Christmas Gift Wrapping Course in Melrose, Scottish Borders

I'm delighted to be returning to the idyllic Scottish Borders in December to run a festive Gift Wrapping Course. I will be joining Tracey Mason at her beautiful country home on Monday 13th December for a day of wrapping (You can even bring your own Christmas presents!).
Places are £70 including all materials, lunch and wine and hurry to book as this course will be very popular! You have to come just to experience this beautiful home and yummy lunch!
For more details log on to www.janemeans.co.uk/melrose.asp

Made in England

Just in time for the world cup, I've designed a retro style Union Jack Ribbon which is available by the metre for £1.20. Made in England this 1" taffeta ribbon will get you in the spirit and is ideal for tying on gifts, napkins, bunting etc.. We are officially launching this at Home and Gift in Harrogate and will be introducing more designs for the 2012 London Olympics.

Jane Means is joining Sophie Conran in her latest venture

I will be joining the writer, cook and designer Sophie Conran in her latest venture at Temple Guiting in the Cotswolds.

Guests can stay in the beatiful Manor House and Converted barns, with a team of experts to hand if you wish to do a spot of cookery, shooting, yoga or floristry you name it.

I'm delighted to have been invited to join the expert panel and will be there to offer Gift Wrapping Courses and Services at Temple Guiting.

For more information log on to www.janemeans.co.uk/sophieconran.asp

Gorgeous Cupcakes from Cakeadoodledo

I was lucky enough to meet the delightful Kate from Cakeadoodledo last week on a photo shoot in the Cotswolds. I am still licking my lips after tasting the scrummy Sticky Toffee Cupcakes and her delicious creations are to die for. Check out the lovely website http://www.cakeadoodledo.co.uk/specials.html but don't blame me when the diet goes wrong!

100 metre ribbon rolls

With the amount of queries we've had for large rolls of ribbon, we have now launched our range of 100m rolls. These are proving very popular with clubs, craft enthusiasts and weddings (You will see our ribbon featured in the September issue of 'You and Your Wedding Magazine')

The 100m ribbon rolls come in various designs and are available for £39 roll from our shopping website www.janemeans.com

New Ribbon Collection now on sale

Check out the new ribbon collection which is now online to buy at www.janemeans.com P+P is £1.99 within the UK and if you require any free samples please let us know on 01522 548900

Jenny Creasey launches new exhibition

Check out http://www.airexhibition.co.uk/ where Jenny Creasey will be launching her new exhibition AIR. There will be a 10% discount on all purchases made at the Private View on Tuesday 11th May 6-8pm at LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RE

For more details email Jenny at jennycreasey@hotmail.com

Easter is around the corner

We have just returned from the Country Living Fair in London which was yet again a sucessful show. The magazine featured our Blue Gingham Ribbon and Speckled Eggs on their PR campaign and admission tickets. It was a really wierd feeling seeing you products on posters, on the London underground and on billboards around London!.
Easter is fast approaching and we are racing to fulfil those last minute orders, and top up our trade customers.
We've also started our Easter Sale where you will get up to 60% off our collection of Easter Eggs and Decorations.
Just log on to www.janemeans.com and from all of us have a lovely Easter weekend

Country Craft Website

We've been liasing with this great website who have given us a nice mention called OOh.comn

They have put together a great link on their site of Craft Courses (Our Gift Wraping Courses are mentioned here)

The link is http://www.ooh.com/blog/general/the-uk-a-creative-crafty-country/

As for life here, we are working like the clappers waiting for our delivery of Easter Decorations. We're delighted at the amount of orders and it's only February. My favourite has to be the little crate of artificial quails eggs...it's just a shame you can't eat them! We will be listing our Easter bits on the website in early March.

Leonards Interiors

I've just gone on to this wonderful website www.leonardsinteriors.co.uk and love it
I'm a huge fan of Jan Constantine (such a clever lady who I regularily see at shows) and can gladly boast a few of her cushions around my home.

