Press & Blog — Summer

Whether you're fascinated by them or terrified of them, bugs and insects can be found wherever you go. But, as the little creepy crawlers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, their unique patterns and colours can make for some great inspiration for homeware, don't you think?

So perhaps letting these glorious goodies come buzzing into your home wouldn't be such a bad thing..

From Emma Bridgewater and Gisela Graham to Frugi and East of India, there are lots of brands in Daisy Park that feature pretty little creatures. Most common is of course the incredibly popular Bumblebee, which we are all for because they are undeniably cute.

We're also loving the Emma Bridgewater butterflies and bugs range. The Chilly's bottle in this design is a personal favourite of ours, as but there are lots of gorgeous butterfly designs from other brands too. Such as the Eco Chic bags and coffee cups, and even some of the Djeco kids toys.

PICS: Eco Chic butterflies, kids stuff?

Even East of India can bring some bugs life into their products. These bits make for some lovely gifts if you know anyone who loves bees or butterflies, aren't they just the cutest?

So if you or someone you care about has a love for all things insects, then perhaps some of these goodies will be something for you or them to get buzzing with excitement over. Normally we might try to get these creatures out of our homes, but these ones we might just have to let live here for a while..

Here in South Molton in lovely North Devon we’ve got the summer season event of ‘South Molton in Bloom’ getting underway. Businesses around the town contribute and it means that beautiful bright flowers can be seen all around the square and elsewhere. We love it so much that we thought we’d theme this weeks blog post on all things floral to celebrate one of our favourite times of the year.

Emma Bridgewaters newest floral range is certainly one that has a place here. We love it, particularly the sunflower tray which is just so bright and sunny. Plus the mini tins which are super sweet and can be used to store little bits and bobs, or used as part of a gift stuffed with some sweets. Then there’s also the brand new calendars. We know it’s only July but we’re already getting ready for next year, and thanks to their gorgeous design they even fit in with the floral theme too.

Pip studio goodies are always bright and colourful much like seasonal flowers, especially the Blushing Birds ranges. Available in reds, yellows, blues pinks or khakis, there’s plenty to choose from to suit all tastes and add a touch of vibrancy to your home this summer. Even if it’s just for decoration such as using a mug to keep pens or makeup brushes in.

Gisela Graham mugs are such lovely mugs to have in the home or give as gifts. The sunflower mini mug & jug is the cutest little set and matches really well with all of the other lovely flowery goodies. If you’re a lover of sunflowers and have some growing in your own garden, these might be perfect for a cuppa whilst you give them some TLC.

Finally, although not necessarily floral in design, Hinza bags are such a great accompaniment to any flower or garden theme as they’re so useful for either storing gardening tools or making a quirky alternative to a plant pot. We think they look fabulous with some flowers in!

We do love a bright window, and right now our display is certainly looking that way, with all of these tulips, sunflowers and more, plus all of the lovely flowers all over town, its really looking quite gorgeous at the moment, just what we’ve all needed!

If you weren't already aware, this week is national picnic week. Here at Daisy Park this is quite exciting to us because not only do we love a great British picnic, but we've got some really rather lovely goodies to make it a perfect one.

If the weather is kind to us this summer we're sure lots of you will ne making the most of it and having picnics at every opportunity. So if you're as serious about making a perfect picnic as we are, here's a little something for you to snack on.

The star of the show here has got to be the gorgeous Emma Bridgewater bamboo crockery. The designs are timeless and so is the quality, so you can be sure to use these for years to come. The bad news is they're discontinuing this glorious range soon so be sure to grab your bits whilst you can!

The last thing you want on your picnic is sitting on grass that's still slightly dewy and standing up to that damp feeling on your bum, so a blanket is essential. If you want to go for a more stylish option then the Atlantic Blankets are just gorgeous. Plus, we've heard rumours that the White House brought some of their blankets to take back with them after they were in Cornwall for the G7 summit so there we go, White House approved.

Keep your cold drinks cold in the sun and your hot drinks hot with an iconic Chilly's bottle. No need to worry about having to drink warm water on a hot day, definitely a picnic essential. Grab one of their food pots as well to keep warm foods warm or cold foods cold, such as soup.

For sandwiches and other cool items, the Eco-Chic cool bags and lunch bags are great options. Not only are they sustainable products due to being made largely from plastic bottles, but they're also great quality and come in some lovely designs too.

And to put it all in? Hinza bags are ideal picnic bags thanks to their practical design. Easy to wipe clean, sturdy and of course plenty of gorgeous bright colours, you won't regret buying one of these.

Nothing says summer quite like a Great British picnic. Whether you like to go all out with disposable barbeques and Pimm's, or keep it simple with sandwiches and nibbles, there's just something about it that you can't beat. Now that lockdown is slowly easing and the weather is warming, many of us are probably going to be having even more picnics than usual this summer. So we thought we'd put together a little guide on all the things you might need so that all you need to add is the fun bit: food and drink!

Perfect Picnicware

Sturdy and easy to clean, the Emma Bridgewater melamine sets were made with picnics in mind. You can clunk them almost anywhere without having to worry about breakages, and their classic, beautifully British designs will compliment any view.

Something to Sit on

When it comes to the picnic blanket, we like to keep it stylish. Atlantic Blankets are an ideal choice here as not only will the ultra cosy wool provide a comfy alternative to scratchy grass, but the lovely designs will make you feel like you're having a luxury picnic in no time.

Stay Hydrated

As the weather heats up and we find ourselves out in the sunshine, it goes without saying that we need to drink plenty of water. So ensure the whole family is staying hydrated with a bottle for everyone. Frugi have fun designs for the kids, and for the adults these fabulous new bottles from Blue Eyed Sun are just gorgeous. Uniquely designed with practicality in mind, they're insulated so will be sure to keep your water cool all day. There's also Dopper bottles which are great for popping your favourite tipple in as they can be taken apart to become a little wine glass - perfect for the adults!

The Picnic Bag

Now, you'll be needing something to put all of these bottles and plates inside. We suggest a large Hinza bag for this as their strong, practical design means that they'd easily hold all of your bits and bobs. They're easy to wipe down in the case of any spillages, and their vibrant colours make them look splendid in the summertime. You can even buy a cover or inner bag to go with them for extra protection.

Keep the Bugs at Bay

Finally, this ones not an essential but might come in handy if you've got wasp haters in your family, or want to avoid mosquito bites if you're picnic is continuing into the evening. The Country Candle large fresh cut herbs candle will compliment the smell of the great outdoors whilst keeping those pesky little insects at bay so that you can keep your delicious food to yourself. Plus as the sun slowly goes down, it'll help provide a touch of ambience to your summer evening.

Though there are still restrictions on our life in other areas, isn't it wonderful knowing that we can at least enjoy being outside with the ones we love now? We hope this gives you inspiration for the many picnics we'll all probably be having this summer, and gets you excited for good times ahead!

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