SHI Designs Launches - Contemporary Shell Art

It is fair to say it has been a while since I last blogged and now with holidays only a distant memory and dare I say it Christmas only around the corner it is time for me to get back in the saddle!

As a family we had a fabulous summer holiday this year on the Gulf Coast of Florida.  We visited two of our favourite places namely Sanibel Island and Little Gasperilla Island.  Both islands are truly unique and stunning places.  Adorned with sandy white beaches carpeted in shells they make a fab place to while away the hours just walking and shelling.  Little Gasperilla Island has the added benefit of being a fossilized beach, this means, that in addition to the great shelling you can also find hundreds of smalls fossilized remains.  The most abundant being sharks teeth.

Since returning home I have spent a good while cleaning and sorting all of the lovely treasures from the sea which my family and I collected.  These treasures have provided me with the inspiration for my new project.

I have now launched SHI Designs a range of contemporary shell art all lovingly preserved in box frames.  The first batch of my lovely creations are now complete and have already been showcased at a craft event in Corby, Northamptonshire.  These pictures (a few of which are shown below) are all for sale but only locally within Northamptonshire and surrounding counties.  I feel a little nervous about posting them so will offer a delivery service at a small cost depending on the location.  The pictures are priced from between £20 and £120 plus delivery.

As they are all unique due to the nature of the materials used you will have a truly original piece of art!
The shells and sharks teeth which have been used have in the main been collected by me but some more delicate or rare shells have been purchased for my projects.

Commissions can be taken as I have two frame sizes available and can change the colour background on the pictures.  I am happy to also discuss design changes and will add to my portfolio as time goes on. Whilst I have displayed some of these on my website www.sanibelhomeinteriors.co.uk they cannot be purchased through the website and any enquiries regarding a purchase or commission should be directed to my email sanibelhi@btinternet.com

So here are my new creations, it would be lovely to get some feedback on these.

The Tree of Life - created using fossilized sharks teeth which  my family and I have collected.  A truly original one off piece of art! £120.00 plus postage.  It is set in dark wood box frame.

LOVE Letters - Black Box Frame 53cm Sq £70 plus postage.

Sanibel Sand Dollar - White Box Frame 25cmsq - £20.00 plus postage

Small Wonky Heart created from button top shells in black box frame 25cm sq. £25.00 plus postage.

Love is not Symmetrical - Already sold! Commissions of this design are £70.00 plus postage. 

Spiny Jewel Box in White Box Frame 25cm sq - £20.00 plus postage.

Butterflies of the Sea - White Box Frame 25cm sq - £20.00 plus postage.

It's a Small World - White Box Frame 25cm sq - £20.00 plus postage

Sanibel Sand Dollar - available in different colour ways.

Bombay Duck Sale!

Yes here at Sanibel Home Interiors it is time to bring a little sunshine into everyone's lives with a great shopping opportunity a SALE!  As you know we don't have sales very often.  Being a small independent online retailer who prides itself in ensuring that we charge fair prices for our products means that we are always competitive and rarely need to promote a sale, but, Summer is allegedly here, yet it is gloomy and I sighted a few snow flakes this morning which has made me feel like I need retail therapy and if I need it when I own my own business then I am sure you do too!  So Sanibel Home Interiors has reduced many of its Bombay Duck products by 20%.  Postage and Packaging is still included in the fabulous prices on offer and as stocks are limited there is no time to hesitate and make those wonderful purchases now.  Here are a few of the fabulous bargains on offer:-

Bombay Duck Aluminium Salad Bowl and Servers Was  £69.95 now £55.96 (Salad Servers also available separately for £16.76)

Bombay Duck All of a Flutter 2 Tier Cake Stand Was £35.50 now £28.40.

 

Bombay Duck China Mugs from the Miss Darcy Range Was  £10.95 now £8.76, also available in White, Powder Blue and Mint.

