Music Festival Survival Guide

Summer is here, which means that once again it’s time for crowds of people to gather in fields for a weekend of camping and incredible live music.  Festivals can be a great experience and a lot of fun, particularly because they’re the perfect place to experiment with bolder make up and fashion.

Festivals can also have their challenges, however, as accessing washing facilities can be difficult, and it’s not unusual to be feeling less than fresh by day two.  Thankfully Liquorice Tree Gifts are here to help.  We’ve hand picked our list of essential festival products to help you not just survive the weekend, but to have the best time ever!

Jet, Set, Go: Our Travel Essentials Guide

Summer is finally here and holidays are just around the corner!  To make sure that everything goes smoothly, it’s best to ensure that you’re totally prepared.  We’ve put together this handy 3 step guide to help you plan for your best holiday ever!  Whether you’re jetting off to a beach resort or heading off for a city break, it’s always best done in style.

Meet the Artist: Hannah Longmuir

Here at Liquorice Tree Gifts we are always on the look out for amazing new suppliers, to make sure that our stores are full of the best possible products.  We love to discover and support local producers and artists who are bursting with talent and create designs and products that we know our customers will love!

At a recent trade fair we discovered artist Hannah Longmuir, who works mainly with pencil to create beautiful illustrations of the countryside and its inhabitants.  We particularly love the way she captures detail and enhances her pencil work with watercolour.  Her designs are available in the form of cards, prints and a range of stationery products.  We caught up with Hannah to ask her a few questions all about her inspiration, process and her plans for exciting future projects.

Graduation Gifting Made Easy

Graduations are beginning again!  After years of stressful exams and essay deadlines, another group of students are finally receiving their hard-earned diplomas.  Such a special milestone deserves to be celebrated!  Graduation day wouldn’t be complete without plenty of bubbly, a mortarboard and gown or the perfect card and gift.

Liquorice Tree Gifts have an amazing selection of graduation gift ideas, from the traditional to the quirky.  We know just how proud you are and are here to help you find the perfect card and gift to let your loved one know.  Each product featured in this post will link you straight to our website, making your shopping experience as simple as possible.

Get Ready For Father’s Day

On Sunday the 18th of June, it’s time to celebrate our fathers!  Make sure to take this special day to spoil your dad rotten and let him know just how much he’s loved.  Each dad is different, so Liquorice Tree Gifts have a wide range of cards and gift ideas to make sure your find something that your dad will love.  Each product featured in this post will link you straight to our website, making your Father’s Day shopping experience as simple as possible.

Wedding Season Is Here!

While weddings are a time of great excitement, they also take a lot of careful and sometimes stressful planning in order to create the perfect day.  Even for guests, it can take time to choose a new outfit and find the right gift for the happy couple.

Fortunately, we’re here to help!  When it comes to picking out the perfect gift, we believe that finding something truly special doesn’t need to be a headache.  At Liquorice Tree Gifts, we have an extensive range of wedding and engagement gifts on offer, from the traditional to the unique and the minimalist to the quirky.  Whether you’re looking for cards, jewellery or a little good luck charm for the bride, there’s something to suit every couple.

Thank You Teacher!

School’s almost out for Summer and now is the best time to plan the perfect teacher gift.

With so many schools near our Great Western Road store in Glasgow, teacher
gifts are something that we have always been asked for. This year, the Liquorice Tree team have listened and brought together a collection of teacher gifts that we think you’ll love.

Thank You For Being My Teacher Candle

We have found over the last few years that candles have been a really popular choice for an end of term gift.  The summer holidays are a time for teachers to relax and what better way to unwind than with a calming scented candle?

With a huge selection available in store and online, finding the right candle for a gift can be a little overwhelming. We’ve happily selected a few candles from the new Katie Loxton range that we think would work really well as a gift for a teacher. Each of the candles from this collection carry a very subtle scent so you don’t have to worry about the fragrance being too overpowering. The candles are presented in beautiful contemporary boxes that carry a fun and/or inspiring message. Priced at only 19.99 each, these lovely Katie Loxton candles are available to shop in store and online.

Katie Loxton Float Away Candle

Katie Loxton Thank You Candle

Katie Loxton Hooray Candle

If you like idea of a relaxing gift but were looking for something a little more quirky, these wonderful bath tea bags are great gift idea for teachers. Scents available include, Marshmallow Rose, Strawberry Cream Tea and Lavender and White Tea. Each bath tea bag is priced at only 1.75 and looks great as part of a hamper or even popped in alongside a main gift.

Strawberry Cream Tea Bath Tea Bag

Seaweed Detox Bath Tea Bag

Rose Geranium and Green Tea Bath Tea Bag

Raspberry Cream Tea Bath Tea Bag

All scents are available to shop in store and online.

