With the almost balmy days of late, we could easily have been forgiven for thinking that we had bypassed winter altogether down here in Cornwall and other parts of the UK. I think I was lulled in to a false sense of security by the unseasonal warmth over the last couple of months as I certainly wasn’t prepared for the wintry weather which arrived earlier this week! Although it is milder in this part of the country than elsewhere, the chilly breeze and wintry showers give me two exciting motives to don as many layers as possible. And boy have I plenty to choose from!
In the wings of our warehouse an abundance of warm sheepskin clothing and knits are patiently waiting to rescue us in such chilly times. Hooray! In fact, I’ve discovered that many of these can be found on the final clearance pages of our website and the Knitted Accessories section section in particular has grabbed my attention this morning. I’ve reassured myself that spending my hard earned on cash on winter accessories in January falls under the “essentials” category, and when they’re so drastically reduced, I’d feel a fool to ignore their beauty!
Here is a pick of my favourites…
First up, our Slouchy Cable Beanie, Cable Armwarmers and Cable Bootwarmers: An accessories set for £46 - that’s half the original price – bargain! I have just checked and as of this morning the silver and light grey options for each accessory are still available at half price. The cable design goes with everything and the armwarmers are brilliant if you prefer not to cover your hands completely, allowing you the freedom to wear them while doing fiddly tasks if you wish.
Made for us by Andrea Dunne, a textiles designer based in Brighton, this colourful set will add a touch of cheeriness to anyone’s winter wardrobe as well as keeping you snuggly & warm. Knitted from Geelong lambswool, the Sailor Beret and Sailor Scarf feel supremely comfortable as well (for the purity of this blog I feel it is vital that I try on everything I recommend; it’s a tough job but someone has to do it!)
If you love cashmere but tend to shy away because it costs more than other yarns, then this is the perfect opportunity to try it as our Cashmere Beret (white), Cashmere Bed Socks and Cashmere Woven Scarf are currently reduced by up to half price. They feel as luxurious as you might imagine and will complement your cold weather outfit effortlessly.
Is it snowing where you are? Are you wearing Celtic to keep warm? We would love to see your photos! Please post them to Facebook or Twitter.
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Walking through the warehouse this morning it was exciting to see that lots of our spring stock has now arrived ready for the busy season ahead. The shelves are stacked high with colourful scarves, gorgeous knits and wovens in fresh new shades. It’s a breezy day in Newquay today, which is making me look forward to the fresh spring days to come. In fact, my senses have been awakened with the wonderful scents of gorse and sea salt that’s travelling through the air. How I love living in Cornwall!
As well as this, I am of course also looking forward to seeing you, our customers, modelling pieces from our new season’s range. There are more gorgeous styles than ever before in our Spring collection (which is why we have given Spring 2012 a catalogue all of its own) so we hope that you will find plenty of pieces to complement your wardrobe this season.
I imagine that many of you will have had a chance to browse the new catalogue by now (if not, please click here to view it online) and perhaps you are looking for one key piece which will refresh your wardrobe. If so, I would personally like to recommend the gorgeous Collared Slouch.
I wore the Collared Slouch for the first time yesterday and I honestly didn’t want to take it off. I chose the Harbour shade to add some colour to my outfit (simple jeans and ballet pumps) and I am pleased to say that I received a number of compliments on the colour. I also love the Silver alternative and would happily buy both…
My favourite discovery of the top is the rolled edge detail on the cuffs and hem as for me they add a pretty, feminine touch. I also like how well the jumper fitted me, as while it is designed as a slouchy style, it allowed me a flattering silhouette which I find my jumpers too often forget. I wear size 10 jumpers and the small size was just right for me.
I also must add that the collar acted almost like a scarf for me, keeping my neck and décolletage warm but without that horrible constrictive feeling – perfect for spring! In fact, thinking about us moving into spring, the Geelong lambswool and angora mix of the jumper, really must have a mention as put against my skin the sensation was incredible; wonderfully soft and fabulously light weight. As you can no doubt tell, I am a fan!
