Gift Hampers

Chocolate and Coffee Hamper

Don't you just hate it when it's a friend's birthday and you have no idea what to get them? They seem to have everything and you just can't face giving them yet another gift voucher. You also don't want to spend too much, but a slab of chocolate is not going to do the trick either. Or what about when a colleague retires, gets promoted, engaged or has a baby? What is the appropriate gift to give (that doesn't include the obvious bunch of flowers)?



Gift Hampers are a great way to thank, apologize, show your love, appreciation or gratitude.  They're not just simply fruit baskets, these days gift hampers can really go beyond limits in terms of personalizing it to just what the gift receiver likes. After all, isn't that the point of giving a gift in the first place?

Surprise "Welcome Home" Hamper

Valentine's Day Hamper

ANY occasion can call for a gift hamper, here are just a few ideas:

• Birthdays (21sts, or other)
• Anniversaries (this could include a romantic picnic hamper for example)
• Corporate (perhaps a fruit, champagne or whiskey hamper to thank an important client)
• Wedding (a large hamper for the couple with luxury goodies, bridesmaids hampers or little 'thank you' hampers for out of town guests)
• Baby Showers,  Bachelorettes Parties, etc
• Mother's Day & Father's Day
• Secretary's Day and Bosses Day
• Christmas (gift baskets or boxes filled with crackers, dates, champagne, chocolates, etc)
• Valentine's Day
• And my personal favourite..."Just Because", a gift hamper secretly arranged by a customer to surprise their loved one for no other reason than the fact that they can!

Corporate Champagne Hamper

You can go all out with a gift hamper, personally designed by our team to your colour theme and choice of contents, and we will even throw in some creative ideas along the way, or you can give us your budget and briefly tell us what you'd like and we'll come up with the rest! It's as easy as that! The look in the gift receivers eye's when receiving a special gift hamper really is priceless!

Small "Thank You" Pamper Hamper

Above are just a few examples of the types of gift hampers we've had the pleasure of putting together recently. Deliveries can be done throughout South Africa.

For any information or pricing on a gift hamper you'd like made up, please contact Melanie by e-mail: melanie@chisani.co.za, or visit our website www.chisani.co.za.

Monday's Spotlight: Photographer - Drikus Le Roux

This is the first of many weekly "spotlights" we will be sharing with you of some of our preferred suppliers, partners and other really talented artists within the wedding and gifting industries. Our first artist is Cape Town based wedding photographer, Drikus Le Roux. I asked Drikus to share a bit of who he is and what type of wedding photography packages he offers. Enjoy!

1. What type of photography do you offer?
I'm a wedding and portrait photographer.

2. When did you realise that you wanted to be a professional photographer?
It’s a difficult one. There were many times that I realised that this is really what I wanted to do. The first time in a darkroom when I saw an image appear on a piece of photographic paper in a tray of developer liquid, I knew that this was something magical. The first time I walked into a studio and used studio lighting. There’s just something indescribable about using and manipulating light to create images.

3. What is your favourite photography shoot so far?
There’s been so many and they all have different reasons why they were memorable. For weddings it’s generally the ones where the couple, venue and food all just fit together so perfectly that you couldn’t have wanted it any other way. It’s so important that couples remember that the wedding day is about them and their tastes, not their guests. It’s a reflection of who they are and the road they’ve travelled to get to their wedding day and sharing that with their friends and family.

 
4. Do you shoot on location?
Yes, I do. Being a wedding photographer I get to work in the most amazing places! That’s another reason I enjoy the engagement shoots as well as they can happen anywhere and anytime. However, I did do studio photography for 5 years and I do miss it. Currently, I’m planning on introducing it to my clients again as an option, which will give a totally new twist to engagement and wedding photography.

5. What inspires you?
Other photographers. I really believe in sharing and learning from others. I have a long list of photographers, both locally and internationally, who’s work I admire. There is some amazing talent out there and it’s awesome to see what others do in the same location that you shot as well. My clients also inspire me. During my chats and meetings with them I work with them to find out who they are and what makes them tick. This has an influence in the way that I would shoot them, locations that we use and eventually the outcome of their final images.