Over the last few seasons people have been buying scarves as an alternative to a traditional  teacher gift. Our new Spring/Summer collections have arrived in store and include designs for every personality and age. Below we have hand picked a few of our favourite new designs that we think are perfect for a teacher. The whole collection is available to browse in store.

A Little Thank You Teacher Joma Jewellery Bracelet

 

For those looking for a keepsake, this lovely little teacher bracelet from Joma Jewellery is the perfect way to say thank you.

Something that a teacher can treasure forever, the ‘a little’ bracelet comes on a pretty card that reads “this little golden apple is just to say thank you for teaching me something new every day”

For something that little bit special we absolutely love this beautiful teacher print. Written by poet Joanna Miller – who herself used to be a teacher – the poem lists all those little things that a great teacher does. At only 12.50, this charming print is available to browse in store and online.

If you love the print but were looking for something a bit more practical, we love this What Is A Teacher? Notebook. Digitally printed, the notebook highlights the role of an inspiring teacher.

Every teacher spends their term time giving out treats and awards. Now Summer is here, it’s time for the roles to be reversed! And what better way to spoil a great teacher than with some delicious Charbonnel et Walker chocolates? One of Britain’s first and finest chocolatiers, we have handpicked a few from the collection that we think are the perfect treat for a teacher.  These include the Charbonnel et Walker Pink Champagne Truffles, Rum Truffles and Whisky Truffles.

Charbonnel et Walker Pink Champagne Truffles

Charbonnel et Walker Whisky Truffles

 

Charbonnel et Walker Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Truffles

If you have already got the main gift sorted and are looking for a little trinket we do have a charming selection of teacher gifts priced under £5 that are a great as an add on gift.

We absolutely love these little sentiment tokens and know every teacher will too. In the shape of a teacher’s apple, each token is engraved with a classroom inspired phrase including, You’re A* and You’re Top of the Class. Each token is priced at only £2.50 and looks great popped in a card.

Teacher Tokens

Who else can keep calmer in a stressful situation than a teacher? Inspired by the Keep Calm trend, this quirky coaster is printed with the words, Keep Calm I’m A Teacher.

Keep Calm I’m A Teacher Coaster

World’s Best Teacher Keyrings 3.50 Each

Awesome Teacher Mug, 8.95

Finding the right teacher card is just as important as finding the right gift. A card is a great opportunity for parents to express just how thankful they are to have a teacher who supports, encourages and challenges their child.

One of our favourite teacher cards is one from our Wise Words collection. This beautiful card expresses how a good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instil a love of learning. Available in store and online, this wonderful card says it all.

Teachers Wise Words Card

If your child happens to have the Best Teacher or more precisely the Best Teacher in Glasgow we have a card that couldn’t be more perfect. Bold and bright, this fabulous card is the only way to honour a great Glasgow teacher.

Best Teacher in Glasgow Card

These are just a few of the teacher gifts and cards that are available in store and online. To browse the full collection visit us online at http://www.liquoricetree.com or pop by our store in the heart of Glasgows West End at 431 Great Western Road, next to Kelvinbridge underground.

Our lovely team will be on hand to help and inspire!

Top On Screen Couples

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday and to celebrate we are looking at our favourite on screen couples of all time.

As well as list our favourite couples we also asked ourselves what we would do if one of these famous characters were to break out from the screen and walk on into Liquorice Tree looking for the perfect Valentine gift for their other half. Which gift would we recommend and why?

What does Sandy buy Danny or Jamie buy Claire? Here are our favourite TV and movie on screen couples and the Valentine gifts we know they would love.

Ross and Rachel, Friends

Whether they were on a break or not we were all rooting for Ross and Rachel from the very beginning – after all she was his lobster.

If Ross was to swing by Liquorice Tree this week we would have to point him in the direction of our jewellery and scarves. Rachel Green loves her fashion and is a girl who knows her trends. Therefore we can guarantee she would love one of the new Elie Beaumont Rose Gold watches. What girl wouldn’t?

Elie Beaumont Blue Square Strap Rose Gold Watch

Elie Beaumont Purple Square Strap Rose Gold Watch

Elie Beaumont Grey Square Strap Rose Gold Watch

We all know Ross is a bit of a Dino geek and if Rachel was Valentine shopping for Ross we know that he would be obsessed with these quirky Dino cookie cutters.

Jamie and Claire, Outlander

We all knew from the beginning when Claire accidentally travelled back two hundred years and was rescued by Jamie the hunky Scotsman that these two were destined for each other.

We reckon that if Jamie and Claire were ever to travel to 2016 their first stop would definitely be Liquorice Tree.

For Claire Randall there are so many gifts we could recommend for the time travelling beauty. Our top recommendation would be a collection inspired by the Dragonfly in Amber.

 

Our top gift for Jamie would have to either be the the Outlander quaich or flask. With the crest of Jamie’s clan engraved both are finished with the slogan “Je Suis Prest” (I am Ready).

