Our good friends at Scottish Hampers are offering Tartan Twist aficionados the chance to win one of their delicious Port and Blue Cheese hampers worth over £50.  It’s the perfect treat for Christmas, New Year or for those cold winter nights when all you want to do is curl up in front of the fire with a glass of port.

All you have to do to enter is tell us your favourite taste of Scotland  – whether it be the salty tang of a kipper at breakfast or the warm glow of a dram of single malt at a Highland New Year. Email your entries to admin@tartantwist.com  before Jan 24^th. Don’t forget to add your name and address. The winner will be announced on Burn’s Night on our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Scottish Hampers has a wide range of delicious hampers filled with the best of Scottish produce – from Scottish preserves and chutneys to cured meats and smoked salmon. Choose one of their ready-made hampers or build your own from a range of 300 top quality Scottish produce items. You can check out their range of Christmas hampers and other Scottish hampers at the Scottish Hampers website.

Competition open to UK residents only. All entrants must be over the age of 18.

For a subtler take on the tartan trend try Tartan Twist’s Filigree Heart Locket on Royal Stewart

The tartan is Dress Stewart which is a gentle, mellow tartan and works well for weddings and Christenings. If you don’t want the full works al la Rag & Bone, here is our take on Dress Stewart tartan. A touch of tartan works well.

The tartan is Cameron. The rich yet sophisticated hues of Cameron tartan are perfect for spicing up your wardrobe this winter and our Jewel Heart necklace and bracelet are the perfect way to add a touch of tartan  if you don’t want to go for a entire tartan outfit.

Once we have a finished idea of the pieces we start looking at materials, often trying several different stones or colours before we hit on the correct one. The studio then starts putting together prototypes. Focus-group testing comes next and we make adjustments depending on the comments we get back from the focus groups. Once the final prototypes have been approved, the new collections are costed and we start putting together the supply chain.

Lyndsey and the head office team get working wth the photographer to create the right images of the new pieces. Then the Edinbrgh team starts laying out a new Look Book incorpoating the new pieces. The Look Book goes to print and the publicity team starts working on publicising the new pieces. The new collections go onto the website. Before that, we send advanced copies of the Look Book to our exisiting customers to give them the first chance to see and order the new collections. Then the studio goes into overdrive fulfiling orders for the new pieces. We’ll let you know when their available to view.

Love Gillian x

Happy New Year

Tartan Twist Scottish Fashion Award Nominations

It’s been a busy year for Tartan Twist. In addition to serving the 120 shops which stock Tartan Twist and our children’s brand, Teeny Tartan Twist, we’ve had a record number of sales on our website. We’ve taken a new collection to The London International Jewellery Show and we’ve been working hard on new designs for Tartan Twist which will be unveiled soon.

But undoubtedly the highlight of our year has been our nomination as Jewellery and Accessories Designer of the Year at the Scottish Fashion Awards in association with VOUGE.COM. The really pleasing thing is the prestige of the Awards which are judged by some of the top names in international fashion. They include: Brian Duffy, the Head of Ralph Lauren Europe, Brigitte Stepputis, Head of Couture Vivienne Westwood, Nathalie Colin, Creative Director of Swarovski, the designer Amanda Wakeley, Professor Wendy Dagworthy, Head of Fashion & Textiles at RCA, London, Hilary Alexander fashion Editor of the Daily Telegraph and Lucy Yeomans, editor of Harper’s Bazaar. The red carpet ceremony in Glasgow was fun and the whole process gave us an enormous boost.

We go into 2011 full of anticipation and excitement for the new developments. Wishing all our loyal – and well-accessorised – customers a happy and fulfilling 2011.

From Gillian & Lyndsey and the team at Tartan Twist

….Luckily, we decided to bring back our Jewel Hearts instead so all our lucky customers can have a taste of Magical Murano!

It’s not hard to see where the inspiration comes from for the colours in our Murano glass Jewel Hearts. The incredible light on the waters of Venice’s Grand Canal and the sun glinting off the mosaics and frescos gives the island a magical feel.

