we couldn't resist… The Gunners Christmas Gift List!

We know, we know… We ended the last post with dramatic festive flair and promises of no more posts until early 2014… but since then we've found some gorgeous gifts & some winter warming tipples that we just HAVE to share…(it would be rude not to!) 

Lets start with gifts first - if you're like us the thought of attempting to navigate through hoards of people to do your christmas shopping is just not an option. Most of us at GG HQ have decided that online is definitely the best way to shop. Sitting on the sofa, leisurely scrolling through various online sites and then just having to click 'buy now'. Which is why our Gunners Christmas Gift List is all online. 

GG Director Olly Blackburn's brother has just launched 'The Artful Project'. A new online gallery and photography space where you can find beautiful high quality photos and prints.

This one is 128 Yards #12 by Armando Ferrari. 

The Artful Project is all about inspiring a new culture of art collecting by offering extraordinary pieces at affordable prices. The project champions the 'art for everyone' ethos; turning exhibitions into creative events and supporting new talent. 

So for a truly unique christmas gift for that special someone, treat them to something from The Artful Project. 

Gunner Laura Gregory is saving for this gorgeous piece. (Threshold Part. 1 #13 by Julian Hibbard). 

If framed art is not your thing and you want something a bit different for a loved one, you have to check out designer Solange Azagury-Partridge's designs. The London based jewellery designer is famed for creating gorgeous statement pieces. Our favourite is the Hot Lips lacquered sterling silver ring. 

At £990 it really is an investment piece but one we'd totally plump for. Team it with a gorgeous LBD - perfect for Christmas Day. 

We love this stoned perfume as well 

and for something totally out there invest in the ball crusher lamp!

For the little nippers in your life it has to be something from The Fabelists. Matt Cooper from LBBonline teamed up with Brothers & Sisters and the Mill to launch this super-cool ethical and sustainable clothing line for kids. (We're currently working on a film project for them with our director Olivier Venturini) 

Their current line includes gorgeous dresses and skirts for girls, lovely quality jeans and jackets for boys, and our favourites - the unisex t-shirts. The Fabelists collaborated with some great artists including Gregori Saavedra, Anthony Peters and Crispin Finn to create some truly unique designs. 

There are loads of different designs and items to choose from and the best thing about it is you can order with a clean conscience! 

(you've got to be quick - december 18th is the final day for standard UK mainland deliveries but you can order up until the 20th december to get next day deliver in time for Christmas.) 

Whatever you decide to buy, make sure you include a goat, a toilet or even a few mosquito nets! Oxfam Unwrapped gives you the chance to buy all sorts of gifts starting at £5 that help others around the world. There's nothing better than spreading a bit of festive cheer! 

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Now after all that internet shopping you deserve to kick back and relax with something special. Here are our 3 favourite Christmas tipples. Perfect for that party you're planning, a lazy evening in, or simply because you want to… it is Christmas after all! 

The first is Christmas Southside 

For 1 drink you will need: 35ml of gin, 15ml sugar syrup, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 8 fresh mint leaves, 10 frozen cranberries & 25ml cranberry juice. Add everything except cranberry juice to a tall glass and mix with crushed ice. Float the cranberry juice on top and add a sprig of mint. 

For something a bit more warming, perfect for those evenings spent in front of the fire, try a Hot Roots. 

For 1 drink you will need: 50ml of Kamm & Sons, 150ml cloudy apple juice, 2 teaspoons of orgeat syrup and 1 slice of fresh ginger. Crush the ginger in a pan, then warm all the ingredients together in the pan and strain into a heatproof glass. 

Finally the perfect party drink - Very Berry. 

You will need 25ml of Chambord black raspberry liqueur, 125ml of cabernet sauvignon, 25ml of fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of caster sugar and 3 raspberries. Crush the raspberries in a glass with the sugar and add the wine, Chambord and lemon juice. Top up the glass with boiling water then float a small slice of lemon studded with 3 cloves on top.   

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Have a fantastic break & look out for a new year post in early 2014! 

Love, The Gunners x 

a festive farewell… (updated)

(well farewell until 2014)… 

With the end of the working year in sight we're winding down with one final blog post for 2013. 

To kick this post off we're so excited to announce that Timothy Allen has just been awarded Travel Photographer of the Year 2013! His beautiful B&W images of the mud mosque replastering festival, and Dogon life in Mali along with his studies of individuals in Wales and Bhutan scooped the contest's highest award. 

If you'd like to read more about it and see more of Tim's amazing photographs you can click here 

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GG director Shearer has just shot this spot for Nike for the new Ordem football. In the film Rooney and McIlroy exchange impressive shots over the course of 18 holes - with Wayne using the new Ordem football. 

In the playful spot Rooney surprises McIlroy at the first tee by bringing out the new Ordem ball, which is inspired by the golf ball design. The film has amassed over 1.6 millions hits since its release less than 2 weeks ago. You can watch the film on youtube.

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As far as awards go we're excited to say we've won Mobile Campaign of the Year at the Shots Awards for Nike Hypershield.

Here it is looking lovely in our Camden office (next to our Gold LIA)! 
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LA based GG director Remo Camerota who signed with Great Guns earlier this year has ended 2013 on a high, he's just been commissioned by Verve Music Group to direct a music video to celebrate legendary disco diva Donna Summer's new album. 

With Remo's experience in modern street art, his aim was to create an art piece that could be painted on walls, put into animation or made into t-shirts and posters - basically something that could be used anywhere. 

The project was overseen by Randi Wilens who represents Great Guns in the USA for music videos and it proved so successful that the record label specially requested Remo to design the poster image from the animation elements of the promo.  

You can check it out here

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GG director Klaus Thymann has just come back from Brazil where he's been working on an exciting new project (keep an eye out for it in early 2014). He has also just had Project Pressure featured in The World Photography Organisation's magazine.

If you haven't already heard about Project Pressure you can read about it here and watch a film on it at the end of the feature. (pages 60 to 67)  

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Our EP Jane has nipped off to Courchevel to judge at the Cristal Festival. We're only a little bit jealous… just look at that view! 

UPDATE!! We are proud and very excited to announce that we won a Silver Cristal for Calum Macdiarmid's THE FARM book trailer for Tom Rob Smith's new book The Farm, along with the GRAND CRISTAL for Ilya Naishuller's Bad Motherfucker! 

Here's the silver cristal award next to our Gold Ciclope's award for Bad Motherfucker. (GRAND CRISTAL has yet to arrive so we will post a picture when we receive it) 

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And as you all know by now we like to round up our updates with a bit of fun & thats exactly what we got up to at our Christmas party last week. 

We had a lovely 3 course meal at The Prince Albert (our favourite Camden pub). It was an afternoon filled with food, laughter and wine and the perfect start to Christmas! 

(confession: this photo was from last year as we all forgot our cameras!) 

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and check back in 2014 for more Gunner's news and updates!