Here come the girls....

For some strange reason I am one of these girls who manages to spot new and interesting things before everyone else. Of course, I always share my news with friends. It's my sixth sense for high fashion.
For some, keeping up to date with fashion fads can be a rather daunting task, so I am happy to offer my services by letting you know my predictions and best picks for each season. Here are my top fashion finds for the imminent party season.....
Most exciting find so far is Barry M cosmetics, which I found in Superdrug, very well priced at around £4-5 and will glitterize you for perfect party power. I love the glitter gel eye liner in red, green, turquoise, silver and anything else you can think of. Not to mention their glitter nail polish, I had to have the red. Go to www.barrym.com for the most fun you'll have since the eighties!

The best place I have seen so far for, in my opinion, festive frocks is Monsoon, they have by far excelled themselves with the most colourful line they have ever done. Divine teals, greens, reds and not much grey or black in sight - YIPPEE! I picked up a satin Emerald Green dress for £85 which will be my top frock for the season.
The must have but ridiculously priced Lara Bohinc black and gold Suede Tatiana clutch - £595.00 is a good investment piece and will stand the test of time.
I great pair of ankle boots in bright purple suede, although I am currently lusting over the Chloe electric blue cut-out angle boots at £455. If you like the colour but not the price, go to Preen at Topshop's Boutique collection, which is about time as I am so sick of "Wafe Moss". And whilst you're there, new find Ashish do colourful sequin outfits to match the boots.
For everyday coats, go for long and black like the Moncler padded at £645, although I bought a fab long zip front from Karen Millen, which does the trick for windy and rainy school runs at half the price..
For the ultimate lip plumping lipgloss rather than cosmetic surgery, during my recent trip through Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, I found a new product called LipFusion XL which is a little pricey, at about £36, but I have to say works! Available via www.musthave.co.uk
Oh and don't forget to accessorise with a fab piece of jewellery like my long Constellations necklace and earrings from £30 available via my online boutique and at selected stockists!

Unusually styled woolly jumpers and knitted dresses are huge this winter. Oversized, or majorly textured with different patterns and cuts like Jil Sanders knitted dresses, and I love the Antonia Berardi bell sleeved kimono style cardi if you want to blow the budget. Otherwise go to Topshop for chunky shawls and cardigans. If all else fails, just get yourself an oversized cowl from Etsy which will do the trick.
If you just want to spruce up that tired LBD, get yourself some gorgeous Gothic Lace Leggins from Topshop for £22.
Bows, bows, bows are everywhere, oh and get yourself a hat, like the Nougat soft and cutchy Mohair knitted Beret with bow detail, in Mink (available at Ginger Lily, Malpas) £69.
And, I am not ashamed to admit that it really is worth checking littlewoods these days for good quality brands. They have certainly upped their game since their catalogue days.

one door closes, another opens

It's disheartening at times, bordering on slitting my wrists down right frustrating when, customers, usually stockists , decide not to restock my jewellery, as they have chosen a more lucrative path of "mass produced" brands like Pilgrim found on every High Street (ggrrrr) leaving no room for us little crafty "independents". Sometimes it feels like my coat tails are still trapped in the door just slammed in my face.
Strangely, similar to karma, another door always seems to open for me, like meeting Jayne or becoming email buddies with Jean, or finding another place to sell my jewellery like Etsy, or being invited to showcase at Celtic Manor events.
Someone explained early in my sales career the "when one door shuts, another opens" theory, which has held me in good stead remembering this and is my most valuable tool when working alone. The old saying "Your only as good as your last sale" I adapt to many areas of business including my designs. Perhaps this might explain why I am so prolific at producing new designs and why I choose not to have a signature style preferring to be a chameleon.
With the power of positive thought, I always seem to recover with a little bit of effort, survival mode and intuition kick in and I am able to see the new horizons everywhere. And actually, when I think about it, this happens in relationships too!
I don't like to say I never look back, as that suggests ignorance. Learning from a situation is always wise in business, but looking forward for new opportunities is far more exciting.....

Ginger Lily Opens

Last week saw the inaugural opening of my fellow jewellery designer/come entrepreneur and friend Jayne Wade's new shop called "Ginger Lily". Little surprise, according to locals on the night, Jayne's gorgeous shop has already made a real splash into the sweet little town.
Located on the main street of Malpas, Cheshire, after talking with the locals who joined in the celebrations, it's exactly what they wanted.

Jayne (right) with friend Alison and a local customer

As an independent shop, Jayne not only offers something different from the High Street, but also prides herself on supporting local talent, like myself for instance, along with her own jewellery brand "Jayne Wade", Dower & Hall, Nougat smellies and accessories, gifts, prints from local artists and much more.

Jayne's business Partner (right) with a customer

Of course, apart from Jayne and her partners, no-one was more excited to see the opening than me as Jayne bravely trusted me to produce the natural therapy candles I had been raving about, and was the first stockist to feature them. I was delighted to see how well received they were, literately walking out the door, with fabulous comments in tow.

Jayne's Sister with local Graphic Designer

I love supporting independent traders who support British designers, which are few and far between these days, but even more so with Ginger Lily, as I have seen first hand the hard work and courage it has already taken and I am so thrilled for her.
On the border of Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales, it's a great place and idealic country town, so don't forget to drop by and take a look inside. It will be well worth it.

Not the best pic of me, with Jayne (left), but it had taken 5 1/2 hours to get there, leaving no time for fluffing myself up!

Ginger Lily can be found at: The Cross, High Street, Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8QX

Handmade

I have found the most fabulous website for all things handmade.

It's called Etsy and I have recently signed up to start selling my products on it.

Sellers all admire one another's work and it's more than a selling site, it's an international community of artisans.

You will find thousands of amazing items for sale and all handmade by the sellers themselves, like myself, so you are supporting individuals, rather than corporations!

So rather than worry yourselves over Christmas shopping this season, I suggest you take a good look. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Genius.

Candles NOW available online

Thanks to my brilliant web-girl, my new Aromatherapy Candles are now available to purchase on my website!

Believe me, they smell even more divine than the pictures portray.

These candles have been made with much love by myself, not to mention a great deal of time testing and researching to perfect the scents so that they fill a room.
At £13.50, you can't even say you're spoiling yourself, so try both scents and let me know which is the best!
Even more exciting, take advantage of FREE DELIVERY for purchases over £50.