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A feature portfolio put together for University to show an ability to write for different markets.
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Feature Portfolio
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A Keeley‟s Heel
Up and coming shoe designer, Keeley Smith, talks to Leanne Gresswell about
her fight into the fashion world. Including a LCF scholarship, jetting off to Italy
for the ITS competitions and the one-of-a-kind designs that got her there…
The „A Keeley‟s Heel‟ collection discussed is a unique brand of shoes that is aimed a completely new
target market. Keeley has combined sporty and feminine to create a range of shoes that are elegant yet
edgy and with the added luxury of comfort.
Tell us a bit about your ‘A Keeley’s Heel’ collection? Where did the inspiration come
from?
The inspiration behind my collection came from my fascination into how sportswear brands, more
than any other fashion brands, manage to transcend class, colour or creed. From the poorest estates or
ghettos to the richest neighbourhoods, nearly everybody owns one of the most popular labels of sports
footwear. Unlike other brands that have suffered from what is considered as bad publicity through
particular fractions of society sporting their products, such as football hooligans or gang members.
Sports footwear styles, shapes and brands appear to be exempt from this and their brands remain
strong. This has led to seeing both high and lower end designs and price tags on the market. For
example the basic everyday sneaker to the limited edition hand crafted sneaker ranging from £40-
£10,000! I wanted to use these values to create a collection and a brand that would appeal to a large
cross section of society. I did not want my shoes to appear pretentious. 'A Keeley's Heel' reflects the
urban rawness that sneakers possess as well as having a sexy, sleek feminine touch.
What was your creative process?
I used every aspect of sneakers to create the collection. Firstly I deconstructed a pair of sneakers and
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repositioned the pieces in a way that would flatter the female foot when in a high heel position. Next I
manipulated a photograph of a pair of trainers to create the bold, graphic pattern which is printed on
silk and leather throughout the collection. From here I designed the entire collection keeping the
shapes, style, materials and colours of sneakers in mind.
Do you make the shoes as well, or do you focus purely on design?
Yes, I have handmade all of the shoes in my past collections. However the cost of machinery and
studio space makes doing so very difficult beyond University, so for now I am focusing a lot more on
just the design aspect.
This collection was yours as a finalist for the ITS#9 competition in Italy, what was that like
as an experience?
The ITS#9 competition was hands down the best experience of my life so far! It was amazing from
start to finish and I am still so grateful to have had that opportunity. The location was beautiful, the
company was fantastic, the wealth of worldwide talented designers was incredible and even the food
and drink was amazing. It was all quite overwhelming really. I had the best time ever, met some
fabulous people, and truly felt like a superstar the whole time.
Why shoe design?
I knew I wanted to do something art/design related from a fairly young age. I have always been very
creative and interested in fashion. I even used to enjoy making little outfits for my Barbie‟s and teddy
bears when I was a young girl, but I was always stuck as where to go with it. It was only whilst doing
my Art GCSE that my teacher, Mr Delves, suggested footwear design as a future occupation. I
remember telling him I didn‟t want to be a fashion designer but something similar, which is when he
suggested shoes and accessories and since that moment I have never looked back!
How did it feel to be picked for a scholarship at London College of Fashion?
It felt a little bit surreal actually! I was totally shocked to get selected for an interview so when told
that i had made it into the final twenty out of thousands i was overwhelmed. I never for a moment
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though thought I would be one of the final ten! It was a great opportunity, and being able to study for
an MA without the added burden of money was fantastic. However, I didn‟t let myself lose focus I
was still constantly aware of how lucky I was and how important it was that I made the most of it and
not let anyone down. I believe this sort of pressure is a great way to set you up for the fashion world!
Which designers inspire you?
I am a big fan of British designers. I am particularly inspired by the likes of Emma Hope and Jimmy
Choo. I feel Brits bring such a unique quality to the fashion world and being a British designer myself
I think it is really important to support and aspire to home-grown talent. I am also a massive believer
that design and craftsmanship go hand-in-hand. Therefore designers such as Manolo Blahnik who
truly construct the shoe from scratch inspire me. The designer to watch in 2011 in my opinion is
Camilla Skovgaard. Honestly her designs are just simply awesome!
