the comfort of your own home too…

These all can be ordered by using our made-to-order sheepskin footwear guidelines...

The beauty of us making by hand here in Cornwall is that you can change our usual ‘recipe’. We love going that extra mile for you and offer a made-to-order service on many of our popular styles so you can create your very own personalised pair of boots or slippers.

This service isn’t as expensive as you might think; with a 'made-to-order' charge applied on top of the style price that is most closely related to your design. Of course, do bear in mind that it will take extra time to create a bespoke pair of boots for you, but it’s certainly worth the wait.

Speaking to Bernie Hoare, our resident 'special order guru', I learned that there is a wide variety of options that you can choose to make your perfect pair of sheepskin boots or slippers. From different coloured panels or soles, a style you love in a different length or added details, Bernie said that she always endeavours to fulfil a request. There are occasions when some requests aren’t possible, for example wider fittings don’t always look quite right on the finished product, but it is certainly worth asking as you just never know!

For more information or to discuss a made-to-order pair of sheepskin boots or slippers, the simplest route is to email Bernie directly at: Bernie@celtic-sheepskin.co.uk.

If you could choose your perfect pair of sheepskin boots, what would it look like? We would love to hear your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter.

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Celebrating our 200th blog post!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Today marks a very special occasion on the Celtic Sheepskin blog as this is our 200th blog post! This is quite a notable milestone and it is thanks to you, our loyal blog readers, that we are still blogging.

Launched back in May 2010, the blog has been updated with new posts on Tuesday and Thursday each week, with the aim to keep you in the loop regarding all things Celtic. As well as providing additional information on our new products, we sometimes like to go ‘extra-curricular’ by giving you an insight into Celtic life, for example by interviewing members of staff or showing you what goes on behind-the-scenes at our photo-shoots. The aim was always and still is to use the blog as a way of communicating with our customers on an informal level, much like we would do if we had a high street presence but without the queues!

While we’re celebrating, I think it’s only right that I mention the launch of our new summer collection again – it’s so exciting, I just can’t help it. The full range is now available online and catalogues are due to hit doormats any day now so we are fired up and eagerly waiting to hear what you think of it all.

It seems that the miserable Easter weekend weather didn’t put anyone off the idea of summertime with orders already coming in thick and fast for our gorgeous summer pieces. So as this is our 200th blog post and to mix things up a bit today (after all, we like to offer something different to our blog readers!), I have pulled together some noteworthy figures about our new collection …

…the number of pages in the new catalogue.

…the combined number of pages across the Spring and Summer 2012 catalogues which have this year been split for the first time into two separate brochures. The Spring/Summer 2012 collection boasts 66% more pages than in Spring/Summer 2011, so we have more to offer you than ever before.

…the number of pieces which have been featured for the very first time this season.

…new colours available in our organic cotton range; Woodpigeon and Bijou Blue. This leads us smoothly on to our next figure…

…the number of pieces in the catalogue that come in more than one colour especially for all of you that have requested that we offer our most popular styles in more than one shade.

… the number of fabulous shades that our Nubuck & Suede Flip-flops come in (Pink, Blue, Tan, Taupe, Mocca, Black). Our flip-flops are a long-lasting alternative to the synthetic versions available elsewhere and they’re so comfy!

… the lowest priced piece of clothing in the catalogue. The Bamboo Short Sleeve Tee is brand new for summer and set to be one of this season’s key pieces. The length is perfect for every-day wear and the bamboo feel makes this so much more than just a normal t-shirt.

…and, conversely, the highest price! The price tag may be more ‘investment’ than ‘everyday’ but in my opinion, our Long Suede Coat is worth every penny – it is stunning and I’m sure it will become a wardrobe classic which will appear again and again.

That’s a great place to leave our 200th post. Thank you for reading and here’s to the next 200!

What are you buying from our new collection? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Introducing Summer 2012...

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

What a lovely long weekend - I hope you feel as relaxed and refreshed as I do! Have you had a look at our new Summer collection online yet? The new range went live just before the weekend and it is already proving popular despite the not-very-summery temperatures over the last few days. The Summer 2012 catalogue will shortly be sent out so if you prefer to browse over a cup of tea in your favourite armchair then keep an eye out for the postman later on this week!

I might have mentioned already that this is our first dedicated Summer catalogue (previously we have combined Spring and Summer) and I am excited to say that this means we have even more new products for you to add to your wardrobe as well as additional colourways. As always at the start of a new season, I like to showcase a few of our brand new pieces for you, our blog readers, to give you a taste of what you will find in the catalogue. You can now view the whole collection online so I have linked the images below to each specific page and you can view the entire catalogue online here.

My first highlight is the Linen Shirt...

This is part of our new slubbed linen range which comes in 3 gorgeous shapes and 3 great colours which are perfect for summer; Navy, White and Woodpigeon. I particularly like the white version and I think that it would look great with a sun-kissed glow after a day on the beach.

The second piece that I am coveting this season is the Cotton Box Cardigan which comes in a bright and breezy Blueberry shade (pictured with the Raffia Toggle Basket)…

I can see myself wearing this cardi all over the summer as a light throw-over or as the perfect complement to a simple tee and jeans outfit.

As I like to organise things in threes, the stunning Short Suede Jacket is my final pick for today...

This is one of a collection of 3 new-for-summer suede outerwear pieces which I predict will be really popular this season as they are so versatile. This short sandy-coloured version is the perfect summer jacket: it’s lightweight yet long-sleeved to keep the evening breeze away, and the neutral colour will go with anything – dressy or casual.

