Recommended

    Way back in May we had a couple of posts on Cornflower readers' recommendations, the inital one here and then a list of the links it generated here. As you'll see from a glance at them, all sorts of things got the readership's seal of approval, and we were also able to come up with a few suggestions for items that people were seeking.

    I thought it might be fun and useful to do another of these posts, especially as Christmas looms, so I'll start us off by recommending Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare whose products I've used for years - they do what they are designed to do, they are a pleasure to use, are reasonably priced and always come beautifully wrapped (and their Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion includes cornflower extract).

    Anyone else? Please recommend anything at all that you rate highly, and likewise, if you're particularly seeking a certain product or a supplier/source of something, let us know and someone may be able to help.

    Edited to add: in case you missed it the first time, how about the 44, Scotland Street tea towel? Or, on a related note, Kitchen Sink Dramas' tea towels and aprons.

Comments

[Lucille]

I can concur with the above. I have used Liz Earle products for a long time and have not found anything I like better.

[Ruth M.]

I love the Kitchen Sink designs, but I wish they were in linen instead of cotton. Which brings me to my real question: Am I just looking in the wrong places or has the ordinary linen tea towel gone missing? Used to be, every souvenir gift shop had them, printed with castles and calendars and whatnot. Mine are threadbare and holey, but I'm having trouble finding replacements.

[rj]

Peppermint bark from Williams Sonoma. I'm afraid I alternate years buying it, because it seems so expensive (and so likely to go right to my hips).

Free thing that I love to do -- start at mosaics. There's a great one at the Baltimore Museum of Art: http://www.artbma.org/collection/overview/mosaics.html

Meanwhile, I'm searching for a pair of walking/jogging shoes for small but wide feet. (US size 5.5 wide. I may end up shopping in the teen shoe department again.)

[Dark Puss]

No idea if you are looking in the wrong places, however there are a plethora of on-line retailers who offer linen, for example the Ulster Weavers, Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen and for vintage linen try Beyond France Ltd.

Hope this helps you, DP

[Dark Puss]

Dark Puss doesn't use makeup for a whole variety of reasons (fur for e.g.) but he knows some very glamorous models who do. In the spirt of passing on information, but with the warning that I can't comment from personal experience, I've been hearing positive things about the Soap and Glory cosmetic range. Don't listen to me of course, but here's a quote from that most lovely of vintage models, Fleur de Guerre:

We all had different favourites, but I will be getting good use from the Show Good Face foundation (for shoots when I'm not using my mineral one), the It's About Prime eyeshadow primer and brown/nude Lid Stuff palette, and the Arch de Triomphe eyebrow duo. Oh, and the Kick Ass Concealer. Seriously, try them out, gals. They're in all good Boots stores now.

[Maggie Graham]

Ulster Weavers do beautiful linen tea towels. I got mine in our local kitchen shop and a range of (new) festive ones in Shelter charity shop.

[Ruth M]

That encomium is enough to make me start wearing makeup! Do you suppose it will make me tall and willowy as well?

[Ruth M]

Thanks, DP. Ulster Weavers is the real deal. Of course, it would handier if it were on my side of the Atlantic. Thank goodness for air express.

[Dark Puss]

I don't see why not!

[Dark Puss]

Try North Face, as far as I can see their Hedgehog GTX and Vindicator II GTX ranges goes down to your size.

[Ros]

I am not really a make up person but I have fallen hard for Benefit Posietint (also available in a different shade called Benetint). I use it on my cheeks and lips and I love how easy it is to blend well and how subtle but significant its effect is. It's expensive but given that it's the only make up I use regularly, I think it's worth it.

[oxslip]

I have come late to Liz Earle having used lots of me-too products over the years, but like the real thing which I got with my Vogue subscription much more - also Bobbi Brown, which I experimented with after your last recommendation and loved. No scary orange women on the counter was a big bonus.
Have you seen the maps produced by Herb Lester? I love them, they are beautifully designed and make great presents, I haven't tried navigating with mine yet but they look reasonable topographically too
http://www.herblester.com/

[Cornflower]

That's good to hear, Lucille.

[Cornflower]

The maps look wonderful! I hope they'll do one for Edinburgh soon (as I see that place in the west has been covered ...)