6. What are some of the highlights you've had this year so far?
The amazing comments that I receive. It’s an awesome experience to receive a message from a stranger saying that they’ve just seen your work and that they love it. I’m grateful for them all!

7. Have you had any strange requests for shoots?
Yes, there have been. But, I’m still waiting for a couple who want to get married while skydiving!

8. How do you spend your free time?
I have an amazing group of friends who are constantly hounding me to come around to their homes and take some photos of their babies, dogs, cats, cars, families…when I’m not doing that I enjoy eating out (too much!), taking the dog to the beach and how could I forget Grey’s Anatomy!

9. How would you describe your photography style?
I would probably say something in the lines of documentary but with angles. I love trying a shot from 5 different angles and I’m constantly up on a chair, lying on the ground or jumping. There is a lot of energy in my shoots and I try and keep them at a pace that keeps my couples excited and wanting more. That way I get to spend more time doing what I love and that’s making images!

10. What type of photography packages do you offer?
I offer two wedding packages. It doesn’t sound like much really, but I try and keep it simple. I’ve heard of other photographers offering up to 7 wedding packages and the only difference between the packages are the amount of prints or the size of the prints. By offering the two packages that I do, all my wedding packages end up being tailored to my clients, we set a base and then work on that so my clients never feel ‘boxed’ into a package that they bought, it’s more about them and who they are.

11. How can potential clients get in contact with you?
The best way is to get in touch on my phone, email, facebook! New website is going live in this week and they’ll be able to get in touch there as well!

12. Do you have any last words for aspiring photographers out there?
Shoot, shoot, shoot! Take photos of everything and everywhere you go! If you want to be a wedding photographer you have to be able to shoot so many different subjects as you’re not just shooting people at the wedding. There’s the food, the fashion, the kids, the gifts, the dancing and of course the couple! Read blogs and don’t be afraid to get in touch with photographers, most of us will be more than willing to answer some questions.

Phone: 076 015 4708
Email: drikus@drikusleroux.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dlrphotography
Web: www.drikusleroux.co.za
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dlrphotography

We're expanding!

On Friday, we had a fantastic and very successful photo shoot on location with Cath of Cazpix Photography. Check out her website for more examples of her amazing work!  www.cazpix.co.za

We will soon be offering wedding invitations, table favours, gifts and a decor service...everything for your convenience under one roof! Keep checking back on our website for more details!

This is just a sneak peek at what new products we will soon be offering...

Enjoy! :)

Father's Day - 20 June 2010

How perfect to have Father's Day right in the middle of the Soccer World Cup this year!  Some people say that it's much easier to find something for Dad, than it is for Mom on Mother's Day. I have to say that I completely disagree! My Mom never gets tired of getting a hamper filled with scented soaps, candles and chocolates and she will never be disappointed with a hair or massage voucher. Dad on the other hand, well I think he's getting a bit tired of the DVD / book story each year! Here are a few Father's Day ideas, give it a try and do something different from the same old mug/book/box of chocolates Dad gets each year.

Watching a soccer game together
Really, what better gift is there than spending some quality time together?
Here are the soccer matches for Sunday:

•      13h30 - Slovakia vs Paraguay
•      16h00 - Italy vs Netherlands
•      20h30 - Brazil vs Ivory Coast

Making a Father's Day lunch
Here are a few recipes to try out and enjoy:
Roast Tomato Soup
Chicken Curry
Malva Pudding

Spoiling him with something different this year
Father's Day Gift Hampers


Wishing you all a very happy Father's Day!!

New sweet & stylish gift favours

Just picture it - A wedding reception with small treat boxes containing only the finest chocolate truffles, a large corporate dinner with elegant place card holders that can be taken home and used as photo frames, or a large 21st birthday party with tempting Rocky Road chocolate brownies in gift bags! After a year in the gift business, we've decided that this is the direction we're focused on going this year!

