With the Christmas and New Year madness, we haven’t kept up to date with the press and design news. BUT, it is February and we can’t use that excuse for much longer. Here is a little feature in the January issue of House & Gardens for starters.

Here is one of our new cover designs. ‘Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World’ is creating a bit of a buzz in the media at the moment and you might have seen it on Newsnight last week. We’ll leave you to decide which camp you’re in.

We’re on the look out for a new member of staff and have placed a tiny ad in the local press. It might be so small that it is illegible, so thought I’d say a little bit more about the position here.

Essentially we’d like an extra pair of hands to help with the day-to-day ‘office’ side of things. We don’t expect you to create artworks or have screen printing expertise, that bit is happily taken care of by Jane and David but we would like someone who:

- can handle our screen prints with love and care whilst packaging them up for our customers
- is upbeat and happy to chat to our customers and answer e-mail enquiries
- is (preferably) familiar with press liaison, magazines and online design blogs
- is organised and has experience of accounting and office administration
- has proficient computer skills and perhaps knowledge of retail systems and processes
- has an interest in culture, design and interiors
- is happy to roll up their sleeves and muck in

We’d like someone asap for this part-time position which is based in Hitchin. We’re happy to discuss salary and hours when we find the right person.

Please send a brief covering e-mail and your CV to work@boldandnoble.com by 21/01/10 if this position interests you.

I need some Northern soul dance moves if I’m going to keep warm today – the studio is pretty chilly!

Thanks for the crazy Christmas rush. We’ll mostly be wearing slippers and wellies now and hope you get to put your feet up too! We’re back in the studio on the 4th January and will be dispatching orders promptly on our return. Lots of love and best wishes for the new year –MWAH!

I had forgotten all about this genius Victoria Wood sketch until it was repeated on the telly the other night. She was a family favourite when I was growing up and it still makes me weep with tears – I guarantee you’ll be doubled up!

A Christmas baby, little Elodie Grace joins the Sussex clan – just fantastic!

All orders can be sent on a next day service up until 3pm on the 22nd December – which means you’ll have your pressies in time for the big day. Just call me (Jane) on 07726 714 924 if you’re worried about things getting there on time – we have plan Bs and Cs!

… I’d want to raise my young here. These elegant, spherical nesting places are beautiful and practical. I’m just picking out some top buys from our friends at the online boutique Caroline McGrath, they have some wonderful titbits for christmas gifts! Think the soldier egg cup is very cute too, plastic soldiers protect the egg from the greedy bread soldiers – great idea!

We’ve been collaborating. Fantastic fashion and homeware shop Foundation approached us to design their shopping bags and packaging for a range of scented candles. Nice job! They’ve just launched a new area in their Cheltenham shop where they’ve mixed in clothing by British designers, such as Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Nicole Farhi etc., our Bold & Noble prints, furniture by Pinch, wallpapers by Deborah Bowness, plus other items such as Branksome pottery etc… And it is all British! We’re delighted to be rubbing shoulders with the noble designers of this land!