Now that you’ve had a chance to peruse the range, we would love to hear your thoughts. Let us know your must-have items on Facebook or Twitter.

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A little Easter treat – view the Summer catalogue before it goes live!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Look what we found when we came into the office yesterday –the Easter Bunny had visited (in the form of Sarah, our Merchandiser – thanks Sarah!)...

I am quite partial to a chocolate treat or two as anyone who knows me will confirm, so I was a very happy girl, as were the others in the office!

With Easter just around the corner and an extra-long weekend to look forward to, I am in a particularly good mood today. I have a relaxed weekend ahead me so I think I will do a bit of spring cleaning to pack away my winter wardrobe and replace it with some lighter and, dare I say, cheerier pieces to welcome in the warmer weather which I am sure we are all hoping for (despite the current chill in the air and snow reports!). Just as well that I’m doing it this weekend as the forthcoming Summer 2012 collection will definitely fill the gap…

If you subscribe to our email newsletters already you might have seen a preview of the new Summer 2012 collection as we sent out an exclusive link last weekend. Don’t fret if you haven’t seen the email though as the new range is being officially launched towards the end of today! Seeing as I am in such a good mood, I thought I would give you a last chance for an early preview of the Summer range so click on the link below to view the whole collection and a preview of our fabulous new catalogue which will be sent out in the next couple of weeks;

If you click on the product names or images in the catalogue, you will be directed to the appropriate product page on the website – how convenient!

I’m sure that you’ll agree that the summer collection is a real feast for the eyes! I have been lucky enough to see the full range and there are so many pieces that I want that I am going to have to clear out a lot of space in my wardrobe this weekend!

Among other delights, we have some beautiful linen, organic cotton and gorgeous bags and I think that Summer 2012 is set to be our most exciting collection yet. My advice? Don’t wait until the temperature rises (who knows when that will be!), stock up on some beautiful natural knits and summery jersey pieces now (layer them up if it’s still chilly) and I’m sure that you will feel instantly sunnier. :-)

Have a lovely Easter and a restful long weekend. If you haven’t already, sign up to receive our email newsletters here to keep up-to-date with all our news and exclusive special offers.

Have you picked out your favourites from the new collection? Let us know what you’re buying on Facebook or Twitter.

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Behind the scenes at the Autumn 2012 photo-shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Well what a difference a week makes! This morning I heard reports on the radio of snow in some parts of the UK (in April?!) and it is quite chilly here in Cornwall, so much so that I had a layer of frost to contend with on my car yesterday morning.

It’s hard to believe that this time last week, I was enjoying the warm Spring sunshine and bright, blue sky as part of the Celtic Sheepskin photo-shoot team. It made a welcome change to be outside for the week (as I am usually office-based) especially when the weather-gods are being kind. This time we didn’t see so much as a spot of rain and it was glorious for most of the week, and just a little bit overcast towards the end which was ideal for some moody Autumnal shots. We couldn’t have planned it better!

As promised, I took some photos of the behind the scenes action so that you – our blog readers - can see the initial stages of creating your Celtic Sheepskin catalogue. As you might imagine, there is more to it than picking beautiful models and hoping for good weather (although of course it helps!) and there is a large team of us that all have a role in ensuring that the shoot runs smoothly.

As always with our photo-shoots, we made the most of our beautiful natural surroundings here in Cornwall and shot in some beautiful locations, which included Mousehole, St Ives, Bedruthan Steps, and Padstow…

Our Design team came with us on this shoot so that they could start planning and editing the catalogue on the go which made the whole process all the more exciting as we could see how fabulous it looks from an early stage. The team had to improvise somewhat though as they were without their usual office facilities…

Our stylist and make-up artist worked with the models to make sure that their outfits looked perfect and that not a hair was out of place (which can be difficult with a sea breeze!).

Talking of our models, for this season we had 4 in total, three gorgeous girls and a lone man (he didn’t seem to mind!).

You might recognise Amelie from our previous catalogues as she has featured in quite a few for us now. It was great to meet her in person at last having featured her in many blog posts. She was happy to pose for me for the purpose of this blog post too – thanks Amelie!

Our other models were Stephen, Simone and Cher who were all new to Celtic Sheepskin and did a sterling job of bringing the Autumn 2012 collection to life…

Now, I’m sure you might be wondering when the pieces so beautifully modelled will be available. We are of course slightly ahead of ourselves as we have to shoot so far in advance so the Autumn collection won’t be launched for a few months yet. Sorry to keep you in suspense but I’m sure by that time you will agree that the wait has been worthwhile!

What are you hoping to see in our Autumn collection? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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First look at Summer 2012...

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0000

This week I am working with the crew on the Autumn photo-shoot, travelling around Cornwall so today’s blog post is short and sweet. If you’re in Cornwall at the moment, keep an eye out for us and you might even catch a glimpse of what’s coming up for Autumn!

While Autumn is still a good few months away, summer is not too far around the corner and that thought alone has put me in a really good mood – so good in fact that I thought I would treat you, our blog readers, to a very first glance at the brand new Summer catalogue! This is very exciting for us as it will be our first exclusive-for-summer catalogue and the products on offer are even more fabulous than ever!

I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Here it is; your exclusive first look at the Summer 2012 catalogue front cover…

Doesn’t Amelie look stunning? This image makes me think of warm, balmy evenings, barbeques and sunbathing- lovely!

