Business Loans for your own business

There will be loads of relevant information in my eBook about financing your business.

Apart from going to a bank, there are many other ways of raising the funds to enable you to get started. Also, once you start your business, there are various ways of raising funds to move your business up to the next step.

In my eBook, I will be explaining what techniques I used to ensure that I got the answer I wanted when I had my own appointments with the bank.

I am aiming for the middle of March for the release.

Why not send me an email so that I can put you on my list for the release information. As a special gift to you I will be sending everyone who gives me their email address with their first and last name, a free report.

A Motivational Saying

One of my Favourite Sayings

You are what you think

All that you are - arises from your thoughts

With your thoughts

You make your world

The Buddah

I just love that saying and I'm always passing it on to people when they need a little motivation to move on with the next stage in their lives.

Say it to yourself whenever you feel down - and you won't feel down for long! In fact, you will realise that you are totally in control of your own life.

AnneMarie

The Kitten Tunic

Memories connected with my Kitten Tunic Design

I sold it twice as I wore it!

The first time was on a train journey to Scotland. I was on my way to exhibit at Aviemore in the middle of Scotland. It was the winter time and I decided to wear one of my samples to keep warm. A passanger approached me to ask where I had gotten the sweater, when I told them it was one of my own designs, they asked me there and then if they could buy the one I was wearing!!


Needless to say, I offered to take an order instead.


A few days later, while exhibiting at my stand, an American buyer wanted the kitten sample I was wearing, as well as placing a lovely large order.


I guess the moral here is, if you create designs - wear them!!


I have attached a photo of this design and if you are interested in one for yourself please contact me. This particular design is not on my website at the moment.

Some Questions and Answers about Cashmere

What is it like to wear cashmere?

That depends on the quality of the cashmere.

If you have ever been lucky enough to have worn both the high street budget quality and the luxury of the very best but expensive cashmere, you will feel the difference.

There is no comparison. The feeling of the best high quality cashmere against your skin, is the most comforting feeling. And knowing that, with gentle hand washing, the garments is going to last you for many years to come.

Wearing high quality cashmere also makes you feel very confident. You may have treated yourself or have had it given to you as gift, but either way, wearing your garments gives you a wonderful feeling of confidence. Confidence of knowing that you deserve to wear the very best.
We all desire some luxury item every now and then in our lives. Some days it might be just a box of delicious chocolates, a bunch of your favourite flowers, jewellery etc. But to have at least one piece of the very best cashmere in your wardrobe, is sheer indulgence. Just stroking the silken feel garment while you are wearing it, is such a wonderful feeling of opulence.

Why is the best quality cashmere so expensive?

The answer is, because it takes one goat alone, four years to produce enough wool to make just one cashmere cardigan or sweater. Years ago, royalty were the only people who could afford to wear cashmere.

Why are some cashmere cheaper than others?

The most expensive cashmere is taken from the underbelly and the neck of the Kashmir goat. The fibres from these places is longer and this length is what makes for much softer wool and less "pilling" of the yarn when worn.

The cheaper cashmeres are made from the shorter fibres, which are taken from the backs and legs. This yarn is less expensive and therefore can produce cheaper cashmere garments. However, it will not last as long nor will it wear as well as the best quality cashmere.
© AnneMarie-Callan 2006 http://www.annemarie-callan.com

My Designs Inspired by "The Book of Kells"

History of my "Book of Kells" Designs
I created my Celtic theme designs approximately 20 years ago when I received a St Patrick’s Day card from my family in Ireland.

Have a look now, if you like!

At the time, I was living in London with my own family and had just started my business, designing knitwear. Even though people admired my samples, I felt there was something missing.

Then the postcard arrived. On the front of the card was an old sword with Celtic designs depicted on it. As soon as I saw the card, I knew immediately that those designs were what I had been looking for.

The strange thing is, I had had a dream a few days before which I could not understand and found it disturbing. In the dream someone had thrown me a gift of a potato! Then another, and finally a third potato! (Seriously!)

Putting the card and the dream together, I realised that the potatoes represented my roots and the fact that there were definitely three – represented the Trinity, to me. Therefore, the St Patrick’s Day card was also relevant to my dream with its Celtic designs.

I went on to create designs using this theme. Some days everything went brilliantly. The colours blending just as I had imagined. I was really thrilled and the adrenaline was scoring high. But other days, it was a nightmare. Mixing and matching yarns but never quite finding the correct blends of colours in the yarns.

Knitting sample after sample, pieces of yarns across the floor and feelings of complete frustration.

However, I did not give up and eventually I got it right. Right enough to command loads of orders, which were delivered to several countries around the world.

People still buy them, because they have a history and because they are classic. My next step is to create more designs inspired by "The Book of Kells". Watch this space!

Visiting Ireland

Arriving in Dublin

Flying into Dublin Airport on the national airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus, or any of the other international airlines - and then travelling a short journey, either by bus, taxi or hired car, will bring you into Dublin City, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Dublin is the Capital City of Ireland. It has beauty in its’ architecture, from the Georgian houses to the modern Spire on O’Connells Street, the widest street in Europe - to its’ art and its’ literature.

Another reason for visiting Dublin, are the people, both famous and infamous. During the last few years it has become very much a cosmopolitan city with the natural friendliness of the Irish people.

Dublin is also well-known for its ownership of, "The Book of Kells", a famous hand painted illustrated manuscript of the Gospels, housed within the Old Library of Trinity College, Dublin. The manuscript dates back to 800 AD and is a national treasure. People travel worldwide to view the "Book of Kells".

The river Liffey separates the Northside and Southside of Dublin. It rises near to Kippure, a mountain in South Wicklow and runs down to the Irish Sea in Dublin Bay.

To the west of the city centre you will find Phoenix Park, the largest public park in the world. The park is ringed by a seven mile wall and it is where you will find Dublin Zoo, Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the President of Ireland, as well as many other visitor attractions.

People love to spend long weekends in Dublin because of the fantastic shopping and the ‘crack’ – a word popularly used for the great social life in the City.

Where ever you go in Dublin, you will see many signs in both Gaelic and English and one of the first signs you will see when you arrive is - Dublin or "Baile Atha Cliath" .

Gifts from Ireland

Beautiful Aran Knitwear

The Aran sweater is a traditional garment of Ireland, a country, to the North West of Europe.

If you owned an original hand knitted Aran sweater or jacket, you would be delighted!

Why, you may ask yourself?

Because,

• You'll enjoy years of wear with one of these beautiful hand knitted sweaters or jackets.
  
• When you wear your aran knitwear, you'll have to be prepared for all the compliments you'll get.
  
• You won't need to wear a heavy coat, when you're wearing your aran jacket.
  
• You'll be able to wear your aran for many months of the year.

Aran knitwear is hand knitted in a natural coloured, oiled yarn. The knitwear is so durable that you would hand it down to the next generation(s). It is also very protective in the cold climates, making it a great purchase for three of the seasons of the year.

The knitwear is very distinctive in its design. Legend has it that each family used to create their own designed garment and when a fisherman drowned, his family would be able to recognise him by the design on his sweater.

If you would like to see some of the beautiful Aran designs click the following link:-
Beautiful Aran Knitwear