Hideaway

Morning,

We were unexpectedly shut yesterday due to illness, so sorry about that.

Over the bank holiday we will be open tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday as normal (9am till 5.30pm), then shut on the Sunday and Monday as normal. We will also be closed on the Tuesday as well, but open as normal from Wednesday.

Today's Pick Of The Day is this signed, framed, limited edition print, Hidden Woman in Black & White, by Daniel Cheney, £17.50. The price is a bargain, given that it comes ready framed! Daniel is a young local Wellingborough artist (with a great sideline in designing tattoos as well), who is heavily inspired by nature, video games, and comic books (which is one hell of a mix). We're very proud to be one of the first outlets for his work. This print (we also have a coloured version) features a woman emerging from a rose, and is frequently commented on. We also have more of his work in store, so if you're in the area, pop in.

Have a great day, so close to the weekend now!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Who Is Moving - Lilys

Running Up That Hill

Morning,

Had a great weekend. On Saturday night we went to Yum Yum at The Picturedrome in Northampton. For those not familiar with The Picturedrome, it's a fantastic venue that was originally opened in 1912 as Northampton's first purpose-built cinema. It's been really well preserved and it's a fantastic art deco building. Yum Yum itself is always a great night, and brilliant for fashion spotting. Lots of retro and mod inspired looks (I'm personally always fascinated by some of the womens' hairstyles and how they stay like that!). It's always great for some inspiration.

Talking of inspiration, I thought we'd show off a bit of our artistic side for Pick Of The Day today. This is The House On The Hill by Pippa Alice, £20.00. It's a signed original piece of artwork, hand drawn on handmade recycled cotton rag paper. Due to it's small size, it makes a great little gift. All Pippa Alice pieces have now been reduced to £20.00, which is a great deal for this distinctive little gems. This one is perfect for the architect or town planner in your life. :)

Hope your week is starting well!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Cup Of Coffee - Garbage

Who The F*ck Is Alice?

Morning,

Been a bit of a hectic one already this morning. Remember, if you're out shopping or doing a bit of online retail therapy over this weekend, we're open 10am till 4.30pm tomorrow, and all day on Saturday, so pop in store or order online and we'll get it sent straight out to you. Wherever possible, our mail order items are sent out First Class Signed For in the UK, to ensure they get there quickly and safely. For overseas, we always send First Class and try to use a method that requires a signature on delivery. Once the item is sent, you will receive your tracking details via PayPal so you can keep tabs on it too!

I know the weather has been nice the last couple of days, but the shop is located on a side of the street that doesn't get any sun. This means it's nice and cool for weary shoppers, but I'm yet to stop wearing a cardigan all day! So while everyone else is getting sunburn (please tan responsibly!), I'm looking like Casper The Friendly Ghost. Oh well, I'm going for pale and interesting!

Busy day yesterday. As well as customers and browsers, we had lots of visitors. I like to think of Unorthodox as being a bit of a community. So Patrick came in to park his bike in the back room, Matt came in to borrow my sim card, Goth Dave popped in for a chat, as did Carly and baby Leo, and Tracie and Caitlin, as well as others. It's one of the nicest parts of being here. It's great when our repeat customers stop by and let us know how they're getting on with their purchases or make suggestions.

Pick Of The Day today is this Rubertine Art Airbrushed Alice Cooper T-Shirt, £25.00. Made in strictly limited numbers, this was airbrushed by hand by local artist Carmen, and is part of a range of t-shirts featuring heroes and icons. It's a work of art you can wear.

Have a great day (especially if it's your last one at work for a few days!).

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Magnatron - Kenickie

Flat Pack

Morning,

Hope you all had a good weekend. Thought we'd let you know our opening hours for the bank holidays coming up. We will be open as normal, and closed on the Mondays as usual, except for Good Friday (22nd) when we will be open 10am to 4.30pm, Tuesday 26th when we will be opening at midday until 5.30pm, and Royal Wedding day (29th) when we will be open 10am till 4pm. I apologise if any of this causes an inconvenience (and to be fair, I'm moving house that week, so I need to grab some spare hours here and there to do that!).

