QGossip

Check out tomorrow's Get Gorgeous line up...

2012-05-17T00:01:00+01:00

It's time to refresh your look for the season with our fabulous Get Gorgeous event coming up tomorrow (Friday May 18th).

We'll be devoting the whole day to stylish fashion and accessories, dazzling jewellery and must-have beauty treats, and the best thing is that everything is available in Easy Pay instalments!

Here's a little taster of what to look out for on the big day...

Tiana B Today's Special Value dress

Don't miss out on this gorgeous, floral maxi dress from Tiana B launching at midnight tonight. It comes in an easy-to-wear textured jersey fabric and features a vibrant all-over floral print with cute ruched, short sleeves. It's just the thing to kick start your summer wardrobe! Plus, make sure you check out the rest of our Tiana B offers on the day too.

Annalee + Hope fashion

This range offers fun, on-trend designs that are affordable too. Look out for their contemporary separates, including this stylish block colour top (left) plus comfy classics that will be your wardrobe staples for the season ahead - and don't forget, you can spread the cost with our Easy Pay instalment selection tomorrow.

Butler & Wilson jewellery and accessories

Every woman needs a little sparkle to brighten up their wardrobe! So, take advantage of our instalment offers on glamorous Butler & Wilson jewellery and accessories, such as this stunning jewelled clutch bag (left).

New CID cosmetics

Give yourself a makeover and get that flawless make-up finish with the innovative range of cosmetics from New CID. Voted Best Newcomer in last year's Customer Beauty Awards, the range was put together by a team of professional make-up artists to provide you with wearable, easy-to-use shades. Why not snap up this fabulous make-up collection (left) in Easy Pay instalments?

Elemis beauty

Treat yourself and indulge in a little spa-style pampering at home with award-wining beauty products from Elemis. Their luxurious formulas are so popular and now you can stock up on your favourites by spreading the cost with our event selection in Easy Pay instalments.

Diamonique by Andrea McLean

Don't miss tomorrow's selection of sparkling Diamonique jewellery designed by TV presenter Andrea McLean. Her simulated diamond designs are stylish and elegant, like this tennis bracelet (left) and we have a fabulous selection in Easy Pay monthly instalments.

So, make sure you tune in for all these great brands and lots more from midnight tonight in our Get Gorgeous event!

Shop now with our preview of tomorrow's event offers

Home buyer Faye on the exciting new EasiYo range

2012-05-16T10:06:37+01:00

Hi everyone,

I’m Faye and I’m the associate buyer for our Kitchen and Food department. This week we're thrilled to be the launching the first ever EasiYo yoghurt smoothie in a delicious vanilla bean flavourand what's even more exciting is we are the first retailer WORLDWIDE to stock it!

We love to bring you exclusive products and have worked hard with our friends at EasiYo to bring you something new and delicious! It has created a real buzz in the office and has quickly become a firm favourite. It contains all the usual EasiYo goodness that we know you love, and I'm sure you'll adore the sumptuous, creamy taste and the luxurious vanilla bean pods. And if that wasn't enough you can buy them now at a fantastic Try Me price of £10.32!

We hope you love it as much as we do, and would love to hear what you think?

Here is a bit more information about the brand and some handy hints and tips too!

How did EasiYo start?

Every morning, Len Light and his wife Kathy would make fresh yoghurt for their eight children. Len knew how beneficial fresh probiotic yoghurt was for you, and over time he came up with an ingenious way of producing yoghurt perfectly every time. In 1993 Len set up the EasiYo Home Yoghurt Company in New Zealand, the 'clean green country' where EasiYo is still made to this day.

What are the benefits of probiotic yoghurt?

Fresh yoghurt contains large amounts of nutrients and probiotic cultures, also known as 'friendly bacteria'. The fresher the yoghurt, the more live and active cultures it contains.

These cultures have a limited lifetime, so for the greatest benefits make up fresh EasiYo yoghurt everyday with an EasiYo Yoghurt Maker. That way, you're getting incredibly fresh yoghurt and billions of beneficial cultures in every spoonful.

Hints and tips

EasiYo tastes great, is made from wholesome ingredients and is really versatile. Use EasiYo yoghurt as a delicious low-fat alternative to milk, cream, sour cream, cream cheese or mayonnaise.

Here are a few hints and tips to ensure you get the best EasiYo yoghurt.

Sachets: always use a new EasiYo sachet to make sure all the lactic cultures are present in your yoghurt every time.
Stir-in whey Stir back in any whey (clear liquid) that forms in your yoghurt. Whey is extremely nutritious and can also be drained from the yoghurt and included in soups or drinks.
For a mild flavourFor a mild taste, chill freshly made EasiYo yoghurt as soon as it sets, i.e. in approximately 6 hours.
For a tangy flavourFor a tangy taste incubate longer, i.e. 8 - 10 hours or overnight.

How to make EasiYo yoghurt

Here's your simple step-by-step guide to making delicious EasiYo yoghurt.
Half-fill your EasiYo yoghurt jar with water.
Add the EasiYo sachet and thoroughly mix in the contents. Add 2 - 4 tablespoons of sugar according to taste.
Top up the jar with more cold water.
Replace lid and shake.
Push down the baffle inside the Yoghurt Maker to its limit. Pour boiling water into the Yogurt Maker to the top of the red baffle.
Place the jar inside the Yoghurt Maker, allowing the boiling water to rise up around the base of the jar. Replace the lid on your Yogurt Maker.

Leave the Yoghurt Maker for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight until set. Then store the yogurt maker in the refrigerator (4°C).
Serve chilled and enjoy! Find out how you can use EasiYo yoghurt in your favourite recipes.

