Saturday with Virtue Shine: If I wasn’t in the West of Ireland, I’d love to be in Ghana's Aburi mountains

Virtue Shine: "I would much prefer brunch over breakfast but it’s usually breakfast on the run. I’ll have a cup of coffee or tea, berries and bagels with butter." Picture: Emilija Jefremova

08.45

On Saturday mornings I’m usually up by 8.45am.

09.00

The first thing I do, as I do every morning, is check in on my children to make sure everyone is well. I check in with myself too. 

I have a bit of a morning routine, during which I speak my affirmations and set my intentions for the day. 

I have a studio in my home so, with cuppa in hand, I will spend about an hour in there going over my designs, tweaking my moodboard if it needs it and pulling out fabrics that I’m working on. 

I then go over everything meticulously to make sure that my vision comes across in the designs — especially in terms of patterns.

11.00

I would much prefer brunch over breakfast but it’s usually breakfast on the run. I’ll have a cup of coffee or tea, berries and bagels with butter. 

The bagels remind me of New York, where myself and my partner used to get fresh baked bagels in Queens where we lived. 

Once I have had breakfast I will leave with enough time to walk to my shop Studio Emerald in the Anu Wellness Hub in Barna, Co Galway. 

I’ll walk from my house to the village where my shop is, which takes me about 25 minutes. If I don’t get to walk in the morning I like to take my dog out for a walk later on. 

That’s my exercise for the day and also a great way to switch off. 

I find that I get a lot of inspiration while in nature — I love the different types of flowers, especially ones that are indigenous to the area. 

It was on one of my walks that I got the idea to fuse Irish tweed with African print fabrics. I am so lucky to live in the West of Ireland where I’m surrounded by nature. 

I have the sea on my doorstep and the bog literally a few minutes walk from my house. If I wasn’t in the West of Ireland on a Saturday, I’d love to be in the Aburi mountains in Ghana. 

It is the most beautiful place on earth to me. You have a clear vista of the city below the cliffs and mountains, it’s cooler than the city, and you are surrounded by nature and food in abundance.

13.00

I don’t normally have lunch (I’m not proud of this) because Saturdays can be pretty busy at the shop but I’ll always have a snack or something that I can quickly munch on. 

If there’s a lull, I’ll have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with sparkling water.

Virtue Shine: "You can never take the New Yorker out of me — I still love going out — but as I get older, and the shop gets busier, nowadays I prefer a quiet dinner at home." Picture: Emilija Jefremova

14.00

Saturday afternoons revolve around the shop. If I have an appointment for a private client it’s usually a balancing act. 

It’s fun and interesting and I’ve connected with a few people at the shop who have become very good friends. 

Sometimes it can get quite hectic with clients picking up pieces that are custom-made, customers coming to choose fabrics and people who are visiting for the first time. 

I’ve a community of international clients that I’m very proud of too and they often come to see me when they visit Ireland. 

I am hands-on, and over the years my clients have gotten used to this and appreciate it. I strive to treat every client like they are the only person in the shop. 

I give them one-to-one attention – an experience really. I’ll put the kettle on, let the customer browse and then I will attend to them.

Saturday afternoons are very different to Sundays when the shop closes early at 4pm. That’s when I try to catch up with the whole family. 

#We sit down for a meal and play games afterwards. As the kids get older, it becomes more precious to continue with this tradition. 

It can be difficult at times because they also make their own plans now but I cherish Sunday evenings.

19.00

You can never take the New Yorker out of me — I still love going out — but as I get older, and the shop gets busier, nowadays I prefer a quiet dinner at home. 

I will have dinner with my partner or I might meet up with some of my girlfriends.

20.00

I used to go to a lot of gigs, especially when I lived in New York. These days the cinema is more appealing to me — especially as I love to look at the costumes that are worn. 

If you’d asked me 20 years ago I’d have had a hectic and busy Saturday evening but it’s a bit more low key now. I treasure my down time and wouldn’t change it!

03.00

When preparing for a collection, I am without a doubt a night owl. I could be in the studio until 2 or 3am. 

I find that my creativity flows effortlessly at night when the world is quiet and my children are in bed. 

I can hear myself think, I can see my designs clearly, and I know that I’m creating beautiful pieces for customers to wear. 

At the end of the day, I go to bed very fulfilled and I sleep like a baby.

• The Brown Thomas showcase ‘Celebrating Irish Designers’ runs until August 25 on Level 2, Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin