Day 25 - Mummy's Little Helper

My Little Kitchen Set

I baked this especially for you! Fun sponge cake and a pink gingham apron in a lovely enamel tin saying my little kitchen.

£25 (currently reduced to £18) The White Company

Day 25 - Lotus Lighting

Designed to make a dramatic statement in any room, these breathtaking centrepieces are like sculptural works of art. Simply hang one over an existing bulb to create the impact of a chandelier. 100W max.

Large (H:55xDia:55cm) £350

Medium (H:35xDia:35cm) £275

The White Company

Day 26 - Japanese Cherry Blossom

Shu Uemura re-introduces the collection of iconic Japanese bath oils that originally launched over a decade ago. Featuring a unique oil formula that leaves skin soft and hydrated, Pleasure of Japanese Bath is Shu Uemura's expression of the Japanese bath tradition -- a focus on purification, well-being and sensuous pleasure. Available in four traditional Japanese fragrances (Hinoku, Sakura, Shobu and Yuzu), each inspired by nature.

Contains essential oils that soften and hydrate skin. Unique cleansing oil technology allows bath oil emulsion to maintain skin moisture. 200mL

Day 26 - Elite Brigade

The Hellcat Combat is presented as a limited edition variant of the second and final generation of the Hellcat series. The Combat features a design specific hand ported and polished head design, special camshaft grind, returned intake system, which harmoniously result in a 12% gain in rear wheel horsepower and a 4% increase in rear wheel torque. Front and rear camshaft compression and rebound suspension rates are recalculated for superior handling, more detailed feedback and increased ride control.

A new sport seat and Combat specific finish completes the machine. The result is an exotic balance of power and beauty. A discreet "Combat" insignia is engraved on the outer primary machined aircraft-grade aluminun plate.

£40,000 number made 20 from Confederate

Day 27 - Making Sure Your Man Smells Good

Space NK
Man Collection

This boxed set includes a Space NK Man 100ml Eau de Toilette, 150ml Body Wash, 200g Soap and 100ml Shave Cream loaded with botanical plant extracts to calm and soothe the skin.

£68.00 from Space NK

Day 27 - Sleeping With Jellyfish

Jellyfish are the ultimate executive stress-reliever in the Far East. One of the hottest tickets in town is a night at the Enoshima Aquarium, not far from Tokyo. Scientists have proven that looking at jellyfish stimulates the release of relaxation hormones, so hundreds of stressed execs now enter a weekly lottery which allows 30 people to eat, practice yoga and sleep in front of the jellyfish tanks.

Hire from £2,500 London Aquarium

Day 28 - Compact Disc

Chaumet's gold charm necklaces adjust from baby to adult size. Available in 6 styles: boy, girl, clover, bee, tiara and heart.

£320 from Chaumet

Day 28 - Mint Tea

Gold is such a strong story for interiors at the moment and these Moroccan tea cups and saucers are so pretty and perfect for after dinner coffees and hot drinks. I have a collection of them displayed on a shelf in my kitchen and when the light catches, it's the perfect way to introduce a bit of 'bling' to your interior.

Cup size 8 cm high, saucer 10 cm diameter.

£12 from Maiden

Day 29 - Silver Softness

The passion for all things metallic and shiny continues and makes this silver metallic leather cushion right on trend. 40 cm x 40 cm

£35 from Wallace Sacks

Day 29 - Why Should Your Kids Have All The Fun?

Porsche has taken inspiration from the classic toboggan and come up with an aluminum masterpiece. It folds up, concertina-style, and zips along on aerodynamic runners.

Exclusive design. Aluminium frame with stainless steel runners. Innovative folding mechanism: no loose parts, ready for use within seconds. Exchangeable robust nylon seat in red or black (both included in package). High-quality protective carrying bag. Approved by German safety standards agency [TÜV].

£210 from Porsche

Day 30 - Play To Win

This scrabble set, £999, by Pickett, is beautifully made in leather and wood. Not just the ideal gift for you man, it's a winner for you both.

Available in 4 colour schemes:
pale blue pigskin
black cherry pigskin
pink pigskin
orange pigskin

Day 30 - Perfect Hair

Never have another bad hair day with the Louis Vuitton inclusion hair clip GM. Made from resin and golden brass.