For best results

It's important that the cold water in the jar is clean drinking water i.e. treated water supply, cold-boiled or bottled water.
When using EasiYo yogurt during cold weather, top up the sides of the yogurt jar inside the Yogurt Maker with just a bit more boiled water. This will help the yoghurt to set better.
When making yogurt during warm weather, use a little less boiling water (1cm) inside the Yogurt Maker.
Always clean the yogurt jar and lid thoroughly with a damp cloth between use. Do not immerse in water or put them into the dishwasher.
It's recommended that you do not leave the Yoghurt Maker overnight in a cold room. However if this occurs wrap it up in a towel to keep it from getting cold.

We hope you have fun and enjoy the magic of EasiYo!

Love Faye x

Will: Pillows, duvets & featherbeds made simple...

2012-05-15T14:18:01+01:00

It's fair to say that there's a lot of choice out there when it comes to shopping for pillows, duvets and featherbeds.

Sometimes too much choice over complicates the situation and when it comes to your sleep, you want to get it right.

I caught up with Northern Nights expert Sam Doubledee to make shopping for pillows, devets and featherbeds simple, take a look...

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Just follow the blue link to take a look at our current range of pillows from Northern Nights.

Just follow the blue link to take a look at our current range of duvets from Northern Nights.

Just follow the blue link to take a look at our current range of featherbeds from Northern Nights.

You can browse our entire Northern Nights range here on our website and don't forget you can stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter

Alison Young reveals Emma Hardie's first ever TSV!

2012-05-14T23:55:00+01:00

If you're a fan of Emma Hardie's iconic Moringa Cleansing Balm, then you're going to love her first ever Today's Special Value launching on Wednesday 16th May. It's a complete day and night facial collection that will cleanse your skin leaving it wonderfully hydrated and radiant.

Here's Alison Young with some more information…

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Find out more about the Emma Hardie TSV
View the full Emma Hardie skincare range

The winners of our L'Occitane competition are...

2012-05-14T13:59:48+01:00

Following the success of the L’Occitane Garden at RHS Chelsea in 2010, they have joined forces with an award-winning garden designer to create the Immortelle Garden at this year's show (see watercolour image left).

To celebrate this special occasion, L'Occitane gave you the chance to win two tickets to the Royal Chelsea Flower Show 2012 (Thursday 24th May) to visit the spectacular gardens and meet L'Occitane expert Alexis Murdoch.

We can now reveal that the lucky winner of the tickets is…Michelle Wales from Kent. Congratulations! A representative from L'Occitane will be in contact shortly to arrange your prize.

The prizes don't stop there…

L'Occitane kindly offered 10 runners up prizes too - a L'Occitane beauty hamper worth £49.50!

The runners up are…

Sue Belcher from Norfolk
Abby Bookham from Loughborough
Phil Darling from Stowmarket
Lisa Parker from London
Geraldine Roult from London
Patricia Coombes from Oxon
Patricia Clarke from Suffolk
Stephanie Shand from Buckinghamshire
Ms. D Harper from East Sussex
Joy Bateman from St Leonards-on-Sea

Congratulations to all the winners!

If you weren't lucky enough this time round, keep your eyes peeled for more competition coming soon.

Will: 'Ask Alison' part 4...

2012-05-14T12:08:03+01:00

Welcome to part four of our 'Ask Alison' series. Alison Young is QVC's resident beauty expert and in this series we're asking her YOUR beauty questions.

You can add your questions by commenting in the box at the bottom of this blog and don't forget to look out for Alison on our dedicated beauty channel, QVC Beauty!

If you've missed the previous 'Ask Alison' blogs just follow the blue links to recap on parts one, two and three.

What's the best concealer?

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Alison mentioned the Laura Geller Real Deal Foundation, the Spackle Primer, Gatineau Force Collagene, and the Decleor Hydrotenseur Serum.

Emma Palmer 'Asks Alison' about spots...

In the video Alison mentioned products from the Australian Bodycare range, as well as Decleor Prolagene Gel and Ultrasun.

QVC customer Jasmine Lee 'Asks Alison' about unwanted hair...

Add your beauty questions at the bottom of this blog or head on over to Alison Young's Beauty Bible page.

Don't forget you can stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter. You can also watch the QVC Beauty Channel on Sky 658, Freesat 816 and Freeview channel 35.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter
Visit our beauty department

Kelly Hoppen and QVC support Prince's Trust campaign

2012-05-14T11:55:37+01:00

QVC has teamed up with designer Kelly Hoppen to support the Prince's Trust's 'Tomorrow' campaign.

The campaign aims to inspire a generation facing record youth unemployment and urges employers to recognise young people as tomorrow's industry leaders.

Kelly Hoppen will mentor 28-year-old Fay Martin, who overcame unemployment with help from The Prince's Trust, to design a home interiors product that will be sold here on QVC later this year. QVC will also support the mentoring process, providing guidance on product development and retail.

Before coming to The Prince's Trust, Fay had been unemployed for six months. She suffers from a chronic illness which makes it very difficult for her to hold down a full-time job, and at one point, her symptoms got so bad that she couldn't work.

However, Fay has a talent for design, having previously studied illustration and worked as a visual merchandiser. She dreamed of turning her passion for design into a business, and decided to approach The Prince's Trust for help.

QVC Buying Director, Philip Van De Merwe, said: "We have been working with Kelly Hoppen and The Prince's Trust for several years now, so it's a natural step for us to be involved in the Tomorrow campaign. It's great to see one of our established designers helping a young person to break into the industry. We're looking forward to seeing the product they create together, which will be sold exclusively on QVC to raise money for an important and worthy cause."

