Handmade cotton string balls.

     

                                                     4. Handmade Cotton String Lighting

The Pontcanna set are feeling pretty smug. Voted one of the top 10 places to live in the U.K. in the Sunday Times 2013 guide, Pontcannarites have been enjoying the fare of sumptuous eateries - Bullys, Oscars and Fish at 85, as well as cool pubs with a retro vibe such as the New Conway, for quite some time.
What the Times failed to mention however is their best kept secret in this leafy green suburb of Cardiff- their very own Welsh 'Elton and David"aka Dylan and Glyn. Like their English counterparts, D and G as they are known locally, KNOW how to put on a party.
'See you at D and G's."
'You Have to be at D and G's.'
' What! You haven't got an invite to D and G's?' is the general chat on the streets weeks before the big night.
The venue?
Their uber cool, sophisticated,converted loft apartment in a leafy tree lined side street off Cathedral Road, with roof top views of the Millennium Stadium.
And the parties?
What can one say?
Quite simply.
Legendary.

By day, Dylan coiffures chewed, matted messes into divine creations on the Bay.
'My God dahling! You haven't been seen out looking like THAT have you?"
Within 2 hours of Dylan working his magic, his client's finished do draws gasps from admirers as she leaves the salon knowing she has been fortunate enough to have Dylan's talented fingers touch her scalp.

And this is key for D.

It's all about  - Making an Entrance,

                                     'This isn't a dress rehearsal dahling....so LIVE it!'

It seemed only fitting then that D and G, when planning their latest annual summer bash for the Pontcanna glitterati should look to Bodlon for inspiration. The theme? A loved up nostalgic seventies vibe, platform shoes and hipster flares, flowing coloured silks and a Boho feel, with a definitive air of Lauren Hutton sophistication.
A week before the big event, the boys enjoy a Sunday of domestic bliss. After taking pug Mr. Darcy once round the block in Llandaff fields, Glyn finds the mini iPad and taps on his play list. The Sonos system Dylan bought him for their 5th Anniversary last year is his fave gadget of the moment.Sister Sledge's 'We are Family' plays throughout the apartment. Glyn rolls up his sleeves, puts on his Melys Mows Mwy( Sweet Give Me More) Apron from Bodlon and begins creating his own heavenly mouthwatering offerings to test out before the event. Dylan meanwhile pours then both a glass of Tattinger and begins browsing Bodlon online on his retina display Mac at his desk, while perched on his walnut Robin Day Chair.
Within minutes D is heard to exclaim,

                    'That's it Gee! I've found the very thing to give this gig pizzazz!'

After all the preparation and hard work, the night of all nights finally arrives with a dazzling array of guests making their way to the event of the season.It makes the Oscars look positively lame. As the two fashionistas greet their guests to Abba's Dancing Queen amidst a cornucopia of coloured lighting, G turns to D doe eyed and gushes,

"Oh! Dylan! Your balls are AMAAAAAZZZZING!!!!!!!

Cue Bowie  'The Boys Keep Swinging."

Let the show begin.

Hultquist heart shaped silver Bracelet with black cord

3.Hultquist heart shaped silver Bracelet with black cord bracelet

Hultquist girl oozes style from the minute she falls out of bed in the morning in her Toast cream and grey  flannel pj's. Her tousled, jet coloured mane hides her porcelain skin and delicate features as she sits sipping chamomile tea, her fragile elbows resting on the rustic oak worktop next to the Aga. Her slate grey eyes have a faraway stare. She lives at boarding school in term time, 'neath the dreaming spires of the leafy suburbs of North Oxford. Daddy works abroad while Mummy holds the fort at home.Though born in England, she sees herself fiercely Celtic - Welsh to be precise on account of a Welsh mother. Besides holidays are spent in the homeland. Her choice of jewellery appeals to her Bohemian Celtic heritage, despite the jewellery's Nordic background. This is of no consequence to Hultquist girl. The jewellery is timeless,unique,Boho, transcending borders of time and place.Her Heart and Black Cord Bracelet is just perfect for this Welsh exile beauty when roaming the deserted West Wales beaches or the 'Heron priested shore' waiting for her Bard to share philosophical discussions in ancient castles by day and cosy log fired pubs at night. To this end, she applies for a place at Aber to read Philosophy and Religious studies. While there, she'll attend Welsh conversation evening classes with her Welsh beau,who will propose to her after three days and marry her within a week of her graduation. They'll live happily ever after of course -the stuff of fairytales do come true for the Hultquist - Bodlon girl.