£120 from Louis Vuitton

Day 31 - Ring O'Roses

18k Yellow gold flower ring. The ring is made up of 28 sapphires, 62 diamonds, and 24 tsavorites. The engraved flower is pink jasper. The large enamel flowers sit around the frame of the ring amongst the diamonds and sapphires.

An exquisite piece that stands out against anything else. Always have a flower with you.

Lydia Courteille £5,160.00 available from Browns

Day 31 - Gingerbread House?

Diptyque was founded in 1961 by three friends who had been trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and in house decoration, Desmond Knox-Leet, Christiane Gautrot and Yves Coueslant.

They first produced their own printed fabrics and then began importing to Paris the most renowned English perfumes. In 1963 Diptyque started producing a series of scented candles which soon gained world-wide fame. In 1968 Diptyque produced its first toilet water, l'EAU, based on a XVIth century pot pourri and clove pomander recipe. This was to be followed by other creations, which came as toilet water or soap as well as a rare and sophisticated toilet vinegar. Boxes in a sober design with elegant lettering and stylish drawings at the unmistakable hallmark of Diptyque products.

New for 2007 the Diptyque Gingembre Candle (sweet, warm aroma of ginger, honey, spices, woods and citrus fruit). £40 available from Space NK

Also new for 2007:

Encens (woody herbal blend with myrrh, resin, benzoin an incense)


Epicea (leaves, pine, resin and wet birch bark mingle in a base of vetyver, cedar and sandalwood.

Day 32 - Lights, Action.......

Turn on the radio, TV, or lights the moment you step in the door, or switch everything off as you leave at a press of a button. Bang & Olufsen's A9 Keyring is a miniature remote control with simple and effective operation. Manufactured in stainless steel, the smooth polished surface highlights the material´s natural colours and is hardwearing. Press AUDIO to switch on the radio, or press VIDEO for the TV.

A single press on LIGHT will switch on the lights in the room. Each source can be switched off individually or all at once, leaving your home entertainment and lights on standby for when you return.

from Bang & Olufsen

Day 32 - Little London

Bombki was born in 2001 and draws on a wealth of tradition. Head of Design, Michael Peterson BA, personally oversees the creation of each new bauble design from conception to final piece.

Taking each design through several stages from a painstaking first clay model to the perfectly finished glittering glass bauble. Their baubles are designed in England and manufactured by skilled craftsmen in Poland. Michael and his wife Zaneta have family connections with the factory that manufactures the baubles, adding to the special care taken with all of their designs.

It hasn't taken long for Michael's designs to be noticed and he has now designed baubles for many clients .. from Sir Paul Smith to Saint Paul 's Cathedral. always on the look out for new ideas and inspiration Michael's witty and pretty designs have become instant collectibles.

Even the packaging is desirable as each bauble, or bauble collection, comes in a beautiful wooden presentation box - making postage (and gift wrapping) an easy task. New designs are always being created.

from £11 available from Bombki

Day 33 - My Favourite Department Store

Selfridges has virtually everything under one roof and this year the most amazing Xmas window displays.

Go on, you know you want to treat yourself..........

Day 33 - Msambweni

Msambweni means the land of Sable Antelope on Kenya’s South coast.

Msambweni house is in a quiet, unspoilt, unique setting on the beach surrounded by 28 acres of natural land. The house offers 700 feet of private beach along a tropical 4 mile white, sandy coastline with palm trees where guests can really feel at one with nature. It stands on a 40 feet high cliff and is safely surrounded by a typical coral wall.

Msambweni house is luxury uncompromised. It’s a family owned and run exclusive house with three spacious and luxurious suites in the main house, one villa and a luxury tent.

The house has probably the best infinity pool ever (25 meters) and its winding jetty ends in a perfect sundowner spot on a cliff overlooking the big Indian Ocean where guests enjoy pre-dinner cocktails under the African sky and the sound of lapping waves.

Main House
The main house features high ceilings, has three spacious, luxurious ensuite rooms with private verandahs. The décor is of Swahili orient with fine finishes in chalk white and all the linen is pure white cotton.