So Claire and Jamie if you are planning a visit before Sunday … We are ready.

Edward and Vivian, Pretty Women

A modern love story, Pretty Women taught us all to never judge a book by its cover. If Edward himself were to walk through Liquorice Tree’s doors, after swooning, we would help him find a gift for Viviane.

A man who knows how to treat a lady we think that Edward is definitely a classic gift type of guy and what is more classic at Valentine’s Day than chocolate? Viviane would love this little box of handmade Belgian chocolates.

Valentine shopping for Edward is definitely a trickier task. What do you buy a guy who probably has everything? Finding the right card is just as important as the gift and for Edward we would have to show Viviane the Silver Fox card. Is there anyone else on this planet more silver or foxy than Edward?

For the gift we think businessman Edward would love a piece from the Dalvey Collection. Smart and stylish like the man himself this exquisite timepiece features a full hunter fob case with the iconic Dalvey logo deeply engraved.

Danny and Sandy, Grease

It’s that classic tale of good girl falls for the bad boy.

The best thing about Danny and Sandy’s characters in Grease is that they really brought out the best in each other. Danny learned to be a less of a greaser and more of a sweetheart whilst Sandy learned that a good girl can still have a bit of fun. For Danny, a man who takes pride in his appearance we would have to point Sandy in the direction of our bath and grooming gifts. Something perhaps from the Gentlemen’s range would be the perfect Danny Zuko gift?

And for Sandy? Well that depends if Danny is buying for nice or naughty Sandy! For nice Sandy we think she would love something from the Joma Jewellery collection. Perhaps a pair of earrings for those newly pierced ears? And for bad ass Sandy well these quirky heel stickers have her name written all over them. With these on her soles, Sandy’s dance scenes just got even more epic.

So there you have it. That was our top TV and movie couples and the gifts we would recommend for them this Valentine’s.

Burns Night with Macsweens Haggis

To celebrate Burns Night we caught up with James Macsween, Managing Director of Macsweens Haggis. Despite his busy Burns Night schedule, he kindly took the time to answer a few Haggis questions for us.

– Where did it all begin for Macsween? 

• It all began in 1953 at 126 Bruntsfield Place, the shop is now a Costa coffee. My grandfather was running someone else’s butcher shop until then. After it closed he set up on his own, then my father joined him when he was 16 years old.

– What makes Macsween haggis the best? 

• Great question, Passion, quality and the love of our national dish.

– Burns Night is just around the corner, describe the perfect Burns supper.

• Doing the full event at home with a huge group of my pals, eating, singing and having a great time.

– How does Macsween celebrate Burns Night?

• I’ll be in London this year with some of my team and Cyrus Todiwala, raising money for charity. As for the team, they might be eating haggis, but after selling £2 million of it in January, it could be a take away

– For people who have never tried Haggis before how would you describe it?

• I’d say it’s like spicy mince.

– What’s the best/worst reaction to Haggis that you have ever experienced?

• Worst, I don’t like haggis as I’m allergic to it.
• Best, has to be my two sons asking for it every time they visit me at work.

– Do you have any tips on how to cook the perfect Haggis dish?

• Wrap it well in foil and don’t overheat it or boil it. And don’t put whisky anywhere near it.

– We love your #NotJustForBurns campaign on social media. As well as the traditional Haggis Neeps and Tatties which other dishes would you recommend using Haggis?

• Los Cardos haggis burrito is my favourite street food, At home on toast with beans and grated cheese or with nachos or in a baked potato with grated cheese and mango chutney #yummy

– The US government is preparing to lift the ban on Scotch lamb products by 2017, will we see Macsween Haggis across the pond in the near future?

• I’d like to think with the good work the Scottish Government and DEFRA have done we should see haggis in North America by the end of 2016 or 2017

– And finally, what’s next for Macsween?

• Ah well, just you watch and see.

Thank you to James for answering our questions and for those intrigued to try some Macsweens haggis you can purchase some from Liquorice Tree opposite gate 10.

 

Haggis Tasting Event at Edinburgh Airport

If you are flying through Edinburgh Airport on Monday 25th January visit us opposite gate 10 for a Haggis tasting event to celebrate Burns Night. MacSween haggis will be joining us on the day and will be bringing along Hamish the Haggis for you to meet and greet!

The Haggis tasting event will be taking place between 11am and 3pm on the day just outside the Liquorice Tree shop and will give passengers a chance to try Scotland’s National dish.

Hamish will be there to say hello to everyone and will be there to take photographs with those brave enough to try Haggis!

MacSweens will be bringing along their award winning Haggis as well as their tasty Vegetarian haggis so that everyone has a chance to try the famous Scottish dish.

So if you are flying to or from Edinburgh Airport on January 25th come and visit Liquorice Tree and celebrate Burns Night with us.