BB Bear

                                                              2.Welsh speaking Teddy
Calling all Welsh Mammys!
This is the definitive gadget to get ahead for the Welsh helicopter parent.
Elsewhere in the U.K. enrolling little Flora and Hugo into Mandarin class cannot come soon enough, but for  Welsh speaking educated Mammys, this Welsh speaking Teddy hits all the right buttons.
Designed by a fellow Celt, Irishman Adrian Devane from Moycullen , Co. Galway, this cuddly teddy reinforces the mother tongue to little  Esyllt, Mali ,Jac and Ioan with 33 familiar words in Welsh. While little Esyllt is learning to count to ten with Teddy's help, Welsh Mammy Ffion, a costume designer in her former life is now happily married to her graphic designer husband while up to her elbows in dirty nappies. School runs occupy her most days while she surfs the net before bed coveting the Lolfa( lounge) Sofa in Charcoal Grey from Attic 2. A loyal Joseph fan, no other shoe except Jon Ian will grace her petite feet. It's just as well then she's just finished renovating the family home in Cowbridge, the cultural and shopping centre of the universe - well , if you live in SouthWales anyway. It allows Welsh Mammy  to window shop in Cowbridge High Street  before popping in to Daisy and Jack's Emporium to make sure she hasn't missed out on the latest designer outfit that every well dressed one year old is wearing and spend some serious money.
 But, any Welsh speaking Teddy assigned to this family BEWARE!  He'll have  his work cut out, finding time to fit into this busy toddler's punishing schedule. Every waking hour is accounted for because it is never too soon to get ahead. In fact, Jac fach's Mammy had enrolled him into rugby classes the week before he was born. Well you didn't expect football did you? This IS Wales!!

Pobi Bodlon Bakes

                                                        
                                                           1. Pobi Bodlon Bakes

At last! A simply superb concoction of traditional Welsh recipes to rival any Mary Berry basic. These little Pobi (Bakes) take all the stress and effort out the preparation of home baking. Beautifully packaged, their appeal is attracting a growing eclectic mix.

Our first fan hails from Penarth ( pronounced P'naarth with a heavy nasal emphasis )a charming Victorian seaside haunt on the south coast next to Cardiff Bay. Actually Beti wasn't born here but moved when husband Idris  finished his 45 year stint with Barclays with a gold Omega and handshake in the days when they knew how to give you a good send off. Idris had always been a suit and tie man, but he was making the house look increasingly untidy these days with his growing attachment to green and brown cardis from Marks. If she wanted him fiddling about with the tomatoes in the greenhouse he was happy to oblige. Beti had things to do, hairdressers appointments to keep, pedicures to attend and a round of golf wouldn't go amiss. He always got under her feet if he was fiddling about in the house making a mess. He was better off outside with the corgi. The second Thursday of every month is a time when Idris keeps well clear as it is especially important for the house to be 'tidy' because this is the day Rev. Ifans calls for tea. He's particularly partial to Bara Brith - Beti's Bara Brith to be precise. While Rev. Ifans showers compliments in Beti's direction " there's moist and tasty isn't it ", he smacks his lips together savouring every morsel. Mari and Menna from Merched y Wawr ( The welsh version of the Women's Institute) look on with envy as they sip Earl Grey from Beti's deceased mother's pink and gold bone china tea cups. Beti smiles modestly, her Chanel red lipstick her daughter bought for Christmas 2000 feathering on her upper lip in the heat. This Ruth Madoc lookalike shifts uneasily in her champagne slipper chair in the front parlour.
As the grandfather clock tick- tocks reassuringly in the hall, Pobi sits silently and solidly on the black granite worktop in the kitchen, quietly confident in the knowledge that it's done a superb job in keeping Beti's cooking reputation intact.