Other established industry faces taking part in the campaign include beauty entrepreneur Liz Earle.

Visit QVC on Facebook and Twitter.

Visit the Prince's Trust on Facebook & Twitter.

Visit the Trust's website: www.princes-trust.org.uk/tomorrow

Show Genuine Belief in Team GB with Links of London

2012-05-13T23:59:00+01:00

There is so much to look forward to in 2012! Not least, of course, is the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We are very excited here at QVC to be working with the iconic British jewellers Links of London, who just so happen to be the creators of the Official Jewellery Collection of London 2012.

To kick off the celebrations we are introducing the Team GB band, the perfect way to show your support for Team Great Britain and take home the ultimate memento from the Games.

The unisex band (pictured) features a red and blue woven design, a Chinese knot fastening and a silver-plated bar with 'Team GB' inscription, which stands for both Great Britain and Genuine Belief.

Links of London launched their Genuine Belief campaign last September, which highlights the importance and power of belief in the Olympic team's performance. So even if you weren't lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket, you can still show your support and inspire the nation to get behind the athletes in the build up to the Games.

Some celebrities have already been spotted sporting their own Team GB bands, including singer Natasha Bedingfield, all four members of JLS, Linford Christie, swimmer Rebecca Adlington and many more.

Links of London have also bought onboard four of the UK's Olympic and Paralympic London 2012 hopefuls to act as ambassadors for the collection, they include…

Open water swimmer Keri-Anne Payne, who took home silver in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was crowned world champion in Rome in 2009.

Track athlete Christian Malcolm from Newport, Wales, who concentrates on 200m and earned himself the title of World Junior Athlete of the Year at 19. He has since come fifth in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cyclist Sarah Storey OBE, who has competed in both Paralympic and Olympic events. She has won 16 Paralympic medals, including five golds as a swimmer and two golds as a cyclist.

Paralympian rower Tom Aggar, who protected his world title for the third time in the World Rowing Championships in 2010, and became the International Rowing Federations first 'Paralympic Rower of the Year'.

…Go Team GB!

Don't forget to keep an eye out for the full range from Links of London coming to QVC in June.

See the Team GB band

Visit the jewellery department

Take a look at the new bareMinerals Ready collection

2012-05-13T19:20:49+01:00

Calling all bareMinerals fans!

You've heard the buzz now the time has come to showcase the brand new READY collection from bareMinerals - your favourite mineral make-up products are now available in a handy compact!

Presenter Will Gowing caught up with the lovely bareMinerals experts, SJ and Lee, to find out more about the long-awaited range (keep your eyes peeled for a funny out-take at the end of the video).

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Get your hands on the READY collection now

View the full bareMinerals range

Find out more about the Thinstincts tank top TSV

2012-05-12T23:58:00+01:00

Tomorrow we will be showcasing a fantastic Today's Special Value offer from SPANX - the Trust your Thinstincts tank top.

Founder and businesswoman extraordinaire Sara Blakely has found success all over the world with her flattering shapewear, even landing her on the cover of prestigious Forbes magazine!

We caught up with Sara to find out more...

What gave you the idea for SPANX?
As a kid in Clearwater, Florida I used to sew charms onto socks and sell them to my friends at swim practice. That’s the only design background I have, but I guess I’ve always had a mind for business.

My own butt inspired me to create SPANX. In 1998, I was getting dressed for a party and couldn’t find the right undergarment, so I cut the feet out of my pantyhose to wear with white pants and open-toed shoes.

At that moment, I knew this was something women needed. With $5,000 in savings, a lot of internet research, patent writing, cold-calling, less-than-shy demonstrations for buyers, and a call from Oprah... SPANX was born.

When I started SPANX I was selling copy machines door-to-door. I always knew I wanted to be self-employed and envisioned myself as a successful entrepreneur, but I didn’t have any idea it would have anything to do with shapewear.

Tell us about the Trust Your Thinstincts Tank
Have you ever tried on a camisole that fits your waist but was too small up top? The Trust Your Thinstincts tank top solves that problem! It’s the first ever smoothing top that fits any bust size, and offers you slimming without the 'smush'! This style comfortably adjusts to flatter your chest while also flattening your tummy.

The Trust Your Thinstincts tank top works great under form-fitting silhouettes. I pair it with the Mid-Thigh Smoother for full coverage with a medium compression. This is perfect for summer dresses and just in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations!

How does it feel seeing celebrities wearing your garments?
I have to pinch myself every time I hear celebrities like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow mention wearing SPANX. This year, Oscar-Award winner Octavia Spencer from The Help talked about SPANX on every red carpet and that was a thrill! I think it’s great that all of the Hollywood girls wear SPANX to look red-carpet ready.

Why do you think SPANX has connected with women in the way it has?
Women were ready for something other than a girdle! Body shapers, at the time, were thick and uncomfortable. SPANX was perfect, in-between traditional underwear that does nothing for the figure, and heavy duty girdles our grandmas wore. Women reacted immediately. It was something women needed, that didn’t already exist.

I love the fact that SPANX is loved by women across generations all over the world, and that women love telling other women about SPANX. I am constantly getting flashed by women wearing SPANX! You look and feel great and you want your friends to as well. It’s really made it ok to talk about your underwear.

See more from the full range of SPANX.

Join us tomorrow for more from SPANX at midnight, 12pm and 6pm.

Will: Sunday's Special Value...

2012-05-12T09:00:00+01:00

Hi everyone!

Coming up on Sunday we have a Today's Special Value from H20, this complete 5-in-1 multi-floor mop & handheld steamer also comes with an accessory pack too.