We were also mentioned in the Northants Evening Telegraph again the other day (yeah, yeah, just call me rentaquote). This time it was commenting on a flyering campaign run by another local town, Corby, trying to persuade Wellingborough's shoppers to go over there instead. Think the headline Corby tactics anger Kettering and Wellingborough in store wars might be a bit melodramatic but is probably infinitely more attention-grabbing than 'Traders slightly miffed'. :)


Pick Of The Day for today is a little bargain and a great way of support local artists. This Cat Flat by R.L. Sturdgess Postcard Set, £2.00 for a pack of 6, is taken from the Cat Flat comic book designed by local artist and Unorthodox model Rebecca. Drawn in an anime style, they are perfect for sending out your thank you notes for all those Easter eggs you're anticipating!

Enjoy the sun (or whatever weather you have where you are!).

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!) (Remix) - Blu Cantrell feat Foxy Brown

Purple People Eater

Morning,

It's Saturday! Which means several things: for our in-store shoppers, it's your last day to get your Stargazer hair dyes for only £4.00. Also, for those in the Wellingborough area, make sure you get your copy of the Northants Evening Telegraph today and look out for our advert. Just bring it in with you to get 10% off all Yumi clothing.

Today's Pick Of The Day is this gorgeous piece of hand drawn, signed, original artwork by Pippa Alice. This is The Purple House, and all Pippa Alice pieces have now been reduced to only £20 each. It is on handmade recycled cotton rag paper, and measures approximately 11x15.5cm so it's a small and perfectly formed piece for decorating any space.

Have a great weekend!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Atrocity Exhibition - Joy Division

Sundae Girl

Morning,

I usually try to think of a music-related pun for the blog title that relates to the content in some way. However, today's was just perfect as it was!

Today we're focusing on our artists. Whilst we are predominantly a boutique selling clothes, accessories and cosmetics, we like to support the arts and anyone who has been in our shop can see all the beautiful pieces adorning our walls. Some of these are available on the online shop, some are not as yet. The pieces we have available include small original pieces by Pippa Alice, canvases and smaller originals by Louise Berrill, originals and prints by Richard Stones, canvases, postcards and framed originals by Rebecca Sturdgess, canvases by Anita Hughes, framed prints by Daniel Cheney, photographic canvas prints and postcards by Clive Wagner, not to mentioned beautifully painted glassware from Dorne Boddington's Smashing Glass. With original canvases starting at £12 and going up to £450, there is something for every taste and budget. So don't forget, not only can we help you look like your amazing and unique self, we can help your home reflect that too.

Our Pick Of The Day is one of these gorgeous works of art. Let me introduce you to Sundae Girl by Pippa Alice. Pippa is our only artist currently who isn't based locally. Her pieces have a fantastic whimsical style that is very distinctive. They're all signed originals, created on handmade recycled cotton rag paper. Sundae Girl is approx 11cm x 15.5cm so she's small enough to fit anywhere! Great as a thoughtful gift for a loved one, or just a fantastic treat for yourself and your space.

View Sundae Girl by Pippa Alice on our online shop.

Hope you've all got a great weekend lined up. We're off to Retro-Beat at The Horseshoe down the road to check out The Francis Jetty and Transmission. We'll tell you all about it when we're back to work on Tuesday! In the meantime, have fun!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Empty Room - Bardot

Blossoming

Morning,

Day 2 of the sale! Make sure you get in quick as many items are in limited numbers and sizes, and many of them are perfect as last minute NYE outfit options!


Our Pick Of The Day is a piece of our artwork, which is great if you fancy a bit of a change in your surroundings for the new year. This is Hidden Woman (Black & White) by Daniel Cheney, and is a signed, limited edition, framed print. There is also a colour version available. Daniel Cheney is a local artist, and was the first person to feature in our Local Heroes collaboration with Brian Chapman Photography. This is from a series of pieces he produced on the idea of fusing humanity with nature, and it's absolutely beautiful.

Hidden Woman (Black & White) by Daniel Cheney on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Hope you're gearing up for a great 2011!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Rozz Box - Boys Noize

Daydream Believer

Morning,

Hoping to have our lovely new Monsalina Chic and RedRock Fashion pieces in for you this weekend, but we will keep you posted. We've also got a little Stargazer Neon Glitter Shaker stand that's going into the Horseshoe Inn (the world's smallest pop up shop, if you will), so if you're out in Wellingborough over the festive season, pop in and buy some and add a little sparkle to your night.


Pick Of The Day is this signed, limited edition print of Daydream by Richard Stones. This colourful, unique, surreal print is a great example of Richard's work, and exclusively available from Unorthodox. If this one doesn't take your fancy, check out the art section of the website for more of Richard and our other artists' work.