Bombay Duck Tea Cups - Miss Darcy China Tea Cups Were  £13.95 now £11.16.  Also available in Pink and Lavender.

Bombay Duck Tea for One Set from the Flight of Fancy Range - Was £17.95 now £14.36.

Bombay Duck Union Jack Coir Mat - Was £22.50 now £18.00.

Bombay Duck Photo Frames - available in this lovely fuchsia pink and also purple and turquoise.  Were £11.95 now £9.56.

To view the full range of Bombay Duck items which are on sale please click here.

Happy Shopping!

Mother's Day Gifts Galore!

Mother's Day is frantically approaching and I really have not marketed all the wonderful Mother's Day Gifts which Sanibel Home Interiors has to offer.  As some of these fabulous items need to be handmade I may have left it too late to tempt you so instead will just concentrate on some lovely stock items which I have which I can post direct.

Each year we are bombarded by offers for flowers and chocolates and gifts galore to celebrate motherhood.  I personally love to receive handmade cards from my children and am more than happy to have a hug wrapped up in a dressing gown first thing in the morning.  That said Mother's Day is an opportunity to stock up on some cosmetics you like or that summer shirt which caught your eye on the high street!

Here are a few items from Sanibel Home Interiors which may also appeal and if not for Mother's Day then just as a gift anytime!  Enjoy whatever surprise awaits you on Sunday 10th March! X

Jan Constantine 27cm Hearts Plate £16.95 Free P & P

Hanging Sign - £9.95 including P & P

Grandmas are just antique little girls - standing shelf sign £9.95 including P & P

Block Sign £9.95

Photo Gift Box - Wooden Rustic Gift Box with Photo Aperture on lid.  Aperture measures 6.5 x 6.5cm. £8.95 including P & P.

Mother is another word for Love! Standing Shelf Sign £9.95 including P & P.

Bombay Duck Flight of Fancy Tea for One Set.  Perfect size teapot just for one! £17.95 including P & P.



All of the above items and lots more can be found at www.sanibelhomeinteriors.co.uk 

February Frolics!!

We are three quarters of the way through February and whilst still very chilly at times we have been treated to a little sunshine and the start of new growth in the garden.  Personally my garden is a little like a quagmire and the lawn is most definitely a green patchy sponge!  All around can be heard the sounds of wildlife beginning to stir in anticipation of the forthcoming Spring.  For my birthday this year I was given a bird feeding station as I wish to encourage birds into the garden aside from the usual pigeons and magpies.  Two weeks have passed since I placed it in a nice prominent position and yet I have failed to see one living thing on it.  Not even a squirrel has ventured its way.  I have been told that patience is required as the birds can be quite suspicious at first or maybe they just don't like the brand of nuts I am using!  We will see what March brings, I know they are out there I can hear them.

As we all venture outdoors to try and shake off that caged in feeling I believe that a little colour is needed in addition to the sprouting and blossoming shrubs.  Sanibel Home Interiors supplies a wonderful collection of outdoor cushions, tablecloths and doorstops all lovingly created in Suffolk.  The waterproof cushions and other accessions are all made from mould resistant oilcloth which has been patented by the creator Oily Rag.  The outdoor cushions, doorstops and tablecloths come in an array of colours and sizes and can be left outside all year long so even when the shrubs aren't blossoming you will still have a splash of colour.  In addition to using these in the garden they are great for camping and the waterproof tablecloths are brilliant in the kitchen as they are easily wiped clean.

Take a look at the small selection of what is available and start brightening up the outdoors today.
All of these fabulous outdoor accessions are available from Sanibel Home Interiors.  Remember the prices quoted include FREE DELIVERY.  Spring here we come! X

Oily Rag Outdoor Doorstop £18.50 

Oily Rag Large Waterproof Cushion £37.50

Medium Oilcloth Cushion 16" or Large 20" Square from £32.50

Square waterproof washable tablecloth  £39.95

Blue Rosebud Tablecloth Oblong  measures 135cm x 200cm and costs £49.95

Also available tablecloth weights to keep it in place.