This Today's Special Value will be presented at a great price, in fact over a £20 saving on the regular QVC price. It will be on air throughout Sunday the 13th of May.

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Don't forget you can stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

Will: You've helped raise over £11,500 for charity!!

2012-05-10T14:10:12+01:00

If you didn't know already our very own gardening guru, Richard Jackson, is chairman of a fantastic charity called 'Greenfingers'.

This is a small charity which is dedicated to creating magical gardens for children's hospices around the UK, to support children with life limiting conditions.

Greenfingers has to date created 36 special gardens in various hospices - the charity is now in its 13th year and there are still many more gardens to create.

To continue its brilliant work, Greenfingers needs to sustain an income level of at least £250,000 a year. You may remember that Richard Jackson recently asked our QVC Gardening suppliers to donate a proportion on their sales made on Friday the 16th of March, as part of the nationwide Garden Re-Leaf Week.

I'm very pleased to say that thanks to you for purchasing your blooms from us on the day, Richard was given a cheque for £3517.20 from Hayloft Plants and Kernock Park Plants (see picture left with Yvonne Walker & Harriet Hardiman from Hayloft
Plants).

However it didn't stop there as more money was raised on the day from various other generous gardening suppliers, meaning that you helped to raise in excess of £11,500 for the Greenfingers charity.

On behalf of Richard Jackson and all at the Greenfingers chairty, thank you! If you'd like to find out more about the charity and Richard's involvement just follow the blue link above.

See you soon, Will x

Browse the Gardening section of our website.

Follow QVC on Facebook and Twitter.

Introducing a new fashion range - Ingenue London

2012-05-09T23:59:00+01:00

Tomorrow sees the launch of an exciting new fashion brand on QVC - Fashion by Ingenue London. We caught up with founder Mena Ryan who tells us more about this gorgeous range...

Tell us about Ingenue London
Ingenue London is all about women - real women. My focus from inception has been to create dresses that worked for women from the ages of 30 to 60. My greatest achievement is seeing my mother and mother-in-law in the dresses, and feeling great about themselves in them.

My friends in their mid-thirties and forties wear them for work, and are also able to wear them for weddings too.

I wanted to create dresses that accentuate the parts of our bodies we love, and help disguise the parts we aren’t so keen on! All our dresses are made in France, we cut a limited amount of styles in prints and so we keep the unique feeling of a boutique brand.

How did you get started?
After working in retail for years, I was always listening to women, friends, my mum, talking about how it was so difficult to find a dress that you would feel glamorous in but also wasn’t high maintenance. Something they could throw on, that was flattering to the curves of life, but could also be thrown in the washing machine.

I listened to the issues of arms, covering knees, needing to wear special bras, and I wanted to create dresses that could work for office, home, weddings and holidays too.

Ingenue London started over two years ago and we are so happy to have women not only throughout the UK and Ireland wearing our dresses but in Dubai, America, and across Europe and recently in China.

What kind of woman do you design for?
There are so many brands out there that cater for women in their 20s, and early 30s, but not many brands who think of the style savvy women in their late 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. These women want something fresh, with a feel for the trends of the season, but they also want timeless style.

I have worked in fashion my entire career, and definitely know what the trends of today are, however that isn’t my focus when putting a collection together. I love when my customers can pull out a dress from past seasons and wear it and it doesn’t look dated. There is a great sense of style and wearability to Ingenue London dresses.

What are your inspirations?
We are London based, and our main inspirations have been English women on the streets of London. I think about our busy lives; we all seem to be running in different directions fulfilling our roles as mothers, wives, girlfriends, and daughters - in our homes, careers.

I know what it’s like, and the last thing I need to think about in the morning is ironing my dress. So my designs are all about easy to wear, no fuss designs that travel incredibly well, don’t crease - and you can fit so many in your suitcase for holidays or business trips and still have space.

Fashion should be fun, enjoyable, and mostly make you feel great about yourself on a daily basis. I have always loved prints and colours, and how prints can be so flattering on the female body, and how colour lifts our mood.

We are working on shapes continuously, and always want to make our best styles even better, by listening to feedback from our customers.

There have been days in London where I’ve seen women wearing my dresses going about their lives - one was running to catch a train at Liverpool station in our Pepita dress, another woman was in the park with her family in one of our maxis.

It is equally exciting to see women such as Helen Mirren, Alesha Dixon, Emma Bunton, Kate Garraway and the presenters of Loose Women wearing our designs.

What are the latest trends and fashions that you love?
I am so happy to see so many high end designers embracing print. At Ingenue London we have always loved print and colour, however this season all the main fashion houses have embraced the power of print and colour, and that is very exciting!

Also it is great to see UK fashion focusing more on wearability - that has been my focus since starting the brand, now more and more UK designers are thinking about this too. And of course the most exciting development, not just in UK fashion but international fashion, has been Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who is an incredible ambassador for our country!

View the range now or tune in on Friday 11th May at 5pm and 9pm.

Will: Tangle Teezer gets Queen's Award!

2012-05-08T13:09:10+01:00

The Queen's Award for Enterprise is a highly prestigious award for an outstanding achievement by a UK business.

The Tangle Teezer has caused a storm in the world of hair! It's made the lives of many a long locked woman so much easier and that's been recognised by HM The Queen.

But was it plain sailing from the start? In a word, no! When the stars of the BBC's Dragons' Den first saw the Tangle Teezer, they were not so convinced by Shaun Pulfrey's idea...

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Congratulation to Shaun and the Tangle Teezer team, what a brilliant achievement to win a Queen's Award for Enterprise and great to see such support for a British product.

You can pick up your own Tangle Teezer by following the blue link. Plus, you can also read some of the reviews from others who have been using it.