Daydream by Richard Stones Signed Limited Edition Print on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Edging closer to the weekend...

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Push It All Aside - Alisha's Attic

It Takes A Village

Morning,

We've restocked our Stargazer Glitter Shakers down the road at The Horseshoe Inn so this weekends revellers can cover themselves in sparkliness. They're available behind the bar for the usual £3.00. There are also some Stargazer Neon Gel Colours available there too, as well as in the shop and online.


Pick Of The Day today is one of our beautiful pieces of signed original artwork by Pippa Alice. This one is called The Village and shows that whilst she's an amazing artist, I'm not sure what Pippa would be like as an architect! An original one-off, this little piece is on handmade recycled cotton rag paper, and is small enough to brighten any little space. Great as a gift that's easily mailed, or as a treat for yourself.

The Village by Pippa Alice on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Have a great weekend!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Swimming Through Nails - Alec Empire

Heart Shaped Box

Morning,

First off, we'll be closing early today at 4.30pm. Sorry if this causes anyone any problems, and rest assured I'd rather be here than at the dentist, which is where I'm headed. Still, the online shop is always open so don't let that stop you!

We're awaiting the arrival of our Stargazer and Barry M orders, so will announce on our Facebook and Twitter accounts when those arrive. Lots of shiny things to get you through the festive season!

Our pick of the day is this Invader Zim wooden box by local crafty types D'n'J. Hand painted and hand finished, this wooden box is big enough to hold most of your valuables and features the characters from the Invader Zim cartoon. Limited edition, this is great as a gift or for indulging your inner kid. Full details on size are on the item page on the online shop using the link below.

D'n'J Invader Zim Hand-Painted Wooden Box on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Have a good week!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Whenever, Wherever - Shakira

Daisy Daisy

Morning,

Still no snow (which I'm secretly quite pleased about, to be honest) in the vicinity of Unorthodox. Just even more cold!

A bit of good news for Barry M fans, nail obsessives, and beauty innovators in general. We will have the Barry M Instant Nail Effects back in stock from Tuesday. I know a lot of you have been requesting it, so we've tried to make sure we have enough to keep you all going over the festive season! That said, given how quickly it went last time, probably best to get yours sooner rather than later!

Pick Of The Day is from our collection of artwork we have. This is a limited edition print of Daniel Cheney's Hidden Woman (Colour) from his Mother Nature collection. Already framed in a simple clip-frame, the print is signed by the artist, is only available in limited numbers, and is exclusively through Unorthodox. There is also a black and white version available. Daniel Cheney is a young, Northamptonshire artist with a mid-Atlantic accent, the former owner of what could be a world record breaking sized afro, and does a passable impression of Moss from The IT Crowd. He is also very talented, and these reasons combined make his work perfect for Unorthodox. We don't want our artists to be ordinary and dull!

Hidden Woman (Colour) by Daniel Cheney Framed Signed Limited Edition Print on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Got that Friday feeling?

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Range Life - Pavement

Belle Of The Ball

Morning,

First up, we have a special offer ready to launch for you once our Facebook page gets up to 350 followers. We're pretty close now, so help us and yourselves out by making sure you visit our Facebook page, click like, and suggest it to any friends you think might be interested or share it as a link on your profile. The special offer will apply online and in store, so we'll make sure you don't miss out!

Those of you who have started their Xmas shopping seem to be loving our Smashing Glass pieces. As each one is unique, make sure you get it before it's gone!

Rebecca Sturdgess' artwork is now up in the shop and we'll try to get it photographed an onto the online shop soon. Each piece is a signed original, in a variety of formats ranging from canvases to framed pieces, in many different styles and influences (loving the Japanese themed pieces). With prices starting at £12, they're perfect presents that will never be replicated.

Pick Of The Day today is this absolutely gorgeous Special Evening dress. We're running a special offer on all of our Special Evening dresses this festive season, meaning you can pick up any of them for only £55 each! This one is gorgeous, and also available in red. With an elasticated back and adjustable straps, this fits like it was made for you, and comes with the matching shawl (shown). Beautifully made, this is a classic prom dress that is perfect for all your parties this festive season, and will look just as nice in a garden as you sip on some Pimms next summer (Pimms optional).

