Crystal

Crystal

We are in the middle of a heat wave here in the UK, hopefully today is the last day of it. Today is the longest day of the year which to some is a sacred day – the Summer Solstice. It is a special day for Neil and I too, the first two years we were together we did fabulous things on this day. In 2014 we went to Box Hill for the evening, I took drinks and dessert and we sat on a bench on the hill eating our picnic and watching the night fall. We were even treated to fireworks going off in the distance. That night for both of us was the night we knew we were in love. The following year we went to Stonehenge, actually we went the night of the 20^th to bring in the day of the 21^st. After taking a short nap in the parking lot at Stonehenge, we spent the rest of the day going around to other sacred Druid sites like Avebury and Silbury Hill. Unfortunately last year we were too busy preparing for our wedding to do anything like that.

I have a few designs waiting to meet the public. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen the preview of Crystal. I thought I’d bring out the elegant one first and now that I think about it Crystal was probably a fitting design to release this week. After all, people are leaving Stonehenge this morning and heading to Glastonbury for the festival. And Glastonbury is known for its mysticism, if you ever go there are crystal shops throughout town.  

These crystals are mystic though, they’re Swarovski. They are round, almost teardrop shaped and not flat the crystals in my wedding pair from last year. Also these crystals are iridescent and not truly clear. The crystals themselves are a third of an inch but they hang from a length of silver-plated chain, making the total length 1 and a quarter inches. The finding are all silver-plated as well and the earrings can me fitted with either fish hooks (shown), kidney wire or clip-ons.

I think what I love most about this pair is that they are simple enough to wear during the day and yet elegant enough to wear with something fancy. And once again the big perk of buying earrings from me is that if you would like the chain longer or shorter I can adjust it to your liking. I have several crystals left so I can probably make three pairs. Let me know if you’d like one.

£4.50 including UK shipping, $8.38 including US shipping

MacMillan Spring Fair and Coffee Morning

 

This Saturday is another MacMillan Fair and Coffee Morning in Wraysbury and once again we will be there selling our earrings. The morning really is a lot of fun! Local vendors, made up of local small businesses and non-profits, will be selling new and used merchandise. There will also be delicious cakes (biscuits, cupcakes, fruit cake and chocolate cake in December, both were yummy!) as well as coffee and tea.

The set-up is nice; there are tables and chairs set up so you can grab a cake and coffee and sit and chat with friends. In December the vendors' stalls lined the room and the tables were in the center. I didn’t go around personally and look at all the vendors but I could see another jewelry vendor, ladies accessories, plants,  stationary, baked goods, nutritional supplements and hand knit woolen items. There is also a raffle, the winners are announced at the end.

Like last time I’ll have some surprises on the day. Plus our prices are lower at the stall (no shipping!), so if you are local and have seen anything you like come along and check out our stock. I’ve also made a few pieces especially for the fair; they haven’t been featured on the blog.

 

 

First is this pair in Onyx, they are the same as the Garnet Queen which was released in February, in addition to onyx beads they feature a crystal chambala bead. Next there is this lovely wooden pair. These Retro earrings feature an oblong and a round wooden bead with bronze colored bead spacers.

 

 

 



I made this pair with the remaining crystal hearts from Love Hearts. Each earring has only one heart.

 

Finally this is the first pair I've made that feature Jasper and hematite beads. I will be using jasper beads in the future but I wanted to have something to show at the fair. Jasper is a very earthy stone, not necessarily beautiful like garnet or sapphire but it has it's own charm. I love trinkets made of this type of stone. My mother has a lovely box made of this stone.

 

 

 

 

MacMillan Fairs and Coffee Mornings really are a great way to spend the morning. And all the proceeds go to MacMillan Cancer Support. So please come down and support us on Saturday between 10am and noon.

 

Wraysbury Village Halls The Green, Staines-upon-Thames, Wraysbury, Staines TW19 5NA

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/''/wraysbury+village+hall/@51.4582091,-0.6256265,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x4876709a5765227d:0x8fed39e7851187cc!2m2!1d-0.555587!2d51.45823

 

Love Hearts

 It seems like every year I miss the holidays. By the time I think about producing something it’s too late for anyone to get it in time for the holiday; which is why I’ve never put out earrings for Halloween or Valentine’s Day before. That is why I started so early for the winter holidays this past year. So after Christmas I made a purchase that would ensure that I’d have something for you for Valentine’s Day.