We’re just back from a visit to our glass suppliers on the tiny and picturesque Island of Murano, just off Venice. Murano glass is the finest glass in the world. Only those glassmakers on the island are qualified to make it. As a result it has been sought after by collectors worldwide.

Murano’s reputation as a centre for glassmaking was established in 1291 when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly wooden buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to the island of Murano. The glass is still made by hand on the Island in the traditional manner.

Our trip to Murano gave us plenty of inspiration for new collections and we discovered brilliant new colours and shapes. Ricardo led us into the back of the shop and gave us boxes of glass beads to rake through. We also watched some of the glass being made by a glassblower working the sticky molten glass on a long pole.

Our Jewel Heart Collection of necklaces, earrings and bracelets are all made with Murano glass. In our pieces, sterling silver is shot though the glass to give it its special appeal. There is a subtlety to the hues of glass which works particularly well with tartan. Our Amethyst Jewel Heart on Lindsay tartan, Sapphire Jewel Heart on Douglas tartan and Emerald Jewel Heart on BlackWatch are best-selling pieces. The Hearts look fabulous on the plain satin ribbons too.

We intersperse the small Murano glass hearts with freshwater pearls for our Jewel Heart Bracelets and trim them with tartan or satin ribbons. They make perfect presents. Our matching Jewel Heart Earrings are also extremely popular and cost a third less than similar Murano earrings in John Lewis!

Two days soaking up the marvellous atmosphere in the unique city of Venice was bliss. I expect we’ll find another excuse to visit Ricardo and Antonella on Murano again soon!

Happy Shopping

Gillian & Lyndsey

It’s only once you’ve done it yourself that you really appreciate the work and planning that goes into a wedding. It’s your best party ever and the one at which everybody is happy. But no matter how much time you have to prepare, there is always a bit of a panic at the end. You’ve got the dress, you’ve got the shoes but what about accessories. . . gifts for bridesmaids. . . an elegant wrap for that strapless dress. . . a gift to say thank you to mum?

Relax. It’s all here. Tartan Twist’s collection is nothing if not romantic and we’ve gathered all our gorgeous and glamorous pieces in one place. Download our Look Book from the home page of our website to see a selection of our wedding jewellery in context. We have something for everyone.

Our collection of Eternal Pearls necklaces, bracelets and earrings will complement any wedding dress without over-powering it. Stunning, freshwater pearls are interspersed with liquid silver, little dragonflies, or hearts, all trimmed with satin or tartan ribbons.

What bride does not want Love, Luck, Health, Happiness and Friendship? For a very special bridal gift, our Enchanted Bracelet commemorates all of these in little sterling silver charms which open up to reveal a charming secret.

For Bridesmaids and Matrons of Honour our Jewel Heart bracelets and earrings, made with the finest Murano glass hearts and freshwater pearls, come in a range of vibrant colours. They are a popular choice for bridesmaids’ gifts and because they come in beautiful ribbon-tied boxes you don’t have to wrap them. That’s one less thing to do.

For younger flower girls, our Sweetheart range of glass heart necklaces – entwined with silver on delicate ivory or palest pink satin ribbons – are exquisite. Team them with matching freshwater pearl bracelets for the prettiest look. Or delight your little bridesmaids with our Enchanted necklaces. Who can resist the little silver Cinderella pumpkin carriage which opens up to reveal a secret slipper?

If bridesmaids or guests need a pretty wrap, we have a stunning selection of hand-made silk ones finished with 36 individually made silk flowers. Fully reversible, they give you two looks for the price of one. Team them with our clever wrist bags which leave both hands free, perfect for wedding guests sipping champagne. Jazz up a dress or jacket with our matching hand-made silk corsages.

Then there is mum. The Mother of the Bride, is the person who calms anxious daughters, cajoles the caterers, greets the guests and weeps and smiles in all the right places. How can you ever thank her? What about one of our fabulous Pomander necklaces filled with photographs of that precious day which she can treasure forever? There’s even a space to engrave a ‘thank you’. At Tartan Twist we’ll help you to love honour and . . . make hay.

