A Warm Welcome to Our New Boxing Hares... 

Whilst GFC were at the Chelsea Flower Show, there is no doubt that there were many other sculptures and stands which caught our eye. However, it was the striking boxing Hares crafted by ‘Steel Sculptures’ that really won us over! Its powerful stature and incredible detail made it hard to resist; so, now we are going to include it in our wide range of products! In order to welcome our newest additions to the GFC family, here is a little introduction and background for the inspiration behind the magnificent boxing Hares!

Background...

It is argued that the brown Hare was introduced by the Romans to Britain, or even earlier between the 5^th to the 3^rd centuries BC. However, it is interesting to note that the Hare could have been treated with more care than other animals, as studies have found their bodies were buried without being slaughtered. This demonstrates how valued the Hare was within society, as they were regarded to be too special to consume. Fundamentally, brown hares are notoriously known to have an enthusiastic nature, and as such they channel this energy through fighting, or boxing as we might recognise, with each other. This is predominantly done within the mating March month which sees them leap around the air and box with each other. This ultimately coins the nickname ‘Mad March Hares’ due to this erratic behaviour. The Hare is an exceptional animal, with their strong exterior and passion to survive any threat that may challenge them. Unfortunately, the sightings of hares have decreased over the years and are now rarely seen in open spaces.

Inspiration...

In an artistic light, hares are popularly used to portray different emotions. Due to their prominent stature, they provide an amazing scale for artists and sculptors to illustrate their artistic vision. The image of boxing hares has been used in a variety of paintings and sculptures for centuries due to their cultural history in literature, art, music, religion and fairy tales as well as media and advertising. The Hare itself has a variety of representations within myths and folklore which inspires many artworks and creative media. For instance, the Hare is widely considered to be sensitive and ambitious, with the added implications of being fit and full of virtue. On the other hand, the Hare does possess an element of greed and selfishness, and in some cases even deception and dishonesty. But, by having this mixture of qualities, it is what makes the Hare a favourited animal for artists, writers and creative designers to use within their work.

With our new boxing Hares’ sculpture, ingeniously crafted by Paul Richardson, they are an amazing example of how the brown Hare is used in an artistically humours point of view. These hares are fitted with comical boxing gloves and expressions, with their dominating physique dressed in boxing shorts and shoes. As well as this, the hares are encased within a large boxing ring, highlighting the similarity to a real-life boxing match scenario. Additionally, the whole presentation of the sculpture is a gesture towards our outrageous human nature of quarrelling with world leaders and the political division this causes. Paul’s ingenuity to demonstrate this political conflict is portrayed through the boxing belts on the hares, with the word ‘hare’ written in English to represent the U.S.A on one, and the other written in Russian. The subtlety of this detail is what makes the sculpture so unique and appealing for us to showcase within our showroom!

Famous Faces...

As you may well know, the Chelsea Flower Show is a place where many celebrities and famous faces gather to view all the sculptures and gardens on display. And it seems that at the show, Paul’s boxing hares certainly received a lot of star-studded attention! Dave Meyers from the Hairy Bikers made a great impression of the boxing hares with a great fighting face which would be hard to beat! There were also visits from broadcaster Ben Fogle, athlete Linford Christie and young-up-coming boxer Jordan Thompson!

So, why not come down to our showroom where you can see the boxing hares for yourself! Be sure to tag us in our socials and remember to give us your best boxing face!

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve got some great news to share! We were recently audited by the FSC Accredited third-party certification body Interface NRM Limited and have been officially certified as meeting the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council …

A.C. Chain of Custody FSC-STD-40-004 V3 STANDARD FOR COC CERTIFICATION.

FSC-STD-50-001 V2 CERTIFICATE HOLDER TRADEMARK REQUIREMENTS.

The Scope of the Certificate allows the Sale and Distribution of Timber Garden Furniture & Products.

The audit is very strict and checks that any one organisation complies with all relevant FSC requirements in relation to the above.

So as you can imagine we are delighted to pass!

We’re sure we don’t have to tell you how the Forestry Stewardship Council are?

FSC is an independent, nongovernment, not-for-profit organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

Buying FSC products supports the growth of responsible forest management worldwide

Forests are inspected and certified to strict standards and must be managed in an environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically viable way.

Below is just a taster of what's in our FSC Range ...

We are proud to be sponsoring a Coast to Coast Triathlon being done for the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK by our very first employee from way back in 1997 and would love you to help support this cause as well.

Sam Taylor was originally employed by us during his summer holidays when he was at school and has since gone on to further a successful career with the construction equipment giant JCB Ltd.

Three years ago Sam’s son, Will, was diagnosed with the severe muscle wasting condition Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and although Will is now seven there is still no cure or treatment for the condition.



This has led to Sam, his wife Sue and a team of friends to become active fundraisers for the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.

This well-known charity was founded in 1959 to lead the fight against muscle wasting conditions. Since then they have been leading the drive for faster access to more than 60 rare muscle weakening and wasting conditions for more than 70,000 children and adults across the UK.



As part of the 2017 fundraising effort Sam sent a speculative email to Jon Haimes, Director at The Garden Furniture Centre, who employed him around 20 years ago asking for support and was delighted when Jon replied offering to be a sponsor for the forthcoming triathlon.