Gift favours for weddings, large dinners, events and functions - we're going to do it all! We've recently listed on South Africa's No. 1 Wedding site: www.celebration.co.za.

We're still expanding our range, and as always we welcome any and all suggestions and comments! The more we know about our customers, and their likes and dislikes - the better!

These are just a few of the new favours in our gift range, for more favour image and info, please visit our website: www.chisani.co.za.


"A gift is never about need. It's about thanking people." ~ Lash Fary

Eiffel Tower Favours

Over the past week, we've had a quite a few e-mails from people requesting information on one particular wedding favour; the Eiffel Tower Place Card Holder. So, what's so special about this little favour anyway?

Not only is this a gorgeous table gift and conversation starter, but this smart favour can also be used as a place card holder. Not limited to weddings alone, this little favour can also be used at large dinner parties, corporate events and other special occasions.

A few interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower Place Card Holder:

• Finely detailed, silver-finish, replica of the Eiffel Tower
• Small ledge on lower "deck" holds place card or photo
• Favour measures 10cm x 3cm
• Place cards are included
• Sold in sets of four
• Min qty order is 13 sets (52 units)

Thank your guests with this gift or wedding favour that is simply "magnifique!"

For pricing, please e-mail us at info@chisani.co.za for a speedy quotation!
To view any of our other wedding or party favours, please visit our website: www.chisani.co.za, or find us on South Africa's largest wedding network: www.celebration.co.za.

Hot Chocolate Chilli Cupcakes

It's getting colder and darker earlier with Winter just around the corner, and so we went in search of some sweet comfort food and came across this brilliant recipe! Just what the doctor ordered, enjoy!

Ingredients:

185 g dark chocolate, best quality

185 g butter, cubed

1 tsp (5 ml) dried chilli flakes or 1 fresh chilli, finely chopped (seeds included)

3 egg yolks, lightly beaten

1/3 cup (50 g) flour

4 eggs

1/3 cup (70 g) castor sugar

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Grease 12 large dariole moulds or ramekins (8 cm).
3. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter together until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the chilli flakes and then the egg yolks and flour.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy. Fold the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture.
5. Bake for 10 minutes. (Do not feel tempted to leave in longer as this one sets outside the oven.) Let stand for 5 minutes. Gently run a knife around the edge of each cake and remove each one.
As the cakes have a soft centre, remember to place them flat on their bottoms. Serve warm.

Optional: Decorate with melted chocolate and fresh chillies.

Just in time for winter!

Autumn has officially arrived in Cape Town, and to celebrate the change in season we're giving away a stunning gift basked filled with a range of different flavoured fudge pieces, including: Peanut Butter & Chilli, Chocolate, Amarula and Cherry & Nut fudge. These make the perfect addition to a cup of coffee or hot chocolate! The competition closes just in time for Mother's Day, so if you're not a fan of fudge, why not enter and surprise Mom with a real sweet treat this year?




There are 3 easy ways to enter:

1. Join our Facebook fan page and get instant updates, tips, specials and news on our latest gifts, coffee table photobooks, gift favours and more! If you are already a member, recommend a friend to join, and e-mail either your name or your friend's to info@chisani.co.za.
Here is the link: http://facebook.com/ChisaniCreations

2. Add your name to our mailing list and receive monthly updates from us. Simply e-mail your name to info@chisani.co.za.

3. Order one of our Mother's Day Gift Hampers by 5 May 2010. Visit our website for our range of special Mother's Day hampers: http://www.chisani.co.za

The competition closes on 5 May 2010, and the winner will be announced on Friday, 7 May.

Good Luck!!!

