We’ve selected some of our favourite designers, craftspeople, online retailers and independent brands to be scrutinised under the Desirable spotlight.  We ask them four simple questions – ‘Who are you?’, ‘What is your design or buying ethos?’, ‘What are your Christmas gift recommendations?’ and ‘What’s in your bag?’  (we’re very nosy).

So now, for your enjoyment, is one of our top jewellery shopping destinations online, Plush Jewellery!

Who is Plush Jewellery?

To answer that simply would be to say that Plush Jewellery is Allie (follow her on Twitter!) and Holly, but Plush Jewellery is equally the product of the jewellery designers we work with.

We have gorgeous jewellery from established names in contemporary jewellery design such as James Newman and Kimberley Selwood as well as limited edition pieces from small scale artisans such as Kate Gill and Dorothy Borland. Right now, we’re showing work from 2 dozen jewellery designers but we’re always looking for new design talent to join our ranks and we run schemes throughout the year to enable new designers to bring their work to a wider audience.

What is your buying ethos?

It’s got to be different. We don’t buy jewellery that you can find on every high street. We don’t show two designers whose work is similar, it’s not fair to the designers to do that. All of the jewellery we buy has to be finished to a very high standard, basically if we wouldn’t buy it and wear it, we won’t offer it for sale (and we are very fussy). Finally we buy from designers who are passionate about what they do; their enthusiasm shines through in their work.

What are Plush Jewellery’s Top 3 Gift Ideas for Christmas?

Just three? We love all of our jewellery (yes, we would say that) but if you’re making us just choose three then these are top of the list this year:

1. Kimberley Selwood Butterfly Effect Silver Cuff (shown above, £235 GBP). This is a stunning piece of jewellery, Kimberley cuts each of the butterflies and forms the cuff by hand. It is beautiful, feminine and completely wearable.
2. Chris Hawkins Corvid Crow Cufflinks with Dark Garnet Eyes (shown above, £240 GBP). Chris’ Corvid collection is new this winter, it is inspired by the obsession the Victorians had for collecting. These cufflinks are made from polished blackened silver and enchance any chaps cuffs.
3. Gemma Clarke Silver acorn cup on champagne pearls – (shown above, £70 GBP). Gemma’s pearls are popular with our customers. She joined us last Christmas under our New Designers scheme and has shown with us ever since. This necklace, featuring champagne pearls, sterling silver and 18ct gold plate is elegant and stylish.

And finally, Allie and Holly, what’s in your bag?

Allie: I’m going stand up and show my complete geekness here: I’ve only just got my hands on an iPhone 3Gs on o2 (shown above F, £745.89 GBP from Amazon) and it’s already changing the way I work with a wealth of apps that tie in with the things I do online.  I’ve used Moleskine Pocket Notebooks for a few years now (shown above B, Plain Cahier £3.96 GBP at Borders). They’re gorgeously tactile and the pocket size fits perfectly in a bag. I always go for the ruled version.  Finally the Montblanc Meisterstuck hommage a Frederic Chopin Platinum Line (shown above C, £235.00 GBP at Wheelers Luxury Gifts), which writes beautifully and feels gorgeous. It’s not available to buy online but can be found in most John Lewis stores or from Montblanc boutiques.

Holly:  I use Clinique lip gloss (in Air Kiss, shown above A, £13.00 GBP from Debenhams) because it has an spf factor and keeps your lips soft through out the day.  It also has a lovely understated colour with a beautiful shine.   I use the Montblanc Boheme roller ball pens (shown above D, £235.00 GBP at Wheelers Luxury Gifts) – they’re beautifully designed, and have a lovely shape and weight making it a pleasure to write with – even if it’s a cheque! It was given to me as a gift and has very happy memories attached to it hence I never leave home without it in my handbag.  I also carry Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream (shown above E, £18.00 GBP at Amazon). When my hands are feeling a little unloved this is the product I reach for. It’s the ideal handbag size for use on the go. The cream is quite rich so you don’t need a lot but doesn’t leave your hands feeling greasy. It also means that it lasts along time.

Thanks so much for letting us have a nose through your bag and your store Allie and Holly! To check out Plush Jewellery for yourselves, click here!

We’ve selected some of our favourite designers, craftspeople, online retailers and independent brands to be scrutinised under the Desirable spotlight.  We ask them four simple questions – ‘Who are you?’, ‘What is your design or buying ethos?’, ‘What are your Christmas gift recommendations?’ and ‘What’s in your bag?’  (we’re very nosy).

So now, for your enjoyment, is one of our favourite independent crafty brands, Bonbi Forest:

Who is ‘Bonbi Forest’?

Bonbi Forest is me Lee May Foster, an artist and maker of things who lives by the sea in deepest, darkest Cornwall.

What is Bonbi Forest’s design ethos?