Has it been difficult finding your way into the industry?
Yes, very! But this was never a surprise to me, I knew it was a tough industry from the very start. In
my experience getting into any area of fashion has a lot more to do with who you know rather than
what you know. It really takes a lot of motivation to stay positive and determined to pursue despite
repeated knock backs. It has been said that approximately ninety percent of footwear design jobs are
not actually advertised so it is all about your publicity and getting yourself noticed, which I‟m still
working on. You have to get your foot in the door in any way you can, get your work out there and
make companies aware that you exist. You have to be willing to work for nothing to start off with as
well, not many internships are paid these days. If you want in, you need to be prepared to do
everything you can.
What's the toughest challenge you have faced so far?
Creating an entire collection of shoes to my MA deadline has still got to be the most challenging thing
I think I have ever faced, and not just in my time designing shoes! It was a total of eight pairs that I
had to design and make myself by hand. This was definitely a very steep learning curve for me,
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although it just made it all the more rewarding when I was able to see the finished product. It was
such an achievement.
What advice would you now give to anyone starting out on the same path?
I would suggest completing any work experience that you can during your studies, it gives you a more
realistic insight into the industry as well as giving you something to impress potential employers with.
Also, try to make as many contacts as you can, no matter how big or small. You never know when
you may need to call upon these people for help or advice. I can honestly say the majority of the
people you meet in the footwear design and construction business are the nicest people you could
wish to meet, from heel makers to closers and leather sellers.
What are your next steps to get your designs out there?
I have a few things in the pipeline, and of course like any young designer I‟m still working on getting
my shoes noticed. I am also hoping to return to Italy again this year for ITS#10 competition. All of the
finalists are invited back each year. I will be so excited to go back again, „ITS‟ is such a great place to
meet people and get publicity for your work, and coming up with new designs and collections is
always exciting.
Contact
Keeley is currently a freelance shoe designer/maker based in Reading, United
Kingdom.
Keeley Smith
+44 7753337072
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ENDS
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Gnomeo and Juliet 3D-Review
A light hearted take on a classic tragedy, Gnomeo and Juliet may be perceived as a peculiar way to
introduce one of Shakespeare‟s most magnificent works to young children. Set in Stratford-Upon-
Avon, the birthplace of the great play write himself, we follow blue-hatted Gnomeo (voiced by James
McAvoy) and red-topped Juliet (Emily Blunt) on the road to a romance doomed to end in shards.
The concept of the timeless Capulet and Montague feud being represented by a rivalry between two
gnome gardens is a difficult one to grasp. Yet it‟s so endearing you can‟t help but feel a warmth
inside. Writer/director Kelly Asbury has found the all-important balance of content appropriate for
kids and their chaperoning adults.
The various plays on Shakespeare‟s original dialogue and subtle references to films such as
„Brokeback Mountain‟ keeps the children entertained and educated whilst giving us more informed
adults a sneaky laugh. Subtle adaptions from the 1996 film starring Leonardo Di‟Caprio and Claire
Danes are sure to be recognised and appreciated by familiar fans.
Along their way, the two star-crossed lovers are helped by some fellow garden ornaments that make
up a cast which should be so terribly wrong, but is delightfully right. There‟s Nanette (Ashley
Jenson), Juliet‟s witty amphibian friend, Featherstone (Jim Cummings), a crazy plastic flamingo
yearning for company and of course Gnomeo‟s beloved pet mushroom. Not to mention guidance from
old William himself, who makes an appearance as a sarcastic speaking, stubborn statue (Patrick
Stewart).
Meanwhile, it‟s battle of the ceramics as the opposing gardens set out to smash each other into a
million porcelain shards. Traditional swordfights are replaced by risky lawn mower races and rules
are broken as the two sides begin to pass on enemy territory, destroying each other‟s most prized
garden features and turning the two gardens into one colourful warzone.