Lamu Villas
Not far from the main house are two Lamu villas well appointed with their own swimming pools and Jacuzzi facing the sea.

Luxury Tent
And for a ‘wild’ alternative, they have a luxury tent.

All the rooms have a Lamu bath, shower, Lamu sinks, air-conditioning, a safe, king size beds, satellite television, free minibar, hairdryer, mosquito nets and a big terrace to relax and enjoy complimentary daily massages if you choose.

Day 34 - Jewel Coloured

Trump the LBD in a jewel-coloured silk cocktail dress.

£600 from Alberta Ferretti

Day 34 - Solid Perfume Daisy

Enter the world of Daisy: fresh and feminine, with a playful innocence. At the heart of Daisy is a floral with vintage edge: violet. Sophisticated, with a touch of whimsy, violet captures the eclectic, vintage flavor of Marc Jacobs' feminine, edgy designs.

Always elegant, always enchanting - but not too serious - Daisy is a sparkling floral bouquet, spirited and fresh, wrapped in comfort and warmth. This limited edition ring is classic yet youthful, containing a solid perfume that you can apply any where, any time.

Notes: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Vanilla, White Woods.

£20 Selfridges

Day 35 - Never Miss An Important Date

Never miss an important date with this gorgeous Five Year Diary by Smythson. It comes complete with a lock so all your secrets will be safe. The cover can be stamped with a name to create the perfect personalised present.

WP-DD0288

From £200.00

Day-per-page (two-days-to-view) diarist’s diary not year specific, hard bound.

• Smythson White Wove watermarked paper with a silver gilt edge.

• Bound in Smythson goatskin with FIVE YEAR DIARY silver blocked on the front cover.

• The diary runs from 1 January to 31 December, but is not year specific.

• Each page is feintly ruled with 5 darker lined divisions on each page to allow for daily entries over a 5 year period.

• Silver colour lock and key.

• Satin ribbon marker and end-papers lined in moire silk.

• The diary cover can be silver-stamped with a name or initials.

• Presented in a tissue-lined Nile Blue gift box.

• Dukes size 7.5" x 5.5" / 19 x 14cm

Day 35 - Neglected Novels, Diaries, Short Stories & Cookery Books

Persephone prints mainly neglected fiction and non-fiction by women, for women and about women. The titles are chosen to appeal to busy women who rarely have time to spend in ever-larger bookshops and who would like to have access to a list of books designed to be neither too literary nor too commercial. The books are guaranteed to be readable, thought-provoking and impossible to forget. They are sold mainly through mail order, through selected shops and they have their own shop.

59 Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB

(nearest tube stations Russell Square and Holborn).

Their titles include novels, short stories, diaries and cookery books. They are all carefully designed with a clear typeface, a dove-grey jacket, a 'fabric' endpaper and bookmark, and a preface by writers such as Jilly Cooper, Adam Gopnik, and Jacqueline Wilson.

'The answer to a present-giver's prayers.' Vogue

'There are cute books, there are beautiful books and then there are Persephone books.' The Irish Times

'What unites all the books is their timelessness. The writing is fresh, psychologically accurate, frequently moving and funny.' Daily Telegraph

'Oh, the bliss of Persephone Books!' India Knight, The Shops

All books are £10, or 3 for £27

Day 35 - Online Discount £10, £20 or £30 John Lewis until Midnight 26th November 2007

Promotion Code XMAS10, XMAS20, XMAS30

John Lewis

Day 35 - Mail Order, Instore Discount 15% OKA / RAPT until 6th March 2008

Promotion Code HBVP07

RAPT

OKA

Day 36 - Day to Evening

Its size makes this a great day-to-evening bag. it even has hidden accessories, like an inner pen pocket and detachable key fob. Anya Hindmarch 'Lautner' handbag.

Black patent leather bag with bronze trim and gold hardware. Anya Hindmarch bag has a designer embossed plaque on front, a strap across top with large hooks on end, a concealed magnetic fastening and black suede lining.

Product Code: 23384

£555 from Net A Porter

Day 36 - Classic Vamp

For the trendsetter, Bittersweets (New York) have designed a necklace aimed at the man in your life.

Solid silver necklace which moves as you move. Two garnets are set in the top fangs, which bear the taste of your last victim.

