May 2012
4 posts
We sneaked this one in last year...
At the Autumn Fair last year we sneaked in a new product, namely Nature Colouring Sets aimed at kids. The uptake was steady but we didn’t really push the product. We have been really surprised this year at the orders and repeats. Ideal for those wet weekends (yes,there’s been loads of these) to introduce children to Nature, there are 7 coloured pencils with colouring sheets and colour...
Stop that owl in the name of the law!
Over the years we’ve done a lot of outside shows and country fairs. Last year at our local Borders Union show in Kelso a friendly policeman joined in with the bird demonstrations. Here he’s trying out our owl call which went down a hoot (sorry). We couldn’t resist getting a quick snap.
Talking of bird calls, apologies everyone on the Blackbird Call delay. The crucial part in making the sound are...
March 2012
8 posts
Nature Deficit Disorder...
I heard on the BBC news today the Government have announced they are concerned children are missing out on climbing tree and getting their knees dirty. In an increasing electronic based, over protected health and safety environment, our children are displaying the symptoms of ‘Nature-Deficit Disorder’.
Well, nice of the government to jump on the bandwagon: this is something Flights of...
Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day
Worldwide pinhole photography day, which was established to celebrate the joy of simple creativity using the medium of lens-less photography, will take place on 29 April 2012.
Now in its 12th year, the organisers of the day ask for people to take photos with a simple camera and to upload their results to the Pinhole day gallery. Last year, 3387 pinhole photographers from 67 countries uploaded...
New Card Birds ready to take flight
These new products received a fantastic reception at the recent Birmingham Gift Fair with orders and enquiries world-wide. We’ve been head down completing the artwork and chasing the printers to meet delivery for March as promised. We now have them in stock and they will be on their way to you over the coming days.
There are three sets of Card Birds -
Garden Birds 1 has Blackbird, Wren,...
Birds of Prey taking off
The third set of Card Birds are Birds of Prey. These are more elaborate and slightly larger, with the Peregrine Falcon and Tawny Owl showing their spread wings. The Barn Owl sits on a wooden log making this set a must for anyone interested in birds or wildlife. They come gift boxed with full illustrated instructions, you just cut, fold and glue - it’s that simple.
These along with all the...
February 2012
2 posts
New Poster
The ever popular poster range just gets bigger and better. We’ve added a new poster - Shore and Estuary Birds.
How many of you stand on the shoreline and say ‘what’s that bird’? This poster illustrates 50 of the most common wading and shore birds and will help professionals and amateurs alike. Spot the difference between a Dunlin and a Snipe, or a Godwit and a Curlew along...
January 2012
4 posts
Spring Fair - 5th to 9th February
All change again. In the wisdom of organisation, everyone has been forced to move around, if anyone knows why then please let us know.
Anyway we’ll be there as always ready to show you our range of Nature and Nostalgic gifts, just listen out for the birdsong.
Our new home is in Hall 6 - Stand P05, hope to see you there.
Bird in the hand...
Deryck has been affectionately known as the ’Bird Man’ since he started
Flights of Fancy back on April Fools Day in 1989. Over the years he has produced a wide range of gift products with a bird theme; Mobiles, Cards, Postcards, Posters and even a popular Bird Watching Kit. As a company we have always promoted an interest in Nature and our environment and 2012 is no exception, with...
December 2011
2 posts
4 tags
November 2011
1 post
August 2011
2 posts
Autumn Fair 4th - 9th September
Yes, we’ll be their as usual but moved a couple of aisles over to:
HALL 3 - Stand S41
Come and see us in all our glory and as a little thank you, all carriage paid orders placed at the show for delivery before the end of September will receive a 7.5% discount.
Look forward to seeing you.
8 tags
Common Radio Problem
We occasionally receive an e-mail from customers who are having a problem receiving a signal on their Crystal Radio set. One of the common problems is the earth (or ground for our American customers) is as important as the aerial (antenna). With modern buildings, radiators and plumbing is not directly earthed, but goes through a trip switch, so if you ‘short’ the circuit the supply will ‘trip’...
May 2011
2 posts
Swiss family Rhona ...
One of our employees who has worked for us since we moved to Scotland has a large family, and somehow we’ve taken on two of the daughters, Flori and Lydia. Flori is a student at the Borders College, soon to start Art School and is a dab-hand making Owls and Cuckoos.
She recently presented her mother with a lovely box of Roses chocolates for her birthday, but there was just one problem - they...
April 2011
2 posts
We're Back...
