Baccarat

 

This pair has a bit of history behind them.

Many years ago now (probably about 10) I went to a mall in Atlantic City (NJ) and saw a jewelry store. The jewelry was a bit abstract for me but it was still very nice and it was very expensive. I always kept it in mind for present ideas for my uncles who have very expensive taste. I thought I could save up the money to get cufflinks or something. I had never heard of this designer before then but when I brought home the booklet and my mother said it was a well-known jewelry designer. It was call Baccarat.

Now fast forward to Spring/Summer 2015, Neil and I went for an outing to Cobham when he was recovering from his horrible back episode. We went and had lunch in a park in Cobham and then walked down the High Street browsing the charity shops. Chelsea had just won one of the many cup finals that year and I guess a lot of the players live in the area so Chelsea flags were everywhere (I hate Chelsea!). In one of the charity shops I saw this Baccarat necklace and snatched up especially since I know this could retail for about $200 and it was only £3.00. But I really do like it and I don’t have much if any black jewelry.

 

Now fast forward to three weeks ago. I was having another night insomnia and while lying in bed I thought I’ll make myself a  pair of earring to go with my Baccarat necklace because I don’t wear it as often as I should. I have a nice pair of black chandelier earrings but they are a different style. I decided to try to make a pair that would have the same sort of swirl effect like the Baccarat necklace has. And since I still had some Onyx beads left I decided to give it a try. So a few days later while playing some old political panel shows I started messing around to see if I could make this idea come to life. You may have seen the posts I put on FB and Twitter after they were done.

 They’ve drawn a lot of attention, even before I wrote this post someone purchased a pair. Each earring consists of seven 6mm Onyx beads, threaded with silver plated findings and hooked onto silver plated chain. They hang about an inch and three quarters from the neck. So let me know what you think. I can make more if anyone is interested but I’ll have to order more beads.

 

£8.00 including UK Shipping, $13.00 including US shipping.

Happily Ever After

 

 

I’m a little obsessed with this chain right now. I just keep thinking of new ways to use it. It’s like this year’s wire. I keep having bouts of insomnia which leaves me exhausted during the day but when I’m lying in bed trying to sleep ideas pop into my head. This is one that came to me two weeks ago.

 

Each earrings consists of four chains (one for each flavor of marriage*; sour, bitter, spicy and sweet - see descrption at the end). Each chain has a different bead on the end; two 2mm pearls, one 4mm pearl, one 8mm pearl and one Swarovski teardrop crystal. Each strand of chain is also a different length. The earrings hang about 2 inches from the ear. The chain is sliver-plated, as are the findings; which as always can be fitted with either fish hooks (shown), kidney wire or clip on (additional cost).

 

As always these aren’t exclusively for brides or bridal party members. Anyone can get their hands on these. That’s all for the wedding line this year, but again you can see what’s still available from last year’s line and most of the pairs not in stock can be made.

 

£8.00 including UK shipping, $13.75 including US shipping

 

*Yoruba Tasting Ceremony:

From the age-old traditions of Africa, in which the wisdom of the ages is transmitted by story and ritual more than written word, we receive the Yoruba ceremony, a time for the tasting of four elements - the sour, the bitter, the hot, and the sweet - four tastes symbolic of the elements of marriage.

Taste now the sour, for surely every life of integrity admits to its share of times which
are less than perfect. As (Couple's Name) experience life’s disappointments as well as
successes, will we offer our love and support, without measure and without limit?
If so, let us all taste and say “we will.”

Taste now the bitter, for surely every life of depth will know it moments of denial and
rejection when we feel turned away by life. As (Couple's Name) encounter times when bitterness might take hold of their hearts, will we offer our guidance and wisdom, without measure and without limit? If so, let us all say “we will.”

Taste now the hot, for surely there is spice and passion in every enduring relationship.
As (Couple's Name) find and express their hearts’ deepest longings, will we offer them our respect and encouragement without measure and without limit?
If so, let us all taste and say “we will.”

And finally, taste now the sweet, for the abundance of life which has brought these two lovers here to be joined in marriage will continue to pour itself out for their enjoyment. As (Couple's Name) know the sweetness of married life in all of its ages and stages, will we offer our congratulations and benedictions without measure and without limit? If so, let us all taste and say “we will.”

 

 

Here Comes the Bride

 

Here is the first wedding design of 2017.

These earrings are very similar to AquaMarine from last month only instead of blue glass beads this pair is made of clear and pearl beads. I made the blue glass pair to practice the settings for these. This pair features 8mm pearl and 4mm pearl bead, 8mm and 4mm faceted acrylic iridescent beads. All of the findings are silver plated and can be fitted with either fish hook, kidney wires or clip on (for additional costs). They will hang about an inch and a half from the ear.

 

Of course these are not strictly for brides, bridesmaids, flower girls or MOBs; anyone can have these sparkly white sweeties.

 

£7.00 UK shipping, $11.75 US shipping
You can check out the wedding designs from last year. most designs can be made to order if they are not in stock.

Tuxedo

  

I made these earrings at the end of last year and thought about releasing them for New Year’s Eve. In the end time got away from me and I only released them on my local FB buy & sell page, because that was the only way I knew if someone ordered them I could get them to the customer in time.

 A different name Tuxedo but that’s because to me these earrings look like something you would wear on a formal evening out (like New Year’s Eve or a wedding). If you were wearing a black dress accentuated with crystals or sequins or even a tuxedo, these would be a lovely feminine but not too gaudy way of accessorizing a ladies tux.

