Hello 2014!

Happy New Year

 

2013 was an incredible year for my business, and I thank you all so, so much for your support. It means the world to me, and enables me to work from home, doing a job I love, and be around for my kids whilst they're small (ish). Who could ask for more?

I know it's a little late but I never feel the New Year starts properly until the kids go back to school (which is tomorrow!).

Apart from anything else, in January I try (really hard... honest) to give up the booze Sunday to Thursday. And there's no way I'm prepared to do that until the kids are back at school! So all my other resolutions have to wait too.

Christmas was a little soggy around here.... luckily our house didn't flood, but our village was all over the news, and lots of friends had a Christmas which didn't go exactly to plan. Some are going to be out of their homes for the foreseeable future and our hearts go out to them.

This was bridge at the bottom of my road on Christmas Eve morning....

By Christmas Day, the water had subsided and the roads were passable again.

And an aerial view, courtesy of Sky News.

I hope you lovely lot got away unscathed?

But that's all behind us now (fingers and toes firmly crossed as the rain continues to pelt down against the window). And I'm excited to find out what 2014 is going to bring.

My resolutions for the New Year are...

1. To practice on the piano for at least 15 minutes a day.
   I started lessons with the kids in September, having never played before, and always wanting to give it a go. I'm absolutely loving it, and it's got to be doing my brain some good from the way it hurts after each lesson.
2. The booze thing (see above!) 

Business wise my plans are to..

1. Finally crack my birthstone range....which I've slowly been adding to, but just need to bloomin' well get sorted. Especially the stacking rings, which will be lovely for a mum to have in the birthstone of her children.
2. Get around to putting my sterling silver initial jewellery in the shop. Can't wait to show you this!!!
3. Find some other suitable stockists to get my wares out and about a bit more. If you know of any lovely shops which like to stock handmade goodies, please let me know. 

I'd love to hear about your plans, or resolutions for the year ahead. 

In the meantime I'll leave you with one of my best sellers from last year, these oxidised opal studs....(just because I gave a pair to myself as a Christmas treat!)

Custom Goodies

I thought you might like to see the lovely earrings and pendant set that I made recently for Carly, who got in contact with me via this blog.

Carly had a definite idea of the colours and length she wanted for her earrings, and I got to do just what I love to do, plan the design and put it all together. I was really pleased with  the finished result.

 The rose quartz looks beautiful with the creamy pearls and delicate greys. I lightly oxidised the sterling silver components and polished them to a gorgeous shine.

The photos don't really do them justice; it was when we were still in the throws of the building work and I couldn't get all my photo bits and bobs set up properly.... but you get the idea.

Carly said "Hi, they've arrived safely thank you and I'm really pleased with everything, just perfect! Thanks again for interpreting all my demands into something pretty, and for getting it to me on time!"

If you have an idea of your perfect earrings that you'd like me to help realise, just get in touch and we can work something out. I'd love to help you get hold of the perfect necklace to go with that summer wedding outfit, or a special pressie for your sister who loves green.....

A special gift....?

I'm getting the feeling that I'm the only one who hasn't got at least half of their Christmas shopping done. (Tell me I'm wrong!) But I thought that now might be a good time to let you know about my jewellery design service.

You might not have realised that I take custom orders. I love to get your ideas and input in order to design a special piece of jewellery, for you, or for special gift. And don't worry - it doesn't have to be expensive to make it special and personal!

I recently had a lovely customer, who contacted me via my Folksy shop; she had spotted a necklace of mine that she liked, but who was buying a gift for a friend who was an "earring person" and she wondered if I could make matching earrings to make up a set. The earrings needed to be special, and  the necklace would match them. She even gave me an idea of the kind of thing she had in mind, a couple of emails later the set was ready.

Sorry, the photo isn't the best, as I wanted to get them in the post as soon as possible, rather than waiting for good light!

Perhaps you would like a name or initials enscribed on your nacklace, perhaps you would like a birthstone attached to one of my leaf pendants? Or perhaps you have your own idea that you would like me to create?  If so, get in touch, and I'll do my best to help.