Wednesday 7 December 2011

and I got the window decorated in Skipton, great copper beech branches, sprayed randomly with gold, gold and black baubles and some leaves around the bottom .... all looks very tasteful.

I did the Storey Vintage Christmas Fair on Saturday which was great.  I had some good sales including my pepper pot pendant that sold to the first person who saw it.

I also sold quite a few of the old silver charms with and without a chain.  So if I can expand my vintage range I might try a few more vintage fairs next year.

I am just working on turning some old spoons and forks in to pendants, not the ones you usually see, I am trying to do something different.  

I have a great commission at the moment.  I am making a contemporary silver ring for a customer and using 2 pearls from her old gold ring and setting them in to her new ring.  Before Christmas!  And I am making a hashtag from perspex.

Right, back to work ..........

1 December 2011

Had to post a short blog today as it's the 1st of the month.

I have been busy sorting stuff out and now I should be working on jewellery as I left my handtorch in the shop yesterday and I have just got it back.  I am working but just taking a break to post this.

This is a new pendant, based on my Fickle range and I have added gold leaf to it.  It looks great on but I am not too sure about the gold leaf and its sustainability.  You can buy it off my website The Jewellery Room.

I will just have to keep wearing this piece to test it out.
I am off to the shop again tomorrow in Skipton and I am going to decorate the windows for Christmas.  My boss is a Muslim so we are definitely not going over the top, we are going to be subtle so I hope likes it.

Wednesday 30 November 2011

I have had fun this week getting ready for the Vintage Fair at the weekend.  Its at the Storey in Lancaster on Saturday 3rd December 2011.  I have got quite a few upcycled and old pieces ready as well as some ranges and designs.  Fingers crossed I sell well!

I took this on my run this morning, there is always great dramatic light at this spot in the morning.  I have taken several from here over the years and they always make a good picture.  And this one was on my Blackberry!

This one of my vintage, upcycled pieces.  I have used an old charm from a silver charm bracelet, an old boot. I have about 10 different charms in total, they are great just as a single piece on a long chain.  Hope people like them.

Thursday 24 November 2011

Its been a mad week of work.  I  did a day for my friend on Tuesday (my day off!) at Manchester Christmas Market which was great, not as cold as usual and there were 2 football matches on so they were lots of Italian fans walking around singing.  Sales weren't too bad, it's early on yet so I was quite pleased with them.

I am in the process of designing a pearl ring for a customer, I have to email some designs this week to her so she can choose one.

I have just made a Wrap ring off my website for a customer.  It is a birthday present for her husband and she wants her initials and all her children's initials engraved  on the inside with a love heart, aahhhh, cute.

I am also flirting with some new designs.  I am quite desperate to make them but I need to hold back.  I have spent a fortune on materials to make all my Christmas stock and I really need for the money to start coming in before I start buying again as I have bills to pay as well!.  If I was sensible I would do all this after Christmas and get them ready for Valentine's Day ..... if I was sensible!

15 November 2011

Got some great new pieces by Susan Weir of Edinburgh on my website.
Susan makes beautiful sterling silver and gold jewellery, very simple, clean lines.

Both these pieces are matt finished with polished gold detail on.

Available now on my website.

Friday 11 November 2011

 I have finally got my jewellery on display in the shop in Skipton.  It dominates one of the windows and one of the cabinets inside.  I didn't have any props really so I used some of the tools from the workshop.

I am working on a better display for Christmas so I will change it at the beginning of December (official Della date for when we can start getting Christmassy).





We will get some more handmade jewelllery over the next few weeks from other designers so I will have to make room for them!

Saturday 5 November 2011

Tweet by Emma Freud today
Wow.. The perfect start to Saturday. A Richard Curtis movie in real life! Thanks @paddy_delaney http://t.co/8Y0Y2ROg 
It's only 3 minutes long but a beautiful romantic gesture ........

So this is the hair after the hair cut.
In the end I just had 6 inches cut off but basically its the same hairstyle.
One step at a time, I might just go for the fringe next.






Skipton is slowly taking shape, still a long way to go but as I said before it will just evolve along the way.
I am off there on Saturday to put my jewellery out and sort out some displays etc.

I am working on some new cufflinks this week.
Need some inspiration or else I will end making some like these again.

Off to a big bonfire in Lancaster tonight, haven't been to a bonfire for a few years so looking forward to it.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Having a day off.

Been busy over the week goign to Skipton and helping set up the shop.
It doesn't have a personality yet but there is no hurry, it will evolve in time.

Going for a hair cut today, I want to be brave but I might bottle it last minute.
Here I am in a recnt photo.

Not a good photo but it shows the length of my hair.

I will post another after the cut.

Cuff links ....... I love cuff links but they are definitely not as popular as they used to be.  I have sold a couple of pairs recently which has prompted me to put them on my to do list before Christmas.  Now is the time if any when they are going to sell so I am going to research and come up with some designs.

Sunday 30 October 2011

This was posted as an article on Twitter by the Guardian.  It's about the Occupy movement generally and its the concluding paragraph of the article.  These are our governmental leaders!  If you want to read the full article by Andrew Rawnsley click here.

The protesters shun formal leaders and hierarchies – and I also don't see why they should be criticised for this at a time when conventional leaders and hierarchies have been so conspicuously useless. Here are some recent scenes in establishment politics. Silvio Berlusconi displays his incomparable charms by describing Angela Merkel as "culona ichiavabile" ("an unfuckable lard arse"). Rick Perry, contender to become Republican candidate for the great office of president of the United States, questions where Barack Obama was born five months after the White House released his long-form birth certificate, and excuses himself by saying: "It's fun to poke at him." A punch-up breaks out on the floor of the Italian parliament between one right-wing member of the government and an even more right-wing member. Nicolas Sarkozy tells David Cameron to "shut up" because he is "sick" of him. David Cameron elevates the tone at prime minister's questions by shouting: "Complete mug!" at Ed Miliband.
Protesters or leaders? I know who looks the more grown-up.