You’ll be pleased to know that the Collared Slouch is in stock now and is already proving popular so if you’re interested I’d suggest you order soon...
What’s your stand-out item from our Spring collection? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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As many of you - our blog readers - will know, here at Celtic Sheepskin we pride ourselves on listening to and acting on customer feedback. We have a ‘reviews’ section on our website (there is a separate tab on each product page where you can view customers’ comments regarding a product) and we encourage customers to leave a review after purchasing our products so that we can take feedback on board to help us plan for forthcoming collections.
One comment that we hear from time to time is that you would like to see some of your favourite products available in more colours. Indeed when you have found a shape and style that you love, it makes a lot of sense to yearn for it in other complementary shades. So for Spring 2012 you might be pleased to know that we have introduced some of our best-sellers in more colour options. Today I thought I would make it really easy for you to spot them by giving you a brief roundup of some of the key pieces which have been introduced in new colours for Spring 2012…
Our Rib Panel Knit now comes in Cloud, a crisp, fresh hue which makes the rib detail stand out as much as the platinum colour from last season. I’m sure that this jumper will be a great seller for Spring due to its easy fit and relaxed style.
As one of our best sellers from Autumn/Winter, we have listened to your feedback and introduced our Supersoft Slouch Dress in this stunning new Denim shade which will refresh any wardrobe as you make the transition from winter to spring. Out of all the shades we offer in this dress this is my personal favourite.
Our Organic Cotton Henley now comes in Steel so you can layer up effortlessly with even more choice of colours.
Sticking with our jersey range, as well as being available in Steel, you can also now buy our Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Tee in a gorgeous navy striped design which will no doubt prove popular as we all start embracing the chance to dress patriotically in the run up to the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations (you could even add a red Skinny Scarf to channel this look perfectly!).
I could tell you about even more styles which are now available in additional colours but I won’t bombard you today! You will find details of all of the added colours in our new Spring 2012 catalogue which should be coming through your letterbox any time now, or you can view the whole collection online.
Would you like to see any of your favourite Celtic pieces in different colours? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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In Tuesday’s blog post I gave you a little taster of what’s to come in our brand new Spring catalogue which is going to be sent out from this week. For those of you who haven’t had a little look at the online version, this is what the front cover of the catalogue will look like...
Doesn’t Amelie look stunning? As our longstanding customers will know Amelie has been featured in our catalogues for quite a few years now; in fact she has played a part in every catalogue since “Autumn Winter 2008” nearly four years ago, making this her 10th appearance for Celtic Sheepskin!
During that time, our range has grown and grown and this season showcases a larger than ever range of knitwear and woven tops as well as our popular Easywear range which is ideal for this time of year when lots of layers are often required.
As your new Spring 2012 catalogue will shortly be with you, I thought I would ‘introduce’ you to the two other models who feature for the first time alongside Amelie;
Fanny is a French model who currently lives in New York (oh, the glamour!). During the photo shoot she commented how much she liked Cornwall having never been here before. She was very focused in front of the camera, so much so that she was caught out by oncoming waves more than once! Fanny loved our Boots and ended up buying a pair for herself to take with her on her travels to keep her feet warm…
Caroline was just as lovely to work with and took great interest in all of the outfits she wore for the shoot. She made the most of her surroundings particularly in Port Isaac where she took great joy in pointing out all the Doc Marten references! Caroline drew a lot of attention from passing tourists during the shoot – yes, we can see you…
To round up today’s blog post, here are a few more images of all three of our Spring 2012 models doing what they do best…
Once you have perused your new season catalogue, please feel free to let us know your thoughts about the new range on Facebook or Twitter. We would love to hear from you.
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As I mentioned in a blog post last week, last Saturday we had our staff Christmas party at the Kahuna Restaurant in Newquay (a big thank you to them for looking after us for the evening!) and I’m pleased to say that the delicious cocktails and yummy food went down very well indeed and well and the celebrations punctuated the festive season for us.