Approx £240 from Liberty

About The Artist

Bittersweets NY was created in 2002 by a girl who used to work at a foundry, welding and finishing art for famous people and housewives. In order to pay expensive NY rents she found a warehouse in Long Island City where she could live cheaply and still bike to work. The ground floor was home to several night clubs that switched from topless, to full nudity, to salsa, on a rotating basis. After 2 1/5 years living there-to avoid comparisons to Flashdance and a coked up neighbor, she moved from her spacious 1200 square foot studio, gave up sculpting and her foundry job, and started making jewelry in her new tiny apartment.

The idea behind Bittersweets NY is making something exquisite out of the everyday objects and designs that are taken for granted. Why reinvent the wheel? The first project, Bloodlust Princess, was a matching necklace, beltbuckle, tiara and mini ashtray set based on the design of the dollar store Vampire Teeth available once a year for Halloween. Of the four items from the orignal set, the Classic Vamp Necklace, now cast in solid sterling silver, is still in production. The sterling silver Heart n Dagger was inspired by true love, of course. And the Maggot and Earthworm series stay within the ideology of borrowing a design from another tried and true source...nature. Bittersweets New York opened a retail shop on Broadway in Brooklyn. There you can find all sorts of bittersweet surprises including one of a kind pieces. Stop in, if you dare

Day 37 - Wall Lamp

The Pistillo chrome-plated wall lamp (diameter 62cm) the ideal light fitting for enhancing any room.

£420 from Habitat

Day 37 - Shaking All Over

For the perfect christening, new baby or first Christmas present. 100% sterling silver bunny rattle.

£150 from Asprey

Day 38 - Sloes

Jonathan Curtoys is one of the new breed of wildlife-friendly farmers. He worked as an environmental lobbyist before joining former business partners Julia and Richard Brown on their farm.

The first plan was to set up a breakfast cereal business, but Curtoys wanted to encourage wildlife on the farm so the hedges were left to grow and given a two-metre margin of land to protect them. It was only then that Curtoys realised how many blackthorn hedges there were and had the idea of turning the sloes (ancestors of wild plums) into gin. "It almost happened by accident," he says. "The breakfast cereal business didn't do well and it's ironic that the wild food did."

By 2005, three years after starting Sloe Motion, there was a 40 per cent increase in breeding birds and the butterfly species count had risen to 21 - the highest in Yorkshire. "Not cutting the hedges has given us a crop for free as well as being massively beneficial for wildlife," says Curtoys, who now also buys sloes from local farmers and is planting more hedges.

As well as its sloe gin £14.95, Sloe Motion makes sloe vodka £14.95 and whisky £14.95, and also produces chocolate truffles £8.95 and chutney £3.95. There are plans for a sloe coulis and a fruit cheese in the not too distant future.

Day 38 - Wooden Programmes?

The surround might be natural Swedish beech, but the LCD TV inside is anything but wooden. HD-ready with a high-end 1,000:1 contrast ratio and split screen display.

£995 from wi5

Day 39 - Is This The Most Expensive Xmas Bauble In London?

Department store Liberty has claimed it is selling Britain's most expensive Christmas decoration - a £395 bauble in the shape of a grand piano.

Designed by New York jeweller Jay Strongwater, the bauble is made of handblown glass.

There is also an egg priced at £250 and a teddy bear at £195.

Day 39 - Breitling Emergency

This is the adventurer's watch - inside is a radio beacon which, if activated, will broadcast on an emergency frequency.

It's worn by mountaineers, sailors and pilots worldwide.

Sir Richard Branson once used his to initiate a sea rescue.

£3,420 from Breitling

Day 40 - Decks Appeal

Beautifully etched in stainless steel, this outrageous set of Stainless Steel playing cards are the jet set of card play. They come on a large steel sheet that looks so good you'll probably just want to mount them on the wall as a cool 'objet d'art', but if you want to actually play with them, just press them out of the sheet and you'll have possibly the most exclusive and beautiful deck of playing cards on the planet.

