Sharing the Feeling...

Probably the BEST Christmas Card in the world. Ever.

2010-11-03T16:19:00.000Z

This Christmas, we've joined forces disability charity Kith & Kids to offer you the ultimate ethical Christmas card. Packs of 6 cards and co-ordinating envelopes cost £10. Kith & Kids will receive £3.50 from each pack of cards. 100% of the money will provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Handstamped silver angel with glittery wand

Sneak Preview of our Charity Christmas Cards

2010-10-26T17:37:00.000+01:00

Hola folks! We're still busy making Charity Christmas Cards for Kith & Kids and thought we'd let you take a peek... Lovely Louise O'Gorman, our photographer friend, took these pics for us so we can share them with you. You like? 9 unique handprinted designs, all made by The Chain Gang! Santa Claus is coming to town... Brought to you by Sylvia and Doris xo A candy cane. Printed and

Our Christmas Store is now open!

2010-10-25T12:56:00.000+01:00

We've added a fab new range of cinnamon and clove scented gift items to our online store, just in time for the festive season. We've got badges, pin cushions, winter warmers, wheaties and lavender hearts - there's something for everyone, from £3.00 to £15.00… Visit us now for perfect stocking fillers, decorations, little gifts for special mums, dads, little'uns, grans and grandads.

Check out our Charity Christmas Cards!

2010-10-25T12:40:00.000+01:00

We're delighted to be making Christmas cards for Kith & Kids - a totally brilliant charity supporting people with learning disabilities and their families to lead full lives and access the services they need. All profits from the sale of the cards will go to the charity and the best thing for buyers is that every single penny they spend on the cards will have gone towards supporting people with

We Made it to We Make!

2010-06-30T16:39:00.000+01:00

The sun shone for us in more ways than one on Saturday. Our stall at We Make London looked fab and our new badges, hearts and wheaties went down a treat. As did our special edition vintage pin cushions, which came with a free chick! Just pics or now, but we'll have more news soon and features on some of the other designers we met at the fair. xox Angie & The Chain Gang

Movie-ing and shaking at the Rio cinema...

2010-06-30T16:16:00.000+01:00

On Wednesday, June 23rd, we had a stall at the launch of a new short film at the gorgeous Rio Cinema in Dalston. Hackney Recruitment Partnership produced the film about employing people with learning disabilities, for use in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games. Starring fabulous Frank (below right, drinking a coke) from Spitalfields Farm and our very own Rozie, the film aims to encourage

We Make and Do...

2010-06-22T11:33:00.000+01:00

Greetings! Doris was too busy to blog this week, so I'm standing in for her. When she decides she wants to get something done, there's no stopping her... This week, she put together all the ©Little Gifts of Inspiration for Renaissance Arts Retreats in France. They look truly spiffing. Here she is in the background - we had to give her a desk of her own so she wouldn't be disturbed... For

Getting ready for the fair...

2010-06-12T12:40:00.000+01:00

Hello again! Today, Sylvia and Lindy came back to work. They are so noisy! Lindy was on a work trial at Millbank, learning new skills in a catering role. Sylvia was attending a craft course at Arts for All in Shoreditch, learning how to make handbags and other stuff. Between them, they'll be able to make my lunch and teach me how to sew. Nice! We are working hard to prepare for the WE MAKE

Doris's First Diary...

2010-05-26T15:27:00.000+01:00

Hello my name is Doris. Nice to meet you! Today we made lavender wheat bags. They smell really good. And they are colourful. We are going to a craft fair. It's called WE MAKE LONDON and it's on Saturday, June 26th, in the Town Hall, King's Road, Chelsea. Very posh! This is me, filling the bags with lavender and wheat. Here's Maureen, she's a whizz on the sewing machine. She joined

Today was fun...

2010-02-24T16:57:00.000Z

Today the Chain Gang tried their hands at sewing and proved to be naturals! We made gorgeous little lavender hearts for Mother's Day on March 14. Then we hung them up for photos and wrote a little poem... 5 little love hearts, hanging in a row... Here is the Chain Gang, learning to sew. Lindy's heart is nearly done... Just add gold ribbon for a first class Mum!

