When one door....

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller

Free Earrings!!

A Christmas Newsletter offer went out to everyone on the mail-list today...spend over £60 (not including postage and packing) and you can have a lovely pair of free earrings made from handmade glass, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystal and gold-filled pierced earring fittings (if you have non-pierced ears, let me know and I can convert to plated clips at no extra cost), all wrapped up in tissue and in an organza bag...perfect for a Christmas gift for someone or...just keep them all to yourself. The offer is open until the 31st December...have a happy, healthy and warm Christmas everyone!

Blessings Earrings - want some free??

A Trip To New York

My Mum and Me...
Just got back from New York with my Mum...it was the first time she had ever been to the States, and what a great time she had (I think)...I took her because she's had a tough

Where does time go?

Phew, where on earth does time go? Answers on a postcard, please....

I have lots of new work to go on the site but it will have to wait a week or so because I am taking my Mummy to New York - she's not been well and its a treat - she has never been to the States before so she is probably dizzy with excitement - I will get a chance hopefully to look around the New York jewellery scene and take inspiration from that. We set off tomorrow morning, so early it should be illegal. I guess that makes me chaperone to my Mum - I am hoping she will behave herself! We will visit Ellis Island, maybe go to the theatre (I am hoping to get tickets to see 'Wicked'), go and look round the interesting neighbourhoods, shop, shop, and shop, go to some Museums, and take a look at the Statue of Liberty. I am looking forward to this as I haven't been on holiday this year, and this has been made possible by my improvement in health.

Horses and Strawberries...

Merlin is described as a 'spoiled brat' by my stable yard owner (thanks Trev!) but is so loved that he is hand-fed fresh strawberries on a regular basis.
Telling someone their horse is a spoiled brat is a bit like telling someone that their child is a wild beast. Still, I can see why someone might get that impression. I don't know if feeding a horse strawberries can be counted as spoiling when Emma feeds her horses After Eight Mints.

I carry your heart....

A wild few weeks of work have passed by, working on lots of commissions and also sourcing new stock. I went to a fabulous trade show where as a bonus I managed to get some summer, and picked up some fab stones and metals...I am also still working on my new stock for the new tiara site.

Below is a beautiful poem by E.E. Cummings - it reminds me what love is.
Give it to the person whose heart you love.

Crowned...

Phew - nearly a whole month gone by - where does the time go? Hasn't it been lovely to see sunshine the past week?

I am working on a new range of Tiaras and Garters - shown here is my latest crown - Lauren, which is made with Swarovski pearls and crystal, gold-plated wire and a handmade band and Murano glass. 
I am up to my ears in ribbon and lace, which is lots of fun. I have some fresh vintage items and a new earring selection to go on the site soon -its worth mentioning that I am now offering various options for non-pierced earrings.
My treatment for my RA is progressing slowly...now coming up to the 4th infusion of the mystery drug; next month I find out whether I am on a placebo and I can decide decisions whether to change meds.

Clearance Section

New section, 'Clearance' added to the site; ends of collections and stuff I want to clear for new are in this section- hope you;ll find something you want! http://www.slcdesigns.co.uk/

Excuses Excuses

I have a zillion excuses and lots seems to have happened since March since I last wrote - its been busy, I am working on new jewellery and tiara collections. Attended some business-related courses and have seen progress with my health - am on a drug trial drug, but may be on a placebo - overall I have been better, and I have been  networking with small business owners.

Merlin is fine - he's enjoying the warm weather, today I gave him a cold bath and he appreciated that a lot.

21st March - One of those Birthdays....

My "..0th" birthday - my parents and brothers commissioned a painting by the artist Shano in the USA of Merlin and I as an extra special present and I love it! (its one of those birthdays finishing with a large 'zero'....

Its hanging in my studio so I can see it all the time. Shano was brilliant to work with (http://www.shano-studio.com/); her style is so quirky and gorgeous....this was such a fab present and I will treasure it always.

Time Flies

How time flies. I have lots of work to go on the site AND a revision of the antique and vintage section...but all in due course, its still a work in progress...... just to give you an idea of what is coming, I have new pieces on silk, lots of earrings, necklaces and an armful of bracelets....

Style is the hallmark of a temperament stamped on the material in hand ( Maurois)

Precious Metals Prices...

Been doing 'behind the scenes' site work. The precious metals market has gone through the roof in the last 12 months or so and I've held prices until now as I was working with existing stocks of metals. Because of the huge increases in the market and now having restocked my metals, I am having to reflect it in the stock on the site...lets blame the American housing crisis...

When I work, I have no concept of time.

Monty Roberts

How lovely to see spring sushine and flowers. I'm tidying the studio, clearing out old clutter and generally putting life and work in order.

Yesterday I went to see a demonstration by a Monty Roberts also known as 'The Horse Whisperer' whom I have long admired, with my god-children Natasha and Nicole as well as their mum, my friend Adele.
Mr. Roberts is 73; he trains horses (or maybe he trains humans) to understand each other by speaking the same language. His background was a tough one, born into a cycle of violence which he has turned

Snow

Today I loaded up new bracelets, earrings, necklaces and a set - did the technical work myself (so all mistakes are down to me). It took me several nights to carry out the work that Mark does so effieciently and I kept asking stupid questions but in the end I managed it.

January whizzed by - I was busy creating, and learning how to do the tech bits of the website which has been both frustrating, educating and enlightening.

Merlin wonders if he can eat it.....

January was a wet and windy month for the horse - his field at the stables flooded so he had to stay in every other day and I had to find ways to amuse him with.I found he likes malt bread and he is hilarious when it sticks to the roof of his mouth. I like to watch in the field him on the days he IS able to go out, how happy he is to be out of confinement . Yesterday - SNOW - well, we woke up to a light dusting . Even better than snow are the emerging snowdrops in the garden.

Happy New Year - New Creations!

Happy New Year! Today loaded up new bracelets, earrings and necklaces - AND I did a lot of the tech work myself - its incredibly complicated trying to get to grips with codes and photo sizes and I am having to write myself an idiot's guide how to (being the idiot concerned.

Also shown is the jewellery I gave Mum for Christmas and Birthday (her birthday is the 1st of January) - in the first, the focal piece is an enamelled sterling plaque set with a large freshwater pearl cabochon and Amethyst cabochons, with wired faceted Peridot and Amethyst briolettes - the strung portion of the necklace is made from tiny Amethyst briolettes and faceted Iolite rondelles with Swarovski crystal - this took about 14 hours to make as the tiny Amethyst and Iolite beads were difficult to string.