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Gnomeo and Juliet are determined to make their love work, finding peace between the two families
may be the only way. We all know how the tragedy of the two star-crossed lovers‟ ends, but will
Gnomeo and Juliet get their happy ever after? Or will their dream of a peaceful love be shattered?
ENDS
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All Things Bright and Beautiful
Spring/Summer 2011 is set to see bold, bright colour take over the
conservative nudes of winter past.
Subtlety was the way for autumn/winter 2010. For the past six months our streets have been
awash with minimalism; creams, nudes and the colour of the moment-camel as far as the eye
can see. Teamed with sharp tailoring and delicate sheers these neutral shades have made for
one beautifully stylish winter season.
All good things must come to an end though, and summer seems as good a time as any. New
season, new style. Such a low key trend does run the risk of eventually becoming boring, so
maybe it‟s time to end it on a high note. With a pop of colour due to burst onto the fashion
scene this summer, we should let the neutrals take a back seat before they get out-shone.
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Ellen Kirkhope, fashion buyer for womenswear at WGSN said: “Colour blocking has been
around for several seasons now. For s/s 11 it‟s about styling up separates to create a colour
blocked outfit. Bright and bold is key.” Though bright colour has managed to sneak into our
wardrobes in one way or another over many previous seasons, this time it is purely about the
palette. Jewel tones seem to be a favourite on the catwalks, and of course some serious
clashing is in order. We‟re talking opposite ends of the colour wheel here.
Where to Find
„Fendi‟ and „Paul and Joe‟ both demonstrated two of the hottest up and coming colours to
look out for. They painted the catwalks with warm sunset oranges and cool blue hues. Two
shades with enough power to work on their own or brilliantly striking when worn against
each other. Ellen gave some advice on which designers to look out for: “The key labels in
colour blocking are Jil Sander, Gucci, Diane von Furstenberg, Aquilano Rimondi and Nina
Ricci.”
At London Fashion Week „Sass and Bide‟ also jumped on the rainbow bandwagon, sending
colour down the catwalk in any which way they could. From tangerine tailoring teamed with
jewel purple, to simple yellow accessories or some crazy bright millinery, they showed every
possible way to work the summer trend.
If you want to know where to find this eye-popping colour palette on the high-street, then the
ever-on-trend store „Zara‟ is the best place to be. Their shop windows are full of mannequins
in crayon-box colours. It doesn‟t just end there either. Each vivid shade has its own dedicated
section of the store.
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All of the yellows, blues, pinks and greens are separated into their own areas, and also dotted
around are a number of well-styled mannequins giving shoppers guidance on how to team the
colours up. Ellen revealed her top places to shop for this trend: “A lot of high street stores are
doing bright separates. You‟ll find them in Topshop and French Connection.”
How to Wear
With so many ways to wear brights, this trend can be worked by anyone. Full on colour
blocking is not for the faint-hearted, it is a brave trend to try. If you‟re apprehensive to go for
full colour on colour, instead team your preferred colour with clean bright white. A vivid
skirt with a simple white top or vice versa. Or use a pretty white dress as a blank canvas and
add a pop of colour with some rainbow accessories – whether they match or clash is your
choice entirely.
Tactical colour clashing can be a risky game to play. The mismatched colours have to be so
completely opposite that they complement each other rather than ruin each other. If two
colours are too similar they will blend together taking away some of their impact. That‟s why
it‟s best to mix „hot‟ and „cold‟ colours. If you‟re stuck, refer to a colour wheel and find
which colours sit opposite each other, team them up and you‟re good to go.
Keep it Simple
Funnily enough, the trick to pulling off the colour-blocking trend successfully is simplicity.
No other distractions. „Blocking‟ is the important word-just panels of pure colour is the way
to go. Patterns will look garish and overly-interesting cuts will look too over-the-top.
Tailored and tapered are the cuts you should be looking for. Imagine a smart, monochrome
office and then paint every piece of clothing a contrasting colour.
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Really, this summer isn‟t seeing minimalism out…it‟s merely putting a bright new spin on it.
There are no crazy shapes or patterns to be worrying about; everything is still plain and
simple, just with a colourful new twist. It‟s just like taking your favourite nude pieces of
winter and dying each one a different colour of the rainbow.
The two seasonal colour trends are at such an opposite end of the scale that it‟s difficult to
make any comparison about which is better. Ellen said: “It‟s nice to see an injection of colour
however in retail this often fails as the average shopper is not willing to wear such a bold
statement look. Colour is the fastest way for retailers to counteract a recession. They can
provide a best seller in as many colour ways as they like without having to risk producing
costly fashion garments. That is probably why it‟s a high street favourite.” With fashion it‟s
much about being in the right place at the right time. Neutrals work in winter, and brights
work in summer. So as you welcome summer this year, welcome colour too.
ENDS
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The Reality of Retail Therapy
„Whoever said money can‟t buy happiness doesn‟t know where to shop‟.
Shopping compulsions may not harm you physically, but they are often the sign
of a serious underlying problem says Leanne Gresswell.
It‟s the weekend and you‟ve had a stressful few days where everything seems to have gone
wrong. What do you do to unwind? Smoke a cigarette, drink through a bottle of wine, or hit
the shops and spoil yourself? It‟s obvious what the healthiest option is here, so why are we all
being bombarded with warnings about getting into serious debt?
Naivety
Today‟s availability of credit cards, bank loans and weekly payments mean we have the
luxury of spending with a little less worry. However, a problem starts to become apparent
when people forget that it has to be paid back and begin to spend more than they can afford
without thinking. David Spivey, a guidance counsellor specialising in debt issues, said : “I do
think people can be too naïve with their money, however what I do think is that in essence,
debt is not a bad thing as long as you can sustain it and have been realistic about what can
you afford to repay.” Unfortunately, in a world where we are constantly being advertised to
and feeling under pressure to adhere to modern celebrity culture, more and more people are
suffering with shopping compulsions.
For some people, spending money and buying new goods is a way of achieving a temporary
high, and a lot of us think that‟s ok because it‟s not physically harmful like some addictions
such as drinking or smoking. However, many people won‟t realise what they‟re spending,
and though they might think they can afford, and are keeping to a budget, won‟t take the
other non-luxuries into consideration. David said: “What happens is that people tend to think
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that everything will always work out for them and they won‟t suffer any life changing
situations, such as divorce, redundancy etc. that will affect them financially. People are very
often budgeting on a set figure without an emergency fund, so they won‟t have any money
put aside for things like a car breaking down. They are simply working on assumptions that
everything‟s going to go according to plan.”
How do You Define a Shopping Addiction?
„Retail therapy‟ is a term that is often thrown around light-heartedly. It is a way of describing
the use of shopping as a form of stress relief. Whilst a treat to get yourself out of a bad mood
every now and again is fine, there becomes a danger when you are finding any excuse to hit
the shops. David said: “In many respects we all need to shop, we need to buy things like food
to live, but it‟s when that starts to become an excuse for something more addictive, that there
is in fact a problem.” It is not the necessarily the desire to own something that defines a
shopping addiction, but the inability to control your impulses.
When someone says „shopaholic‟ out loud, it isn‟t usually taken seriously. Yet even though
comparing it to the likes of drug abuse or alcoholism can seem like a joke, shopping can be
just a serious addiction. The thing with addictions is that they are usually the sign/result of a
deeper, underlying issue with the person in question. It is for this reason, that shopping
addictions are in fact treated alongside the likes of alcoholism. David used a client he has
dealt with in the past as an example. He had come from a broken home and was living back
with his Mother, struggling with finances so was unable to move out and rebuild his life.