Features
A finely etched deck of 54 stainless steel playing cards with zebra stripe back
Mounted in sheet form for display or can be permanently removed for play
Modern interpretation of classic English face design

Size:
Each card - 8.7 x 5.6cm (standard playing card size)
Each sheet - 46 x 31 x 0.02cm

£195 from I Want One Of Those

Day 40 - E.vil

New York based label e.vil is famed for it's ironic and cheeky T-shirts. The jumper versions in cashmere are a must for any female's wardrobe.

£235 from Bunny Hug

Day 41 - Holistic Driving

The a2om academy takes a holistic approach to life behind the wheel. Pupils fill out a psychometric test online, then a programme is individually tailored to suit their behavioural needs. Simulators test responses in risky situations. Pupils keep driving diaries, have e-lectures and take lessons in dual-control Audi A3. There is also vital post-test mentoring.

a2om:courses

Full Course - Delivered at home and/or at School or University

A complete driver education programme for novices encompassing in car, online and in class lessons, the DSA theory and practical test and a post test mentoring programme that delivers post test motorway, night time and adverse weather training. From an initial psychometric evaluation a bespoke curriculum is prepared for each student ensuring that upon graduation from the academy not only will they be safer drivers but also have a more detailed and thorough sense of the road and the issues drivers inevitably encounter whilst driving.

Graduation from this course offers life membership of The a2om mo2a Club, as well as Royal and SunAlliance insurance discounts that would save approximately £1000 per annum on own name insurance for the first three years.

£2,500 inc. if paid in advance, or a £300 deposit followed by 11 instalments of £210.00 (£2610. inc. in total)

Post Test Course - Delivered at home and/or at School or University

A course dealing with all aspects of road driving and driver behaviour post test when for the first time the newly qualified driver is alone at the wheel. Using online and in car lessons this programme covers key crash risk scenarios and develops coping strategies. Designed to build upon technical skill proficiency the post test course aims to mature the driver's attitude to the road and increase overall awareness and responsibility.

£1750 inc.

Conversion course

Now available to those who have already started the process of learning to drive or have already taken and failed a DSA test. These courses are priced on the basis of an assessed drive with one of their Senior Educators.

Day 41 - Twisting The Night Away

This glorious Vigneto wine opener is of Italian design and manufacture. With its ergonomically designed handles, opening a bottle of wine has never been so easy. An extremely handsome and sturdy wine opener finished in satin and matt black.

superbly engineered

Italian design and manufacture

Teflon coated screw for easier extraction

Replaceable worm

Inclined guiding rack

Variable leverage angle

Ergonomic handles

Luxury presentation gift box

To keep your Ghidini Vigneto wine opener in tip top condition, hand wash in soapy water.

£99.95 from Style Cook Shop

Day 42 - Flights of Fantasy

The Icarus is an absolutely stunning light, the latest creation from designer sensation Tord Boontje.

Gigantic, lightweight and delicate at the same time, it is made from various layers of polyester. It comes with a cone-shaped plastic safety protector, which prevents the material from coming into contact with the light bulb.

Flat-packed for quick and easy assembly. Maximum lamp rating 60 watt. Drop approx 78cm.

The idea for the Icarus started as an experiment with cutting paper to create a dimensional form for light, discovering a structure with overlapping feather shapes that resembled a swan's wing. The end result is very romantic, delicate and absolutely dreamy.

£58.50 from Dutch By Design

Day 42 - Hip Louis

Cognac is now a hip drink for young clubbers, and Louis Royer is leading the revival. This £99 XO (Extra Old) blend is a gentle introduction to the spirit.

Available from The Drink Shop

Day 43 - Ultimate Shaving Experience

Collezione Barbiere - the art of elegant shaving, with a twist of Italian style.

Brush & Razor Stand £330.00 from Acqua Di Parma

The beautifully designed stand holds both the pure badger hair brush and the shaving razor - a sophisticated combination of burnished brass and fine wenge wood.

Day 43 - Accessorise Your Man

Bring a touch of seasonal fashionability to your man's outfit with a choice of accessories.

A long scarf is as dandy as it is practical in the winter, can be worn both casually and formally.

Paul Smith £45.00

Day 44 - Green Fingers

For those of you with green fingers, these beautiful, and handy Bradley's quality Rosewood Handle Secateurs are a must.