A little taste of Italy

We visited a small Italian Pizza restaurant in Hout Bay a few weeks ago, and since have not stopped recommending their establishment. What an amazing place! The staff are extremely friendly, the owners greet you at the door, the atmosphere is family orientated and relaxed, and the food - well, their pizzas are out of this world, the best in Cape Town in fact! What makes their pizzas truly special is that most of their ingredients used are imported directly from Italy. This is what inspired us to come up with a few gourmet Italian hampers, so that our customers could experience a taste of Italy for themselves!


Since our visit to Massimo's Pizza Club, we've signed on with a fantastic supplier of imported Italian gourmet products. From Italian espresso, to the real Italian canned and bottled tomatoes, various kinds of pasta, anchovy paste, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and glazes to sweet Italian biscuits, cheese and meat - we can now offer these delicious ingredients in our Italian themed gift baskets and hampers.

All three of the above Italian coffee and gourmet hampers are available to order, and on our website - www.chisani.co.za. The perfect "Thank You", Bosses day or birthday or gift! Impress an important client with a gourmet Italian hamper, or delight your special someone with a surprise romantic Italian dinner!

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating".
~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Easter hampers & chocolate delights!

It's that time of year again! The time of year when most of us let go of our healthy eating plans, and indulge in our favourite chocolate Easter eggs! Whether it be a string of marshmallow eggs, white coated and chocolate filled eggs, chocolate bunnies, or mini chocolate balls - the choices are endless!

You simply can't help but be bombarded by these chocolate treats as soon as you walk into your local supermarket. If you're looking for something a little different this year, and would like to give the shopping trip a skip - we've put together a few Easter hampers that include a variety of some of the most popular chocolate Easter eggs!

There are three Easter hampers to choose from, and prices range from R160 - R225. We can arrange deliveries in the Cape Town area at a small additional fee, or you're welcome to collect from us directly by prior arrangement.

You can view a full list of contents for each hamper on our website - www.chisani.co.za

Wishing you a safe and happy Easter!

There's always time for coffee...

There's nothing better than getting the morning started with a great cup of coffee, enjoying a cappuccino while out shopping, or ending the evening off with a shot of kahlua in your coffee.

Last year we made up a few hampers that included cappuccino and flavoured coffee sticks, and we had such great feedback on them, we knew that with the launch of the new website - coffee hampers were a must! This one is the Chocolate and Coffee hamper, which we created as a Valentine's gift for one of our customers.



This hamper is perfect to give on almost any occasion, spoil a friend or colleague on their birthday, or send it as a corporate or "Thank You" gift. It also makes a great Father's day or Bosses day gift. Filled with chocolate and Amarula fudge, lindor truffles, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, a Toblerone chocolate, 2 x mini Amarula bottles, Dutch Chocolate coffee and coffee & chocolate cookies, this coffee themed hamper really is a treat for those that love their coffee!

For something slightly smaller you can try our Mocha Choca hamper, and if you're looking to indulge in something a bit bigger, treat yourself or someone else to the Large Chocolate & Coffee hamper.

"A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent." - Anonymous

Special Requests: The Birthday Box

From time to time customers request a specially made up gift box, gift hamper or personalised gift book. These are my favourite type of gifts to put together because they are completely personalised (with the gift receivers favourite items, and themed to their personality or favourite colours), and you just know that the end result is going to blow them away. Not only will they be completely surprised by the gift - but more importantly, they'll be very touched by the thought and effort that went behind it all! And THAT'S what giving a gift is all about!

I was asked to custom create a Birthday Gift Box last year. The customer was very specific with what his girlfriend liked, and this included the colours purple/maroon and yellow, mint chocolates, cat slippers, cute teddy bears, bath soaps and jewellery.




I managed to find this perfect pair of cat slippers, some purple coloured roses, a cute purple teddy bear and a cat notebook. For something personalised, I included a keyring with his girlfriends name on a pink/purple background. I also included various types of mint flavoured chocolates, vanilla candles, and a selection of the beautiful Oh So Heavenly Dream bath time pamper products.




