Friday 27 January 2012

Bits and pieces of busy!

Every day this week I have planned to write a blog post, and every day time has just slipped away from me! I've been so busy, working on so many different things - am really looking forward to having a rest this weekend!

So, first and foremost, Starstruck Designs has been listed as an Elite Supplier on Pavone Weddings!


 We work really hard to ensure we provide the best service that we possibly can to our clients, so to be recognised for this is a really wonderful feeling!

Its also lovely to see photos of the gorgeous Jess and Nikki being used on our listing, and I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with them again later this year.  They, and several other models will be working on a charity photoshoot, organised by photographer Rob Ferrol.  He is raising money for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and we have offered to loan any bridal accessories that they need for the shoot. 

In terms of new designs this week, apart from a couple of bespoke bridal tiaras (sorry, no sneaky peeks until the brides have seen!), I decided that I needed an injection of colour.  I love working on bridal pieces, but sometimes I feel the need to move away from ivory pearls and clear crystals.  In order to showcase the more unusual, less commercial, and often "One Off" pieces I make, there will soon be an additional collection on our website under the name of Starstruck Couture.  Here are two of the three headpieces that are ready to go!

Siren. Mermaid tiara, sea inspired mermaid tiara made with Swarovski crystals and pearls
Siren is inspired by the sea.  A tiara that would be perfect for a mermaid!  The entire design centres around a silver diamante starfish, surrounded by lustrous pearls in various sizes, and accents of Swarovski crystal in sea blues and greens, with a few sandy golds.  Teeny tiny Swarovski crystals in clear and Aquamarine are used to create the waves.

swarovski crystal union jack headband image.  Bridal union jack

Rule Britannia was inspired by a pair of shoes!  This Union Jack headband is created with around 500 Swarovski crystals in Siam, White Opal and Sapphire (or red, white and blue!).  The bow sits to the side of the head and it sparkles in a way that only Swarovski can create!  I shall be sporting one of these myself when I attend the Olympics in London later in the year!

And finally... this week also sees the start of my movie making fame (well, sort of!).  All too often I am told that the photos on the website don't do my designs justice - which of course is incredibly flattering, but there isn't really much I can do about it.  Or is there....  I decided to have a go at making a video of some of my products, to capture the utter beauty of their sparkle.  You can view the video on the home page of my website - Starstruck Designs  Or, you could just watch it here:


Please do leave us your comments - we love hearing from you!

Tuesday 17 January 2012

The Royal We...

I think there must be something in the air, perhaps its the new year? I don't know, but over the last few days I have read some unusually personal entries on the blogs that I follow.

It got me thinking about my own blog. I don't post very often - I guess I don't really have a clear focus when it comes to the purpose of the blog. Its predominantly about my business, and the wedding industry, but i've always been a bit of a gas-bag, and I often find I really curb myself when i'm writing so that I don't get too *involved*, at least not on a personal level. Honestly - I spend more time editing my waffle than I spend writing it! But what the heck....

Let's start with me. This is me (no not Isme, I *really* hate those adverts!).


I'm a closet magpie. OK, who am I trying to kid, i've not been in the closet for a very long time! I'm a Magpie, and i'm proud!

But I have to balance my sparkly side, with another side that is Wife and Mum. This year sees my husband and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, and we have two beautiful children, Aliya who has just turned 6, and Austin who will be 2 in a couple of weeks. So really I suppose, THIS is me --->



I often use the words "we" and "us" and "our" when I talk about Starstruck Designs, and that's because, although I run the business, and I make all the pieces, this is very much a family business and all four of us are involved. My husband Andy, is my ultimate sounding board. He is the one person that I can guarantee will stomp all over my fantastic (expensive), creative (non-commercial), never-been-done-before (impossible/unrealistic/away with the fairies) ideas without a care in the world. Sounds harsh? Hmmm...but he keeps me grounded. He helps me sort the chaff from the wheat when it comes to the crazy think tank that sits on my shoulders. He also critiques my new designs, enourages me during the lows, pours me a glass of wine to celebrate the highs, and nags me to complete my tax return on time. He's also not afraid of the early Saturday morning run to the post office, with both children, so I can have a lie in. And he sometimes comes back and wakes me with tea and a bacon sarnie. For that, I love him forever.

My children tell me when i'm working too hard, or working when I shouldn't. They run their fingers though my boxes (and boxes, and boxes) of crystals and pearls and diamante and ohh and ahh over my "sparklies". Their delight when I twirl a tiara around in the sunlight and cause rainbow flecks of light to fill every wall of the room reminds me of the beauty of the materials I work with. Aliya likes to try on the samples that I make up, and if she can pop a tiara on and then completely forget she is wearing it, I know that its not going to cause a bride a headache on her wedding day. Austin also likes to try on my samples...


Last year was a tough one for me. It was the first year I was back at work full time since having my children. Its hard to balance a business and a family, and I don't always get it right - and if the balance isn't right then both sides suffer. If I spend too much time working and not with the family, my children miss me, I feel guilty about neglecting them and that inhibits my creativity. If I spend too much time with my family and not enough working, then of course, my business, client relationships, and credibility suffers. Sometimes one side needs me more than the other and identifying those times when a shift is required is tricky...that's why it takes more than just me, to make sure I get it right. But believe me, Starstruck Designs is made up of a team of experts - we might not all get involved in making tiaras, but we are all brilliant at the parts we are in charge of!

Thursday 5 January 2012

Orange and Fuchsia Colour Scheme


To kick off the New Year I thought I would blog a colour scheme in response to a request I had.  I love the hot pink/fuchsia and orange mixture - so fiery, warm, fun and bold.  I think probably the combination would be mainly used during the Summer, but orange is such a fantastic Autumnal colour, pink is beautiful in Spring, and who wouldn't want to be warmed up like this on a Winter's day?


Orange and hot pink wedding bouquet Orange and hot pink cupcake wrapper Orange and hot pink bridesmaid dress by Dessy
Orange and hot pink ties Orange and hot pink paper lanterns Orange and Hot pink favours
Orange and hot pink wedding invitations Orange and hot pink flowers Orange and pink wedding cake


If you click on any of the images above you will be taken to the website of the company that offers the product shown.

Top row, L-R: Fuchsia and orange silk flower bouquet by Debbie Co Flowers. Orange and bright pink cupcake wrappers by Bella Cupcake Couture. Citrus Ombre bridesmaid dress by Dessy

Middle row, L-R: Orange and Pink Mens Neckties by Tux and Tulle. Orange and hot pink paper lanterns - I couldn't find the original credit for this image, but I have found a UK seller of gorgeous paper lanterns Hanging Lanterns. Orange and Fuchsia thank you tags for favours by Weddings by Susan.

Bottom row, L-R: Orange and hot pink wedding invitations by V O Handmade. Orange and fuschia clay flowers by D K Designs. Hot pink and orange wedding cake by White Flower Cake.

Whilst writing this post, I kept thinking about jelly beans! I absolutely love the Jelly Belly beans and this post really made my mouth water for the pink grapefruit flavour, which I think would work perfectly with this colour scheme. So off I went to find a photo, and in my search I found this:



Flavours shown are Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, Pink Grapefruit, Peach Bellini and Orange Sherbert. Click this link to find your way to Jelly Bean Heaven!

If you are a wedding supplier, and you have any product or venue images that you would like to be included in a future blog post, please leave me a comment or email me details!
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