Enough said.

Teen Awards

Girls went to Wembley to the Teen Awards and amongst others saw Ed Sheerin, One Direction and Rizzlekicks.  They had a great time, cam back on a massive high which lasted for days and were exhausted.  Good times, good memories though.

This is a great bangle made by Katherine Grimes.  It is made from fine silver and is textured and wrapped around several times with a kind of knot fastening it.  It is very popular, I have had it on my website since I started out and it is still a bestseller.

Old piece resurrected

Just as it says in the title.
I had an order to make one of these pendants and matching bangle which I hadn't made for a while but I really enjoyed making it again so will churn some more out for the Christmas market.

Tuesday 25th October 2011

The days are running away faster and faster.  I have some orders off my website so hopefully things are picking up.  I have been repairing a silver and glass wine jug for a church and I have been over to the new shop in Skipton to help sort it out.  It's not open yet but hopefully it will be next week.  I will work there 2 days a week repairing and selling with the owner.  Hopefully I will get some great raining from him and within the year we hope to do some of our designs, a collaboration!  His work is very traditional and mine is very contemporary so it should be exciting.

I love jewellery made from wood, this is great so have a look

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2011/10/mini-profile-at-poppytalk-handmade_2324.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FISuVv+%28poppytalk%29

Tuesday 18th October 2011

Happy 50th Birthday to my sister today.

You can have a look at the latest jewellery trends for Autumn and Winter 2011 here.  As usual there is a real mixture of very different designs. Animal / luxe /geometric /baroque styles are dominant.  Kelly Rowlands seems to be very influential in what she wears, she has a great style and comes across as a very nice lady on XFactor.

I have a weird week of working, visiting a uni with my daughter and doing a Careers Day at a private girls school, should be interesting!

Saturday 15th October 2011

Should be a day off today but I am covering this afternoon in the shop for someone else.  Needless to say its a beautiful sunny day!

I had to show this ring again as I have done a small modification to it recently and it looks even better.
It is a great style and there is a matching pendant on the website.  The pearl comes in pink or peacock blue.

Interesting article about the Creative Industries from the CBI.  The creative industries are expected to grow more than 4% from 2009 - 2013 which is double what the rest of the economy is expected to do!

I am at home today doing some repair work on a salt and pepper cellar from the 1920's.  I quite enjoy this type of work as long as it is not too difficult!  At least it is one of the rewards of having to work for someone else and getting a regular wage for it.

I have sent quite a few pieces of jewellery out over the last few weeks, all on sale or return so my coffers are getting depleted as I won't get a return until nearer Christmas when the buying kicks in.  I have a lot more to do so I hope my cash flow improves.

Simple pair of earrings made in sterling silver with lava beads which are a great charcoal colour with a smooth but rough looking texture.
On my website for £24.  I am working on a long pendant to match them.

Sunday 9 October 2011

My girls are at the Teen Awards today!  It has been loud and full of energy in this house since they got tickets 2 weeks ago.  The youngest daughter got 4 tickets and gave 2 to her sister so they each took a friend.  Thanks to the wonderful Sunday train system here in the North West they had to travel down on Saturday night so that they go there in time for 12noon Sunday.  Big adventure all round.  I will go on line at 2pm on to Radio 1 to see what is happening.

I have finished off another pendant.  It is a slice of greeny blue agate set in sterling silver.  The design of the setting is unique and has already been admired by people.  It is on my website for £55.

As it is a miserbale wet day today I am going to get on with some spring cleaning, I always do mine in Autumn! 

Thursday 7th October

Really sad news today that Steve Jobs has died, a visionary of whom there seems to be no-one else close to his level of genius.  He said,

 "If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it"

which is something I seem to be doing daily so hopefully one day I will find it!

Here is a picture of my Ribbon pendant.  Made in sterling silver with a little freshwater pearl it is a great looking pendant.  It is very small and dainty for me but I am really liking it.  I think it will apppeal as a gift especially for Christmas.  You can buy it off my website now The Jewellery Room

Off to work today in the shop, not looking forward to it, miserable windy, wet day.

Wednesday 5th October

Apologies, it's nearly 2 months since I last blogged.  No excuses, just busy really but I still should have blogged.

So I shall carry on as normal.

I have designed and made some new pieces which I will post tomorrow.  I have had some good sales over the last few months but as usual it has gone quiet, I need sales to be more consistent.  I need time to think about a strategy.  I need time to put together a strategy.  I need time.

I have just made a bangle for an order in Miami!  I don't get many orders from America because of the exchange rate so it was a nice surprise.  I have overcharged on the postage I realise now after sending it off today so I will credit him the difference later when I inform him it is in the post.

What is with this new Blogger format?  Not liking it at all ..............

I have seen some great films over the last few months, the best being The Tree of Life with Brad Pitt and Beginners with Ewan McGregor, both powerful beautiful films.

I am off to Birmingham City University on Friday for a visit with my daughter, the UCAS closing date is drawing near so decisions will have to be made soon. 

Both my girls are off to the Teen Awards at the weekend with friends, the excitement level in our houser is very high.  Pixie Lot, Ed Shearin, Rizzlekicks, One Direction but to name a few will be performing!