£33.00 Mia Wood

Day 44 - Mademoiselle

Chanel Fine Jewellery's Mademoiselle ring in pink gold with coloured stones, sapphires, a diamond and a pearl £3,410.

Chanel

Day 45 - Xmas Lighting

Zinc-Edged Jampot Candle

Strikingly simple yet attractive candle in zinc-edged re-usable jam pot with handle. Great in contemporary kitchens. Can be used all year round. For Christmas wrap heart wire (available separately) and ivy around rim. Half filled with unscented wax. Diameter 10.5cm H 11cm. Burn time 20 hours.

£10.50 from Caroline Zorb

Day 45 - For The Child In Us All

Wooden Advent Calendar £ 52.00

When you're little, Christmas can't come soon enough. This wooden advent calendar features cupboards for gifts, sweets and surprises that make counting down the days much more fun! It would make an ideal gift for families, or sit it by your front door if you have visitors during the lead up to Christmas. Measures 40cm high x 37cm wide. Hanging catch on reverse.

LK6-02 Red Direct

Day 46 - Una grande storia italiana. Valentino Garavani

First name in fashion

The glamorous life and work of Valentino Garavani

Think Valentino: think luxury. Think elegance. Think red carpet. Fashion’s most beloved upholder of refined decadence and the most exciting couturier in business is known around the globe simply by his first name. Only a few years after opening his fashion house in Rome in 1959, Valentino was already at the height of success, counting Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn among his devotees. Over forty years later, not much has changed—he’s still dressing the top celebrities, from Gwyneth Paltrow to J.Lo, though now his business is a major economic force in Italy and his fashion house is among the most famous in the world. Valentino has always designed clothes for glamorous and sophisticated women, never wavering from his signature style even when grunge, deconstruction, and other passing fads were all the rage. Though his couture division almost never makes a profit (his ready-to-wear lines are what fuel the business), his heart is most solidly devoted to the magnificent haute couture gowns that earned him his reputation as fashion’s most talented dressmaker.

This luxurious limited-edition publication renders homage to Valentino’s illustrious career via a copious selection of images from his archives, including drawings, magazine shoots, advertisements, portraits of Valentino, and documentary photographs; presented chronologically, the visual material is accompanied by a vast array of newspaper and magazine articles about Valentino throughout the years. Text also includes Vanity Fair writer Matt Tyrnauer’s interviews with twenty of Valentino’s closest collaborators and friends as well as an appreciation of Valentino by International Herald Tribune’s fashion writer Suzy Menkes. All of these elements add up to an in-depth look at the man, his lifestyle, and his genius—a book more comprehensive and stunning than one could hardly dare to dream of. After all, what could be a more fitting tribute to the work of Valentino than a book as beautiful and luxurious as one of his gowns?

Collector’s Edition

(No. 101–2,100)


• Limited to 2,000 numbered copies, signed by Valentino Garavani

• Finished in setalux book cloth with six-color silkscreen printing


• Comes in a clamshell box finished in silk cloth, especially tinted in Valentino red


About the authors:

Queen of the fashion world, Suzy Menkes is the head fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune. She is among the most influential fashion critics in the world and was recently named an officer of the Order of the British Empire as well as a chevalier of the Legion of Honor by French President Jacques Chirac. Menkes is originally from London but lives in Paris.


Matt Tyrnauer is Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine, where he has written and edited numerous features over the years. Among them are stories on Martha Stewart, Siegfried & Roy, Frank Gehry, Merv Griffin, and Valentino. He is a native of Los Angeles and lives in New York City.

About the editor:

Armando Chitolina began his career as a graphic design consultant, image consultant, and art director for various magazines, including Vogue Italia and L'Uomo Vogue. He also designed fashion magazines for the Mondadori group. For several years he forged the image of some fashion houses, including Moschino and Mila Schön. Chitolina`s many books for TASCHEN include William Claxton`s Jazz Seen, Gian Paolo Barbieri`s Equator, The book of Tiki, Fantasy Worlds, and Naked as a Jaybird.


£600 from Taschen

Day 46 - Night & Darkness

A fascination with night, darkness and the unseen corners of our world has often haunted the work of Chrystel Lebas as she uses a variety of diiferent approaches to the subject in an effort to assess our experience of it and our relationship to it.