Country Living Magazine, February 2009

Wow our ribbon is featured on the front cover of this months Country Living Magazine...we are delighted!

Top Drawer Spring, Earls Court

We're just back from Top Drawer at Earls Court and were delighted with the amount of interest and orders from our new ribbon and Easter collections. It's such a lovely show and there were some great stands there (my favourites being Jan Constantine, Sophie Allport and Beverley Hewitt )

It's now all go getting prepared for the Easter rush!

Top Drawer Spring, Earls Court

http://www.kdmediapublishing.com/tds10/exhibitor_detail.cfm?Exhibitor_ID=2916

We will be launching our new collection of Easter decorations and grosgrain ribbons next week, at Top Drawer (Trade only)

You'll find us at stand O55 at Earls Court on 17-19th January

Country Baskets Opening in Gateshead

10th January 2010

Today I joined the very talented Jonathon Moseley (Florist Guru of Derbyshire) in the grand opening of Country Baskets in Gateshead.

The new store at Team Valley is amazing and they have such fantastic products.

I'm so pleased this floral wholesaler chain is doing so well and wish them all the very best at the new store.

Also a big thank you to the lovely staff on board East Coast Trains to and from Newcastle...We only had a few delays and I managed to get back OK!

Christmas Gift Wrapping Events

5th December 2009
Today took me to the West End VIP event in London's Oxford Street sponsored by American Express. Oxford Street and Regent Street were both closed off to traffic with loads of events happening throughout the day. We were outside John Lewis, who decided to have a snow machine going full flow which was great fun.
I spent the afternoon demonstrating infront of huge crowds and press, with live footage being shown on live TV screens. Momentum PR did a great job putting this huge project together in just under 3 weeks, and it was a great day.

7th December 2009
Newark Showground in Nottinghamshire hosted the annual 'Ladies Day Out' for Beaumond Hospice. This is such a great fundraising event and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I was drafted in to demonstrate and after a delightful lunch we heard fabulous tales from Colin about working as a pastry chef in the royal kitchens (what a great speaker...I could have listened for hours). It was a terrific turnout (with over 300 ladies) and no doubt the chief organisers Molly and Sheila will have raised plenty for the hospice. It's definately a date for next years diary...


10th December 2009
My goodness what a busy week we've had. Although I've been on home turf it has been non stop with demonstrations and courses. I've spent 2 days with Rosemary Leech at her gorgeous Ingolsby Farmhouse near Grantham, where we did some presentations for the Kesteven Children in Need Charity. The lunches were delicious and it was lovely to see some old faces.
I've now a few days in the office where I will be signing some 800 Christmas cards and that is just our clients...I've yet to do the personal ones!


14th December 2009
We are thrilled at long last to find a fantastic venue for our Manchester / Cheshire courses. Trying to keep the courses at a reasonable cost it has been a real challenge finding that special venue who can provide a lovely lunch without breaking the bank! The new courses will be held at The Didsbury House Hotel, a small luxury townhouse in the leafy suburbs which has been highly recommended. We've had huge interest for our gift wrapping courses in the North West and already we have bookings for our first course within 24 hours of going live on the site!


15th December 2009
Our courses seem to be going well and we have added more venues for the new year. We are amazed how much interest we have had since our courses were featured in Ideal Home and House Beautiful Magazine this December.
Our Oxfordshire courses will now be held at the Hotel du Vin in Henley on Thames starting in March, and we are also looking at starting courses in the South West so watch this space!
Already I am working with Magazines for their Easter issues and the samples of our new Easter collection will be arriving later this month. We've also a new ribbon collection which will be launched in January at the Top Drawer show at Earls Court, so I think the start of the new year will be busy for us, which is great news in a recession.




24th December 2009
Gosh so little time and so much to do. I thought I was so organised for Christmas this year however you always have those last minute jobs. Today I had an interview with BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire and have spent the rest of the day rushing around trying to cram everything in to a day! I'm looking forward to catching up with friends and family over the weekend as I've been non stop with work since July. Merry Christmas everyone!