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!