So with a new year now well and truly in full swing, our attentions are now being focused on preparations for the new Spring season. As those of you who subscribe to our newsletter will have found out on Sunday thanks to an exclusive preview, we are excited to announce that our Spring collection is now available to pre-order on our website! You might be thinking that with the cold weather this week, light spring layers are far from your mind but with the benefit of experience, we would strongly suggest taking a look to make sure that you don’t miss out on some of the key pieces for this Spring which are sure to sell out quickly!
The eagle-eyed among you might have spotted that we have called this the Spring collection rather than Spring/Summer as in previous years. The reason for this is that for the first time, the range for the warmer seasons is simply too extensive to feature in just one catalogue so we have split Spring/Summer in to two separate seasons and two catalogues – the Summer range will be available in a few months’ time.
So just for you, our blog readers, here is a little introduction to a few of our favourite spring layering pieces. I have specially selected pieces which will look and feel as great in the lead up to Spring as they will when it gets warmer...
This Knitted Tunic is a brilliant layering piece. It lends itself to being worn as a tunic with jeans over anything from a lightweight tee to a chunky rollneck.
This brand new Waterfall Cardigan is wonderfully soft and cosy which makes it a great option for this time of year (I think it works well with a belt) and of course it is the ideal weight for wearing during the spring. We predict this will be a big seller!
With Pippa Middleton being snapped wearing our Toscana Bodywarmer last week, our gilets have become even more popular than ever! While the Toscana Bodywarmer has sold out already, you can start the New Year with this gorgeous Reversible Toscana Gilet in a new shade of Nutmeg which is perfect for smartening up an outfit while keeping you warm.
Keep an eye out in the post for your Spring catalogue which is set to land on your doormat from later on this week. You can also view our Spring catalogue online by clicking here.
Let us know what you think of our new Spring collection on Facebook or Twitter.
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During the busy lead up to Christmas, our sewing machinists have been working very hard to make thousands of pairs of boots and slippers for you, our customers. So I thought it might be a good time to introduce you to Samm Mackay, our Sew Room Supervisor and find out a bit more about her…
When did you start working at Celtic Sheepskin?
I started working for Celtic Sheepskin in May 2007 so just over 41/2 years ago – wow, time has flown!
What do your day-to-day duties mainly consist of?
My day to day duties as Sew Room Supervisor consist of sewing and keeping up to date with all of the styles and sections of production involved in sewing our boots and slippers. I am also responsible for training new members of staff and making sure that the team is updated when we introduce new styles to the collection. As part of my role, I work to ensure quality control and efficient running throughout the sew room in order to produce stock to meet demand from our customers throughout the year.
What do you love most about your role?
My favourite element of my role is organising the sew room and working with the team as everyone is really lovely and work really hard to produce boots and slippers of the highest quality for our customers.
How long have you lived in Cornwall?
I was born in Cornwall and have lived here all my life.
What brought you here/what has kept you here?
The reason I have stayed in Cornwall is that I have always found it a beautiful place to live. Growing up in Cornwall I have spent many days on the beach and couldn't imagine not living by the sea. What could be better than spending days in such a relaxing part of the country with the wonderful backdrops that Cornwall has to offer?
How do you like to spend your spare time?
I spend most of my spare time socialising with my friends and with my boyfriend Ben, walking my dog on the beach or watching movies. I also love to bake and experiment quite often with different cake recipes.
If you could swap jobs with someone else in the company for the day, who would it be and why?
If I could swap jobs with someone for a day it would probably be Nick or Kath as, being our Directors, they oversee so many different parts of the company and I think it would be really interesting to learn more about how other departments and areas of the company work.
Which is your favourite item in the current winter collection, what would it be? It doesn’t have to be for you!
I love all of the Toscana coats and particularly the Hooded Toscana Jacket. It looks and feels so warm, snug and smart.
You’re hosting a fantasy dinner party and can invite 3 famous people to join you. Who would you invite and why?
First of all I would invite David Attenborough as I find him and his work so fascinating. I would also invite Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters as he is my favourite musician; he can play so many different instruments and also would have good stories to tell as he is friends with so many musical legends. Finally I would invite Michael McIntyre as I find him hilarious and he would certainly add a bit of comedy to the evening.
