Hot off the press this month is….Jane Means to launch first collection of Gift Wrap on Live TV. Jane will be live on Create and Craft TV on Tuesday 14 th March at 7pm UK time and we can’t tell you how excited we are at Wrapping HQ

Ribbon and wrap by Jane Means

With a love of stripes and florals (Jane used to be a florist), the collection has been designed with these elements in mind.

Jane has been a designer herself for over 12 years and put the collection together , with help from graphic designer Leona Baldwin at Fox and Lark

Ribbons and wrap by Jane Means

Our new designs

The 4 designs are unique as they are cleverly designed so you can get up to 6 different looks with a single sheet, using Jane’s clever techniques.

The papers are reversible and printed in the UK on high quality paper. We cannot wait to start using them on our Gift Wrapping Courses

Jane says “I’m delighted to be launching this first ever collection. For years I have been thinking about designing my own gift wrap but felt the market was already flooded with Gift Wrap.

It was only when I had that lightbulb moment when I realised I’d designed something unique, that I decided the time was right”

Ribbons and wrap by Jane Means

She adds “The papers have been designed to compliment the ribbon collections and are suitable for occasions including birthday, anniversaries and weddings. For the last six months there have been many tweaks and amendments in her design studio, and now the team are busy with photoshoots and styling projects. It’s a very exciting time”

The collection will be available exclusively through Create and Craft from Tuesday 14th March, and will be available to wholesale customers at the end of March

Ribbons and wrap by Jane Means

Students attending a Jane Means Course will gain valuable tips when using the unique papers and be able to buy the collection on the day

Share your ideas

We would love to see you Gift wrapping using our new gift wrap papers so please ensure that you tag us in to your Social Media with #JaneMeans on Instagram and Twitter

Giveaway

You will also have a chance to win some giveaways next week so keep an eye on our Facebook Page 

Happy Wrapping!

Jane and Team x

One of the main questions I am asked on my gift wrapping courses, is how to tackle the gift wrapping of awkward shapes. To many it fills them with horror yet I believe wrapping awkward shapes is easier than a square box, which is more strict with measurements.

You may have bought a shirt or scarf in a smart boutique and have wondered how they wrap it without using any tape.  They have done it so quickly that you’ve missed how they’ve done it.

Today I’ve picked a fabric apron, and there are numerous ways you can wrap this but I’m going to share a quick and easy technique.

Firstly fold it into a nice compact square or oblong, to keep it neat I tend to fold from the edges into the centre, so you end up with no visible hems or ties.
You will need an enough tissue to go around the object and some excess tissue at both sides. I have chosen contrasting tissue  in white and burgundy.

Fold one of the end over so it forms a decorative band. Place this band in the centre of the gift and tuck in the other edge underneath, I refer to this as wrapping backwards!

It may also help if you initially use double sided tape to hold everything in place although it’s good if you can get in to the habit of doing this freehand with practice.   For the sides you will now tuck the decorative band underneath the object so it resembles a pillow case.

Finally you will tuck in the remaining side in on itself so you end up with a neat finish.  You can also lightly dust the tissue with your favourite fragrance or room spray to add to the senses.  When I’m wrapping fabric items I also like to play safe and have a layer of white tissue as the base colour.

The tissue wrapped creation then can be placed in a box, gift bag, or decorated with ribbon and embellishments.  You could also make a tissue pom pom with any remaining tissue.

I am also delighted to announce that I have landed a Worldwide book deal, and my hardback book ‘giftwrapped’ will be launched in November 2014, so if you love gift wrapping and want to pick up lots of techniques this is the perfect book for you.

Happy wrapping folks!

We’re delighted to be adding a Haberdashery Closet in the capital.  We are often mobbed at our London shows including Top Drawer, Spirit Fairs and Country Living

For years I have been asked where is your London shop, and after opening our doors in Lincoln in 2012, I always wanted the next quirky outlet to be in London, but it had to be the right place and not necessarily a permanent fixture on a busy High Street.  Last year we starting stocking our ribbons at Clifton Nurseries which is London’s Oldest Nursery over 160 years old. (Images courtesy on Flowerona)

It’s one of my favourite places in Central London, and you enter this hidden oasis in Little Venice with flowers, topiary, decorations, furniture and gardens.

You will also see Matthew Wilson wandering around there who is not only the presenter on the Channel 4 programme ‘The Landscape Man’ and a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time, but also the Managing Director of Clifton Nurseries. (Image courtesy of Achica Living )

Recently I have been doing several photo shoots there and have done gift wrapping services and demonstrations in the Quince Tree Cafe there which have been very popular.

They have regular parties, launches and events at Clifton Nurseries, and even Jimmy Choo had an event there last year filled with celebrities.

Luckily I live nearby and love to pop to the cafe (a sunny conservatory surrounded by flowers) for a spot of brunch outside before the buzzing lunch crowd arrive.

The Ribbon and Wrapping Room at Clifton Nurseries will be  a pop up shop through the summer, stocked full of ribbons, haberdashery, trimmings, bespoke papers, decorations, gift boxes and bags and other gift wrapping accessories.

We will also be offering complimentary gift wrapping services on selective days, and be hosting several events during the summer months.

Having worked as a florist, we will be in our element surrounded by flowers and Jane Means at Clifton Nurseries will be opening it’s doors on April 25th and will be open from 11am-3pm every Thursday to Sunday throughout the summer.

We are also looking for some friendly part time staff to cover this opportunity and would love to hear from you if you’re interested in joining us. Just email us at info@janemeans.co.uk  (Please do not use the comments box or contact Clifton Nurseries)

We will keep you updated with events, sale days and news about our exciting London pop up shop through our Facebook Page and Twitter and look forward to seeing you there!

Even if you’re visiting the capital and need to escape from the hustle and bustle, this is the perfect place to escape to stock up on ribbons and flowers and enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea with your favourite book!

Jane Means at Clifton Nurseries, 5A Clifton Villas, London W9 2PH, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7289 6851.
If you have any queries please contact us at info@janemeans.co.u

Visit the Quince Tree Cafe at Clifton Nurseries

I’m really looking forward to being involved in the new stationery room launch at Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly next week.

Our ribbons are stocked in the store and I will be gift wrapping live in their revamped stationery room on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th April.

 

One of my favourite haunts is Clifton Nurseries close to the Little Venice Canals in the heart of London.

Despite being in Central London, you feel like you’re tucked away in a unique oasis and it’s been a hidden gem since the mid 19th century.

Last week I was there doing a photo shoot and had to wrap some plants, which ended up being sold very quickly afterwards, so it made sense to squeeze in a quick wrapping service in time for Mother’s Day.

The Spring Gift Wrapping Event will be taking place on Friday 28th March from 11am-2pm, just prior to Mothering Sunday.

Whether it’s a Miniature Rose or a French Lavender for a birthday, Mothers Day or a housewarming present, your plants will be complimentary wrapped while you wait.

The gift wrapping service will be from 11am – 2pm so you can enjoy a coffee with friends or lunch in the buzzing Quince Tree Cafe on site, whilst your wrapping is being done (I can recommend their cakes and biscuits!)

Even if you don’t make the event, this hidden gem is definitely worth a visit!

Clifton Nurseries Ltd, 5A, Clifton Villas, London, W9 2PH
0207 289 6851

Monday to Saturday – 09:00 to 18:00
Every Sunday (Except Easter Sunday, Closed by Law): 11:00 to 17:00