New Year New Colour!

Well with all the great intentions that I set out in my last blog (October 2012) here I am making yet another attempt at prioritising social media. The run up to and including Christmas week was extremely  busy.  I visited a company called DLC in Brackley for the first time with a 'Pop Up' Shop and really enjoyed meeting some lovely Ladies and Gents who purchased many of my Christmas decorations and gifts.  I also took my shop along to Avon HQ in Northampton and was able to help a few people tick off those all important Christmas Gifts.  Online business was bubbly and I managed to ensure all orders arrived in time for Santa!

In addition to managing the business I took on several homemade gift projects myself.  With 2012 having been such a bumper year for the UK with the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee I wanted to capture as many memories as I could for my children (aged 10 and 12) so that in the future they could look back and recall their involvement in 2012.  I set about compiling a scrap book each for them containing memories from the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee but also memories personally pertaining to them i.e. birthdays, holidays, holding one of the Olympic Torches seeing Usain Bolt run in the 200m heats and for my son his Year 6 Prom when he left Primary School.  In addition I also included some great achievements i.e. Felix Baumgartners leap of faith at the edge of space and lets not forget the releases of films such as Skyfall and The Dark Knight Rises.  I did not realise how long it would take me to complete these scrap books but alas having started them at the end of November I was still finalising them Christmas Eve!  They were worth the effort, the kids loved them on Christmas Day and whilst they will now be stored safely at some point in the future they will bring smiles and memories back to them.

My creative side also came into its own both before and after Christmas.  For my husband I created a piece of Contemporary Shell Art titled 'Love is Not Symmetrical' as seen here;

For the house I finally covered a sofa in the study which needed some TLC.  The sofa having only cost me £25 and I believe has been transformed from a dull plain occasional sofa to a funky more usuable one!  Judge for yourself.  The material I purchased from Ikea for the grand sum of £22!!! What a bargain.

Before

After

Selling interior decorations and gifts has its advantages, you get the benefit of visiting trade shows and viewing the forthcoming trends and of course selecting products to sell but you also can sneak a few products in to your sales lines which are personal favourites.  Here are a few of my personal favourites which I have showcased in my home...  Back soon X

Winter Flora Heart - White 

Winter Flora Heart - Red

                       

Bombay Duck Indian Inspired Photo Frames - Available in Purple, Fuchsia or Turquoise

Sanibel Home Interiors - Back with a Vengeance!

It feels strange to be composing what is my first blog entry since June, the summer came and went in flash (mostly flash floods in places) but now we are well and truly in the middle of Autumn heading towards the bitter chill of Winter.  I have been so remiss these past months, I have ignored the cry's of social media promotion and in effect had my head in the sand hoping that it wouldn't matter if I did not blog or sweet or make my Facebook page look twee, but the truth is in this age of social media online interaction it does.  I do actually long for those days when you posted a letter and in effect your job was done for a few days whilst you waited for the response.  These days everyone wants something yesterday and I believe society has become more and more impatient.  Anyway rant over, Sanibel Home Interiors - Making a House a Home Blog is back and if I can keep the momentum going I will hope to brighten your day with some lovely interior gifts and accessories and at this time of year those all important Christmas Decorations - yes Santa is back in the building more precisely my stock room and he is looking fab!