Key to my Filigree heart by Tartantwist on Polyvore.com

Sterling Heart Lockets are perfect for everyday…

Sterling silver lockets are uniquely suited for young women. First, they’re much less expensive than heart locket jewelry fashioned out of either gold or platinum, making them much easier for young women to purchase for themselves or for their friends and loved ones. Secondly, sterling silver is perceived as being a perennially “hip” metal. Although gold is often worn only for “special” occasions, heart lockets fashioned from silver are perfect for everyday wear.

Young women can find all sorts of things perfect for storing in the small secret locket compartments. Photographs of best friends, a boyfriend, a beloved parent or mentor, or even the hair of a lost pet can be discreetley stored in the precious metal case. Tiny notes of love can be hidden “in plain view.” A petal from a prom corsage, or a portion of a leaf collected on a picture-perfect day can all be stored with charm and romance within the small, sturdy confines of a heart locket.

Perhaps the Sterling Silver Garnet Heart Locket is more to your taste; on tartan ribbon, this locket opens to take two photographs or a lock of hair. This modern, Scottish piece is destined to become a classic and looks wonderful on cashmere or with an open-necked shirt.

Or maybe you would be better suited to out beautifully-worked Sterling Silver Filigree Heart Locket, which once again opens to take two photographs or a small keepsake. The universal symbol of love and friendship since medieval times, our Heart makes the ideal gift for a lover, sister, mother or friend.

Both lockets are fastened with a pretty ring and toggle clasp and hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office with the Tartan Twist hallmark, the necklace comes packaged in a silver ribbon-tied box. Available on a range of tartan and plain satin ribbons. Necklace length: 48cm (19 inches)

Our Heart Lockets are also delightful presents for young girls and within our children’s collection, we do a beautiful children’s version of our Sterling Silver locket. With an intricate filigree-work front and solid back which opens to take two photographs, she will be able to personalize it with her favorite pictures for a memento to keep and treasure until she has children of her own. Fastened with a lobster clasp, the necklace comes packaged in a sugar-pink ribbon-trimmed box. Available on a range of tartan and plain satin ribbons. Necklace length: 41cm (16 inches) Heart 20mm

Or perhaps you could treat both daughter and mother . All little girls love to look like mummy. With our mama and baby locket set they can!

To view the whole range of Tartan Twist Heart lockets you can go online at www.tartantwist.com

egg-cellent by Tartantwist on Polyvore.com

We would love to introduce you to some charming sterling silver egg pendants, both our filigree egg and chick and egg pendant are hugely popular with children and adults alike (our chick and egg even has a mama and baby version, complete with miniture pendant for baby- how adorable!)

Retailing at £60.00, our lovely, lattice-work Sterling Silver Egg opens to take a secret message. Choose from our selection, order bespoke or write your own. Each Egg comes with a quote and a tiny blank scroll for a handwritten message. Fastened with a pretty ring and toggle clasp and hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office with the Tartan Twist hallmark, the necklace comes packaged in a silver ribbon-tied box. As fabulous as Fabergé! Quotes by: Jane Austen, Robert Burns, Mary, Queen of Scots, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Sir Walter Scott, William Shakespeare or William Wordsworth. Available on a range of tartan and plain satin ribbons. The necklace is 48cm (19 inches) in length.

On the other hand, our highly polished, Sterling Silver Egg is a sophisticated, minimalist piece when closed. Open, it reveals a tiny silver bird. A stunning, memorable piece of jewellery which becomes a conversation piece. Fastened with a pretty ring and toggle clasp and hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office with the Tartan Twist hallmark, the necklace comes packaged in a silver ribbon-tied box. Once again this is available on a range of tartan and plain satin ribbons. Necklace length: 60cm (24 inches)

Winner Best New Scottish Product 2008, the Chick and egg pendant is a personal favorite of mine, in fact you can find me wearing it most days much to the delight of observers who love to ooh and ahh over this enchanting hatching egg. Problem being I haven’t decided whether to wear it open or closed (good job I can wear it both ways!)
So get yours now at www.tartantwist.com – no chick should be without them!