Just to whet your appetite further, here a few snaps taken on the summer photo-shoot…

As you might expect, none of these products are available to buy just yet but don’t worry, you won’t have to wait very long to view the collection online and believe me, it’s worth the wait! Sign up to receive our newsletter here to be first in the know as soon as the new collection is ready to view.

Let us know what you’re hoping to see in our Summer collection on Facebook or Twitter.

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Trying to top the exciting news about Catherine Middleton wearing more CS

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:08:00 +0000

After beginning this week in a flurry of excitement at seeing the Duchess of Cambridge in our Cabra Boots, I’m really not sure how I’ll be able to top such brilliant news in today’s blog post!

Tempting as it is to direct you all to the blog that announced the news (thank you “Duchess Kate”), I’m going to try to captivate your attention a few minutes more to offer you each the chance to discover extra credentials of Celtic Sheepskin, a brand that the Duchess plainly loves. I want you to judge for yourselves how good a purchase Catherine had made.

But rather than listening to more of my favourites or view points on the company I thought who better to give an insight into our brand than one of the faces of the company; Joanne Edwards, supervisor of our Factory Shop here in Newquay. It’s only a small factory shop and sadly it hasn’t been christened by the good Catherine Middleton in person, but it’s our favourite way to speak to our customers as we can have a really good natter with them rather than the swift, cold interface of internet shopping. I’m not knocking internet therapy; it’s my personal favourite way to shop, but when it comes to hearing what our customers want there is nothing better seeing the twinkle in your eyes as you enthuse about your favourite product and how we could make it even better!

OK, let the professional interview questioning commence…

Jo, when did you start working at Celtic Sheepskin?

I actually joined the company as an Inbound Telephonist, taking sales and customer service calls from our many customers who enjoy hearing the intricate detail of our products. That was back in August 2012. At the time I often helped out in the factory shop with days off so when a Shop Assistant position became available I jumped at the chance! A year later the supervisor’s role came up, and with previous shop management experience under my belt I was fortunate enough to be offered the role.

So what does a Shop Supervisor at Celtic Sheepskin involve?

The best bit is that we get to wear all Celtic Sheepskin products! That has really helped me to sell the clothes, boots and flip flops as they are all so comfy. There are so many tops to choose from at the moment, most of which can be worn in lots of different ways so I’m never bored of my wardrobe. Of course I have to do more than act as a mannequin for the company, and my day to day duties centre around serving customers, and this includes fetching stock from the warehouse, explaining the fit of the boots, processing resoles and repairs etc. As the supervisor it is also my responsibility to price up the samples and seconds that come over from the factory, and you can find some great bargains in the shop.

So what is it that you love most about doing the job you do?

I’d say the thing I love most about working in the shop is how I get to meet someone new every day. There’s always a mix of customers who are visiting during their Cornish holidays and also those who proudly live in this part of the country. I have different conversations with everyone and that is so uplifting and gives me a boost each time I hear a new story. And of course the fact that I get to wear all the lovely clothes we sell!

How long have you lived in Cornwall?

I’m a born and bred local girl so I have proudly lived on Cornish soil all my life, with little interludes travelling abroad and seeing the world whenever I can of course!

So what has kept you here your whole life then?

It’s a cliché but it’s all about being around my friends and family; people who I couldn’t bear to leave and also the beautiful scenery that decorates this county. Oh and the sea, I couldn’t move away from the sea. You don’t need to be an artist to enjoy the surroundings here, there’s plenty for everyone to fall in love with.

Coming back to Celtic Sheepskin then; If you could swap jobs with someone else in the company for the day who would it be and why?T

That’s difficult! Ummm….. I think I would like to swap jobs with Tracy, our Garment Technologist as I think her role is fascinating. For example she gets really involved with our various suppliers, scrutinising their objectives and keeping them in check with ours. Tracy also works really closely with the team designing new and current clothing ranges, making sure the fit of every item is perfect. Tracy recently took a trip out to Portugal to meet some key clients, and I would love to have the chance to network with even more people in Celtic Sheepskin’s supply chain.

With the Easter holidays coming up, why should visitors to Cornwall pop in to the factory shop?

That’s easy, as the biggest attraction to the shop are all the one off sample pieces and slight seconds we have, and have plenty in for the Easter holidays. These seconds and samples can’t be purchased anywhere else apart from the shop, so pop up and bag yourself a bargain. Plus of course you’ll get to meet our friendly and welcoming shop staff; Gemma, Corinne and me!

Which item from our Spring collection draws the most attention in the shop?

There are a number of items that stand out from the spring collection, depending on what the customers are looking for –beach tops, sofa clothes, outdoor bits. The top three at the moment is the Smocked Cheesecloth Top, Collard Slouch and the Super Soft Slouch Dress.

Finally, do you have one phrase that you like to live by?

You only live once!

Left to right: Smocked Cheesecloth Top
Super Soft Slouch Dress
Collared Slouch

Thanks Jo. And if you are still keen to learn about Kate Middleton’s style, here’s that link for you: -

http://hrhduchesskate.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/duchess-kate-takes-playful-lupo-walking.html

Beautiful Cornwall for beautiful photos…

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

I’m very excited about the clocks going forwards on Sunday morning! While admittedly the thought of losing an hour’s sleep isn’t as exciting, I can’t help but day-dream about the longer, lighter balmy evenings to come over the next few months.