Sam said, “we were delighted when GFC offered to be one of our kit sponsors. Jon has made a very kind donation, which will be shared equally between the set up costs for the triathlon, and a donation to Muscular Dystrophy UK.”

Jon said, “even though it was so many moons ago we remember Sam and are proud to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause.”

The Triathlon will take place on 1st and 2nd September this year and the Coast to Coast team will each cycle 115 miles from Whitby to Windermere, swim 1 mile across Lake Windermere, and then run 26 miles from Lakeside to Walney Island.

You can pledge your support today through the Coast to Coast Just Giving Page.

WARNING - these are not your usual Christmas Ornaments!

We really have thought outside the box with these little beauties.

It is a fact that retailers can tend to bang out the same old hum drum Christmas ornaments and decorations during the festive period – almost as if some of them have run out of original ideas.

And this just leaves you, the shopper that’s looking for something truly different and full of Christmas spirit, a little deflated.

Know the feeling?

If the answer is ‘yes’ then you need not feel deflated any longer …

Why? Because we’ve got an absolute, 'Christmas Ornaments,' treat for you …

What, we hear you ask?

Our Christmas Ornaments of course made from upcycled shipping drums!

And they truly are in a league of their own.

Genuinely hand finished in funky designs and coated with a tough lacquer paint meaning they can be used both indoors and out these nifty little novelties won’t fail to impress friends and family this Christmas and create a real talking point.

From Christmas Tree Ornaments to Frosty The Snowman and the stunning Santa’s Sleigh Drinks Cooler, we even have a couple of reindeer as well.

It’s that time of year again when summer draws to a close, August Bank Holiday is a long and distant memory and the next milestone many of us turn our thoughts to is Halloween.

Although not a public holiday it is still a time of fun and laughter with scary fancy dress, tales of the night and, of course, the age old pumpkin decorating.

So, when the manufacturer of our recycled metal garden ornaments offered us some Jack O’ Lanterns with funky hand-made designs we jumped at the chance to allow our customers to spice up their Halloween in 2016.

Our great Jack O Lantern ornaments are sold in three sizes ...

But have you ever stopped to wonder where the tradition of pumpkin decorating originally came from?

Where did the Jack O’ Lantern come from and why?

Believe it or not, the term actually originates from an Irish Myth about a man who was nicknamed, ‘Stingy Jack.’

As the myth goes Jack invited the Devil for a drink and, true to his stingy ways, tricked the Devil into forming the shape of a coin to pay for the drink. Being such a miser that, obviously he didn’t want to pay for the drink himself!

Apparently, the Devil duly obliged and then to add further insult to injury good old Jack then decided he wanted the coin for other purposes and so proceeded to place the coin in his pocket next to a silver cross so the Devil couldn’t change himself back!

Confused yet? So were we but it doesn’t stop there …

Anyway, eventually Jack did free the Devil but only on the condition that he didn’t bother Jack for a year and didn’t steal his soul when he died – there’s always a condition where Jack’s concerned obviously, I’m sure we all know someone like that!

And how does this relate to jack O’ Lantern we hear you ask?

Well, at this point it doesn’t to be honest.

But just under a year later Jack apparently then proceeds to trick the Devil into climbing a tree to fetch some fruit and then promptly carves a cross into this tree so the Devil can’t get down.

And yes, you guessed it he only agrees to let the devil down on the proviso that he doesn’t bother Jack for ten years or nick his soul when he dies.

Sorry this does have a connection with a lantern – honest!!

Don’t go to sleep on us just as we’re getting to the good bit, please.

Before the ten years are up, good old Stingy Jack dies only to find that God won’t let him into Heaven and, of course, the Devil won’t let him into Hell – unsurprisingly really after being turned into a coin and confined to tree.

Instead, Jack was sent into the eternal night with only a burning coal inside a carved out turnip to light his way.

Hence, Jack of the Lantern became Stingy’s new nickname and this was eventually abbreviated to Jack O’ Lantern – probably because it rolls off the tongue better and sounds a little more impressive.

And, finally, there you have it.

Original Jack O Lanterns were carved from turnips, suedes and beetroots ...

Halloween is apparently the time when the dead can be seen walking the earth and so it makes sense that Jack of the Lantern would be associated and remembered at this time of year as well.

Good old Stingy Jack!

Many of you may, at this time of year, be thinking about giving the garden a bit of a makeover this year?

And, in today’s online age, the obvious place to start having a look at the options available to you are the many and varied internet shopping sites out there such as ours.

Don’t worry we’re not about to bombard you with sales offers and jargon – in actual fact all we want to do is help you solve a problem common to many shoppers in our niche.

Just how big is your garden?

Now, this may seem like a bit of a silly question but in actual fact you’d be surprised at just how many people we speak to who are interested in buying a particular item of furniture and then suddenly ask themselves the question …

“Will this actually fit in my garden?”

Well, if you’ve got an iPhone we can solve this problem for you in an instant …

Moasure – the future of measuring made easy …

Moasure is a clever little app developed to allow iPhone users to measure distances and angles quickly and accurately by turning their phone itself into a measuring device.

