Badminton Horse Trials 2008

"Badminton" takes place in May each year in the park of Badminton House the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire. The event started in 1949 and the current course designer and director is Hugh Thomas.

The cross country day at Badminton attracts crowds of up to a quarter of a million, which are the largest for any paid-entry sport event in the United Kingdom.

This year's event took place from 1 - 4 May and once again we were there with a fabulous display of silver and gold jewellery. For the past 15 years we have been promoting our individual jewellery designs within the popular 'Rural Crafts Association' shopping marquee. We have established a strong following at Badminton and we thank our regular customers who made a point of seeing us again this year!

Nicolas Touzaint, who regained the European Championship from Zara Phillips last year, yesterday became the first Frenchman to win the Mitsubishi Badminton International Horse Trials.

Touzaint, riding 'Hildago de l'Ile', was ninth after the dressage but took the lead in Saturday's terrific cross-country, and managed to hold off Lucy Wiegersma on Shaabrak in yesterday's show jumping, both of them having one fence down. For British rider Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak it was so close. A clear show-jumping round would have brought her victory. It was not to be. Third place went to William Fox-Pitt's 'Ballincoola'.

The French National Anthem was played at Badminton for the first time. "I never for one moment imagined I could win" said Nicolas. "Many have doubted this horse but this shows she is a true Champion."

Back from Thailand!

Having just returned from the Gem Fair in Bangkok, followed by a two week holiday in southern Thailand, we are pleased to report a successful trip! We managed to establish several excellent contacts for gemstones - particularly sapphires and rubies.

The holiday we organised after our visit to Bangkok proved to be fantastic too! We flew to Krabi in the south and took a longtail boat to the isolated and peaceful resort at Railay Beach and then went on to the Phi Phi Islands not far from Maya Bay (film location of 'The Beach'). The movie says it all!

Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair 2008

The Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair has established itself as one of the world’s favourite gem and jewellery destinations for top gem and jewellery professionals. Thailand is also one of the world’s foremost cutting and trading centres for diamonds and coloured gemstones making the Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair an excellent world class venue to acquire the best gemstones at the best prices for our new designs in 2008!

Bangkok is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and exotic cities in the world to host a gem and jewellery fair with every modern convenience nestled right in alongside ancient Thai culture. Wendy and I shall be attending the show this year and we leave for Bangkok on 23 February. Our visit to the Gem Fair will be followed up with a much anticipated holiday to the south coast where we shall be staying at the Railey Beach Resort - not far from the famously scenic spot featured in Leonardo di Caprio's film "The Beach".

The grand opening of the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair in its new location, the 80,000 square meter exhibition center at IMPACT Challenger, is to be presided over by Dr. Somkid Jatusipitak, Minister of Commerce. This important event is especially auspicious as it follows the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne, which was celebrated in grand style in June as Thai people paid homage to the King who is highly revered for his untiring efforts to improve the lives of his loyal subjects by means of his travel and study throughout the Kingdom. A special exhibit, ‘Incredible Thai Jewels’ has been organized in honour of His Majesty.

Full report and photos when we get back!

Mornington Crescent

Burghley House Christmas

Party 2007

Despite the pretty poor weather conditions experienced at Burghley last week, we had a generally good show and our fellow craft workers were all in good form!

Trevor Sears organised an RCA Christmas party with cheese and wine and some great entertainment. 'Volunteers' were encouraged to participate in a musical recital of Christmas carols - Ron on the piano of course! The penny whistles added to the fun and nobody seemed to mind looking so utterly ridiculous.

Having imbibed a fair amount of alcohol our merry crew went on to organise a game of "Mornington Crescent" and, for those who have never played the game, click on the video below .... you'll be none the wiser however!

It only remains for me to wish all our friends, customers and readers a very happy Christmas and every success in the new year!

Burghley House Xmas Show

Crafts for Christmas

6th-9th December 2007

Burghley House
Stamford
Lincolnshire

TICKET HOTLINE
01428 684494

We visit the charming village of Stamford twice a year to exhibit our silver and gold jewellery - both for the world renowned Burghley Horse Trials in September and then again for the forthcoming Crafts for Christmas shopping extravaganza in December. Once again we will be showing some of our new and exciting designs like the fabulous art deco style diamond ring illustrated below:

Click on image for full details

Burghley House is a grand 16th-century English country house near the town of Stamford in Lincolnshire. Its park was laid out by Capability Brown.

The Lincolnshire county boundary crosses between the town and the house which, in fact, is located in the ancient Soke of Peterborough, once considered part of Northamptonshire, but now in Cambridgeshire; and is administered as part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority.

Burghley was built for Sir William Cecil, later 1st Baron Burghley, who was Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587 and modelled on the privy lodgings of Richmond Palace. It was subsequently the residence of his descendants, the Earls and Marquesses of Exeter, and is now owned by a charitable trust established by the family. Lady Victoria Leatham, a daughter of the 6th Marquess and a well-known antiques expert and television personality lives in the House as a Director of the Trust.

Never been to Burghley House? That may be true for some but you are likely to have seen far more of this fabulous property than you realise! It has been featured in several box office hit films and BBC productions including The Da Vinci Code and Pride & Prejudice. To find out more about the house click the play button on the film provided below:

Naturally we look forward to meeting new and existing customers at this our last Christmas Show of the year!