From mess comes???

This is the kitchen table at the moment...really working hard through the grey misty days to create some new fascinators and accessories. I've been concentrating on metallics at the moment but I think it's time to segeway into these eyepopping reds, pinks and blues you see in the photo. I love bib necklaces and have been sewing a few but I think it might be time to get a sewing machine. I'd do them in half the time then! Waiting for pay day Thursday to get some ribbon supplies in Limerick and hit the Cloth Shop to see if some more lace has come in. The shop is really lovely and I would highly recommend you go there if you are ever in Limerick. You can order online too! So, back to the table or it will be another day of procrastination.... Sone new items in my Etsy shop

Some new designs for spring summer

Well, I've been busy over the past few days trying to get my new Spring/Summer items listed on Etsy. I've been tearing my hair out trying to get the photos bright and clear, especially in Ireland in January. There is a reason why the Turner drawings are only exhibited in the National Gallery at this time of year! Anyway, I've found a site called www.fotofuze.com which seems to be doing the job so fingers crossed! It's free and fairly idiot proof (I think!) and has really brightened my photos. Some of my new items are below and I'll be adding to them to let you see the entire range. This items can be customised to have a colourful butterfly added to go with an outfit - I addded the cappucino butterfly to this one...

I just love these earrings. They have a touch of yellow in them. I think jonquil describes them best.

These earrings are the colour of new mown grass and are a really elegant earring. More items will be added to here and my Etsy shop so please keep an eye out. There is a 10% discount for you if you mention you saw this post!

A new black and red treasury from Etsy...

'I see a red door and I want to paint it black...' by SarahMaiDesigns

Valentine's Day and thoughts turn to all things red but the nights are still dark and winter keeps hanging on...The Rolling Stones got it right....

Tealight Candle Holder ... GailsGlassGard... $15.00	Red Rose Earrings Studs... strandedtreasu... $18.00	Red Little Circles Neck... ohmplayground $22.00
Vintage Headpiece, Blac... yanethandco $75.00	Red Forest Photography ... Raceytay $15.00	Gothic valentine heart ... TheTangledWeb $20.00
Gothic Style Black, Red... 0chaosbydesign... $8.00	Canvas Tote Bag - Book ... MondayMorningS... $55.00	Black Lace Elegant Tear... lunarbelle $26.00
Titanium Ring with Coco... jewelrybyjohan $185.00	Tiny Black Tutu SweetBabyTutus $19.00	SALE Black and White Z... MiCasaBella $36.00
Black and Red Stripe Sh... workingclasspu... $50.00	Candy Cane, Stripe Red ... onetenzeroseve... $5.00	Vintage Ceramic Vase We... LoveMyVintageB... $17.00
Red Door, Paris - Will ... EyePoetryPhoto... $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Lonely Planet gives Limerick city a glowing report - Entertainment - Limerick Leader

Lonely Planet gives Limerick city a glowing report - Entertainment - Limerick Leader

My first interview...

Carrie from Cherry Blossom Tattoo has posted an interview with me on her blog today. Please have a look and enter the giveaway - just post which pair of €11 earrings you like on my Facebook page and Carrie will select a winner next Thursday. Happy Friday!

Earrings in giveaway

Giveaway tomorrow!

Hi all

Carrie from cherryblossom tattoo https://www.facebook.com/​CherryBlossomTattooPhotography?​sk=wall is doing a profile of me tomorrow on her Facebook page. I'm giving away one pair of €11 earrings from my etsy shop as part of the profile so check it out tomorrow on her facebook page. I'm currently furiously working away with metallic silver and gold lace,

pearls, pastel silks

Ivory, creams and white materials in order to get some new spring/summer stock in the etsy shop over the weekend. Please enter the competition and see if you can win a pair of SarahMaiDesigns original earrings! A great way to start the weekend....

My oh my the joys of a stove

So...like everyone in the country I was waiting for another Big Freeze this year and decidied to put in a stove in my living room. No back boiler, just a stove for heating the room to try and cut down on heating costs. Oh my God it is brilliant. I went for the Waterford Stanley Oisin solid fuel stove, the smallest in their range and it is fantastic.

Door open all through the house and the entire place is heated. My freezing cold artic house is actually cozy. The only time the gas has been on in the last two months is when I was away over Christmas! I set it in the morning and it burns all day if you stock it up with coal and leave the damper almost closed. I cannot recommend it hightly enough. I went with the Stanley as their damper is supposed to be better than other stoves so you can control the heat better. Get one if you can - it's amazing and will really save you money after the initial outlay.

Etsy shopping

Etsy is an online crafts selling point - sort of an ebay for handmade and vintage items. I am on there and lots of other amazing sellers, some of whom are making jewelley, wood turning, clothing, papercrafts....really anything you can think of that can be made or upcycled is on there. If you are not familiar with it, go and have a look. You could spend hours there! I've created a treasury list which gives you a sample of what's on offer.Treasury lists are made by anyone and give a sample of items for sale.

'If winter comes can spring be far behind?' by SarahMaiDesigns

In Ireland, spring comes on the 1st February and the snowdrop heralds it's onset. Then the lovely daffodil and narcissi bloom and suddenly we start to see more blue skies and (hopefully) sunshine!

Lime Green White Birds ... Allofyou $54.00	Hydrangea Stacking Ring... PatrickIrlaJew... $184.00	Pale Pink Vera Flapper ... DolorisPetunia $500.00	Rhinestone Earrings Bri... ZaftigDelights $25.00
Snowdrop flower blue sk... DJWeeksPhotogr... $15.14	Porcelain Tea light Del... wapa $40.00	daffodil yellow bridal ... BridesBoutik $40.00	Daffodil Hill Rustic Ol... HeatherKingArt $19.00
Sterling Silver Snowdro... milajewellery $72.00	Snowdrop - Letterpress ... QuillAndArrowP... $4.00	Frosted Snowdrops- Whip... AyeletNaturals $10.00	Large Cylinder Lampsha... isabelstanley $62.00
Tutorial polymer clay, ... EugenasCreatio... $7.00	Yellow Jasper and Green... plumbpretty $27.00	Daffodil and Tulip Mix ... jenAitchison $50.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

My own shop there is SarahMaiDesigns - call in and have a look!

2012 colour trends...

So it's a new year and as Shelly once said '..if Winter comes can Spring be far behind?'. In Ireland February 1st is St. Brigid's Day and the start of our spring so I'm feeling optomistic as the evenings begin to slowly lengthen and I see some snowdrops peeking out from the ground telling me that Spring and all it's green fresh glory is on it's way. So thinking ahead to my etsy shop and what colours I should be concentrating on, I checked out the Pantone blogs on colour trends.http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20910&ca=4 if you are interested. Even the names are full of the promise of new growth and renewal - cockatoo is a lovely slightly dull turquoise

Tangerine tango is the vibrant orange that is going to be everywhere this summer apparently and bellflower is a gorgeous dark lavender purple-y colour. Solar power is aptly named as it is the colour or pure sunshine streaming through a cold glass of Robinsons orange and barley water on a hot Wimbledon Friday and driftwood is the River Shannon on a stormy day...a lovely mix of eye popping brights and dull yet intriguing neutrals, highlighted with shimmering metallics and the ubitiquous white

Chanel managed to combine all the trends really sucessfully and the white this year is heavily textured and lace is a big trend again. It's going to be an interesting season ahead!