We're love love loving Liberty!

2010-02-02T13:59:00.000Z

Finally made it in to Liberty to see our ©Little Gifts of Love. Truth be told, I had to hold myself back in case of shopping fever... But with Valentine's around the corner, I could hold out no longer. Anyhoo, our little love bombs are piled high in the chocolate shop on the ground floor and the lovely Sally says they're flying out the door. Yay! Exclusive Liberty print collectibles

Love is in the air...

2010-02-02T13:48:00.000Z

Lindy loves red. Doris likes blue. Sylvia's sweet. And so are you... Apologies for our inexcusably bad attempt at poetry. It's all the love in the air... We're making ©Little Gifts of Love for Valentines. Who'll get yours? Start with a rose and a chocolate kiss... A marble, a pearl, a smile, love hearts - don't miss! Wrap it all up... and seal it just so. That's one ©Little

Links in the Chain. Gang.

2010-01-28T14:48:00.000Z

Magda, Doris, Lindy and Sylvia are back. To break us gently into work, we each made a link to add the Chain Gang chain. Check 'em out... People often ask why we're called the Chain Gang. Well here's our answer. We're each a link in the chain of happiness... Lindy looks more like the missing link if you ask me... Sylvia's second attempt looks sweet And Doris is just a darling. As

Angels at the Guardian...

2009-12-03T15:00:00.000Z

What a lovely morning we had today. Lindy, Doris and Sylvia decorated the Christmas tree at the Guardian / Observer offices. They decked it out with a selection of ©Little Gifts of Feeling, which will be given as gifts to the local Age Concern Centre in the New Year. Talk about creative recycling - love it! before... and after! (well, it still needs a star and a few more

You came, you ate, you begged for the recipe, so here it is: Red Velvet Cupcakes

2009-11-30T16:47:00.000Z

Can't believe I'm giving this away - it's my carefully guarded recipe for those cakes you scoffed at our shopping night. But hey, it's my thank you gift for all you lovely shoppers. Enjoy! For the batter: 3 1/3 cups plain flour (not self-raising)1 1/2 sticks (175g) unsalted butter, softened2 ½ cups sugar3 large eggs, at room temperature5 tbsp red/cochineal food colouring3 tbsp unsweetened

One Night in November...

2009-11-30T16:32:00.003Z

Our very first shopping night happened last Thursday and it was brilliant! Bringing together six Hackney businesses - Share the Feeling, byGraziela, Covet, Studio Special, Liv & Love, Rose Red and Blue - it was a veritable shopping extravaganza. 100 lovely guests - including all of the Chain Gang - quaffed champers, scoffed cupcakes (recipe coming soon!) and stocked up on Christmas gifts.

How we make a ©Little Gift of Happiness

2009-11-18T16:13:00.002Z

We're finally entering the video age! People often ask how we do what we do, so we've decided to show you. Here's Sylvia, with a little help from support worker Magda and Chain Gang colleague Lindy, making a ©Little Gift of Happiness. We had such a laugh doing this one, that there'll be more videos coming soon!

Hurray I am so happy, as happy as can be..!

2009-11-17T14:42:00.001Z

I am really chuffed to have been announced as one of the Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs of the Year. As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009, the Future 100 Awards puts the spotlight on young people aged 18-35 (I just about make that cut...) who are "demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in running a responsible business venture; one which demonstrates a balance between

Trouble on the busses...

2009-10-29T15:31:00.002Z

Lindy and Sylvia here today, making ©Little Gifts of Strength and Love. We took another look at Lizzie Emeh's video and got talking about the kind of challenges people with learning disabilities face on a day to day basis. It turns out that they have to put up with of abuse when they're on public transport, especially buses. So we talked about what you need to do on a bus to keep safe in a

We're having an Indian Summer...

