Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Sign Up 

To our mailing list via the ancient (and soon to be replaced website) newsletter page before December 21st and your details will be entered into a free prize draw. Not only will you be kept bang up to date with everything that is happening at Artichoke but you may also win a great Clarins Gift into the bargain.....just in case ............perhaps I should say that this offer applies to UK subscribers only.


Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Have a look at The Norfolk Magazines fashion pages this month. 

Some great 'old gels gear' supplied by Artichoke. can you spot the difference? Of course not because given clothes that are cut to fit properly the 40+ woman can still look a mega babe. Unfortunately the model they used is a 20 something stick insect but one step at a time ladies one step at a time - at least our existence has been acknowledged!

Sunday, 14 October 2012

Bariloche Ladies Shirts - Winter 2012


Bariloche – This  beautiful Spanish shirt is named after an Argentine ski resort and carries all the style and  glamour associated with it’s famous name sake. Beautifully cut for real women with an amazing finish and an astonishing retail price of £59 these shirts are disappearing fast from Artichoke.To bag yours visit us at the Old Garage, Hingham Road, Hackford or call 01953 851458.




Saturday, 6 October 2012

Anna Montanna Jeans - Winter 2012 colours



The launch of our new website has been delayed until the new year  so  to keep our promise of showing the autumn colours for our Anna Montanna Jeans on line we are putting up style details and colourways on our blog : -

As you know we stock Anna Montanna Jeans in two shapes – DORA & MONIKA

DORA is a high waisted straight leg jean with a slightly elasticated waistband and has a slender cut over the bottom & thighs – it is more suited to women who have an apple shaped figure.

MONIKA is a high waisted straight leg jean with a fixed waistband and has a more generous cut over the bottom & thighs more suitable for ladies with either an hour glass or pear shaped figure.

These amazing jeans are high waisted with two way stretch, have great pocket detail and retail at the amazing price

of only £59 incl P & P



DORA – AUTHENTIC BLUE
Leg Width 40 cm
Leg Length 30 inches

In Stock size 12 to 20
Available to order size 12 to 26

DORA - KITT (Stonewash Taupe)
Leg Width 40 cm
Leg Length 30 inches

In Stock size 12 to 18
Available to order size 12 to 26
 


DORA - GRAU (Charcoal)
Leg Width 40 cm
Leg Length 30 inches

In stock size 12 to 18
Available to order size 12 to 26


MONIKA - AUTHENTIC BLUE
Leg Width 42 cm
Leg Length 30 inches
In stock size 10 to 18
Available to order 10 to 24

Leg Length 32 inches
In stock 12 to 18
Available to order 10 to 24

Leg Length34 inches
In stock size 12 to 18
Available to order size10 t0 24

MONIKA - KITT (stonewash taupe)
Leg Width 42 cm
Leg Length 30 inches
In stock size 12 to 18
Available to order 10 to 24

Leg Length 32 inches
In stock 12 to 18
Available to order 10 to 24

Leg Length34 inches
In stock size 12 to 18
Available to order size10 t0 24

MONIKA - GRAU (charcoal)
Leg Width 42 cm
Leg Length 30 inches
In stock size 12 to 18
Available to order 10 to 24

Leg Length 32 inches
In stock 12 to 18
Available to order 10 to 24

Leg Length34 inches
In stock size 12 to 18
Available to order size10 t0 24

We are looking forward to stocking Anna Montanna Magic Stretch later this month - details to follow

If you would like more information or indeed would like to place an order and cannot make it to either our shop at Hackford or one of our 'pop up' events which take place throughout East Anglia please either call us on 01953 851458 or email us at artichokecollection@btinternet.com

We look forward to hearing from you
The Artichoke Girls
x

Monday, 27 August 2012

Artichoke dates for your diary .....

 




We are so excited about our Autumn Collection for 2012 and are very proud to have been asked to launch it The Fidelity Blenheim Horse Trials. From there we return to Norfolk for a fun packed autumn of fashionably fundraising. If you would like details about
any of the events listed below please give us a call on 01953 851458


The Fidelity Blenheim Horse Trials
Blenheim Palace

Thursday September 6th until Sunday September 9th


Lifestyle Live 2012

The Mansion House, Biggleswade
Sunday 23rd September from 10 am to 3 pm
Visit
http://www.lifestylelive.co.uk for more information

Fashion Show, Lunch & Shopping at The Best Western George Hotel, Swaffham.
Wednesday 26th September - 11 am to 3.30 pm
Tickets £15 to include morning coffee, a two course lunch and afternoon tea.
Contact The Best Western George Hotel on 01760 721238 for more details.

Fashion Show & Clothing Sale in aid of St Nicholas Church, Dereham
Friday 28th September at 7pm

UNICEF Bazaar
Bennington, Hertfordshire
Tuesday 4th October
Private Event

Lunch, Shopping and a talk given by Sean Reid, Head Gardener at The West Wing, Ickworth Park in aid of St Nicholas Hospice.
Wednesday 28th September from 11.30 am - tickets £35


Fashion Show & Clothing Sale hosted by Watton Inner Wheel
The Queens Hall, Watton

Friday October 5th at 7.30pm
Tickets available from Mullens of Watton.