As I have mentioned on this blog before, Cornwall (where we are based) is such a beautiful part of the world and I feel very privileged to be based here and I try to make the most of the gorgeous natural surroundings as much as possible. Last Sunday I went on a trip down memory lane by visiting Hannafore on the South Coast of Cornwall. I spent a lot of time there with my Grandparents when I was growing up so it is a place that I hold dear to my heart. I was really happy to discover that it hasn’t changed from how I remember it! There is still an abundance of tempting rockpools to discover and the view across to St George’s Island is simply beautiful…

As I mentioned on the blog on Tuesday, we are working on last minute preparations for the Autumn photoshoot next week. We will be taking full advantage of being based in such a beautiful part of the world by shooting in locations around Cornwall. With the Easter holidays fast approaching, I imagine that many of you might be looking for inspiration for a ramble in the countryside or along the coast. So using a few of our previous photo-shoots for inspiration, here are some of the places that we might end using for next week’s shoot and that you might like to visit while you’re here…

Close to home in Newquay, the Gannel estuary is the dividing point between Fistral beach on one side and Crantock beach on the other. At low tide you can walk across this footbridge to go between the two.

If you are feeling really energetic, you can walk further along the Newquay coastpath from Fistral towards the town where you will see views like this. You can walk all the way out to the end of the headland that you can see in the distance and on certain days it is the viewing point, when the swell and wind direction is working in its favour you will see world class surfers riding some huge (30ft) waves off the reef. If you’re lucky enough to see this, you will be in awe! Ideally for a photo-shoot, this area has lots of hidden coves and cliff-top vistas which are just perfect for snapping our models in all their glory.

Cornwall’s landscape is full of contrasts; the north and south coast vary dramatically as do the views inland. This photo was taken on Bodmin Moor and I think epitomises the rugged natural beauty of our surroundings. As we create our products from natural fibres using shapes and colours inspired by nature, we often use the moor for our shoots as it ties in well. Bodmin Moor is a vast area which is dotted with little villages and the occasional country pub to warm up in, including the Jamaica Inn which – as the book-readers among you might know - was made famous by Daphne Du Maurier who is a well-celebrated figure in Cornwall, she even has her own festival (this year from 9th-20th May)!

There are of course plenty of other great photo-shoot locations to mention and some yet to discover but we like to keep a little bit of mystery for you to look forward to in the Autumn catalogue. I will take some behind the scenes photos next week for you, our blog readers, and share them with you so you can see where we end up going!

If you have any suggestions for great Cornish photo-shoot locations or country walks, please feel free to share them on Facebook or Twitter.

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It’s the first day of Spring … and time to prepare for our Autumn photo-shoot!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I heard on the radio this morning that today is the Spring equinox, marking the official start of the new season. Sadly the Cornish weather isn’t very spring-like at the moment, so we are all hoping it improves in time for next week when our Autumn photo-shoot takes place (yes, we like to plan ahead!). In fact there is a hive of activity in the office this week as we make final preparations for the shoot. I have been lucky enough to see a preview of the range and, just like the catwalk shows which took place a few weeks ago, our collection for Autumn 2012 is set to be very exciting indeed! While I can’t say too much at the moment (as final tweaks still to the range need to be made), I will make sure that you – our blog readers – are first in the know when I can reveal more.

As well as preparing for the shoot itself by gathering the new samples and organising logistics for the week (it’s a shame we can’t pre-book the weather!), I’ve also been thinking ahead to my wardrobe. As anyone who has been on a photo-shoot will know, more often than not there is a lot of standing around while the beautiful models strut their stuff and here in Cornwall there is often a cooling sea breeze to contend with too. So it makes sense to dress for the occasion which usually means I wear as many layers as possible!

I am well aware how lucky I am to be able to choose from our current range to wear at work; testing it out for all you avid blog readers. So I am very excited to think about this season’s Jersey collection which is our biggest yet with plenty of options of layering pieces to keep the spring chill away, even when standing on the most exposed cliff top! In fact, our Jersey range is so adaptable that the pieces can be worn all year round. For those of you who might not yet have discovered the range, by way of introduction, here are the pieces that I have chosen for my photo- shoot wardrobe…

The Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Tee is one of the staple pieces in my wardrobe all year round as it just so wearable! We have introduced new shades for Spring of Steel and Grey/Navy Stripe so now I can wear it even more! In my opinion, the best feature of this tee is its lovely wide sleeves which give just the right amount of room to wear over other layers without feeling restricted. I particularly like wearing the tee over the Organic Cotton Henley…

This is such a versatile top. With the buttons fastened, it is a great long-sleeved tee which is wonderfully light and easy to wear.

As well as our Organic Cotton range, I also love our Bamboo pieces; they are so light and comfortable. Bamboo is a naturally breathable fibre with antibacterial properties so it’s ideal for long days out and about. My favourite piece from the range is the Bamboo Fluted Tee…

This is a great piece for wearing all year round as it is light enough to wear under a thick jumper yet generous enough to keep the chill away in its own right on spring days.

That should be plenty of layers to keep me warm and comfortable next week. Now time to start working on that photo-shoot-friendly weather forecast!

What are you favourite Celtic layering pieces? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Sheepskin Slippers in time for Mother’s Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This time last week I wrote a blog post for those of you who were planning ahead for Mother’s Day to ensure that you had bought a gift in good time (gold stars for you!). Of course I appreciate that not everybody will have been quite so organised and that this might even be the first time that you have turned your thoughts to buying a present for the occasion on Sunday. If so, do not despair – we’re here to help!

