Blogging and birthstones.

I was so excited to be in print this week. And I mean really excited. As in, having to stop myself showing the cashier at WHSmiths.

I was interviewed by Make and Sell Jewellery, about blogging for their March issue (available now from all good magazine shops). It's definitely worth a read for all bloggers, not just for my bit obviously; there were lots of top tips for jewellery designers or other small businesses. So a big hello to anyone who's popped along to this blog after reading their feature. Do say hello back in the comments.

Meanwhile, once I stopped beaming about my 5 minutes of fame (hopefully another 10 minutes to come someday) I got to work on more stacking birthstone rings... lots of new cabochons arrived ready for setting..

pearl, peridot, garnet, and sky blue topaz stones for setting

and here are some of the finished rings...

ready for photographing and popping onto the website. Hopefully next week!

January round up....

January  - it's usually so grey, and dark. And with Christmas (and most of my money) gone, it usually makes for a pretty low key month.

This time around though I planned ahead. First of all we bought the girls a trip to Harry Potter Studios for their Christmas present. They've got so much "stuff" so I thought an experience would work well as a gift for them. We loved it - have you been yet? It's just amazing to see all the detail on the sets. How much work and expertise goes into the making of the sets and props. Just stunning.

Diagon Alley

Minerva McGonagall's Office

4 Privet Drive

I also planned a night away with some buddies, way back in November (so it was all paid for and sorted before Christmas shopping had really begun). We just popped up to London and stayed in Camden, and went to the Roundhouse to see the Fuerzabruta show. It's the one that hit the news the very next week when this bit of the set fell onto the audience.

 

 Still on the night I went it was fab. That followed by dancing to until 2am (a time I had forgotten existed) was a definite cure to the January blues. 

As ever, every day starts with a dog walk. Rain or shine... and there's been one hell of a lot of the wet stuff round here,  it's always good to get out and about.

And then we get to the jewels... new for January was this amazonite pendant, this rolling ring (based on the russian wedding ring design but with 5 bands rather than three). Plus some more amethyst and garnet goodies - the perfect gemstones to cut through the winter gloom.

Amazonite pendant

Rolling ring

A++ Garnet earrings

 

Amethyst - February birthstone

February is usually my least favourite month, it always feels like the gloomiest weather wise (even more gloomy than January), but I'm expecting good things from this month. Snowdrops and cyclamen are popping up, the birds are making a racket, and the evenings are already that little bit lighter. Bring it on!

Hearts and flowers....

With valentines day just around the corner, I thought I'd show you a quick selection of my hearts and flowers, in case you wanted to drop a few hints! Click on the picture to get more info!

Birthstone Goodies for January

I've been working on some garnet goodies recently, as garnet is the January birthstone.

I always think the rich deep red of the garnet looks gorgeous next to that dark sheen of oxidised silver. What do you think?

I know lots of you prefer shiny silver so I tend to offer both options on my goodies. It makes such a difference to the look of the piece. Even if it's not stated on the listing, just ask - I probably just forgot to add it on as an option.

This ring is usually shiny silver, and I think it looks stunning, so I guess it depends very much on each individual item.

Another shiny silver  - last years' January favourites were these pearl and garnet dangles. The creamy pearl with the sparkle of the garnet is such a classy combination.

More info on the January birthstone on this post!

As well as the gorgeous garnets I've been looking head to February, the amethyst birthstone always brightens up that greyest of months.

Click on the pics for a closer look!

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!)

Gift Guide - Fab Friends

Perfect gifts for your favourite people. Those who you see once in a blue moon, but with whom you still click like you last saw each other yesterday. Or, those who you see or speak to everyday without fail. Either way, these are the people who you know will be there for you!

So, how to thank them...? Here's a few ideas.

A simple gemstone pendant...perfect for everyday wear.

These leaf pendants can be made with many different stones - birthstones are a favourite, and thoughtful gift.

These silver pearls are an ideal gift - they will go with everything!

And so do these bangles - in Russian wedding ring style. A real classic.

Here's to fab friends!

Reach for the stars...

Just a quick reminder that the December giveaway for those who subscribe to the newsletter will be these gorgeous teeny tiny handmade silver stars.

But you've got to be in it to win it.... sign up for the newsletter here!