My screen print and jewellery designs have their roots in my drawings and paintings which feature many a critter, creature and scape of trees, sea and sky. In my work I like to explore patterns, rhythms and stories, and the connection of people to nature. The wild world shapes us and we shape it. In my work you will see that I like shapes and I like colours.

What are Bonbi Forest’s Top 3 Gift Ideas for Christmas?

My raw edged cotton Owl Pattern scarves (£12.00 GBP each, shown above in pink, yellow, olive green and blue) are a great gift and have been popular with teens and older ladies alike. It’s all about how you wear it – wrapped around and around again, or lovely and long…they are super for adding some pattern detail and colour to the winter days and are lightweight enough to see you through into spring and as a cover-up in summer…and who doesn’t like an owl in a pattern anyway? Most people like owls and patterns.

Indie gifts for men are a little harder to find than those for the ladies, and my mens tees have always been popular as gifts. I actually started making them when I couldn’t think what to get the men in my life and they are all still asking if they can have more. Favorites have been the Howling on the Wind tee (£20.00 GBP, shown above), Alphabet Owl and The Butterfly Catchers…

Lastly, if anyone wants to get me a present for Christmas I am coveting with a big heart these necklaces ($175.00 USD, shown above) from American jewellery designer Laura Lombardi (in fact anything from her Etsy shop would be awesome).

Lastly, what’s in your bag?

The most important things that I carry everywhere are my sketch/notebook and a bunch of pens. I don’t have a preferred notebook (the Desirable team love this V&A one available at Debenhams, £8.00 GBP, shown above) but I love the Staedtler pens (£9.99 GBP from Amazon.co.uk, shown above) for everyday use as they come in a crush proof pack of different colours so they are ideal for scibbling ideas and kicking about in my Tardis of a handbag…

I always have a hand cream with me. I’m pretty fickle as to exactly which tube or pot I happen to have in my bag, but my favorite all time brand (for all skincare) is Liz Earle (Heavenly Hands Pack, £14.25 GBP, shown above) It’s wonderful stuff and the active ingredients are all natural, which makes sense seeing as we are natural beings…

I’m also growing out my fringe at the moment and some days my flyaway mane just won’t keep out of my eyes (not good when I’m trying to make pictures) so I also always have some grips with me. They are a little boring though and I like to add a little cuteness and wear a big silver snap hair clip on top of them (try these, available at Accessorize, £6.00 GBP, shown above).

Apart from those things I usually just have a bottle of water, my old phone, a hairbrush (the Desirable team like this one by Trevor Sorbie, £5.00 GBP at Boots, shown above) and an apple in there (and loads of old receipts!)…

Thanks so much for letting us have a nose through your bag and your range, Lee May!  To check out Bonbi Forest, click here!

I love Strawberry Fool, it’s one of my new favourite stores and it has loads of girly gift ideas for us fashionable women!  Check these out:

A: Cupcake Trinket Box,* £19.99 GBP

B: Bootwarmers,* £12.99 GBP

C: Long Plaque – Fairy Cakes,* £14.99 GBP

D: Wall Hook – Love,* £14.99 GBP

E: Recipe File,* £15.99 GBP

F: Spotty Umbrella in Pink,* £19.99 GBP

G: Strawberry Shopper,* £3.99 GBP

Welcome to yet another Friday Fry-Up, where we tell you exactly what’s been making Desirable HQ rock ‘n roll over the last week.

The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History in the White House: Having heard this book reviewed on the radio earlier this week and seen some of the excerpts (including a great bit about Boris Yeltsin drunk outside the White House trying to flag down a cab so that he could find some pizza… at 2am) our interest has been well and truly piqued!  We’re adding this to our Christmas wishlist!  By Taylor Branch, available from Amazon, £11.50 GBP (Pictured above, A.).

Rosanna Crockery: If you haven’t come across Rosanna crockery before, where the hell have you been?!  After falling in love with the pale blue and chocolate brown ‘Hot Chocolate’ range a few years ago and purchasing several pieces, we can verify that not only are the designs fantastic but the crockery itself is great – solid and big enough to hold a decent serving.  We’re loving the J’adore Shoes espresso set (at Amazon, £24.95 GBP, pictured above, B) and the Roses are Blue tea pot (from Amazon, £19.95 GBP, pictured above E).

The Debenhams Christmas TV Ad: Evocative of those glamorous parties you wish you could get an invite to, the Debenhams Christmas TV spot is smooth, sophisticated, and perfectly demonstrates their party season ranges.  We love the Crystal Peardrop Earrings by Mood (£10.00 GBP, pictured above, C), the Metallic Grey Lazer Cut Out Shoes by Jasper Conran (£40.00 GBP, pictured above, F) and the Gold Glittery Minaudiere Clutch by Star by Julien MacDonald (£30.00 GBP, pictured above, H).