While admittedly you have left it quite fine to choose a gift (living on the edge?!), luckily we can to help you out so that you don’t end up in the bad books on Sunday; If you place your order by 2pm tomorrow (Friday) you will be able to pay for delivery on Saturday, just in time for you to wrap up your gift to give to your Mum on Sunday. Phew!

Considering that we offer plenty of choice and as time is of the essence I thought I would help you –our loyal blog readers – by suggesting an idea for the perfect Mother’s Day gift; a gorgeous pair of slippers. Every mum needs a bit of pampering; after all they run around all day after the rest of the family and yet always seem to have love and energy to give (thanks Mum!). So I think a pair of our 100% sheepskin slippers make will help to show your appreciation for everything she does.

Of course, there are plenty of slipper styles to choose from and it can be a difficult decision so to make choosing the perfect gift even easier here is a round-up of our favourites;

I bought a pair of these Lounger Moccasins for my mum last year and she tells me that she wears them every day without fail! They are comfortable as well as practical and the lush sheepskin cuff will keep ankles warm on colder days too.

For the mum who likes her slippers to be pretty and stylish, our Ribbon Mules will go down very well! These are a great option as they are cosy and comfortable with the additional detail of a gorgeous ribbon which I think make these slippers even more special.

For the mum who has everything! Our House Boots are a hybridised version of our Celt Boots, with a special light-coloured sole which has a narrow tread so that she can pop outside in them and not bring dirt back in. Like all of our Sheepskin Boots, these are supremely cosy and soft, machine washable and they look fabulous! What more could a mum want? I predict big brownie points if you buy these!

As mentioned before, you will have to be quick to ensure delivery in time for Mother’s Day but it’s easy to do. Simply place your order by 2pm tomorrow and specify that you would like to pay for Saturday delivery.

How are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Pretty pastels for Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

As we approach the middle of March, with the days gradually drawing out and the temperature creeping up, like many of you I imagine, I am embracing the spring season and even starting to think ahead to summer. As always, it’s a different story in the fashion world as the last few weeks have seen catwalk shows launching Autumn/Winter 2012 collections. Having kept one finger on the pulse, it looks like there are some exciting trends on the way to look forward to in the latter (colder!) part of 2012, more of which to come in future blog posts. If you would like an early peek at the AW12 trends, I found this handy guide on Vogue’s website which you might like.

According to Vogue’s A-Z guide, colour is going to be big for autumn 2012, but let’s not wish the days away yet as spring 2012 greatly contrasts the cold, bold colours of Lanvin’s AW12 collection. In fact I feel quite excited about one trend in particular this year; pastels. Taking Vogue as my bible for the trends, they describe this season’s movement as being “pale and interesting”–clever! And for me, to see a glut of pretty, feminine colours is quite a welcome treat. I love the colours of a pastel palette; from soft blues to ice-cream hues, this trend makes me think of carefree, warm, sunny days.

Here at Celtic we like to keep abreast of the trends and this Spring is no exception. As you might expect, we’re not going down the route of peppermint green and bright yellow just yet (maybe one day!) but we certainly know how to do pastels which can be worn effortlessly every day. As with every trend, I think it’s fair to say that less is more and our pastel creations are great examples of how to wear a trend without going too wild!

Appropriately for the new season, when new colours are popping up all over the place, here is a selection of some of the gorgeous pastel shades which you will find in our Spring collection...

Clockwise from top left; Waterfall Cardi £90, Stripey Scarf (Natural Stripe) £38, Rib Panel Knit £75, Lace Knit Slouch (Dusty Pink) £77, Organic Cotton Henley (Steel) £36, Cotton Fisherman’s Jumper £75.

As you can see, apart from the occasional hint of pink, our pastel offerings hint towards the blue end of the colour spectrum and – in our opinion - rightly so; with blue being such a wearable colour all year round, our pastel pieces will last well beyond the lifespan of the latest trend and to top it off they are knitted in the highest quality natural yarns so they feel fantastic too.

How are you wearing Celtic to channel the pastel trend this season? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Get in early and be in the good books this Mother's Day...

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:30:00 +0000

This year, rather than leaving it until the last minute like I usually do, I am planning ahead and have bought a gift for my lovely mother with plenty of time to spare before Mother’s Day on 18th March. So I am writing today’s with a slight air of smugness in the knowledge that I won’t be rushing around next week!

If I’m honest, I found it hard to decide what to pick as there is just so much choice around. I wanted to choose something special for my mum from our Spring collection which she would cosset and adore. There are plenty of pieces in our new range which I think tick this box but, being based in the press office and so close to the samples room (it’s a tough job but someone has to do it!), I have pretty much fallen in love with our entire collection so I needed to enlist some help to point me in the right direction. So I asked the advice of Kath Whitworth, one of Celtic’s Directors and a mother of two grown-up children herself (hints to follow for Mike and Clare if you’re reading!).

If you’re also planning ahead (bravo!) you might be looking for a little inspiration. So to help you out, I thought I would share a few of Kath’s suggestions with you…

Kath told me that she loves this Stripey Scarf in Royal Blue Stripe because it adds a bright, feminine touch to any outfit – it’s likely to become one of those accessories that will be worn again and again. It’s generously long so it can be wrapped around a few times or worn loosely as in the picture above, almost as a shawl.