In her series Night 2, Lebas examined the intense darkness of starless nights, shooting at dusk with a pinhole camera. In a separate project, Sleep, she looks explores a different view of night by creating ghostly images of people sleeping, considering the outward appearance and inward experience of being unconscious. "Is it an image of sleep or death," Lebas asks, "of the process of dreaming or dying?"

More recently Lebas has used a panoramic camera to produce colour landscapes from all over Europe. By using slow sweeping camera movements together with long exposure times, from two to six hours, these images explore photography's intrinsic relationship with time and movement. In this respect Lebas uses the camera in much the same way as an artist might use a pencil, as a tool to 'draw' the landscape.

Lebas uses symbolic elements, such as water, sky and mountains, and a richness of colour to emphasise a dream-like state of a distorted world that draws the imagination back to childhood. Lebas' work is strongly influenced by the German Romantic Movement from the end of the nineteenth century, touching upon notions of contemplation.

Human Nature is based upon the idea of human presence within the landscape and our relationship to the natural environment. The photographs, produced in Iceland and America, show the figure contemplating and interacting with places of interest. The grandeur of the landscapes contrasts with the size of the human body within it, and emphasises the notion of immensity.

Chrystel Lebas was born in Salon de Provence, France, in 1966. She is a graduate of the Royal College of Art and currently lives and works in London. Chrystel Lebas has exhibited extensively at international level. Her work is represented in the permanent collection of the Bibliothéque Nationale, Paris, and in many private and corporate collections. L'espace temps / Time in Space, Lebas' first monograph, received the British Book Design and Production Award 2004 and was exhibited at the Rencontres d' Arles Book award 2004. Lebas recently published her second book, the monograph Between Dog and Wolf.

Prices from £520 from The Photographers Gallery. All prices exclusive of vat and framing and subject to change.

Day 47 - Washing Never Was So Stylish

The new limited edition Steam Direct Drive washing machine from LG Electronics and Designer Guild combines state of the art home technology with refreshing and breathtaking interior style. The collaboration has produced 4 eye catching home appliances created to challenge the design and function of traditional white goods.

LG's steam direct drive washing machine is the world's first washing machine to incorporate innovative steam technology in the washing process, and is set yo transform the face of home laundry.

Developed using eco-friendly technology, LG's steam direct drive washing machine steam cleans garments using 35% less water and 21% less energy than traditional washers. Leading the way in cutting edge home appliance technology this stylish high-end washer boasts a number of important features that will change the way we was our clothes forever!

£1,299

Day 47 - Flights of Fancy

Feathers feature prominently on the elegant evening purses by Michael Teperson, the new Milan-based handbag designer. "They are very complicated to make and have to be done beautifully, otherwise they end up looking like pencil cases," jokes Teperson, referring to the luxury evening bags that he produces in a specialist factory away from the fashion fray in Palermo, Sicily. One of the most popular styles is Flute, an opera bag fashioned in satin, lined with suede and graced with an opulent plume of elegant ostrich feathers.

"Feathers are one of the earliest and most primal forms of human decoration, and their exotic nature has always added a sensualquality, so it is no wonder feathers feature so prominently in the world of burlesque," explains the designer whose bags sell for upwards of £320. "Feathers also blend innocence with sexuality and this would have appealed to the Victorians. For me, the sheer glamour is both a challenge and a joy to work with."

Fixing feathers to Teperson's bags is a complicated process. Feathers are plucked from geese or ostriches and hand glued to bags by women in Tuscany.

£483 from Harrods +44 207 730 1234

Day 48 - an Apple a Day.......

The iPhone finally arrives in the UK on November 9, available from 6pm. It's arrival has been eagerly awaited, and for this Apple user it's been a long time coming. As I'm heavily pregnant it's unfortunately going to be purchased from a local O2 shop, however I'd love to be down at Regent's street for the grand launch!