For those of you that are interested in the lighter side of blogging back in June I was jogging and trying to lose an ounce or two in order to buy a pair of shorts for my holiday, well, I did secure a great pair of shorts from Fat Face and was very pleased with their look on holiday.  My Good Friend who should be affectionately known as 'An Americano with Room' accompanied me on a pre school break up shopping session and came away with a few delightful purchases including on my part a bargain pair of Mango Jeans from John Lewis on sale just £12.99 (bargain of the year!).  I also commented back in June that I and another friend of mine aka 'Turkish Delight' were discussing the dilemma facing us over 40 ladies namely, to wear a bikini or not on the beach.  ITV This Morning at the time were running a poll on whether ladies over 39 should retire their bikinis.  Well ...  I spent two lovely weeks in Portugal this year and it was fair to say that there were a considerable number of ladies who would fit the over 39 category who felt very comfortable in their bikinis.  I admit there were all shapes and sizes but no body cared, the fashion and age police were not on patrol to issue warnings or reprimands.  Everyone I observed were just doing their best to secure a good tan and relax.  I will admit I did join those ladies, I was not bold enough to walk along the beach with my bikini on and I have to admit that entering the sea posed certain challenges especially with powerful waves (mainly due to lack of Lycra in my outfit I believe!) but I did gain the benefits of the bikini when seated or lying down and felt comfortable and not at all out of place.  SOooo.. all in all I believe as mentioned back in June if you have got it flaunt it and don't worry what other's think.  Most of those that criticise will reach that golden age one day and it will be interesting to see if they too have the same dilemma!

Business is buzzing this time of year due to the fact that with Christmas only weeks away the mindset towards spending changes.  It moves from keeping to a necessary budget to being able to justify more discretionary spending.  We all have friends and family that we like to treat at Christmas and each year poses the question 'What to get Grandma this year'?  As it becomes harder and harder each year we look for new ideas, may be personalised items or decide to really splash the boat out on one really lovely tasteful gift.

Sanibel Home Interiors has continued to seek out some of the best British Talent when it comes to art and crafts and bespoke personalised gifts.  We have just started selling a truly lovely range of hand felted and knitted cushions and hot water bottle covers from the Catherine Tough Collection.  All of the items are made to order in her London Studio.  In addition Catherine also makes fab Doorstop Dogs and Draught Excluders.  These are made with cotton material and filled with lovely natural lavender and wheat giving off a calming scent in the home.  The products are luxurious and the prices competitive so make the perfect special Christmas gift.

Here are a few items from the Catherine Tough range and I wonder if you can spot the odd one out!

Doorstop Dog Lavender Filled from Catherine Tough London available from Sanibel Home Interiors priced  £48.00.

Catherine Tough Knitted Cushion from Sanibel Home Interiors priced £49.95

Doorstop Owl - Lavender Filled Handmade in the UK - A unique gift from Sanibel Home Interiors from the Catherine Tough Range priced £48.00

Handmade Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cover from the Catherine Tough Range available from Sanibel Home Interiors priced £45.00

HO HO Santa - Christmas Decorations from Sanibel Home Interiors

Knitted Felted Cushion 100% Lambswool - Handmade in the UK by Catherine Tough priced £49.95 from Sanibel Home Interiors

Catherine Tough Tea Cosy available from Sanibel Home Interiors

Tea Cosy Handmade by Catherine Tough available from Sanibel Home Interiors priced £25.00

Draught Excluder Dog in Red Drill - Part of the Catherine Tough Range priced £55.00 from Sanibel Home Interiors

In the words of a famous robot I'l be back!! X

Another day another dollar! or more like another day another set of Miss Darcy Teacups!!

No two days are the same running a business and from my limited experience (only been in business 7 months) as a rule there is no consistency with regards product sales, apart from one!  Yes my Miss Darcy Teacups from Bombay Duck just fly off the shelves.  When I first started back in November I stocked just the Miss Darcy Powder Blue Teacups but as demand grew I expanded the range and now stock all four colours; powder blue, rose pink, mint and lavender.  I have also taken on the Blush Pink Teapot, Sugar Bowl and Milk Jug which also prove very popular, but without a doubt the teacups are the winners and as I have put 4 of them together as a set (one of each colour) with of course a reduced price then these sets tend to be a winner.  So as it is a daily occurrence to be posting Miss Darcy Teacups all over the UK I thought it was worthy of a mention and part of my title strap line today.