Who doesn’t love a handbag?! Kath picked out our cute Mini Pouch Bag, saying that she would like to receive this because it is a mini tardis with hidden pockets and enough space for the bare essentials that a mum needs on a daily basis. The easily-wearable navy colour means it is likely to become a trusty friend for years to come.

The Collared Slouch has already proved to be popular with you, our customers, and Kath said it is one of her favourites too. The Harbour Blue colour (which you can see on the website) is a gorgeous summery shade which we predict will be popular with everyone, including mums!

I’m not going to tell you what I decided to buy for my mum in case she is reading this but needless to say I think she will be pleased! For more ideas, make sure to browse our website where you will find some hidden treasures that weren’t included in the Spring catalogue (there simply wasn’t enough room for them all!), such as our best-selling Boat Neck Dress which now comes in a gorgeous Dark Natural shade;

What are you hoping to receive this Mother’s Day? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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Taking Celtic far and wide…

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

I imagine that some of you might have been away over the past couple of months in search of some warmth and sunshine (you lucky things!). If so, hopefully you have taken full advantage of our fabulous spring collection and taken some of our key warmer weather pieces for the season. There is more choice than ever before and - judging by the images I have seen so far of our forthcoming summer catalogue – plenty more to come as the temperature soars closer to home.

Lauren, our Graphic Designer has recently returned – complete with gorgeous suntan - from her holiday in Borneo where the temperatures soared to over 30oC. Being a tropical part of the world, the heat and humidity meant that it was difficult to know what clothes to pack. Fortunately she decided to take a couple of our key season pieces with her which was very sensible as natural fibres are the best choice when faced with a tropical climate because they are lightweight, breathable and some like bamboo are even naturally anti-bacterial! Lauren kindly brought in a couple of her holiday snaps for us to see and share with you today (or perhaps to make us green with envy – it looks amazing!) so here’s how she got on…

Purl Stitch Linen/Silk Jumper

“I was really pleased that I took this jumper with me. It was one of the pieces that I had my eye on when the Spring collection first launched at the end of January and I knew it would come in handy on my holiday. I chose to wear this for travelling (the picture above was taken at the airport) and I’m so glad that I did – the journey took 15 hours in total and I needed to be warm and comfortable on the plane. The combination of linen and silk mean that this isn’t bulky like many jumpers and it was really comfy to wear. Being so lightweight, it worked really well as a beach throw-over when the sun went down too.”

Gypsy Blouse

“This became a firm friend during the holiday and I wore it quite a few times. I could really tell that it was 100% cotton because even on the hottest and most humid days I didn’t feel uncomfortably sticky which shows how naturally breathable cotton is. I loved the pretty details of this top; the tie front neck and shirred waist made it look and feel feminine as well as being practical. Of course, I also really liked how well the pure white cheesecloth showed off my developing tan!”

Wow - what a gorgeous backdrop! Thanks for sharing, Lauren.

Now that she’s back home in Cornwall, Lauren says that she’s even more of a convert to natural fibres than she was before and that she will be stocking up her summer wardrobe in anticipation for warm days and balmy evenings (I love her positive thinking!).

If you have any photos of yourself wearing Celtic Sheepskin on holiday, please share them on Facebook or Twitter – we would love to see them. I wonder where the furthest away snap has been taken!

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Lots of Celtic celebrations coming up this month…

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Seeing an abundance of sunny yellow daffodils on the way to work this morning couldn’t have been more apt considering that it is St David’s Day today and the daffodil is the national flower of Wales. St David’s Day marks the first of many national days of Celtic nations this month and being 1/4 Welsh (tenuous link, I know!), the day is dear to my heart.

One of the most well-known of the national saint's days is St Patrick’s Day which, despite being the national day for Ireland, is often an excuse for celebrations all over the UK and I imagine that sales of Guinness probably spike significantly on 17th March! This year, 17th March will also mark a celebration of another kind as the RBS Six Nations championship comes to an end (and will hopefully be won by one of the Celtic nations!). This year, rugby and particularly local rugby is on our minds as we have sponsored the new kit for the Newquay Hornets under 12s squad. Here they are in their new strip proudly brandishing the Celtic Sheepskin logo (and that’s Charlotte, our HR Manager on the end). Here’s wishing you good luck for the coming season!

Back to my original subject of national days, did you know that here in Cornwall, many local people will celebrate St Piran’s Day on 5th March? St Piran is the national Saint of Cornwall and also of tin-miners and the story of his historical journey is worth a read if you have time (click here to learn more). While there is not a public holiday for the occasion of St Piran’s Day (despite many ardent Cornish folk lobbying for one!), it is an opportunity to celebrate all things Cornish and why wouldn't we want to do that? For me, Cornwall represents rugged beauty and on days like today when the sun is shining on the sea and a soft breeze is blowing across the rolling fields, there is nowhere else I would rather be.

The word “Celtic” in our company name gives a deliberately unsubtle nod to our Cornish beginnings and we like to bring the essence of our love for Cornwall into our products. So for example, the colours that we use draw on inspiration from the hues that we see on the moors and along the coastline…

We also channel hints of our Celtic heritage in the form of traditional patterns (such as our Fair Isle patterns which come from Scotland) and wools (such as our Donegal range from Ireland)…

As well as this, perhaps the most obvious point to mention is that the fibres used in our products come from the natural world around us, demonstrating our love of nature and the beauty it offers. Our link with nature is hopefully very much apparent through our catalogues and everything we do (we are an eco-friendly company!) and we hope that you enjoy being at one in your natural surroundings as much as we do.

If you’re celebrating St David’s Day today then Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus! Let us know how you’re marking the occasion on Facebook or Twitter.

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New shoes for a new season!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw the weather forecast yesterday. With the clocks going forward at the end of March, the new month heralds the official start of Spring so slightly warmer days are to be expected. Even so, the average March temperature usually dips as low as 2.4^oC (according to Wikipedia), so the prediction of 13^oC for some parts of the country this week will mean that many of us are likely to be side-lining our winter woollies in favour of some lighter layers for a few days at least. Not that I’m complaining of course! Having tried on quite a few pieces from our Spring collection, I am looking forward to being able to wear some of the key season pieces without feeling chilly.

I imagine that many of you will have browsed our Spring catalogue by now so hopefully you will have picked out your favourite warmer season pieces. For a change today, rather than focusing on the spring clothing collection, I thought I would highlight one of my favourite new-for-2012 additions to the Spring range which will be ideal for a warmer spell of weather.

While I know that many people, me included, wear their sheepskin boots all year round, I like to think that every new season wardrobe needs a new pair of shoes. Sometimes it can be hard to find shoes which match the cosiness and wear-ability of our iconic sheepskin boots because they are just oh-so-comfortable but I think we might have hit the mark as I was delighted to discover these gorgeous Spanish Espadrilles in our new season range…

There are 3 styles of Espadrilles to pick from;

Espadrilles originate from the Pyrenees and ours are made for us in Spain using a traditional combination of cotton canvas, jute rope and rubber sole to create a long-lasting and comfortable shoe. I love these stripey slingbacks (Strap Espadrilles) – they’re practical but bring an effortless touch of colour to an outfit. They are a good option for work or play and because the heel is quite modest, they are easy to walk in and comfortable too!

If you prefer to keep your footwear flat (and as someone who almost always wears flat shoes I can empathise!), our Flat Espadrilles are a brilliant alternative to a pair of sheepskin boots. I have seen plenty of similar shoes on the high street but you can truly see and feel the quality of ours which sets them apart from cheaper alternatives (and they will last a lot longer too!). The neutral colours in the stripe detail means these will become a true flexible footwear-friend!

For an easy way to dress up your casual wardrobe, I adore these Tie Espadrilles. The navy shade is really on trend (as is anything with a hint of patriotic style this season!) and the pretty laces are very flattering on the ankle, something which I think can often be a challenge to achieve. At this time of year these work really well with jeans or Capri pants and in the high summer they will look wonderful combined with a billowing white skirt and a dainty vest top, don’t you think?

All three of these styles are available to order now and I predict that they won’t be around for long so don’t miss out; click here to see them all on our website.

Which style is your favourite? Get in touch on Facebook or Twitter.

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Shrinking waistlines and expanding ranges!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

As we approach the end of February I thought I would review my New Year’s resolutions to mark my progress with mixed results. On 1st January I set myself a couple of goals for the year; one was to improve my cooking skills and the other was - perhaps contradictorily - to lose a bit of weight (after enjoying Christmas to excess!). Thanks to a heavy-going marathon training schedule and a healthy-ish diet, my waistline is gradually shrinking while my culinary repertoire continues to grow with a few new recipes under my belt to ease the monotony of my usual pasta/chicken/chilli con carne menu! As is the case with most goals that we set ourselves, however, not every day is successful. I managed to ruin (burn) the pancakes that I had planned for Tuesday night (which was probably a good thing for the diet but I wasn’t best pleased!) and I have enjoyed many a food-centred social event over the last month or so which has hindered my progress. All is not lost though and I will persevere!

On the subject of resolutions and back to all things Celtic Sheepskin, as a company we continually strive to create the best products that we can for you, our customers. Through listening to your valuable feedback we are able to offer new lines and styles to complement your wardrobe. You might already have noticed if you shop with us online that one way in which we have done this is with the introduction of extra small sizing (size 6-8) to some of our best-selling lines. We initially started by offering some extra small options online during the autumn/winter season for the most petite among you and it proved to be so popular that we have expanded the number of pieces which come in this XS size for our new Spring collection in nine of our featured for spring garments.
For those of you who are keen to know more, here is a round-up of those Spring products which are now available in extra small…

As you can see, we have added XS to a few different ranges. To talk you through the products in the image above, let me start with our top-selling slouches (V Neck Slouch, Scoop Neck Slouch, and Henley Slouch). These are of course designed to be loose fitting but we have introduced them in XS to keep the slouch rather than swamped look for the smaller among you! Moving on, we have also added XS to some of your favourite jumper dresses (Supersoft Slouch Dress, Cable Slouch Dress and Organic Drop Back Slouch). And it isn’t purely knitwear: fresh for spring, our Smocked Cheesecloth Top and Cheesecloth Blouse are also in the XS range. Finally, not forgetting your bottom half, you can also now find the soft and comfy Harem Trousers in XS.

Furthermore, having taken a quick peek at the forthcoming summer collection, I can reveal that there are more new lines which will soon be available in extra small, to give you an even wider choice across the range. I can’t say too much about the range yet but needless to say I will let you know as soon as I get the green light (although I can say that it’s looking very exciting)!

How are you getting on with your New Year’s resolutions? Which products would you like to see in extra small? Start the discussion on Facebook or Twitter.