Don't forget to stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

A little look at our favourite Diamonique Day designs

2012-05-05T23:59:00+01:00

Welcome to Diamonique Day!

Diamonique produce the UK's favourite simulated diamond giving the wearer the look of luxurious gems for less.

We have so many gorgeous designs coming up today, many of which are available in Easy Pay instalments to help you spread the cost of sparkle, plus keep an eye out for special prices too!

To get the party started we have a stunning Today's Special Value offer. This solitaire-style ring (pictured above) features a large cushion-cut diamond framed by a wealth of smaller simulated diamonds.

This glittering showstopper of a ring is available in clear, blue or pink colour options and is crafted in gleaming rhodium-plated sterling silver.

We also have a whole show dedicated to the new Jubilee cut. This striking new collection features simulated diamonds cut for maximum sparkle, with facets like a round-cut stone but in a square shape so they catch the light at all angles. See more at 2pm and commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in style.

We also have an hour dedicated to your favourite designs, featuring the pieces with the most sparkling reviews, tune in at 10am to see the selection.

Just so they don't feel left out we are also giving our presenters from the day, and our Diamonique buyers Leana and Rachael, a chance to share the designs they love with you…

Presenter favourites

Craig

Craig has a real belief in angels and so loves this gorgeous heart wing pendant.

Pipa

Pipa chose this baguillion-cut ring for its beautiful mix of colours and how the blue of the simulated tanzanite pops against the clear simulated diamond stones.

Catherine

She loved the chic combination of pearls and sparkling simulated diamonds in these drop earrings, and felt the classic design can be worn to any occasion. Plus, the design comes in a choice of sterling silver or 14 carat gold.

Charlie

Charlie loves this oval solitaire ring simply because it reminds him of his wife's engagement ring - aaawww!

Dale

He loves the unusual fluid twist ribbon design of this band ring and thinks it looks truly like believable high-end jewellery.

Carmel

Carmel loves these simulated pearl earrings because of their classic, timeless design.

Buyer favourites

Leana - "I love the mix and match element to this ring set, I also love the bezel setting on the large central stone, which means it won't catch on any clothing - I’ve worn all three together around the office and not even known I had them on until someone admired them."

Rachael - "For me there is no better way to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee then with a piece from our Diamonique Jubilee range. The stone itself is set in an intricate crown-detailed claw setting which enhances the regal splendour of the solitaire ring. I think fits the whole story of why this ring, with the unique stone, is so special. Wearing this makes me feel like I’m wearing my own piece of history."

Leana - "These drop earrings are simply beautiful. I love the way the metal flows around the stone in such an elegant and refined way, and the large Diamonique stones appear to be held in place by the flowing platinum-clad silver. They are so light and comfortable to wear yet don't fail to get noticed and admired. And, they're backed up with the safety of leverback fastenings to stop me losing one!"

Rachael - "This stunning half eternity bangle is everything a bangle should be… classic in design, comfortable enough to wear every day and eye-catching enough to be noticed. The stones are beautifully tension set (no mean feat!) and I love the way the stones catch the light and sparkle beautifully as this drapes over my wrist."

See our Diamonique Day page.

Find out about our one-off Diamonique Jubliee Crown .

DIY how to... put up a shelf

2012-05-04T23:58:00+01:00

Welcome to our new how-to DIY series of blogs where we will provide you with step-by-step guides for tackling different DIY projects around your home.

These steps include handy hints and tips to make doing it yourself easier and more manageable.

This month we're tackling how to put up a shelf...

What you will need:

Power drill or cordless drill
EZ hanger
Gap tape measure
Brackets and fixings
Wood for the shelf

Step 1: Firstly using the EZ hanger, gauge the holes on the brackets.

Step 2: The place that the shelf bracket is to be sited needs to be marked on the wall prior to drilling and this is transferred to the wall in question using the EZ hanger.

Step 3: After drilling the wall, then the screws can be put in place to hold the brackets

Step 4: Put the holding strip on the bracket, all measurements can be checked using the unique gap tape and this really works well when putting a shelf up between two walls for internal measurements.

Step 5: Then add the wood to complete the shelf, and you're done!

View our DIY department for more handy tools and inspiration.

Make sure you check back each month for our new DIY how-to guides, and if you have any ideas for what DIY projects you'd like to see in the coming months then leave us a comment below!

QVC's Sandra raises money for Breast Cancer Care

2012-05-03T14:03:44+01:00

Sandra is a senior beauty buyer here at QVC and we're extremely proud of her success at the London Marathon a few weeks ago. She completed the run in five hours and 14 minutes, and as a beauty buyer she naturally looks gorgeous despite having just run 26.2 miles!

Sandra ran for one of our corporate charities Breast Cancer Care and has so far raised a whopping £3.5k for them - amazing! Her Just Giving fundraising page is still live, so you can make a donation to Breast Cancer Care on there if you would like to.

Her top tips for products to get you through the race are Mally Bulletproof Mascara as this truly is bulletproof, Ultrasun Face factor 50 and a dusting of Laura Geller Balance and Brighten to stay looking fresh! Here's a little quote from Sandra on how the day went...

"The marathon was an amazing experience. What really boosts you are the crowds cheers going round. Every time I went past a Breast Cancer Care charity point I got big cheers which really helped me keep going.

QVC showed me amazing support too - the beauty teams fundraising helped them donate £1600. My vendors were also fantastic giving very generous donations. Leighton Denny even gave me a 'Leighton Denny marathon manicure'! Also, whilst I was slow I managed to pass Arg from 'The Only Way Is Essex' so I was happy!"