David explained: “He had issues with alcohol. He was a very angry man. Though he worked
he still struggled with money. Quite regularly he would go out on benders and would end up
getting banned from different pubs for being too drunk and getting into fights. He decided
one evening that enough was enough and went cold turkey on the drink. He then however,
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started to smoke and gamble. Spending ten or fifteen pounds at a time at the bookies and
smoking around ten a day.”
This is an example of how addictions are often a way of masking emotions, a way for the
person to push their problems aside and put off dealing with the issue. He didn‟t deal with the
central issue, he just dealt with the compulsion he was using to cover it. David said: “Unless
the core addiction and what‟s at the heart of it is brought to the surface then the defence
mechanisms will find a different way to deal with the suffering.” This is why he moved on to
smoking and gambling. Once the alcohol was gone, he needed a new distraction.
Why Shopping?
The thing with shopping is that unlike drinking or gambling etc. it doesn‟t have negative
connotations, as it is a natural and essential everyday activity for buying the necessary items
we need to live. Unfortunately this means that it is more difficult for an addict to see the
problem and easier to find excuses for it. David admits: “Nothing is wrong with shopping if
you can afford/need it. It‟s when you‟re continually buying new clothes or new goods, or
things that are giving you an adrenaline rush that it becomes a compulsion. It‟s the nature of
the personality that defines shopping as a way of relieving stress.”
So why is shopping a way of relaxing or dealing with stress as opposed to options such as
taking a walk, a bubble bath, something that is not so self-destructive? David said: “I think
basically it‟s the same with any addiction, if you‟re looking for something to distract you and
give you that feel good factor then shopping is another way of doing that just like smoking or
drugs etc. It is simply another way of avoiding an issue.” It‟s the „take your mind off of it‟
factor that addicts crave. Unfortunately, simple things like taking a breath of fresh air just
don‟t provide them with that same rush.
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Who’s to Blame?
Shopping addictions are becoming more and more of a rising issue in today‟s society. They
weren‟t so much of a problem during times before developments in media and technology.
Now-a-days we have plastic bulging out of our purses, chip and pins screaming at us from
every counter and rich, glamorous celebrity culture being rubbed in our faces. David
believes: “For me, I think it takes a very strong person not to buy into all the hype we‟re
bombarded with every day through television, marketing, the media etc.” We constantly are
being told what we want/need and feel pressured to keep up with the latest trends and
technology.
Whether it‟s an iPhone or an iPad, you will then feel like you need the iPad2 because you
need to be up-to-date and in with the crowd. We‟re vulnerable to this type of pressure
because of this celebrity culture and people driving around in expensive cars. We hear about
footballers earning tens of thousands a week. Then we see their „Wags‟ walking around in
Prada and Gucci and we feel we have to aspire to that.
David agrees: “We feel we‟re not complete or successful unless we have all of these material
things.” And unfortunately, the only way out is to realise the reality. David continued: “Until
we realise it‟s an illusion and is just a lifestyle being sold to us then it won‟t stop. I don‟t
have a TV I use my computer and things like „BBC iPlayer‟ instead. However my life is
better for it because I am in control; I‟m not tied down to a set time and I don‟t get adverts
forced upon me.” The answer is to step away from those things and know what you can
afford.
The real way of overcoming a shopping addiction and really learning to budget your money
is realising that it‟s not actually going to make you any happier to own those designer shoes
or the latest blackberry. These luxuries can only add to happiness that already exists, they are
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not the source of it. That‟s the big illusion, the lie we are all faced with. The truth is it won‟t
bring you happiness if you‟re not happy.
ENDS
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140 Mile Charity Row Along Thames
Sporting events have always been a popular way to raise money for charity.
Last Year 20-year-old Tom Anderson raised £2000 for the Macmillan Nurses
when he and three friends rowed 140 miles of the River Thames.
After a plan which was formulated at in the early hours of the morning at a night club, three
friends braved the wet and dreary English Spring weather last Easter to raise money for each
of their chosen charities. Starting in Wiltshire, over four days and 3 nights they rowed a 140
mile stretch of the River Thames, finishing at Teddington Loch; the last before the Thames
becomes tidal.