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Pancake Day madness!

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

While I am very much looking forward to this summer’s celebrations as we commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and of course the London 2012 Olympic Games, looking at my diary earlier I felt slightly despondent at the thought that there isn’t a notable diary date to look forward to until Easter which is quite late this year, being in April. It could be said that I felt a little flat, perhaps even as flat as a pancake but luckily not for long as I quickly remembered that today is Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pancake Day (see what I did there?)!

Of course, traditionally the day before the start of Lent is spent eating lots of pancakes to use up the main fatty and tempting ingredients in the larder before fasting for the period leading up to Easter Sunday (47 days this year). Nowadays, however, rather than giving up the staples of many a western diet (sugar, eggs, flour and milk) or indeed fasting completely, it is more common for people to give up other favourite vices such as chocolate or alcohol.

OK, so I’ve probably not told you anything you don’t already know, and I’m sure you have plenty of other ideas as to what you’d prefer to give up for lent, but I bet you didn’t you know that on Pancake Day each year our neighbouring town of St. Columb Major battens down the hatches ready for the ancient Cornish game of hurling? No? I learnt this only recently too, and will leave you to read the details for yourself if you’re curious by following this link. For me, the best bit of this game it that it has no rules and no referee, which in a way links it quite well to Shrove Tuesday, seemingly the only day of the year that we choose to eat pancakes (why?!) and the myriad ideas for topping your pancakes (sweet, savoury, both?) as well as the options open to us all for giving up something for lent.

So with this hotchpotch theme that’s drawing out of today’s blog post, how about I madly mix it up with images from our recent photo shoots; no referee and no rules, just our models having a bit of fun…

Perhaps random 'out-take' photos may not be your idea of a sensible blog post, but why should everything be regimented? Come on, it’s Pancake Day - the day inspires frivolity!

Even models get the giggles (although they still manage to look gorgeous while laughing – talented or what!). They say that smiling and laughing is infectious so I hope they make you smile today too. All of the featured products are available in our current Spring catalogue which you can view here.

Onto our finale now, so to finish off my clearly crazy blog post I have searched the internet for a few pancake day puns but, alas, they were really quite terrible, so much so that I should probably keep them to myself…so all that remains for me to say is that I hope your Shrove Tuesday pans out well and that you have a flipping good time. Personally, it’s always a toss-up for me between lemon & sugar or maple syrup so best crack on and make at least two of each. Groan! Sorry, terrible yolks :) *hangs head in shame*.

Why not share your pancake pictures with us via Facebook or Twitter – we would love to see your favourite toppings!

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Making tracks in the snow...

noreply@blogger.com (Celtic Sheepskin) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Last weekend I left Cornwall for a change to spend the weekend in Surrey where I caught up with family and attended a friend’s wedding. During the week before I watched the weather forecast with some trepidation as meteorologists predicted snowfall and plunging temperatures across the country. We are lucky here in Cornwall in that the climate is fairly mild for most of the year, partly due to the salty sea air although last week the temperature monitor in my car was flashing at -6^oC; that’s cold enough for me! We don’t often get snow though so the thought always excites me somewhat.

So in preparation for the potential snowstorms I packed as many layers as I could fit in my overnight bag and set on my way. As I drove over Salisbury plain and past Stonehenge a light flurry of snow started to fall and by the time I reached my parents’ house in Surrey, there was already a sizeable white covering over the gardens and stationary cars. While my excitement level soared to that of a small child I also felt slightly disappointed because I am in training for the Brighton marathon and my weekends usually include a long training run which I had planned for the next morning. With the snow settling and subsequent ice setting in, running would not have been a safe option.

My mild disappointment soon turned to happiness however, when I realised that I could instead spend the day ‘playing’ in the snow because I had packed my Yaktrax Pro! For those of you who aren’t in the know, Yaktrax Pro are attachments which fit onto flat shoes (including our range of sheepskin boots) to give better traction on snow and ice. They are really simple to use; you just slip your shoes into the foot shaped sleeve of coils and fasten the Velcro straps and you’re ready to go! I know people who run wearing Yaktrax Pro and for a moment I considered doing my training run as planned but I decided against it: let’s face it, running 17 miles versus a snowball fight – no contest really!

Hopefully you can see how the Yaktrax Pro work in these images (check out the unusual footprints I left behind me!)…

Here are some images taken on Friday. Didn’t it look stunning?

Yes, that is me playing in the snow (with the help of Photoshop!). As you can see, the snow didn’t stop me running around and I found that that the Yaktrax gave me a sense of confidence on the snow despite barely being aware of them as my boots felt exactly the same. They are a brilliant innovation which I would thoroughly recommend to give reassurance to anyone who is likely to be walking in the snow or on icy surfaces (perfect for ski holidays!).

The eagle-eyed among you might recognise the jumper I am wearing as our Rib Panel Knit in the new-for-spring shade of Cloud. I was surprised that I didn’t need a coat despite the chilly temperature; with the help of a scarf and mittens, I was warm enough in thick leggings, Rib Panel Knit and my Classic Boots! I found that the Rib Panel Knit is long enough to wear as a dress but later on I changed into my jeans and wore it as a jumper as the temperature dropped further – it’s wonderfully versatile.

I hope that, if you were affected by the snow last week, you were able to enjoy it as much as I did! We would love to see your pictures so please post them on Facebook or Twitter.

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