Take a look at the Breast Cancer Care website

Sneak a peek at Saturday's Canon camera TSV

2012-05-03T09:00:00+01:00

Calling all you photographers out there, we've got a special treat in store for you this weekend. Our Today's Special Value this Saturday will be Canon's fantastic new PowerShot SX40HS bridge camera (pictured left).

This feature-packed piece of kit packs in a whopping 35x optical zoom, 12MP image quality and Full HD video recording. And that's just for starters!

Experienced photographers can tinker with the manual controls to find that perfect shot and beginners can use the automatic scene detection mode for simple point-and-shoot snaps.

We'll be offering this outstanding new bridge camera at an unmissable Today's Special Value price so make sure you check in with QVC UK on the day to find out more and place your order.

Can't wait 'til Saturday? See our full range of cameras

Jewellery fit for a Queen...

2012-05-03T00:01:00+01:00

To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and this Sunday’s Diamonique Day, we have recreated the nation’s favourite item from the Crown Jewels collection – the Imperial State Crown – out of Diamonique!

It’s been nearly 60 years since Her Magesty Queen Elizabeth II first wore the Crown Jewels at her Coronation on 2nd June 1952, so we thought it would be a fitting tribute.

The Imperial State Crown is a priceless symbol of the British monarchy. It is 31.5 cm high and is made from gold, platinum, silver, 2,868 diamonds, 11 emeralds, 17 sapphires, 269 pearls, velvet and ermine.

It boasts the Cullinan II, which is the second largest cut diamond in the world (317.4 carats). The stone, one of the two largest cut from the Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough diamond ever discovered, is also known as the Second Star of Africa.

The Diamonique Jubilee Crown features 2,276 replica stones from QVC’s Diamonique collection using 21 different sizes and colours of stone all set in silver. The crown took 30 days to make, weighs approximately 1.5kg and has been valued at £10,528.

The Diamonique Jubilee Crown will be auctioned off for Breast Cancer Care later this year as the ultimate accessory for fashion queens looking to build a jewellery collection fit for royalty.

Vanessa Priest, Head of Jewellery Buying at QVC said: “The Queen’s ‘Imperial State Crown’ is iconic. In the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, the Diamonique Jubilee Crown replica will be the ultimate accessory. We are sure the crown will make its new owner feel like she is the Queen of the castle.”

Although this is the first time a version of the crown has been carefully recreated for the public, today’s Imperial State Crown is actually an exact replica of an earlier Imperial State Crown manufactured for Queen Victoria, but is made of a more lightweight design which is more comfortable to wear. The Crown created for King George VI was also remodelled for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation to give it a slightly more feminine appearance and its total height lowered by about 25mm.

The crown will make it’s on-air debut this Sunday 6th May at 9am and 2pm and you can catch it again over the Jubilee weekend. The crown will then be auctioned off for Breast Cancer Care during QVC’s dedicated fundraising show this October.

Follow the blue link to browse our Diamonique range, you can also keep up to date with all that's happening here at QVC by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter.

Guest Amy Shaw on her Crafting With Colour show

2012-05-02T23:55:00+01:00

Hi everyone,

I cannot wait to share my next show with you at QVC - Crafting with Colour!

I LOVE colour, especially at this time of year with spring and summertime coming - it changes my crafting in the colours I use. Does it do the same for you?

I love moving into brighter and pastel colours – greens and blues, yellows and oranges, pinks and blues are all reminders of the sea, sky and sunsets and are all signs of summer to me!

In this show I am starting off with an absolutely amazing brand new set of Letraset alcohol inks – you cannot get more colourful than these. The colour range is amazing – truly beautiful from pastel tones right through to vintage brown and green tones.

I am also going to be showing you lots of lots of different techniques using these to create really stunning backgrounds and finishes, I am sure you are going to love them as much as I do!

I have put together a little video for you too on these fabulous inks, with a really easy technique and way to incorporate your baby wipes into your crafting too – aren’t the results amazing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKPg99ZA2pQ

Then I will be showing how you can use these backgrounds with your embossing folders, stamps, and add those finishing touches with buttons, ribbons and some crackling!!

This is going to be such a fun hour with lots of inky mess (my favourite thing to do) – so come and join me with a brew and a biccie – I’ll be the one on the telly with the apron and rubber gloves!
Ha Ha!

See you all then,

Hugs,

Amy
x

Will: Stay protected with Ultrasun...

2012-05-02T14:11:27+01:00

We're finally in May which is great news for me, as it means I can stock up on our Beauty Pick of the Month!

I used the Ultrasun SPF 50 when I went skiing earlier this year, I think it's fantastic. I hate the faff of suncream normally, so to only have to apply once a day is perfect.

I'll be honest with you, you do need to apply Ultrasun properly for maximum performance, I caught up with Alison Young to find out more...

[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

If, like me, you have fair skin or maybe you want to keep the younger members of your family protected the Ultrasun Beauty Pick of the Month is definitely worth a look, it's at an introductory price AND free from p&p.

Another thing to mention is that this Ultrasun SPF 50 has an anti-ageing formula, so not only are you protected from the sun, but this is also a great moisturiser.

The next thing I need to stock up on is the Ultrlip (left pic), I use this all the time now, whether in the sun or not.

If you want to learn more about our Beauty Pick of the Month you can see a full presentations over on QVC Beauty.

Also Alison Young has been answering your questions recently in our 'Ask Alison' mini series, click of the blue links to watch episode 1 and episode 2. You can send in YOUR questions for Alison by commenting at the bottom of this blog.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

Will: 'Ask Alison' part III...

2012-05-02T07:38:47+01:00

Welcome to part three of our 'Ask Alison' series, if you missed part one and part two just follow the blue links to take a look back.