Shockingly, Tom and his group didn‟t undertake any training prior to the event, he reveals:
“Honestly I just did it, I had no practice in rowing at all, none of us even knew how to steer
the canoes when we started.” Not only that, but they were also warned not to go ahead with it
by many people more familiar with the water, he continues: “Everyone at each loch told us
not to do it because we had no life jackets or experience, but we still went ahead with it.”
Of course over a four day journey they had to make time to eat and sleep. Tom talks about
their less-than-luxury arrangements: “Well, between four of us we had two large Canadian
Canoes, in each there was one person sat at the front, one at the back and in the middle was
our camping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, a gas cooker and food. Each night we
just found anywhere we could pitch up and that‟s where we would sleep.”
As soon as Tom began to speak about his best and worst experiences of the journey, it
became very clear that the bad out-weighed the good: “The best experiences were the sun on
the day we set off, and then finishing…oh and getting to Tesco‟s when we reached Oxford.”
He quickly adds: “I mean it was a real achievement to finish and raising all the money for our
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charities was the most rewarding thing.” It seems the good points end at that as he
immediately moves on to the worst experiences. I get the feeling that this may be a long list.
He remembers: “After the first day, the weather changed. It poured down with rain for the
rest of the time; we were freezing in our shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops.” Yet retiring to their
tents each night didn‟t turn out to be much in the way of comfort either: “Our tent broke, it
got holes in it, we had to patch them up with duct tape.” Not that they had much time for
sleep anyway: “We would have to be up at 4.30am every morning and on the water by
5.30am, then we would row until seven or eight o clock in the evening in the cold and rain.”
Not everything went too smoothly out on the water either, Tom explains: “We had really bad
quality oars, they were bought off of EBay-they were just basic wood, the cheapest we could
find…they broke.” After a slight pause he adds: “We had to fix those with duct tape too.”
The list of obstacles they faced goes on: “We also ran out of food on the third morning, we
had to eat Weetabix and baked bean juice for breakfast, that‟s why reaching the Tesco‟s in
Oxford was such a highlight, we were starving.”
Despite all the challenges he and his team faced, they finished with their heads held high and
each with a fantastic sum of money to give to their charities. Though Tom was quick to say
he wouldn‟t be doing it again in hurry: “If the weather was decent then I might, but never
again in those conditions.”
ENDS
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Your Summer Shopping List:
Sunscreen/Aftersun
Allergy Relief
Diarrhoea Relief/Rehydration
treatment
Insect Repellent
Travel Sickness Tablets
Everything You Need to Stay
Healthy This Summer
The summer season is upon us, and Boots wants to
make sure you have the best one possible. With
our help you can ensure yourself a happy, healthy
summer.
How to Beat Hayfever
As much as we all look forward to the return of summer each year, there are those of us who know
that as well as warm weather, picnics on the beach and walks in the park, we‟re also closer to itchy
eyes, continuous sneezing and a tickly throat. Hayfever (or Season Allergic Rhinitis) affects every
two in ten people in the UK. The symptoms and severity vary from person to person but can easily
affect ones daily routine.
Boots Hayfever and Allergy Relief Tablets 30’s (Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10mg), £8.06 or
806pts, Special Offer-buy one get one free on selected hayfever and allergy relief:
Suitable for adults and children of 6 years and over. One a day will provide relief of hayfever
symptoms such as an itchy or runny nose, and can also treat skin allergies/reactions. Also
available as liquid.
Boots Hayfever and Allergy Relief Tablets-Non-Drowsy 30’s (Loratadine 10mg), £8.06 or
806pts, Special Offer-buy one get one free on selected hayfever and allergy relief:
Suitable for adults and children of 12 years and over, one a day will take care of the same
symptoms as above without the risk of causing drowsiness. Also available as liquid.
