Alternative Easter Gift idea #4 Cross my heart, and promise not to over-eat chocolate.

In the lead up to Easter cross jewellery and rosary beads are a popular item, for oneself or as a gift. If your looking for alternative gifts to give to family and friends one of these beautiful pieces by Nerine Anne Designs might be just the thing!

Rosary beads $25

Mother Mary necklace $29.95

Virgin Mary necklace $25

x Wendy

Alternative Easter Gift idea #3 Birds Nests

Why do rabbits get all the fun?

These sweet bird nest votives and boxes

will make beautiful decorations long after

the Easter chocolate has melted.

Or if you must, the votives are the perfect

way to present Easter eggs, just pop them

in on top of some tissue paper or straw

for a more realistic look.

From top:

Bird nest box with lid $35

Bird nest votive $36.95

Bird feeder $14.95

Bird dish $17.95

Wendy x

Rabbits On the March at Four Hearts

On the count down to Easter it seems that rabbits are taking over Four Hearts. Our 'Say No To The Egg' Alternative Easter gift campaign is in full swing and the rabbits are on the march. If your looking for a more creative way of celebrating Easter with loved ones, why not consider these beautiful hand made pieces of jewellery available in store? All made by one of our favourite Australian jewellery designers 'Angus and Celeste'. Cute as a button Rabbit rings $40.00 and Rabbit tea cup necklace $100.00.

Too much chocolate! - Alternative Easter gifts

We all love a bit of chocolate, as a movie treat, or a reward after a hard weeks work. But at Easter time that special occasional treat, becomes a breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. And if you aren't munching on it three times a day, you just know your fridge will still be full of the stuff by the time next Easter comes around; and that isn't good for anyone's health and waistline. So if you have decided enough is enough, then give your friends and loved ones something they'll enjoy this year, and say no to the egg!

Fun and sweet Easter gift ideas minus the sugar. Each week leading up to Easter we'll be posting an alternative Easter gift idea.

Gift idea number 1: Rabbit friends

These little guys have already been getting special attention, with it being the Chinese year of the Rabbit, with Easter set to increase their popularity.

Give them a gift that will last longer than the season, with these sweet woodland rabbits.

Clockwise from top left: Standing rabbit lamp $118, Hanging Rabbit ornament $10, Sitting Rabbit lamp $140, Rabbit tealight holder $43.

Coming very soon. . .

Introducing ManiQuin

Those of you who have been following our blog and dropping into the store will have realised that Four Hearts has been changing, we're getting more . . . well, fashionable! The Mani Quin label is the creative project for Australian designer Rebecca Hope. Every collection is a combination of high fashion and street chic, combining a rainbow of colours, beautiful fabrics and bespoke prints to create a range of versatile and wearable pieces for the girls who like to switch things up. Pieces will range between $180 - $230.

Here's a sneak preview, now don't go drooling all over your keyboard!

What's new in store?

Fashion to die for that’s what! At Four Hearts we have just taken possession of our first fashion label called Peacock and Pearl. Designed in Australia by sisters Zoe and Noelle Coughlan, Peacock and Pearl blends modern chic with old world elegance. Zoe and Noelle have created a stunning range of stylish dresses inspired by the elegance of the 60’s, right through to gorgeous and comfortable modern maxi’s. Not content with copying the latest fashion trend, Peacock and Pearl stay true to their own vision of making clothes of whimsical beautiful and wearability. They have produced a collection of summer frocks that embrace a women’s individual spirit and genuine femininity. Peacock and Pearl are made from handpicked, highest quality materials such as cotton, cotton/lycra, rayon and silk. Stay tuned to the Four Hearts blog and facebook pages for more details of our new fashion labels. Four Hearts …Paddington’s Best Kept Secret.

A White Christmas? A Wet One? Or Just a Great One?!

Oh this rain! Everything is wet inside and out, the garden looks atrocious and my dog looks like he just surfed the biggest wave of the century!

It is nice though huh? It kind of makes me feel as if perhaps this is what the beginning of a white and cold Christmas might feel like. Who knows?! Maybe we will get a bit of snow...I mean to have summer weather still under 30degrees beginning December?...Pfft, not normal!

However, the rain has certainly brought loyal customers (or shopaholics?) into the store. Or could it be our amazing 20% off EVERYTHING IN STORE? At least if nothing else, we are able to get to know our customers through great long conversation in between downpours that allow people to slip in and out the store. It has been very nice indeed actually...what can I say? I love my job.

So only 19 sleeps until Christmas, and wow has this year gone ever so quickly! It will continue to slip away as the new year creeps up like a sneaky Santa in the night....

Maybe we won't have a white Christmas after all...whatever the weather ends up being...hot, cold, wet, dry, hail, sunshine or snow....hope you all have a safe, happy and merry Christmas. Now is the time to indulge in everything that is up for offer and not feel one ounce of guilt for it...EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY!!!!!

Natalie M.