It features a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email, web browsing, searching and maps. And iPhone makes it all easy to use with its pioneering multi-touch user interface. iPhone syncs with your PC or Mac just like an iPod, so organising your content now will help you start calling, texting, emailing, surfing, listening and watching even faster when you get your iPhone. Here are a few suggestions to help you get ready:

Contacts

Making a call with iPhone is as simple as tapping a name. You won’t need to re-enter all your contacts because iPhone syncs with the address book you already use on your computer — Address Book or Entourage on a Mac, or Outlook or Outlook Express on a PC. If you keep your contacts on the web using Yahoo! Address Book, iPhone can sync with them, too. To get ready for iPhone, organise your contacts in one of these applications and make sure they’re up to date with the latest phone numbers and email addresses. If you have a lot of contacts on your current SIM card, make sure to migrate them to the address book on your computer. You can also enter contacts directly into iPhone.

Calendar

Using its built-in calendar, iPhone lets you check your appointments with the flick of a finger. iPhone uses iTunes to sync with the calendar application you already use on your computer — iCal or Entourage on the Mac, or Outlook on a PC — just like it does with your contacts. If you don’t already use one of these applications to manage your appointments, now is a great time to start, so you’ll be ready to sync when your iPhone arrives. If you choose not to use a calendar program, that’s OK. You’ll be able to enter appointments directly into the iPhone calendar.

Email

iPhone offers the best-ever email application on a mobile phone. So now your phone can display rich HTML email with graphics and photos alongside the text. iPhone will even fetch your latest email every time you open the application and automatically retrieve your email on a set schedule, just like a computer does. iPhone works with the most popular email systems — including Yahoo! Mail, AOL, Google Mail and .Mac Mail. If you’re not already using one of these services, now would be a great time to get an account. iTunes will make email setup on iPhone easy by automatically syncing the settings from email accounts stored in Mail on a Mac or Outlook on a PC. Don’t worry if you’re not on one of these email services; iPhone also works with almost any industry-standard POP3 and IMAP email system.

Photos

iPhone has a 2-megapixel camera and a gorgeous 3.5-inch display, so it’s a great way to enjoy and show off your digital photos. iPhone uses iTunes to sync your photos from iPhoto on a Mac or Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Album or any picture folder on a PC. You can carry thousands of photos on iPhone, but you can start by creating an album or two with 50 to 100 of your favourite photos, so that when you first sync your iPhone, you’ll be ready to quickly show off some of your best shots.

Music and Video

iPhone has a beautiful, 3.5-inch widescreen display that allows you to easily enjoy the music, TV shows and videos you have in your iTunes library. If you already use iTunes, you can start getting ready for iPhone by creating a playlist of a few hundred of your favourite songs. If you don’t have iTunes, now is a good time to download it and start a music and video library. That way, when you sync your iPhone with iTunes, you’ll be able to take your favourite music, TV shows and videos with you wherever you go.

iTunes Account

To set up your iPhone, you’ll need an account with Apple’s iTunes Store. If you already have an iTunes account, make sure you know your account name and password. If you don’t have an account, you should set one up now to save time later. To set up an account, launch iTunes, select the iTunes Store, and click the Sign In button in the upper right corner of iTunes. Sign in and you’re ready to go.

Day 48 - iphone For Your Little One

With Friday's launch of the new Apple iphone, comes the latest accessory for you and your family, the limited edition iphone babygrow, available 6 months up to 18 months.

£12.95 available from ipopwear

Also available are ipod T-shirts. So so cute!!!!

All the garments are generously sized. iPopWear and iPopMyBaby clothing is manufactured from the highest quality 100% organic cotton. Garments are combed for softness and comfort with a cleverly constructed neckline designed for easy fitting. Each item DOES NOT contain ANY conventional cotton: no farmers have suffered from pesticide poisoning to produce the cotton fibre – guaranteed GM-free.

The limited edition iPhone-Baby range is manufactured from 100% baby rib cotton in a sweat shop free environment. These outfits are constructed with a reinforced yet soft and comfortable sleeve, neck and leg openings. The triple seat snaps makes nappy changing easy.

Images are silk screened (not heat transferred) for lasting image quality and bright colouration. Machine wash warm with like colours – ironing clickwheel not recommended. Volume and pause control not guaranteed to function! Please note these garnments have no technical functionality - it's just for fun!

They care about your babies comfort - For better wearability and breathability, wash before use. As with any printed garment, please do not use outfit for overnight sleeping as image may cause irritability on sensitive skin.