Special Evening SENOA43 Dress in Light Pink on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Hope you're having a good week!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Sweat (A La La La La Long) - Inner Circle

Reggae Reggae Sauce

Morning,

Saturday has rolled around again. We bid a sad goodbye to our Death Kitty Skull Bow T-shirts that have now sold out. We are also on our last Death Kitty Beano Jumper (in store only, currently), and limited stock of the Death Kitty Skull Rose Leggings and the Worn Free Joey Ramone 'Punk Magazine' t-shirts. Oh, and remember, if you're Christmas shopping today, we have gift vouchers available if you're just not sure, or leave a wishlist here so we can help your friends and family pick out just the right things.

Pick Of The Day for today is this wearable work of art. Created by Rubertine Art, this Bob Marley t-shirt has been airbrushed, making it hand-finished, intricate and in limited numbers. Simple, but really iconic, this is a definite must-have for any fan of the legend. More information on the t-shirt can be found on the link below, or check out the Rubertine Art section for more of their iconic designs.

Rubertine Art Airbrushed Bob Marley T-Shirt on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder

Village People

Morning,

From this afternoon, gift certificates will be available from the Unorthodox shop on Silver Street, Wellingborough. These can currently only be used in the shop, and not on the website, but if you're in the area, they're perfect for Christmas, birthdays, or any other occasion when you want to get a gift. It avoids all sorts of dramas over what the recipients taste/dress size/preferences are!

Pick Of The Day is this Pippa Alice piece, The Village. It's a signed, original piece of artwork on handmade recycled cotton rag paper. It measures 11cm x 15.5cm approx, so it's little enough to brighten up even the smallest space (also, from a gift perspective, it's much easier to post!). We have a variety of Pippa Alice pieces in the shop and on the online shop, and they're all very very beautiful. This is a perfect chance for you or someone you know to own an original and show it off to your friends!

The Village by Pippa Alice on www.unorthodoxshop.com.

Have a good weekend! See you Tuesday.

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Screaming Gun - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

New

Afternoon

Bit late with the blogging today but getting lots of new things onto the site. As I mentioned yesterday, we have new artwork in. There is a brilliant print on canvas by photographer Clive Wagner of Sywell Aerodrome. There are also a couple of signed, framed prints of Daniel Cheney's Hidden Women from his Mother Nature collection. We also have a couple of originals by Richard Stones, which are reclaimed paintings he has worked his collage magic on. We also have more prints of other pieces of his work available soon.



These T-shirts are by local DIY label DJB. Exclusive to Unorthodox, their graffiti-style designs are printed on t-shirts by a known high street brand, giving them a whole new look. The pink one is the DJB Jam T-shirt, and can be found on our online shop here, whilst the other one is the DJB ROA Button Front T-shirt and can be ordered here.


This is one of our Special Evening dresses, perfect for all those upcoming seasonal parties. We have a selection of different styles in the store, but this is the first one to hit the online shop. Called SENOA06, it has an elasticated back for comfort and flexibility on sizing, is fully lined, and beautifully embroidered with sequins for a little sparkle. It comes with the black wrap shown. This can be viewed and ordered on our online shop here.



These gorgeous mini dresses are by Monsalina Chic. Available in the black with white detailing, or the white with black detailing, you can take your pick for your own bit of monochrome. They come with detachable clear straps that can either be attached to the dress, or added to a bra of your choice. These a really distinctive and beautifully made. They are shown here with the Temporary:Secretary Acrylic Bow necklace. Click here to check out the white with black, or here for the black with white.



This purple Layered Dress is also by Monsalina Chic. I've put up the pictures of it being modelled by both Louise and Tahnee so you can see how versatile it is on different shapes. It's fitted tailoring shows the fantastic quality, and it has a hidden zip at the back. Beautifully vintage in style. Check out this dress here.

Phew!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Sunlamp Show (Disco Bloodbath Remix) - The Aliens

Kitsch Kitty

Morning,

Well, it's Tuesday, which is the start of the Unorthodox week (we don't do Mondays). A very long to-do list and lots of paperwork await. But on a happier note, we have some new artwork in! I'll put the full details on here tomorrow but if you're in the area, come in and browse!

Pick Of The Day are these Temporary:Secretary Hello Kitty earrings. Made for pierced ears with silver plated backings, and measuring about 1cm x 1cm, they're a very cute little treat for all fans of Sanrio's little cat. We also have a matching Hello Kitty ring in stock, also by TempSec. All Temporary:Secretary pieces are hand-assembled, to order, keeping them exclusive and desirable. These are available in store or on our online shop, so why not treat yourself?