Spooks: Hooray!  The new season of Spooks has started, with Ros, Harry and Lucas keeping the world safe from bad guys with nuclear weapons (for some reason it always seems to be the Russians? I thought the Cold War was over…?!).  We love the fast pace, the clever plot lines and the fact that there’s something for everyone (and by everyone we mean the lovely Richard Armitage for the ladies and the gorgeous Hermione Norris for the guys, pictured above, G).  On BBC, Wednesdays at 9pm.

Cocktail Rings at Miss Selfridge: See the Christmas season out in style with the gorgeous cocktail rings available at Miss Selfridge at the moment.  We couldn’t go past the Flower with Black Beads Ring (pictured above, D, £6.00 GBP), we’re suckers for a nice flower!

Spotty Button has only come to my attention recently and I’m wishing I knew about the store sooner – how many birthdays would have been made easier with this collection:

A: Cream Ceramic Cake Stand, £24.95 GBP

B: Crochet Ladybird & Bee Food Cover, £6.75 GBP

C: Fabric Bound Notebook, £5.15 GBP

D: Green Retro Marmite Storage Tin, £4.95 GBP

E: Large Union Jack Dog Doorstop, £27.45 GBP

F: ‘Housework… why bother?!’ Magnet, £1.95 GBP

G: Watermelon Bath Sponge, £2.55 GBP

H: Vintage ‘Pharmacie’ First Aid Tin, £13.95 GBP

Welcome to yet another Friday Fry-Up, where we tell you exactly what’s been making Desirable HQ rock ‘n roll over the last week.

New BBC Adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma: We caught the replay of the first episode of BBC’s newest Austen adaptation, ‘Emma’, and found ourselves enthralled – not just by the fantastic costumes and set design, but by the luminous Romola Garai (as Emma Woodhouse, pictured above A) and the dashing Jonny Lee Miller (as Mr Knightley).  If you want to catch up you can watch online (iPlayer), or you can read the book – available from Borders, £4.49 GBP (pictured above, B).

Jay Z’s new album ‘The Blueprint 3′: We’ve been rocking out all week to Jay-Z’s newest release, entitled Blueprint 3 (pictured above, C).  Featuring tracks such as ‘Empire State of Mind’ (with Alicia Keys) and ‘Run This Town’ (with Kanye and Rihanna), it’s like Jay Z never left us… All that’s missing is a duet with his wife, the glorious Beyonce.  Otherwise this is the perfect album for revving up for a night out.  Available from Borders, £8.97 GBP.

Alexandra Burke’s Makeover: Dayum girl!  Not only does your new single, ‘Bad Boys’, absolutely rock, but you are looking mighty fine!  Love the hair, the sequins and the footwear in the new vid and we can’t wait for the album (pictured above, D), entitled ‘Overcome’, out on the 19th of October.  Available from Borders, £8.97 GBP.

Reiss Autumn/Winter Footwear: Studs? Check. Quilting? Check.  Sky-high heels? Check.  We love Reiss regardless, but their A/W 2009 footwear is absolutely lush.  Our faves are the Chrissie Shoes, £149.00 GBP (pictured above, F), the Denning Shoes, £149.00 GBP (pictured above, E), and the Hart Ankle Boots, £179.00 GBP (pictured above, G).  Can you pick the runway influence?

Uggs for A/W Season: We’re sick of uncomfortable boots, towering heels and cold toes.  We know they can be seen as a bit of a fashion faux pas, but for shuffling around the house and up to the corner shop for milk and a newspaper, you can’t go past Uggs.  Our faves, available from Office, are the Bailey Button Boot in Chestnut, £160.00 GBP (pictured above, H) and the Cardy Knitted Boot in Cream, £125.00 GBP (pictured above, I).

Yet again, I find myself returning to the V&A for inspiration.  Quirky homewares? Check.  Artistic ceramics that are gorgeous and practical? Check.  Beautiful jewellery and accessories? Check check.  What more could a girl want?

A: Contemporary Yellow Chinese Teapot, £60.00 GBP

B: Cobalt Wreath Bracelet, £525.00 GBP by Bijoux Heart

C: Ark Print, £35.00 GBP

D: Turban Jewel Paisley Decoration, £6.00 GBP

E: Elephant Teacosy, £45.00 GBP

F: Lady Flying a Kite Mug, £10.00 GBP

G: Blue Ceramic Flower Necklace, £125.00 GBP by Maria Diana

H: Arts & Crafts Peacock Brooch/Necklace, £70.00 GBP

I: Kids Frog Face Bowl, £12.00 GBP

J: Bug Cufflinks, £200.00 GBP by Roger Doyle

K: Travel Journal, £15.00 GBP

L: Jade Pinch Vase, £60.00 GBP by Jonathan Adler