Pearls Are Back With A Modern Twist!

The old classic is back........

Don't you just love them? 

Especially with a more modern twist.

            Wire Wrapped 

     Cultured Pearl Pendant

           

                                                                                                                                                          Pearl & Crystal Necklace

Handmade jewellery is making a definite come back this season along with beautiful cuff bracelets. This one in real seed pearls and fine filigree work was inspired by a diamond and fret work cuff worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at a recent award ceremony.

                               Seed Pearl and Wire Work Cuff Bracelet

 

Pearls come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Glass pearls are very versatile as they come in many different colours and sizes. 

         

 Campaign Coloured Glass Pearl Cuff

Real cultured pearls are stunningly beautiful and not as expensive as you may think. 

                             Cultured Pearl Earrings

        

                            

     

                     Wire & Cultured Pearl Necklace                  

    

   

Tiaras look great in pearls. This Tiara is handmade in wire work and cultured pearls. Worn either classic style or vintage style it looks beautiful and elegant.

 

                                      Cultured Pearl & Wire Work Tiara 

                                   Vintage Style & Cultured Pearl Tiara

Hair accessories come in many shapes and sizes from hair vines to combs, slides, clips and fascinators. Pearls really add that touch of class.

                                         Pearl & Diamante Hair Vine

     Campaign Pearl Slide                                          Pearl & Diamante Grip

Finally for something completely different. If you love the Gothic Style then crosses are also on trend this season. Here is a very large wire work cross decorated with pearls - stunningly different!

                                    Wire Work and Pearl Gothic Cross

     

   

Shoes With Attitude.....

I had never thought about jewelry being a fashion statement for the soul before, until I discovered these amazing shoes. This first pair started my search for more shoes with attitude. I just love them! They caused a stir when I first posted them on my Facebook page with comments such as "Wouldn't get mugged in these" and "Back off they are mine!!"

 

The next pair I found really tickled my fancy (sorry about that but it just had to be said!). Take a look....

Not sure I could stand in these without the risk of a fall. But how does one actually walk in them? Answers please to chrissie@chrissiedesignsjewellery.co.uk!

I'm a flat shoes type of gal really. However I have to say I love these for the shear extravagance of design and decoration.


Finally what do you think of these? Definitely for the smarty pants among us. 

They also come with a requirement to take out an insurance policy on your ankles but because the soles are shaped I think I could walk in them - well maybe rock and roll!


Let me know your thoughts and also please send me any photos you find of "Shoes with Attitude" as I want to make a collection of them.

Weird & Wonderful Jewellery

Jewellery comes in all shapes and sizes and adorns the most gorgeous models, but I sometimes just love pieces that are totally impractical. What about you? So here is my selection of the Weird and Wonderful for this week.....

I just love this photo. What a fantastic piece, but strictly for the catwalk me thinks! Next is some more jewellery that is amazing but maybe not that practical to wear....

This bubble necklace is great but may not be the best jewellery for us well endowed ladies! This next one could be lethal in the wrong hands!

It is an amazingly well carved shell and its design just fascinates me. This next piece has to rate as the weirdest yet - Body Parts Jewellery! Check out http://laughingsquid.com/miniature-body-parts-jewelry/ for more designs.

And finally my manikin of the moment....

Isn't she such a cutie!

Award Winning Celebrity Jewellery

It's the season of celebrity! The award ceremonies are with us again. All the glitz and glamour is there and don't you just love the jewellery?

Turquoise is so on trend this year, especially when it makes a real statement. This fabulous necklace worn by Heidi Klum at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards has large pieces of turquoise set with diamonds by Lorraine Schwartz. What a show stopper!

If you are looking for something completely eye catching how about this fabulous bracelet and jewel encrusted clutch bag worn at this year's Academy Awards by Emma stone? Set with rubies and diamonds by Louis Vuitton.

Not to be outshone at any event, earrings are definitely making a statement this year. Here's an example, Viola Davis wearing emerald and diamond earrings by Lorraine Schwartz.

Note the filigree work on these earrings, another of the trends this year.

So look for big, bold statement pieces of jewellery for 2012. Beautiful turquoise, amber and of course the old classic pearls are really on trend now. If you like your jewellery more delicate don't fret because fine filigree jewellery is also making a come back.

Inspired by Social Media

So what's been inspiring me over the past week? Social Media. That's right, this 60 year old technophob is doing a degree course in Social Media and loving it!

It all began as a missunderstanding. I thought I had signed up for a free 8 week course, only to find out on the first evening that it's a 2 year degree course. Yet another of those coincedences that keep happening to me since I started to make jewellery. The amazing thing is, I was just thinking that I needed to know how to use social media to reach more brides to be (I just love making wedding jewellery).