2009-10-28T16:14:00.002Z

As October temperatures soar to 19 degrees it looks as thought the met office have actually got it right with their prediction of an Indian Summer. Somewhat serendipitously (have been dying to use that word...) I'm very excited to announce that our ©Little Gifts of Feeling will soon take up residence on the fabulous shelves of the Indian Summer lifestyle boutique in Fulham. The lovely Ruth placed

The return of The Chain Gang

2009-10-22T15:06:00.001+01:00

After many lonely months at Share the Feeling, the ladies of the Chain Gang are back - yippee! Brought to us by the Hackney Recruitment Partnership, our lovely new recruits are Doris, Lindy and Sylvia. Also pictured is the fabulous Miss Magda - or "Maggie Queen of Shops" as she's more fondly known. The ladies were busy making brand new ©Little Gifts of Christmas Cheer and Festive Fun in time

@Little Gifts of Tricks 'n' Treats...

2009-10-21T17:24:00.000+01:00

Busy busy busy today preparing to upload our Halloween Gifts to the website. They'll be available to buy online tomorrow, but here's a sneak preview for our blog fans... Little Gifts of Tricks 'n' Treats are handmade by the Chain Gang right here in the attic in Hackney and contain... a moon and stars - when they're out it's time... a party popper - to let the fun begin! a jack o' lantern -

East London makes me smile.

2009-10-11T17:01:00.000+01:00

Just back from a really lovely Sunday cycle along Regent's Canal. Such fun! There's some cool graffiti near the 2012 Olympics site (which is flying up by the way - v. exciting). No doubt the council will remove it... Anyhoo, see for yourself. Anyone know whose it is?

Go Lizzie! Someone give this girl a mobo

2009-10-09T15:58:00.001+01:00

I've taken this from the BBC Radio 4 website. Here's a girl that I just love... When Lizzie Emeh was born she was so profoundly disabled they thought she would never be able to walk or even talk. But she has proved them wrong. She has severe learning difficulties and is unable to read or write, but at the age of 32 she is about to release a solo album. "I'm going to become the diva that

Simple, effective branding. That's what I want.

2009-10-07T13:46:00.003+01:00

I'm taking a look at Share the Feeling's branding at the moment. Having been out of the loop for over a year now, I am really aware of how fast things move in the whole area of online retail. So we're simplifying our offering - no more invitations, just little gifts from now on, perfectly made in the same spirit of pride and fun as always. The aim is to do what we do much better than before.

Doing our own PR...

2009-10-01T15:02:00.000+01:00

Magda and I are busily sending out samples to journalists right, left and centre in the hope that we will get some much needed publicity for our lovely little gifts this yule... (Yes, I know it's months away, but Christmas will soon be upon us and I am determined to get our great little stocking fillers on all the best gift lists!) It takes so much time to find the right person and I just

The Blessing Tree

2009-09-30T14:29:00.002+01:00

Now that we're concentrating more on our little gift bags, we're getting to do lots of quirky stuff for people who want to share their feelings for special occasions. One of our favourite jobs was for Hannah, who got married last year. The happy couple had a "blessing tree", to which people attached little bags (made by us, using pretty vintage fabric from Hannah's Nan...) containing blessings

Wish I'd thought of that...

2009-09-24T13:30:00.004+01:00

Hola Folks. Went along to Top Drawer at London's Olympia a few days ago, looking for inspiration. I found it rather encouraging to discover that many of the most innovative and creative companies exhibiting were based in Hackney too. Loved this idea by local ladies Tola and Anna at roseredandblue.com: It's an Advent Calendar / seasonal family heirloom! Based on an Austrian tradition, 25

Getting back to work...

2009-09-11T16:08:00.001+01:00

Well, after months of maternity leave limbo, I am finally back to work. A new Chain Gang - a trio of gorgeous Hackney gals - started last week and they are totally motivational and inspirational. To be honest, I thought I'd just close the business down and become a full time momma, but then the girls came along and re-lit my fire! And then there's Magda... What a legend. I found her at HRP - the

The new range...

2009-09-11T16:06:00.002+01:00

Just found some photos of our new range of ©Little Gifts of Feeling. Thought you might like a sneaky preview... The idea with the ©Little Gifts is that you give one when perhaps a card isn't quite enough, but you don't want to go overboard either. Par example... If someone's having a hard time, a ©Little Gift of Strength is just the ticket, containing symbolic ingredients to give someone