So I’m taking a break from the birthstone designs to present a Valentine’s Day design. They’re really sweet! They consist of two crystal hearts hanging on chains. These cuties hang approximately 1.5 inches from the ear. However since these are handmade by me if you’d like them but want them to be longer(or shorter) I can alter them for you.

 

I have enough crystals to make two pairs so let me know soon.

£5.00 including UK shipping or $7.50 including US shipping

Wedding Blues

Wedding Blues for me, great designs for you!

So we have had a major setback in our wedding planning. We gave notice two weeks ago and last week we were informed that the Home Office would conduct an investigation into whether our relationship is genuine. So we may have to postpone our wedding until the investigation is finished. This is especially frustrating for Neil and I because we just went through a Tribunal with the Home Office in December. They would not grant me a Visa because they didn’t believe our relationship was genuine. At the tribunal once the Home Office representative saw our evidence he conceded that our relationship was genuine. Also the judge stated in his decision that our relationship was genuine thus awarded me the visa. Now the Home Office wants to investigate us again.

We were in the process of booking the reception when we got the news, we’d actually just gone to see the venue and were talking out whether it was feasible (there are some complications).  Before we got the letter last week I was making earrings for myself to wear to the wedding. I took a look online to see what was out there and find some inspiration.

I’ve made two of the pairs based on what I saw online; using them as guidance to create my own. I’ve also started working with some new materials and it’s so exciting! These are the first two pairs I made. I made them two weeks ago but after making them felt that I needed larger beads.

Design 1

 

Both of these pairs contain shell pearls and crystal rondelles. However this pair also contains Swarovski crystal peardrops and small Czech crystal Shamballa beads. I really love these two!

Design 2

After I made them I ordered more materials and larger beads but received them after we got the bad news. So I really didn’t feel like making anything for a few days and I was trying to get in touch with someone who could help me. But yesterday I needed to blow off some steam so I made several more designs.

The rest of them I’ve only made one earring so far. I only bought enough supplies to make something for myself so I didn’t intend to post and offer them for sale. I saw this design online a few weeks ago and made it yesterday. This may be my favorite! These are made using crafting wire. I’m so happy I found this material, I’m trying a lot of new designs using it. This pair has a larger Czech crystal shamballa bead, two shell pearls and a crystal rondelle.

Design 3

This design has a Swarovski peardrop crystal, a Czech crystal shamballa bead and a shell pearl bead.

Design 4

 

This design is very simple. It contains two glass beads, one smooth and one cut, and two pearl beads. The beads are in ascending order. It is the only design featuring repurposed beads.

Design 5

 This design I tried something different. There is a cut glass bead on top, with a crystal rondelle separating it from a sideways square glass pearl bead. But if you prefer I can switch the order and put the glass bead on the bottom.

Design 6

Finally this design I also made using craft wire. There is a Swarovski peardrop crystal dangling from the end, with a wire spiral separating the peardrop from a long twisted glass pearl bead, then a rondelle and topped by a shell pearl bead.

Design 7

As I said I had no intention of offering these for sale, but why not? What’s good enough for me is good enough for you. There may be some other brides out there looking for the perfect earrings to wear for their special day. Or you may need earrings for your flower girl, bridesmaids or mother-of-the-bride. Or maybe you just like the idea of crystals and pearls.

Now, because I had to purchase the materials from a retailer instead of using the repurposed or recycled materials I usually use, these designs will be pricier. Also because of customs I will not ship any of these outside of the UK. Since supplies are limited act fast, I only have enough Swarovski peardrops for two pairs of earring so if you'd like one of the designs that feature them you should let me know ASAP. Once supplies run out I will be able to make more as long as I can get the materials from the retailer, but that will add about a week. So if you like any of these bridal beauties act fast.

All other designs made to order.
Design 1 in stock  £8.00 including shipping or $12.75 including US shipping
Design 2 made to order £12 including shipping or $16.29 including US shipping
Design 3 made to order £9.00 including UK shipping or $13.85 including US shipping
Design 4 made to order £12 including UK shipping or $16.29 including US shipping
Design 5 in stock £6.00 including UK shipping or $10.10 including US shipping
Design 6 in stock £6.00 including UK shipping or $10.10 including US shipping
Design 7 no longer available
Design 8 (my wedding earrings) made to order (see Wedding pictures) £16.00 including UK shipping or $22.50 including US shipping

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