What's that saying? When the student is ready the teacher appears. Facebook was a mystery, twitter an enigma and as for Pinterest, I had never heard of it. Then last week it all 'clicked.' Armed with my social media strategy I began to really engage people on Facebook with some really quirky photos and a competition. The result? My posts went viral! In a week the 'people talking about ' my posts increased 2,500% (and no I did not make a mistake with one to many zeros!), my 'likes' went up 56%, 'friends of fans' was up 72% and my weekly reach was up 940%. Finally, the best result of all, I got my first online sale!

Inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. So where did your unexpected inspiration come from?

The Healing Power of Stones - Rose Qaurtz

As you can tell from my web site, I simply love working with semi-precious stones. They have a power, an energy, that I never experienced before starting to work with them. In one of my earliest designs I used a heart shaped Rose Quartz. Why this stone? I just felt somehow attracted to it. The remarkable thing is that every time I wear it people in the street, in shops and at social functions stop and ask me where I bought it! So I decided to find out more about it's properties.

Often known as the "Love Stone" it's energy is said to open the heart chakra and attract unconditional love. Emotionally rose quartz brings gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance. It raises ones self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It helps balance emotions and heal emotional wounds and traumas, even grief, bringing peace and calm. Rose quartz removes fears, resentments and anger. It can also heal and release childhood traumas, neglect, and lack of love, in part by enhancing inner awareness. It can help with reconciliation with family and others. Overwhelming or unreasonable guilt is eased by rose quartz.

(The healing properties of stones are based on ancient folklore and are not given here as any form of prescription , diagnosis or healthcare information. They are alternative and complementary. Always see your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional about all injuries, illnesses or other health related issues)

Refference: http://www.crystalsandjewelry.com/metaphysical_healing/stoneinfo/rosequartz.html

Have you heard the saying "When the pupil is ready the teacher appears?" Since beginning my jewellery business last year, so many remarkable things have been happening to me and this is yet another one!

This recession has been effecting many of us and I have, by no means, been imune from its effects. In fact nearly five months ago, as there was very little management training and coaching work around and my jewellery business was in its infancy, I decided to look for a couple of lodgers in order to have a more secure income coming in.

Being blessed with a lovely house that has more than enough room for two lodgers and myself, it seemed logical to make my biggest asset earn me some money. How easy would that be I thought. Famous last word! The months rolled by with no suitable applicants to be found. To tell you the truth I was beginning to think that I was wasting my time. Maybe this was not a direction I was supposed to go in, at this time in my life. As a firm believer that doors open if they are supposed to do so, for our benefit and our learning, I had almost given up on the idea.

Then, out of the blue, I was contacted by a man looking to rent a room within easy reach of Western England and South Wales. Being slap in the middle of both, my location was perfect for him. But here comes the incredable bit........he is the area manager for a major high street retail jewellery business!

What are the odds of that hapenning? You would not believe how much I have been learning from him already, and he has not fully moved in yet! Already he has confirmed that my wholesale prices are in the right ballpark region, highlighted what some of the jewellery trends are at present and given me fantastic ideas about how I can use Pinterest to create mood boards that inspire design and creativity.

I can't wait to see what the next inspiring and exciting meeting or event is on my pathway to developing Chrissie Designs Jewellery!



 

The Excitement of Going With The Flow!

Are you like I used to be? You have a thought about doing something and, oh so quickly, convince yourself why you should not do it? It was so easy to convince myself why something would not work, was a bad idea or worse still, the person I was thinking of contacting would be too busy.

No wonder life was a struggle trying to make everything work, even though I was successful at it. I was going against the flow instead of with it! So, nearly eighteen months ago I decided to totally ignore my negative natterer! Having created my first collection of jewellery designs, in silver wire work and semi-precious stones, I saw an article in a local ladies magazine about a new jewellery shop opening in Llandeilo - Bentley &  Co.  

www.bentleyjewellery.com/

Without allowing myself to think about it I picked up the phone and spoke to the owner, Claire Bentley. She was so lovely and invited me to her shop, where she sells her own wonderful contemporary jewellery designs, along with other specialist suppliers. My first contact with another jewellery designer proved most fruitful as Claire invited me to the launch of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ) in Wales.

This is where I had to work really hard at keeping my negative natterer at bay. It kicked in 'big time'.  Apart from a one day course in basic jewellery making I had no training in jewellery design or development. I was self-taught and had only started making wire work jewellery 4 months previously. However, she liked my work and suggested I join the ACJ. 

Become a member of the ACJ Wales who was I kidding! Well that's what I initially thought but I was beginning to learn that when you let go of your fears and go with your instinct, remarkable and exciting things begin to happen.