Alison Young is QVC's resident beauty expert and in this series we're asking her YOUR beauty questions.

You can add your questions by commenting in the box at the bottom of this blog and don't forget to look out for Alison on our dedicated beauty channel, QVC Beauty!

What can I use on my skin when pregnant?

[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

What can I do about scarring & stretch marks?

In the video Alison mentioned Decleor Prolagene Gel, the L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream and also self tanning products such as Sunbelievable, Elemis and St Tropez.

What can I do about open pores?

In the video Alison mentioned Decleor Prolagene Gel and also Collagen Gel from SBC.

Add your beauty questions at the bottom of this blog or head on over to Alison Young's Beauty Bible page.

Don't forget you can stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter. You can also watch the QVC Beauty Channel on Sky 658, Freesat 816 and Freeview channel 35.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

Win tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show with L'Occitane

2012-04-30T23:55:00+01:00

Following the success of the L’Occitane Garden at RHS Chelsea in 2010, which was awarded a silver medal, L’Occitane will be returning to Chelsea in May 2012 with sights and scents of the Corsican Maquis.

L'occitane have joined forces with garden designer Peter Dowle, who has been awarded eight coveted gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show for the past 14 years, to creat the spectacular Immortelle Garden (see watercolour image left).

Peter has used his first-hand experiences in Corsica to bring together the key plant species and the breathtaking Corsican landscape elements in his design for the L’Occitane garden. The garden will also feature plant species that grow naturally in Corsica such as myrtle, lavender, daisies and verbena which also form key ingredients in L’Occitane’s bestselling collections.

To celebrate this special occasion, L'Occitane are giving away two tickets to the Royal Chelsea Flower Show on Thursday 24th May 2012 to visit the L'Occitane garden and meet expert Alexis Murdoch.

Plus, 10 lucky runners up will each receive a L’Occitane beauty hamper worth £49.50!

Enter by answering this simple question:

Who is the guest expert for L'Occitane on QVC?

A) Alexis Murdoch
B) Alexa Chung
C) Alexis Carrington

Email your answer to competitions_uk@qvc.com with your full name, address, contact number and the subject 'L'Occitane comp' for your chance to win. The competition closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 13th May 2012. 11 correct entries will be randomly selected and announced in QGossip on Monday 14th May 2012.

Visit L’Occitane on their Facebook page and let them know what you think of their garden design!

Visit the L'Occitane shop
View the full terms and conditions

The winner of our Beauty Weekend competition is...

2012-04-30T14:34:19+01:00

Over the weekend we gave you the chance to win a wealth of summer beauty essentials worth over £350 specially chosen by our resident beauty expert, Alison Young.

All you had to do was answer this simple question;

What brands are offering Today's Special Value during Beauty Weekend? The correct answer was, of course, Ultrasun and Elemis

Over 6,600 of you loyal beauty fans entered and we can now reveal that the lucky winner is… Carol Ann Ferguson from Gillingham

Congratulations Carol! Your prize will be despatched to your shortly.

If you weren't lucky this time keep your eyes peeled for more competitions coming soon.

Will Gowing looks at our New York event!

2012-04-30T12:43:31+01:00

Tuesday is all about celebrating some of QVC's favourite ranges from the Big Apple, it's our I Love New York event!

We're 'hearting' brands such as Diane Gilman, Carole Hochman, Bobbi Brown AND Honora Pearls.

I caught up with Ralph Rossini from Honora earlier this morning, he's a New Yorker born & bred, find out what he loves about the city...

[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

Follow the blue links to take a look at our Today's Special Value from Honora, you can also browse the entire Honora Pearls range at your leisure.

I'd love to know what you love about New York, you can add your comments at the bottom of this page, you can also stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter too.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

Will: 'Ask Alison' part II...

2012-04-29T08:46:11+01:00

Welcome to the second part of our 'Ask Alison' series, if you missed part 1 just follow the blue link to take a look back.

Alison Young is QVC's resident beauty expert and in this series we're hoping to ask her as many of your beauty questions as possible.

You can add your questions by commenting in the box at the bottom of this blog and don't forget to look out for Alison on our dedicated beauty channel, QVC Beauty!

Ask Alison: How can I tackle hoods over the eye area?

[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

Visit the Genie, Gatineau DefiLift and Mally ranges by clicking on the blue links.

Ask Alison: Can you help with my eye make up?

Just click on the blue links to take a look at the products suggested by Alison from Eyeko, bareMinerals, New CID and Bobbi Brown.

Ask Alison: Is the Menopause responsible for my skin issues?

In this video Alison mentioned the Elemis Sensitive Cleansing Wash & SOS Cream, she also recommended the bareMinerals range for sensitive or irritated skins.

Add your beauty questions at the bottom of this blog or head on over to Alison Young's Beauty Bible page.

Don't forget you can stay in touch with us by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter too.

You can watch the QVC Beauty Channel on Sky 658, Freesat 816 and Freeview channel 35.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

Will: The 'Ask Alison' series!

2012-04-29T08:45:42+01:00

Over the next few weeks I'm gong to be asking beauty expert Alison Young as many of YOUR questions as possible.

We're going to try and cover some of the most common skincare issues that Alison is asked to treat on a regular basis.

You can add your question to the list by commenting at the bottom of this blog, and look out for 'Ask Alison' updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

What skin type am I?

[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

What can I do about sensitivity?

How do I tackle dark circles around the eyes?

Click on the blue links for a closer look at the Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex, the Laura Geller Real Deal Foundation and items from the Mally range.

I hope you found those videos helpful, don't forget to add your beauty question at the bottom of this page and I'll 'Ask Alison' for you!