It is only fair in love and war to thus do a shameless plug and promotion for all things Miss Darcy and the pictures at the bottom of the blogs will contain the links to your shopping heaven.

On with the lighter side (or not so light) side of my blog!  I have commented about running for a beach bod, and my inevitable concerns as an early 40 something as to how to dress these days.  Well, I met another lovely friend yesterday (Thursday) for coffee (yes I can hear you say it another Coffee House) this time in Starbucks in Market Harborough.  After the 2 mint blend teas (me) and I believe there was an Americano followed by a flat white (hope I have got that right) for my friend, and about an hour and a half of chat we took to the shops of Market Harborough for some potential sale shopping.  I for one really need a pair of shorts, I have a great really comfortable pair which I purchased from Monsoon years ago which I think look and feel good but they are worn through in places so really can no longer be classed as a 'smart' pair of shorts.

We headed into a couple of shops but I found myself in Phase 8, not trying on shorts but trying on a lovely chocolate coloured flowy dress which looked fab on the hanger but when I tried it on I looked like a cube, my waist had disappeared.  My waist is probably one of my more positive body attributes so not one which I need to hide as a rule.  We then ambled over to Fat Face where I had previously seen some good looking shorts and a great crochet effect top.  Feeling that this was the look I was after I opted to try the combo on, I played it safe and took two sizes into the changing rooms.  Being bold I tried on the smaller pair of shorts first, big mistake, far from flattering, bulges in places bulges should never exist.  I opted for the larger pair, a size which even on a bad day I get away with and I was still horrified.  Was this my wake-up call, have I had my head in the sand (I wish on a great beach), no this was reality hitting home.  I could no longer kid myself that it was safe to enter the children's chocolate and crisp basket.  I now had to totally ban myself if I was to ever purchase a new pair of shorts.

My lovely friend also felt similarly concerned (although I feel her plight is no where near as bad as mine) and we both vowed there and then that measures were needed and an incentive too.  We have promised that during the last week of the school term which is in only 3 weeks that we will have made in roads in tackling this short fobia issue and will go shopping to MK to buy those holiday shorts.

So to the diet - (my head is saying - I LOVE FOOD, I LOVE FOOD, I REALLY LOVE FOOD and I cannot stand feeling hungry or feeling as if I have to deny myself something) BUT whilst I am fortunate enough to not have suffered any real addictions I do believe I have a chocolate addiction and this I need to tackle.  The problem comes with eating low cocoa solid chocolate bars the sort that you put in your kids lunchbox, they are truly addictive.  I can never just have one, why have single Twix fingers when you know you will want a second, makes no sense.  Well I have been good now for a total of 48 hours (Wow I hear you say), I am having a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a bowl of cereal for lunch and then a good meal in the evening and fruit if I need it.  If I was going to a CA meeting (Chocolholics Anonymous) then I would be able to stand up and declare that I have been 'clean' 'dry' or 'sugar free' for 48 hours and feel proud.

Well the truth will be in the pudding (probably not the best analogy) but in 3 weeks time I will shop for shorts and hopefully that great pair will be waiting for me.

I know this is rather a long ranting blog today but I have received a text from a friend telling me that on ITV This Morning Show today there has been a poll saying women over 39 should retire their bikinis!!  This takes me back to a blog of my last week.  I need to obviously look into this but if you have seen the programme this morning and would like to comment then please do so on this blog.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Oh and here are the Miss Darcy Teacups et al!

Miss Darcy Teacups Individually £13.95 or set of 4  £49.95 from Sanibel Home Interiors (Free Delivery)

Miss Darcy Blush Teapot £27.95 from Sanibel Home Interiors (Free Delivery)

Miss Darcy Blush Milk Jug £11.95 (Free Delivery) from Sanibel Home Interiors

Miss Darcy Sugar Bowl £11.95 (Free Delivery) from Sanibel Home Interiors