Boots Hayfever Relief Nasal Spray (Beclometasone Diproprianate 50mg): Suitable for
adults of 18 years and over (ID may be requested). Two sprays in each nostril in the morning
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and evening will relieve the nasal symptoms of hayfever. Once in control of the symptoms
lower the dose to just one spray in each nostril twice a day. Do not use for more than three
months.
Boots Hayfever Relief Eye Drops (Sodium Cromoglicate 2% w/v), £4.99 or 499pts:
Suitable for adults and children these eyedrops reduce allergic responses to relieve symptoms
such as soreness, redness and itching caused by hayfever. Use one or two drops in each eye
up to four times in 24 hours to keep symptoms at bay. Available over the healthcare counter.
Make the Most of Your Travels
One thing that both children and adults look forward to for summer is a week or two away in the sun.
If you‟re lucky enough to be jetting off somewhere exotic this year, make sure you get the most out of
holiday by being prepared.
Anyone who suffers from, or has travelled with anyone who suffers from travel sickness, will know
how disruptive the unpleasant symptoms can be to a journey. There are many options to prevent all
types of travel sickness (car, air, sea) in adults and children.
Boots Travel Calm Tablets 12’s (Hyoscine Hydrobromide 0.3mg), £2.49 or 249pts:
Suitable for adults and children aged 3 years and over, boots Travel Calm tablets should be
taken twenty minutes before travelling to provide effective relief from symptoms. Dosage
dependent on age-check packaging before use.
One precaution we have to take with visiting somewhere abroad is the local cuisine and water. There
are precautions you can take to avoid stomach troubles. Such as only accepting bottled water, avoid
salads and ice cubes and only eat peeled vegetables, but sometimes effects are unavoidable . For this
reason it is best to be prepared for those „just in case‟ moments.
Boots Diareze Diarrhoea Relief 6’s (Loperamide Hydrochloride 2mg), £2.03 or 203pts,
Special offer-2 for £3.00 or 300pts: Suitable for adults and children over 12 years, these
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tablets will relieve the symptoms of short-term diarrhoea. Take two capsules when symptoms
appear and then a further one capsule after each loose bowel movement.
Boots Re-Hydration Treatment, £2.85 or 285pts, Special Offer-2 for £3.50 or 350pts:
Suitable for adults and children aged 1 year and over, these blackcurrant flavour rehydration
sachets restore fluids and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) lost through loose bowel
movements. Dissolve each sachet in 200ml of water, check packaging for age guidelines.
As well as the local cuisine there are always some other pesky little locals we all like to try and avoid
whether home or away. Yes, our little mosquito friends are always out to try and stop us relaxing
during summer, but with the right repellents and aftercare, you don‟t have to let them. As well as
allergy tablets, there are other ways to treat the irritation of insect bites.
Boots Pharmaceuticals Insect Repellent Range, Special Offer-buy one get one half price
on selected items: Available in the forms of spray, lotion, wipes and plug-ins, the Boots
insect repellents range offers protection again insect bites such as mosquitos and midges for
both adults and children. See in-store or www.boots.com for our full range.
Boots Bite & Sting Relief Click it, £5.49 or 549pts: Safe for use on adults and children of 4
years and over, „Click it‟ is designed to release a small electrical charge which soothes the
itching of at least 2000 insect bites and relieves the urge to scratch.
Be Sun-Care Savvy
There‟s nothing a lot of us like better than spending our summer trying to achieve that perfect natural
tan. However each year warnings are released here there and everywhere about the risks of over-
exposure to the sun. With the right knowledge and care will be able to sun-bathe safely.
Boots Soltan Range Suncare Range, Special Offer-buy one get one free on selected Soltan
Protection
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Soltan is a Boots own brand of suncare which ranges from SPF (sun protection factor) 15 to SPF 50+.
The SPF tells us how effective the product is from protecting against UVB rays, which cause 85-90%
of sunburn. So the easier your skin burns, the higher SPF you need. If you are unsure on what SPF is
suited to you, visit one of our trained healthcare experts in store for advice.