Watch the video here …

As you can see, it really could not be simpler and makes perfect sense.

So, before you visit that furniture showroom simply flick Moasure on and measure the room or garden space that the furniture’s intended for and then repeat the same process with the furniture itself.

Or, if you’re internet shopping, any respectable online store will have provided the specifications of the item for you so you can compare these to the Moasure results on your phone and make an informed decision based on these without having to guess and hope.

Obviously, there are hundreds of other applications here as well and at just £1.49 for a download it really is a no-brainer.

Why not download Moasure and give it a try.

Don't miss out on your chance to win an Eco Double Wheelie Bin Cover ...

Hide those ugly Wheelie Bins by entering our simple little giveaway below ...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Rules:

Only 1 entry per person.

Entrants must be UK residents and aged 18 or over.

The winner will be announced by email.

All entries will be automatically added to our mailing list where they can unsubscribe at the click of a button.

The Dubai International Boat Show, (DIBS) really is a true spectacle.

2017 was our first year exhibiting at the event and it certainly won’t be our last. To be honest we knew we were taking a bit of a risk as a UK retailer booking an event overseas but our Luxor Marine Grade Furniture has done really well at both the Southampton and London Boat Shows and when you consider that DIBS is the biggest boat show in the world we thought it was a calculated risk.

A few show highlights for you …

First and foremost of course it’s all about the boats at DIBS and this year certainly did not disappoint – the Khaleej Times summed it up perfectly in their article on the highlights from the show in 2017 when the wrote …

"Surrounded by more than 400 boats, many of which look like they have cruised right out of the set of a James Bond movie.”

Obviously, the Super Yachts somewhat stole the show as they’re impossible to ignore towering over everything else and asserting their authority in general.

And the super yacht that seemed to steal the show in 2017 has to be the 77m Silver Fast by Silver Yachts.

However, there were plenty of other things to see and do at the event and we strongly recommend you look at the Dubai International Boat Show website to see the sort of thing on offer if you’re planning a trip next year.

One of our personal little favourites was the amazingly co-ordinated light show we happened to stumble across when down by the beach one evening – as they say, sometimes it really is the little things!

What an amazing light show happening by the beach! Be sure to come by tomorrow by #dubaiboatshow to see these talented stars in action. pic.twitter.com/YbrzSebt1t

— Dubai Boat Show (@DubaiBoat) March 3, 2017

Selling Marine Grade Furniture by the container load!

Our Luxor Range provided the focus of our exhibit at DIBS – as it also does at the UK boat shows - largely because it is so undeniably modern, contemporary and eye catching.

It is also made from marine grade synthetic rattan and leather meaning it lends itself perfectly for use on sea faring craft of all shapes and sizes.

And the audience in Dubai took to it like fish take to water!

In fact, whereas in the UK we mainly take individual orders of our marine grade furniture the customers in Dubai were that taken with it they were ordering whole container loads of it – absolutely fine by us, of course!

This combined with some great publicity from the show organisers themselves combined to make DIBS our most successful trade show so far in the four years we’ve been doing them.

The reaction from our Events Manager, Grant Horsfield, in the video below says it all really …

Grant Horsfield of Garden Furniture Centre and his experience at the #DubaiBoatShow. See unique furniture made from recyclable materials pic.twitter.com/sqyD4BqoND

— Dubai Boat Show (@DubaiBoat) March 1, 2017

It's that Interview Spotlight time on our blog again folks and this time round we're delighted to be able to announce an intrerview with Janine Pattison from the hugely respected Janine Pattison Studios.



Janine has recently won Garden Designer of the Year 2016 and we're sure you'll find her answers to our spotlight questions as insightful as we did ...

1. What were your initial motivations behind pursuing a career in Garden/Landscape Design and what advice would you offer others with similar aspirations?

I’m a rather spirited person, always happiest outdoors with my hands in the soil, so I knew working for other people wasn’t for me.

Denise and I always wanted to go into business together, and as she’s a designer and I’m a horticulturalist, garden design was our first choice.

I would advise anyone interested in the industry to find their local BALI representative and go along to some events. It’s a large industry - take your time finding your niche - you might be surprised what calls to you most.

2. What would you consider your greatest achievement as a professional in this field?

We are proudest of our team at Janine Pattison Studios. They are incredible people. Loyal, warm, talented and so hard-working.

3. What, in your opinion, are the key elements to a successful Garden Design?

Simplicity. In sympathy with the landscape and the client’s needs.

4. How important, in your opinion, is the furniture in Garden Design/Landscaping?

Well, it’s about making sure the furniture is in the right place to catch the morning and afternoon sunshine, so it draws the client outside to use it. It needs to be in sympathy with the style of the garden.

5. Which historic Garden Designers do you take the most inspiration from?

The late Russell Page is a inspiration - he coined the phase ‘spirit of place’ which I, as a garden maker, feel perfectly sums up how we should work.

We hope you found this latest Interview Spotlight enlightening and we would like to thank Janine Pattison for very kindly taking the time to answer our questions.

To find out more about Janine Pattison Studios please click here.