For me it opened up a world of new and exciting opportunities. In September 2011 my work was exhibited in the Riverside Theatre, Newport. Then it was accepted, through the ACJ, for the Cardiff Design Festival.

My red crystal and quartz, wire work bracelet was used in the ACJ promotional literature for the exhibition (picture above top row). My work was exhibited in Cardiff Library and the Wales Millennium Centre. I could hardly believe it, especially when I was one of only six to sell  a piece of jewellery during the exhibition!

And the excitement of remarkable things happening did not stop there. Earlier this year I was invited, by the ACJ, to put my work forward for the prestigious Winter Exhibition in Oriel Ynys Mon on Anglesey, North Wales. It was accepted and will be on show and sale there from 10th November 2012 to 24th December 2012.  

So what exciting things have you experienced when you let go and go with the flow? I would love to hear about them.  Mine are still continuing every week to amaze and excite me.  So in my next Bog I will tell you about a chance meeting that lead to me designing and making a range of wedding jewellery!

Following a Path of Breadcrumbs

Peppermint Bay, Tasmania

Have you ever had events, opportunities or experiences opening up in front of you, that lead you in a direction you had no thought of going? Without you planning or contriving them the situations just happened one after another, like breadcrumbs on a path, leading you to some unknown destination.

It is such a path that I have been on ever since my dear friend Jennie took me on a surprise day out. For a number of years we have been giving each other experiences for Christmas and birthdays, instead of presents. It all began when we decided to write and share our "Bucket Lists" (those things we wanted to do before we kick the bucket).  We have had such joy and fun experiencing water colour painting, perfume making, make-overs both facial and fashion, Ikibana (Japanese flower arranging) and best of all chocolate making!

Jennie & I on the Jewellery Making Course

Then Jennie took me on a day's jewellery making course. The tutor Emma Hall of Emma Hall Designs www.emmahalldesigns.co.uk proved to be a great teacher, allowing our creativity to flow from our pure enjoyment.

I was hooked! My new found interest knew no bounds. Everyone got hand made jewellery for Christmas that year as I practised with different styles and mediums! All the time there was this quiet inner voice telling me to be more adventurous; to use silver wire and semi-precious stones.



Chrissie Designs Rose Quartz Pendant

After ignoring the voice for some time I realised it was fear holding me back. Fear of what I asked myself? "Letting go and being successful" came back the answer! So, as they say, feel the fear and do it anyway. I took the leap into the unknown and began to play. 

That was just the beginning of a series of events that have lead me to where I am today, and continue to lead me. Some are most bizarre and unexpected. The people I have met along this journey have been interesting, inspiring, supportive and encouraging. 

The weird thing is that each unusual 'happening' or meeting has lead to another and then another, each more exciting than the next. So I will tell you about another  of these 'happenings' in my next blog.

The Journey Begins...........

Someone once said that I had reinvented myself more times than Madonna and I suppose that's true. I was born an identical  twin. That in itself creates a somewhat different perspective on life, especially because I shared an identity with another person for a great part of it. In fact I did not discover who I really was (alone) until I was in my 50's, and to a greater extent I am still on this exploration of discovery.

Career wise I have been a nurse, midwife, knitwear designer, management trainer & executive coach (for over 23 years), published author and now a jewellery designer. This blog is a record of the development of Chrissie Designs Jewellery, my new business that is bringing me remarkable experiences, successes and insights every day. It is so remarkable that I want to share the story with you.

Life is a journey and on mine I have had many different experiences. I travelled the world on a merchant ship for the first 3 years of my marriage, seeing places and natural wonders that most people only experience through their TV. I have been lucky enough set my feet on almost every continent in the world and most of the UK. 

Travelled the World on a Ship Like This

I am blessed with two beautiful and loving daughters who are both married to wonderful men. They each have a daughter and so now I am a Nannie to Megan who is 3 years old and Evelyn who is 8 months. I can't even start to explain the difference they have made to my life. All I can say is that they are the icing and cherry on top of a very wonderful cake!

Family and friends form one of the most important parts of my life. As a recovering workaholic, this was not always the case. I truly believed that I had to work every hour God sent to make my business work. OK, so I was a very controlling person who needed to fill an emotional void with work! There, I have admitted it. "If you hold onto the handle, it's easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it's more fun if you just let the wind carry you." - Brian Andreas. This quote really sums up what I now believe and am experiencing.

Now in my autumn years I find myself on a journey that is no longer controlled by me. For the first time I am "letting go and letting God." This blog is a record of my new and exciting journey. It is inspiring me every day and I hope it inspires those who read it.