Click here to view and order the Temporary:Secretary Hello Kitty earrings from our online shop.

Hope your week is starting well!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Ascending Melody - Dirty Projectors

Indie-pendence

Morning,

LOVED the street party on Saturday! Ok, so I mainly got to experience it from the shop doorway, but it was great seeing so many people about! Thanks to everyone who popped in, and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves!

Remember, the sale is still on in store and online, so have a look! Also, will be adding our selection of Rubertine Art t-shirts to the site later today, so keep your eyes open for those as well.

Pick Of The Day is this Pippa Alice hand drawn, signed, original artwork. This one is called The Smiths T-Shirt Girl, and it's on handmade recycled cotton rag paper. Measuring approx 11cm x 15.5cm, this little picture is a great chance to own a gorgeous piece of original art from an fantastic artist! We also have a selection of other Pippa Alice artwork available, so have a look in store (it's in the top of our antique counter) or on the website.

For more information on The Smiths T-Shirt Girl by Pippa Alice and to order it from our online shop, click here.

Hope you're all having a good week!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: By The Sea - Suede

Pause For Thought

Morning,

They're digging a trench along the road outside this morning, but if you can negotiate your way through the barriers, we will try to make it worth your while!

The body jewellery arrived yesterday. Among other things, we have various stretching spirals, nails and tapers, as well as tongue bars, barbells, navel bars, nose studs, rings, tunnels, plugs, balls... well, come have a look for yourself! Many items are a lot cheaper than you can find them elsewhere! We have a variety of brands including Blackline, and all have been recommended to us by piercers so we are confident they are good quality products. Just have to work out how to display them all now! So if they're not in the counter when you pop in, just ask, and we'll be happy to show you what we have.

These paintings went up on the wall this morning. They are by local artist Anita Hughes, and are based on brain function and neural pathways. The bottom one is called Brain Neuron Painting 1, and is acrylic on canvas. Measuring approx 41cm x 41cm, it is priced at £50. The top canvases are called Brain Neuron Paintings 2. They show how repeating positive thoughts can create permanent connections in the brain (sort of a visual representation of cognative behavioural therapy, for the psychologists out there!) They are mixed media on canvas, and measure approx 30cm x 30cm each. They come as a pair and are priced at £40 (which is a bit of a bargain for two canvases!). All are signed originals.

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Meeksville Sound Is Dead - Pluto Monkey

Fluorescent Adolescent

Morning,

We now have the Louise Berrill Cityscape canvases back on display in the shop and we have missed them! We have 4 of her canvases in various sizes and they are all for sale, starting at £250. But if that's not in your budget, we have a bit of a solution for you.

Newly arrived yesterday, we can now offer these Louise Berrill Cityscapes in miniature (well, miniature-ish!). Louise has produced some new versions on paper using ink and mixed media, and measuring 20cm x 20cm (30cm x 30cm mounted). All still beautiful originals, they are priced at £60 each, and we currently have 5 different ones in stock. This one is called City Fluorescents, and is so much more vibrant and intricate than my quick photo could possibly show! So if you love the canvases, these are an absolute steal by an up and coming local artist, rapidly gaining attention. But then, it's not about investments, it's about having something gorgeous adorning your walls!

Now I have to go quickly draw up some labels for all this lovely art!

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis

Summer Solstice

Morning,

Summer solstice today, and the sun is shining (as it should be!). I'm sneezing like mad with hayfever but we'll gloss over that!

Louise Berrill, whose art we have been displaying, has taken her Cityscapes that we had on the walls for an exhibition next weekend, so in the meantime she has lent us some lovely other pieces of her work. Very pretty and lots of blue, so perfect for a summer's day.

Also perfect for a summer's day is our pick of the day today. This maxi dress is one of the new Max C 'High Summer' collection we have in. It's got a gorgeous feather-print on it (feathers being very in this summer) and the colours are beautiful. With an elasticated bandeau-style top, the skirt flows elegantly to the floor, going from blue at the top to a deep red at the bottom. As always, stock is limited, so whether it's for festivals, nights out, days in the park, or holidays, pop in and have a look at this one. When it's gone, it's gone!

Hope everyone is having a good Monday.

Kat

Now Playing In The Shop: I Know - Pfilbryte