Each earrings are made of two 6mm pearls beads, one 6 mm onyx bead and two crystal rondelle spacers. The findings are all silver plated and the earrings hang 1.5 inches from the ear. Like all of the earrings on offer they can be fitted with fish hooks (shown), kidney wire or clips (additional cost).

Hopefully this formal pair will serve as an introduction to this year’s wedding line. Last year I did release several designs but this year I will only do two. Last year I was getting ready for my own wedding and dabbling around with ideas to make for myself. This year there won’t be any as extravagant as those but if there are any brides out there looking for something new to wear on their big day just pop back to the Wedding line from last year and I can make any of those for your big day.

£8.00 including UK shipping or $12.75 including US shipping

A Treat for Myself

I had hoped that the fair on Saturday would be a great debut for this pair that I made for myself. I made them a few weeks ago and I’ve been wearing them out but I hadn’t posted them yet. Initially I didn’t even know if I would post these because I really made them for myself.

For Christmas I made a small wish list; three items. Leather Gloves, a DNA test (so I can find out my family history and if I have any genetic disorders) and couple’s jewelry (necklace or ring). When I gave my list to Neil he said he couldn’t buy me any of them; he couldn’t get to a department store (he was sick around Christmas), he had to order the jewelry well in advance to get it by Christmas and he WOULD NOT get me the DNA test; he doesn’t want to know if I’m genetically predisposed to any diseases. So I had to make another wish list. I don’t remember what the other things were on it but one was a tablet and that’s what I got. For my birthday Neil was feeling a little better so we went to a store and we found some leather gloves. But still no couple’s jewelry.

Then one night it hit me; I may not be able to make a necklace (although I can try), but I can make myself a pair of earrings. And since I had some garnets anyway I’d just have to get Neil’s birthstone. So I sent away for some topaz (yellow) beads. I didn’t get exactly what I wanted; unfortunately they didn’t have smooth beads like my garnets. But fortunately I I realized I had some larger faceted beads that must be knock off topaz.

So one Sunday (I wrote about that day here) I made my earrings. Boy was it tough! The small faceted garnet beads are so small the holes will not accommodate my headpins. So I had to thread them with a smaller gauge wire which unfortunately is silver and not gold like the rest of the findings. But that was the only way I would get these threaded.

The earrings feature 6mm smooth garnet beads, 4mm faceted garnet beads, 6mm faceted topaz beads (plastic) and 4mm faceted glass topaz beads. Most of the findings are gold-plated, but as mentioned above the 4mm garnets are threaded by silver-plated wire. All the beads hang from an eyepin and look like a bunch of grapes hanging from my ears. The earrings hang about an inch and a third from the ear.

I must admit when I looked at couple’s jewelry at Christmas I realized that our birthstones look very nice together. How can you go wrong with red and gold? While these are mine and Neil’s birthstones I will make the same (or similar) earrings for anyone who like them. You can let me know your preferred stones and I’ll let you know how much they’ll cost. My supplier is pretty reasonable and delivers next day if the order is placed by midday.

Finally, after a lot of thought I’ve decided to stop using gold-plated findings. While I prefer gold to silver in jewelry I do not think that gold plated findings age well. I find that after a year the findings start to turn. Earrings made of silver plated findings do not turn or at least not as fast as I’ve noticed the gold turning. I want the best for my customers! I don’t want anyone buying one of my items then stops wearing them after a year because they’ve turned. I know the earrings are reasonably priced (I do that on purpose) but I want you to love for as long as possible.

As shown £6.00 including UK shipping or $10.20 including US shipping.
Special order price TBD

Epic Fair or Epic Fail?

 

I was really excited about the spring fair; the Christmas fair was very successful. I made quite a few sales and had a lot of interest. On Saturday we arrived at the hall for the Spring Fair I noticed the size had decreased. In November the fair took up the main hall and both smaller side rooms. This time everyone was cramped into the main hall. The organizer told me there were more vendors which is unbelievable. In the winter we were placed by one of the entrances so we got a lot of foot traffic. This time we were in the corner between the Baptist Church stall and the hand-woven woolen items. You’d think that since both those stalls were heaving with people we’d still get a lot of traffic, but no. Funny enough everyone walked by looking up to the ceiling as they passed our stall.

I’d hoped that some of the happy customers from Christmas would come back looking for more treasure. The only recognizable face was our neighbor, who did mention that she loves her ‘Jacqueline Frosts’ and she still wears them.

As posted on FB and Twitter, I had a lucky dip on the day. Prizes included not only earrings but chocolate and stationary. The Lucky Dip did bring a bit of interest, especially from the older gentleman who luckily drew a bar of Cadbury’s chocolate. A few youngsters took a dip to get earrings for their moms for Mother’s Day which is in the end of March here in the UK. But no one made any purchases.

Needless to say Saturday afternoon I was crushed. I guess I shouldn’t have been though. I should explain that Wraysbury is a small hateful town which masquerades as a lovely quaint village. I would say racist but they weren’t particularly nice to Neil’s mother when she moved here 60 years ago because she was from Germany (and Jewish). There aren’t many minorities here, and the town is run by a few self-absorbed, close-minded, bossy people. If I had my way I wouldn’t live here; I hate it! And when I get to leave I’m going to post a seething rant on the “village” fb page to tell these people how I really feel.

I shouldn’t be upset that they weren’t interested in my earrings, although I am. What upsets me more is that they didn’t bother to look at the product because of who was sitting at the table. Unfortunately my circumstances will not let me travel to other places to do fairs and shows. So I’ll have to stick with the blog and social media for product exposure. And I’d really appreciate it if my loyal followers would share posts with their friends to expand my reach. Don’t share this one though, I don’t want people to think this is what it’s always like!

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

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