What makes Soltan stand out from other brands is its UVA star rating. UVA rays are responsible for
premature skin-aging, long-term skin damage and have also been linked to skin cancer, so a high
rating is important. For example a 1-star UVA protection will absorb at least 20% as much UVA light
as UVB whilst a 5-star product will absorb at least 90% as much.
Enjoy Your Summer
Boots wants you to take care of yourselves and the family this summer so you can make the most of
the season and enjoy yourself. For more details on any of the products mention ask in store or visit
www.boots.com. Happy summer from Boots!
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Introducing 3D Wallpapers
With 3D wallpapers in the running to become the next big thing in interiors, we
ask Kerry Lawson, textile artist about the future of her own collection.
When 20-year-old Kerry, Bournemouth, pursued her interest in textile design, she had no idea she
would end up designing and making wallpapers. “There is a lot of repetition in interior design” said
Kerry, “In textiles I was always fascinated by repeating patterns so interiors just seemed the natural
way for me to go and wallpaper is just where I have currently landed.” Her designs come with a
difference though, as her collection includes a new wave of three-dimensional wallpapers.
As she got into interiors through textiles, Kerry has a lot of background knowledge in other artistic
areas too which has helped inspire her selection of 3D wallpapers. She said: “I was already designing
and creating flat wallpapers anyway. The idea to develop into 3D came from the art of origami. It‟s a
technique that has always interested me. I‟ve seen it used fashion design by the likes of Issey Miyake,
so thought why not try it for interiors?” Taking true inspiration from the Japanese tradition, Kerry
creates her wallpapers the old fashioned way: “All my papers are screen-printed and manipulated
purely by hand to make the highest quality, bespoke wallpapers. There are no digital techniques or
machinery involved.” Meaning each one she makes is unique.
The beauty of Kerry‟s 3D wallpapers is that they are all one-off creations, they won‟t be able to be
mass-produced and sold in bulk on the high-street, so any wall that is decorated with one will truly be
a one-of-a-kind. Kerry‟s opinion was: “They may not take off in the main-stream market, but there is
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always room for pushing the boundaries in the higher-end of the market.” They aren‟t designed to
take over the walls of every household. They are delicate, hand-crafted installations for those who are
interested in stylish, modern décor.
Though these anomalous wallpapers look fantastic on show, they aren‟t always practical for everyday
decorating. Unfortunately they can be easily damaged. Kerry said: “3D wallpapers are more for show,
they aren‟t designed for day-to-day decorating. They are best for places which are out of reach to
most people, like behind a reception desk in a hotel lobby or in a one bedroom flat.” Their fragility
wouldn‟t do well to be placed in a full or busy household where they are exposed to too many people.
They are better suited to a more mature environment; one or two adults living alone in a decent-sized
place where there is plenty of open space.
Kerry has however taken everything and everyone on board when designing her wallpapers. As it is
not just the three-dimension that makes them so unique, but her self-designed and hand-printed
contemporary patterns. She said: “I have to take the mainstream market into consideration as well, so
in some of my designs the 3D is very subtle. I also have a selection of flat wallpapers too with similar
patterns for anyone who wants the cutting-edge designs on a sounder surface.” So there will be a
chance for Kerry‟s up-and-coming designs to hit the high-street and end up as a favourite in people‟s
homes.
Interiors is an area where it‟s not so much about creating a totally new idea, but more about finding
new ways of working with what‟s already there. Kerry isn‟t the only one out their creating these new
wallpapers, she said: “I‟m not the only one trying it, there‟s never room in interiors for every designer
to be coming up with new ideas, it‟s just a new technique and this is my take on it.” She described her
designs as: “Quite contemporary. I always make sure I keep on trend with the colours I use. They are
fresh, cutting-edge pieces that may not be suited to everyone‟s taste but they‟re fun and unique.” So if
you like to add a bit of modern flare to your décor, keep a look out for these latest installations to hit
the market.
ENDS