Sorry about the long delay but we had a little hiccup over the last few months. But after holding our breath we’re back to normal so to speak. To celebrate we’ve been hard at work on our new catalogue which should be on its way to all our regular customers. If you haven’t received one give us a shout and we’ll put one in the post to you. We’ve consolidated the range a...
September 2010
2 posts
NEC Autumn Fair
Well, just blink your eyes and the next show comes before you know it. Where does the time go?
Just sorting out the last few samples before loading the van and driving the long and winding road down to Birmingham. All ready for this Sunday’s opening, so if you’re coming, just listen out for the usual birdsong in hall 3 - Stand X20/Y21 … by the loos and restaurant. See you there.
August 2010
2 posts
We’ll miss you
For the first time in about 15 years we won’t be at any US shows this summer. Sarah has not been so well this year and Deryck is needed back at base to take her place and wield the whip! Also Sarah will be going into hospital soon for treatment and we all want to keep a close eye on her which isn’t possible 3000 miles away.
So if you’re about to venture out to New York which opens this...
June 2010
4 posts
Half a Million and still growing
Our wood supplier in the north of Scotland has always been in forestry, we chanced upon each other at the Aviemore gift fair some 9 years ago. To our surprise he announced he has now supplied us with over half a million pieces of timber - that’s a hell of a lot of trees!
Not that we go round willy-nilly chopping them down; in the forestry world Silver Birch regenerates naturally and grows...
Have you heard the latest?
Its official, well the BBC says so. Kids are suffering a new disease apparently - its called ‘Nature deficit disorder’. A combination of either too much TV or spending all their spare time on the computer. The experts are saying they need to get out and get dirty, go pond or rock pool dipping, collect some wild flowers or climb a tree!
Well, thats where we come in, with loads of...
April 2010
2 posts
Coming of Age
Saturday April 1st 1989 was officially the first day of Flights of Fancy’s life, so that makes us 21 today. When we started many customers would comment ‘I used to do that as a kid’. Now we get ‘I used to have one of your… when I was a kid’. We’re certainly into the next generation.
The range has evolved considerably from the first 3 products all those years ago and we still have a few...
March 2010
2 posts
Multilingual
Well, we’ve translated most of our products into French or German and open to translating into any language if the demand is there - so to our surprise we were asked to do our pencil display in Welsh. Not that we can check it ourselves so we have to rely on the translator that everything is correct and it doesn’t say something very rude.
February 2010
4 posts
Pinhole Camera Photography Project
Isn’t it nice receiving a surprise, especially good ones. Well, we received an e-mail from a professional photographer based in Glasgow who bought our Pinhole Photography kit as a present for his daughter last Christmas. Over the holidays they created an online blog on the process of Pinhole Photography using our kit, a photo journal, (what you’d expect from a photographer I guess).
...
New Postcard
Last year a customer suggested a new Nature Postcard after admitting having pet Slugs in her childhood. So as a challenge we designed a ‘Slugs and Snails’ postcard and were pleasantly surprised how well it was received at the recent New York and Birmingham Gift shows.
So we have added it to the range and you will now find it on the price list - a bit like Marmite, you either love it...
January 2010
5 posts
We'll be there...
For all you customers who are coming to the trade shows… you have a choice of 2 places to see us at in all our glory.
The first is the New York Gift Fair, January 31st - February 4th, Booth 2976. Then immediately into the Birmingham Spring Fair, February 7th - 11th, Hall 4 Stand D18. Hope to see you at one of these venues where we can catch up with all your news.
1 tag
Dedication
The most snowfall in 25 years they say, and still more to come. Although very pretty it also means nothing is moving unless by foot and 4 staff trekked through the knee deep snow to get to work this morning (not that we can get any deliveries in or out). If it keeps up like this we’ll have to invest in snow chains for the car or a sledge with huskies perhaps!
Wishing you all a prosperous 2010
Well, an enjoyable break was had by all here with our first Scottish ‘White Christmas’ - in fact we’ve had snow every day for the past 2 weeks. So much so that even the snowmen are getting fatter by the day. Back to work tomorrow and getting prepared for the run up to trade shows in New York and Birmingham at the end of January, hoping to see you there.
In the meantime we hope...
December 2009
6 posts
Christmas Greetings
Well, another year nearly over - what with moving work and home, we’ve had the worst recession for decades plus freak weather everywhere but we can’t really complain, (just the odd ‘senior’ occasional rant). All the team here at Flights of Fancy wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Just to say we will be giving our elves a well deserved break, so the...