Last Thursday evening's festivities meant that Teddington was busy until well into the evening; and it was lovely to see so many people in the store buying gifts, filling in their Wish Lists and enjoying a glass of wine with friends in the relaxing space we have created on our first floor.

We believe that keeping things simple and beautiful is the best way to get through the festive season. So, sticking to our principles, you will not see very much in the way of tinsel in the store! But you will find plenty of gift ideas.

The candle market is certainly a saturated one, but quality shines through in the glass or ceramic votives by Astier de Villatte. Inspired by the fragrances you might encounter in different parts of the world; be transported to Brasil, Delhi, Naples...  Thanks to the woven cotton wick of these vegetable wax candles, they burn durably and flawlessly for about 45 hours. The beautifully hand-crafted ceramic lids, which are sold separately, transform a simple candle into a lovely ornament and keep the candle dust-free when it is not burning. My personal favourites are Mantes la Jolie which has fresh citrus mixed with eucalyptus, and I burn Anchorage which really does take me to that "snow-covered landscape". Friends tell me that even my home smells of TCS!

Jewellery is a great gift choice, and at TCS you will discover something that is at once contemporary and timeless whether it is our exclusive, limited edition Kirt Holmes for TCS jewellery which mixes vintage style with modern Swarovski crystals, or Bark's Herkimer diamond collection really could become heirlooms....

When it comes to beautiful and simple clothes, I think garments hand crafted from fabrics such as cashmere and silk are hard to beat. Kristensen du Nord has all but made it into an art; taking these natural fibres and producing eminently wearable but soft dresses, cardigans & leggings.

These are not pieces to be saved for special occasions. Although there is a certain delicacy that has to be respected, these washable garments are designed not only to look amazing all day, but the simply beautiful fabric will keep the wearer feeling lovely all day as well. Now that's a gift I wouldn't mind receiving!

Vote for TCS

Don't forget to vote for us in the Telegraph's Best Small Shops in Britain Awards 2011 with a closing deadline of midnight on Monday 5th December 2011 & the link for voting is as follows: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/shopawards

Once again UK newspaper The Telegraph, is championing the British high street with its "Best Small Shops in Britain Awards." Now in their sixth year, the awards certainly indicate that people are using and valuing the unique qualities of high streets in the UK. A big thank you to everyone who voted for TCS although, unfortunately, we did not realise that the competition had been running for two months by the time we asked you to vote!

One of the beauties of owning an independent store is having the ability to listen and work alongside customers to meet their individual needs. Our customers value the unique interpretation of trends together with a creative mix of products and customer styling, which have been the hallmark of TCS over the last 15 years.
We were thrilled to be recognised by Stella magazine as one of the 50 best boutiques outside London, and we are really grateful to customers, both in the UK and overseas, who have supported TCS over many years and those who have just discovered us.

As well as providing an unparalleled selection of clothing and home ware, TCS is also about creating a mood that is always inviting, relaxing and encourages experimentation.  In an age where you get little "me time" it is important to give yourself that bit of extra time. Why not drop by the store earlier in the day to relax in the calm of the first floor lounge area, while you simply soak up the atmosphere flicking through one of the many books to hand. Meanwhile, our team can be putting together individual combinations of clothing and accessories for you to try before the store gets busy.

Visiting from further afield can be a good opportunity to spend a day in Teddington. TCS is located in the heart of the village and we are just 35 minutes by train from Waterloo. There is plenty to see and do while you are here with a wealth of shops, cafes and galleries together with the river Thames and Royal Bushy Park on our doorstep. My personal favourite to realx for 10 minutes is La Bottega (just a few doors from TCS at 16 High Street) where the ever so friendly Danni is usually making that cappucino for me as I walk through the door!

Teddington has always attracted a creative crowd and there are galleries displaying work by a range of artists, while the Landmark Arts Centre has become a destination venue for any number of events - my favourite being the Comedy Works http://www.landmarkartscentre.org/whats-on/comedy.html which provides a great night out in an amazing setting once a month.

Bushy Park, with its stunning landscape is beautiful at any time of the year is one of the main reasons (after great schools) that people flock to live in Teddington.

So when it comes to laying the Christmas table, what else would I choose but Astier de Villatte? Light and white with the delicate imperfections which characterise the hand-made uniqueness of every piece.