Finally, do you have one phrase that you like to live by?
“You only get back what you put in”. I wholeheartedly believe this to be true and always aim to give 100% to whatever I do.
Thank you Samm –great answers. Don’t forget there is an office full of willing ‘volunteers’ if you would like to test out your cakes!
The decorations might have been taken down for another year but here at Celtic HQ there is a tangible buzz in the air as we prepare for our Christmas party on Saturday night. We are always so busy in the lead up to Christmas so we wait until January and treat it as our reward :)
In true Christmas party spirit we will be dressing up in all our finery, in fact I will be embracing the chance to wear a dress and high heels which is a far cry from my usual wardrobe of jeans and sheepskin boots! As much as I enjoy the opportunity to dress up, I must admit I love the thought of slipping on my favourite Classic Boots once I’m out of my heels – true comfort at its best!
As you might imagine, here at Celtic we are all advocates and dedicated fans of our very own infamous sheepskin boots. On my travels around the offices and factory today I thought I would ask some of our staff members to show off their favourite boots for you, our blog readers. In case you’re on the look-out for a pair of our wonderful boots and can’t make your mind up, here are some of their choices which might help you decide;
Samm, our Sew Room Supervisor, particularly likes the Calf Height Button Boots because they are eye-catching and different to other styles, being made from distressed black sheepskin.
Our Graphic Designer Lauren’s favourite boots are these Celt Knee Boots. She particularly loves the knee-high length because it’s so versatile to wear up or turn down and of course how comfortable they are to wear. Charlotte, our HR Manager, loves wearing a pair of Toscana Boots because their sumptuous Toscana sheepskin cuffs smarten up even the most casual outfit.
Clare, Administrative Assistant, loves her Mocca Shortie Boots and it seems that Alfie quite likes them too! Clare likes that they go with everything and are so easy to slip on and off.
Hannah who is on work experience with us this week loves her calf-height Popper Boots, shown above in Spice. She likes to wear them in different ways to complement the style of her outfits, either with the poppers done up or undone with the sheepskin folded over.
There are plenty more styles to choose from, in fact there are 15 featured in our recent Winter catalogue. Which ones are you favourites? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
To view all of our Boots click here.
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Being 5th January already it might be a bit late but let me start by wishing you Happy New Year! I enjoyed a very restful break involving leisurely walks and copious amounts of food. I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating too.
The weather throughout the country this week has been causing havoc with strong winds, rain and snow in parts of the UK. Seeing the chilly temperatures and rainy forecast, I can’t help but daydream about escaping the dreary winter for a week or so in favour of some sunshine. Charlotte, our HR Manager made this wise decision and she is currently enjoying some sunshine in the Canaries – lucky lady!
If like Charlotte you are thinking of heading to warmer climes over the next couple of months, you might be thinking about updating your wardrobe with some pieces which will be suited to balmy temperatures.
If so, have you taken advantage of our biggest ever sale yet? We are offering up to 70% off a variety of styles so there is bound to be something for everyone! With offers as good as this, the stock won’t be around for long so make sure you grab your favourites while you can. As well as winter woollies and heavier layers, the sale also includes more lightweight pieces which would be perfect for some winter sunshine….
The Knitted Vest Top is a great item to pack in your winter sun suitcase as it looks wonderful over a bikini as a simple beach cover up or as a stylish evening top (over another vest if you don’t wish to flash too much flesh!).
The Trapeze Hem Top is wonderfully easy-to-wear top and being made from 100% cotton means it will keep you cool. The sleeves can be adjusted to suit the temperature as well (they are elbow-length at their longest).
Sticking with the supremely flattering trapeze style, the Trapeze Jumper Dress is the perfect dress for a warm day or balmy evening and looks particularly fabulous with bare legs. It can of course be layered up over jeans if you prefer.
If you are going away soon, I hope you have a lovely time (and I’m not envious at all..!). If you aren’t however, then hopefully the above suggestions will help you to prepare for the warmer weather in a few months’ time.
Are you going away on a winter holiday? If so, which of our sale items have caught your eye? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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