The box had to be made up in 4 layers - each one with a different theme. The four layers consisted of: personalised items, bath time treats, chocolate treats and jewellery & clothes. I created the box with a cardboard crate that I covered in purple plain and designed gift wrap, and made the lid out of thick purple cardboard. The entire box was then wrapped in gold/yellow ribbon with a rose decoration at the top.

Half way there

The ribbon on top

The end result

What the customer had to say:
"Beautiful, perfect, breathtaking!" - Chrisitaan de Villiers


Look out for our next post on specially requested gifts - "Chic themed Birthday Gift Box"

Valentine's Day

Red roses, chocolate, cute cards, cuddly teddy bears; yes it's that time of year again! Valentine's Day; the one day that you'll get away with sending that little gift to your secret crush, a day to treat your someone special, or shower your honey with gifts of love! Whatever your heart desires, whatever your budget or relationship - Valentine's Day, a day known for love is celebrated by millions all across the globe.

This year, we've come up with a couple of special Valentine's Gift Baskets. First up, we've got a gift basket that you wouldn't normally find for this occasion. "Love = Me" is for all the ladies out there, who would rather see the back end of this day. We've kept our ears to the ground this year, and realised that these women are right! Valentine's Day is not just a day about loving someone else, above everything else it's about loving yourself first. That's where love starts, right? So ladies, this one's for you. Spoil yourself, while you celebrate all that is beautiful, sensual; and all that is you!

For those wanting to spoil their sweethearts, we've got three gift baskets for every taste and every budget. "Sweet Valentine" is a cute heart shaped gift basket filled with a teddy bear, nougat, chocolate and other small treats. "Cupid's Surprise", also a heart shaped basket contains two heart soaps, mini champagne, fudge and other sweet treats. Lastely, the biggest hamper - "Romance Deluxe" is a heart shaped basket filled with a bottle of champagne, foam bath, cherry liqueur chocolates, a foil heart balloon, and more!

Whatever you do, wherever you go and whoever you decide to spend the day with, we hope that you celebrate, enjoy, laugh and get spoilt (or spoil yourself) rotten!

(Please note that our website is currently undergoing a make-over, and will launch with a new look on 1 Feb. Until then, feel free to contact me directly for prices or more information on any of our Valentine's specials.)


Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly. ~Rose Franken

Wedding Favours: The Rundown

The very first thing that any bride will decide on for her wedding, is the wedding venue.
Once this is done, she will plan her wedding dress, select a photographer, choose a caterer, and so on. At the end of this very long list, the last item is usually the wedding favours.

When planning your wedding, try and make sure that you set aside some of your budget for wedding favours. Although this item on your wedding list won't rank as high up as your wedding cake, for example; they are in fact seen as a small gesture of gratitude from the bridal couple. Not only will your guests feel appreciated, but they will have something small to take home to remember your special day by.

Wedding favours come in all shapes and sizes, and are dependent on your budget, personal choice and wedding theme (colour scheme). One of the most popular choices is a small box tied with a ribbon, filled with mints, a chocolate truffle, nougat piece or other pieces of small candy. The box and ribbon are colour co-ordinated to match your wedding colour scheme. Other options to choose from are small organza bags, mini carrier bags, tiny silver tins, and much more; the choices are endless! If you have a little more in your budget to play around with, you can give your guests something extra special. Sparkling Bride have a range of imported wedding favours that include: Heart Whisks, Antique Place Card Holders, Bride & Groom Bottle Stoppers, etc. A list of both the imported and creative wedding favours are available on our website - www.chisani.co.za.

Whatever wedding favours you decide on, have fun with them! They're small gifts to give your guests, but they're also tiny reflections on you as a couple. You can be as creative as you like and personalise them. Enjoy giving them to your family and friends as a way of thanking them for sharing in the most imporant day of your life!

"Love: a temporary insanity, curable by marriage." - Ambrose Bierce

(Please note that we will be launching our new look website on 1 February, and we will be adding more wedding favours and gifts shortly.)