You can watch beauty shows 24/7 over on QVC Beauty, our dedicated channel. You can also find more answers and ask your questions on Alison Young's Beauty Bible.

See you soon, Will x

Follow Will Gowing on Twitter
Visit our beauty department

Win summer beauty must-haves worth over £350!

2012-04-28T09:17:35+01:00

Looking forward to your summer holiday? Need to stock up on your beauty essentials? Well we have the perfect weekend in store for you with our Beauty Festival 2012!

On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April we'll be showcasing TWO fantastic beauty Today's Special Value offers from Elemis and Ultrasun, plus there'll be appearances from all your favourite big brands!

But that's not all; you'll also have the chance to win a selection of summer beauty must-haves specially chosen by our resident guru Alison Young.

All you have to do to be in with a chance is answer this simple question

What brands are offering Today's Special Value items this weekend?

A) Ultrasun and OPI
B) Ultrasun and Elemis
C) Elemis and Kim & Co

Email your answer to competitions_uk@qvc.com with your full name, address, contact number and the subject 'Beauty Weekend comp' for your chance to win. The competition closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29th April 2012. One correct entry will be randomly selected and announced in QGossip on Monday 30th April 2012.

View the full terms and conditions

Visit the Beauty Department

Will: Exclusive QVC Beauty Channel Prices!

2012-04-28T09:16:14+01:00

This weekend is our Festival of Beauty and we have some fab shows coming up - both new and established - to watch on QVC.

We also have our dedicated beauty channel, QVC Beauty, where you'll find some extra treats this weekend - all at QVC Beauty exclusive prices!

On Saturday we'll be presenting the Jemma Kidd Handbag Essentials kit, on the hour, every hour. You will only see this on QVC Beauty, so don't miss out if you're a fan of Jemma's range.

On Sunday the Pecksniff's Collection will be presented on the hour, every hour, throughout the day. I have to say I'm a big fan of the Pecksniff's range... I've already been through a bottle of the Cardinal Eau de Toilette, they're really unique fragrances.

We will also be presenting Ask Alison hours throughout the weekend. These shows are all about putting YOUR questions to our beauty expert Alison Young.

You can take a look at some 'Ask Alison' highlights here on our website, and even add your questions to the list, just follow the blue link.

Don't miss all the exclusive prices on QVC Beauty, our dedicated beauty channel, this weekend. You can watch QVC Beauty on Sky 658, Freesat 816 and Freeview channel 35.

See you soon, Will x

Stay in touch with QVC by 'liking' our Facebook page and visiting us on Twitter too. You can also follow Will Gowing on Twitter.

Another big beauty brand joins QVC - Dalton Cosmetics

2012-04-28T00:01:00+01:00

This weekend is QVC's Beauty Festival 2012, so it's the perfect time to introduce a brand spanking new beauty range - Dalton Cosmetics.

With Dalton's combination of breakthrough technologies and make-up techniques, you're sure to look younger and feel fabulous without ever having to go under the knife.

We caught up with the founder, Doris Dalton (left), to find out the brand's philosophy, bestselling products and more…

What's the philosophy behind Dalton Cosmetics?

I’ve loved make-up since I first got my hands on a lipstick. And even then I was coming up with ideas for how to make products better.

That’s my goal with Dalton – to create products that go beyond ordinary cosmetics adding that Dalton twist of breakthrough technologies that make any look effortless to apply and ready to go wherever life takes you.

How did you get into the world of cosmetics?

After winning the Mrs America pageant in 1992, I became the spokesperson for a very popular brand of lip products. It was from that moment that I began learning all of the intricate details of creating and formulating products. The process fascinated me;I had found my calling.

Approximately five years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. The treatments left my hair and skin a mess. I couldn’t find any products that performed the way I needed them too. Out of sheer frustration, I began creating my own.

I thought that if I could create products that worked with the challenging skin and hair that I had, and worked extremely well, then imagine how they would look on someone that didn’t have half of these problems. So that is how Dalton came about. It started with one simple product and has grown into what it is today.

How does Dalton Cosmetics compare to other brands on the market?

I knew when I started this business that it had to be different from any other cosmetic company on the market, or it wouldn’t make sense to do it. First I look at what is currently available. I take into account what I like and more importantly what I don’t like, and that is where the ingenuity begins.

Everything that I create is with a purpose and is usually completely different from what is out there. For instance, the Tilting Mascara; it has an amazing formula that conditions and curls the lashes while the mascara wand actually tilts to make application so much easier. All of my products have an ingenious twist to them.

What are your top three products from the range?

I'm extremely fortunate that my products have been so well received. The top-selling products in the Dalton line are:

The Brow Fix (left) - a revolutionary new product that conditions the natural brow hair and is infused with natural cellulose fibers that mimic real hair to make the brows look thicker and fuller.

Conceal it Concealer - the thinnest textured concealer that provides maximum coverage. It can be used solely as a concealer, or as an eyeshadow base or full coverage foundation. It creates a flawless finish and dries to a luminous texture instead of being cakey or powdery.

Lash Fix Tilting Mascara - this revolutionary mascara literally tilts with a twist of the wand creating the perfect angle for application. It helps condition the natural lash and instantly curls the lashes, eliminating the need for an eyelash curler.

Are you looking forward to entering the UK market via QVC?

Oh my gosh, super excited and so blessed really! I absolutely love London. It is a magical city and there is no other place in the world quite like QVC. QVC is like a second home to me and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to show what makes my products so unique and truly different.

Tune in for Dalton Cosmetics today (Saturday 28th April) at 1pm

Take a look at the full Dalton Cosmetics range