Fashion Show, Lunch & Shopping at Thetford Golf Club
Tuesday 9th October
Private Event


British Red Cross - Essex Branch, Autumn Gift Fair
Parklands, Quendon Hall, Quendon

Entrance £4 to include coffee & biscuits
Contact Yvonne Jackson on 01245 291014 for more details


LILAC Coffee Morning
The Street, Brundall

Friday October 12th from 10.30am until 12.30pm


Fashion Show and Clothing Sale in aid of Action Medical Research
The Jubilee Centre, Mildenhall  

Thursday 18th October at 10.30 am


Autumn Bazaar in aid of Cancer Research
Lavenham Village Hall

Monday 22nd October from 10 am until 3pm
We are joined by Hotfooted selling a fantastic range of footwear as well as a host of other stalls - why not get kitted out for the season ahead and make a start on your Christmas shopping at the same time?



Fashion Show & Clothing Sale hosted by Drayton Flower Club
Drayton Village Hall

Tuesday October 23rd at 7.30pm


NSPCC Christmas Bazaar
Lingfield Park Racecourse, Surrey

Friday November 2nd
All welcome


Winter Fayre
Wymondham College

Saturday 10th November 2012 from 10 am to 2pm
All welcome entry £1 for adults, children and students free


NSPCC Autumn Bazaar
The Village Hall, New Buckenham

Monday 12th November from 10am to 3pm
All welcome


Ely Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair
Ely Cathedral

Thursday 15th November 6.30pm to 8.30 pm - Preview, Private Event.
Friday 16th & Saturday 17th November 10am to 4 pm - All welcome



NAFAS Area Day
Norwich

Saturday November 17th - Private Event

Air Ambulance Christmas Fair
Sunday November 18th - Details to be confirmed

 


NSPCC Festive Autumn Fair
Anstey Hall, Trumpington, Cambridge

November 21st from 11 am to 4 pm
All welcome - see local press for details


LOOKING AHEAD TO SPRING AND SUMMER 2013 WE STILL HAVE GAPS IN OUR DIARY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR FUNDRAISING PLEASE CONTACT SARAH ON 07881 815470

We hope that you enjoy the rest of the summer and look forward to catching up with you somewhere on our travels this winter.

Best Wishes
from The Artichoke Girls


Keep in touch by reading our monthly blog
www.thegirlsatartichokesay.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/Artichokegirls
Follow us on Twitter @artichokegirls


 





Thursday, 5 July 2012

The Royal Norfolk Show


Unfortunately for everyone involved The Suffolk Show was almost literally a washout this year with heavy rain on the first day and the second being cancelled as force 9 gales were predicted to hit the showground in the middle of the day . It was the first time in it's 120 history that the show had to be cancelled because of the weather and it was a very sad day for everyone involved. On a more positive note we are looking forward to being back at Trinity Park next May and hopefully the sunshine will join us.

After The Suffolk the next big show of the season for us is The Royal Norfolk - the photo above is of our marquee in our brand new area.  This year we moved to the top of the showground to be near our great friends Jo & Dave of Hotfooted.

A lot of preparation goes into taking our shop to a big county show. At The Suffolk and Sandringham Flower Show we have marquees that are 9m x 6m, the one at The Norfolk is slightly smaller but still takes several days to plan and set up.

The first thing that we do as you can see from these two photos is mock up our stand in the shop so that when we arrive on set up day we know where everything is going to go. This ensures that the layout is not only visually pleasing to our customers but makes it easier for us to help them find what they are looking for. Well thats the theory anyway - inevitably by the time we pack up on the second day we have finally begun to find everything!
Our move nearer The Members and Countryside area was a huge success. We caught up with lots of our customers from the shop at Hackford, as well as ladies that we only ever see at the shows such as Judie & Jennifer from The Cattle Sheds  - both of whom 'invested' heavily in Tinta and Bariloche blouses! The only downside was we have lost our steward - The delicious Will - hopefully next year he will have time to visit Ave 4!!!

Unfortunately we were so busy chatting we did not have time to take photos of the rest of the show or indeed see much of it. Andrea managed to fit in a bit of retail therapy of her own and I quickly whizzed around the animals and spent a lovely half hour in the countryside area with my son Paddy.

Next weekend (July 14th & 15th) we are back at Trinity Park for the first ever Golf East (and our first golf show) and then it is a quick reckie at The CLA Game Fair before our favourite show of them all The Sandringham Flower Show.

If you have any show stories or indeed run one that you would like The Artichoke Girls to attend please drop us a line - we would love to hear from you.

Best Wishes
The Artichoke Girls
x


Sunday, 3 June 2012

A quick note to say ....


...that when we say we sell the clothes we love to wear we really mean it!

Here are a couple of recent snap shots, one of Sarah wearing an Alice Collins Polo and Amazing Woman Jeans on a recent visit to the herd of Large Black Pigs that she keeps with her husband Rob by the MP Elizabeth Truss. http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/farming-news/mp_elizabeth_truss_praises_food_network_for_rare_breed_pork_near_oxburgh_1_1389997


The other is from The Houghton Horse Trails last weekend. In our lovely tent you can see from left to right, Sarah in a Bariloche blouse, our famous gin swilling mannequinn in an Alice Collins Polo and Becky Barber and Louise Collins both from Alice Collins sporting their summer 2012 collection.

Now the summer has arrived (?) as I write is pouring with rain and 10 degrees outside, we are starting our show season so will be incredibly busy over the next couple of months.  At the end of July however we will do a show special blog with lots of photos of friends from all the places that we have visited plus snippets of gossip and style hints (one for Sarah - loose the hat!). We also have a couple of interviews to look forward to - one with our local Norfolk style guru Jo Allen, a chat with Grenouille who supply us with our fantastic gilets and hopefully an interview with Antje of CPM.

I hope that you all have a fantastic summer - If you are at The Suffolk Show, The Royal Norfolk Show or The Sandringham Flower Show please come and say hello - we would love to catch up with you.

Best Wishes
From The Artichoke Girls