On Christmas Day the sprouts deserve their once a year glory in a New Dragon Bowl with lid!

With all the sauces to glam up the turkey, I won't be short of sauce boats - I'm sure Emilie & Alexandre can be friends!

What will I wear while preparing this delicously white-based dinner? Well even I won't wear white on Christmas Day. I'm not an Angel! I will wear my favourite Kristensen du Nord cashmere & silk dress because it is stylishly comfortable, but most importantly - I can wash it is there is a little spill.

If we care at all for those around us, we should give a bit more courtesy and time. Have a safe, sharing and giving Christmas.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" (Leonardo Da Vinci).

These are well rehearsed and perhaps overused quotes, but they do reflect what TCS has been doing for the last 15 years. We have sought out beautifully made clothes and home wares and, we hope, presented them in an environment that is at once stylish, simple and always inviting.

TCS is not about overcrowding your senses, but it is about inviting you to touch, pick up, try on and experiment. Not a store that is led by prevailing trends we curate a collection made up of labels you may not find mentioned in your average fashion magazine. Our choices for the store are dictated by the quality of the materials, the cut, as well as that certain "something" making it stand out from the mainstream.

As an independent retailer we also have the privilege of being able to showcase up and coming as well as established talent, not just in fashion but also in art. So we are really excited to announce that Richmond-based artist Teri Anne Scoble will joining us on Thursday 24^th November when the Mayor , Cinderella and Santa turn on Teddington's Christmas Lights! Teri will be with us from 10am-8pm displaying her beautiful and serene life drawings which can be viewed on our first floor; and will be available to buy.

So join us for a festive drink and take the opportunity to sort out your gift dilemmas. Hats, scarves and belts from French label Lilith make beautiful presents. Or if you're looking for something a little more quirky Japanese label Antipast may be just the thing. These socks, tights, scarves and gloves, with their whimsical motifs, are sure to delight just about anyone. Small leather goods from Ally Capellino are gifts that only get better with age.

A personal favourite is the home ware by Astier de Villatte. The feather light china and scented candles will provide that simple and stylish finishing touch in any home.

Oh, and if while you are browsing you see something that you would like; let us put it on your TCS wish list. Not only will your loved ones be able to buy you a beautiful and stylish gift, we will also wrap it.

TCS has never been about "fast fashion" so we love it when customers take time to come in, browse, and ask questions. There is no pressure to buy, but we do hope that you enjoy your visit. We look forward to seeing you.

TCS style is all about adding creativity and depth through different textures and tones. It isn't complicated, but needs a little time and consideration to get a really effective combination for a stunning outfit. Where our customers don't have the natural flair, we put these combinations together and find ways of making the clothes work hard to earn their place in your wardrobe.

As I go out to Paris this weekend at the start of buying the Autumn 2012 collections, I will be considering much more non-seasonal clothing. In store right now, we are about to receive our Spring 2012 season's collections, just as the weather is turning colder and more wintery all the time. Fortunately these are transitional pieces which add something new for spring without switching immediately to lighter clothing.

Whilst buying, I will continue bringing together exclusive pieces from your favourite designers and if I find a new collection strong enough to sit alongside, this will add a little extra layer to our offer.

Online shopping, as easy as it may be to carry out from the comfort of your own home, will never be able to offer the experience of touching, feeling and trying before purchasing.

Not only do we have to support existing, local businesses, but we should also nurture new entrepreneurs taking risks to face the challenge of "going it alone" in a tricky economic climate.

Without local community support, we won't have a local community.

As an inedependent, facing the challenges ahead, TCS will continue to offer inspiration.........

I am enjoying the advancement of technology which allows us to instantly share so much more through Twitter, Blogs, Facebook, websites and emailouts.

Meanwhile, even though I love my Ipad, Iphone, MacBook etc, I cannot imagine a world without books and magazines.

Touching, feeling and experiencing are what keeps us human.

The soft, dry cover  of a beautiful book. Pages in a magazine that lay open on the table. Writing or sketching in a notebook.

So I will continue to buy magazines and books and avoid the Kindle. I will write with a pen instead of tapping on a keyboard and send a card instead of a text.

Wouldn't you rather flick the pages and make notes in an Astier notebook or Patricia Dore sketchpad?

Keep technology for where it is applicable.