The beads I am using in the strata series, are made from glass, heating and folding it until it moves like treacle. The colours flowing into and around each other .  I am trying to make beads reminiscent of rock lava, and the Earth's creation of minerals and crystals aiming to make them look like stone.

I have just got back from a meeting with my mineral contact ..... and she had such beautiful things, that I have spent my total (absolute maximum top - yes, the very top) budget except for three pounds, on new material.  And it is fabulous, better than sweeties, and longer lasting too.  I have some amazing coloured jasper in a series of purples and subtle pinks, of a type new to the UK.  

Haematite, and coloured rock crystal too.  Pyrite, periodot and red agate which I want to match with the beads I made last week - see the picture.  

So please help, commission me, so I use all these lovely minerals.

(and then I go back and buy more......)

 

After a mad year setting up the Oresome Gallery (still happening, but oh so slowly), degree work, family and studious avoiding of house work, the family and I went to France for a few days, where we stayed with the lovely Veronique and Nicolas in their little Gite.  

Thursday, I spent most of my studio time polishing various pieces form the new range.  This is very satisfying when it goes well, and is done using a motor, tripolli and rouge.  But oh my goodness is it messy?

The work is from the Charm the birds series, with rings included in the range.    The rings have either one or two birds and are etched - with a message inside.  Contact me directly of you would like one.

This week I had a visit from a treasured customer, who is very good at choosing unusual ball-gowns.   She is heading for a Summer ball next month and came to order her jewellery - I am always pleased to see her, not only because she is great fun, but also because she challenges my creativity, with unusual combinations of colours.   This gown was a sort of shot silk with blues (indicolite and golds).   I have made up a set of samples for her, and we will see how that goes.

Now I get to see a lot of jewellery.   

ps. it's the red ones...

I'm in the middle of creating a set of bright Spring Necklaces, ready for the Easter Craft Fayre over at the Waters Edge Visitor centre, this coming weekend.  The Spring flowers are bursting out and even appearing on my desk in the form of brightly coloured Flower pins.

It's the Rowley Manor Bridal Fayre on Sunday - and I am just about to photograph the newest creation .  A Tiara fit for a princess - it is made of Fresh water pearls and has the theme of spring flowers.  

 This piece can also be made in colour or crystal.   Remember, your tiara will appear in every picture of your face - don't risk buying something off the shelf that isn't quite right - talk to an expert designer.

DH Designs Copyright (C) 2010

Just a quick update on the Private William situation - last night the air cadets had a kit check and needed a volunteer to put all the kit on,  Will was volunteered (I'll be having a word about that with him), so they loaded him up with kit. 

My lovely (and hilarious) twins are now 13, and Will has just joined air cadets.  

 I have rather mixed feelings about this.   It's a great opportunity, but he's suddenly growing up exponentially.  I have got the hang of not holding his hand in public, or kissing him in front of his mates, and have almost stopped shouting “Have you got your vest on?” as he disappears off up the road to school, but he’s doing drills and talking about going camping. 

In the rain. 

My little boy – in the rain in a tent?  

Without his vest on. 

Where will it end?

I suspect I may be a little bit on the overprotective side, and muse whether I am a bit like Mrs. Pike from Dads Army.   Will’s up in his room putting on his new (massive) uniform.  The shirt comes below his knees – but at least they will be warm. – And it smells a bit odd too – according to Will this is because it everything in the store room smells like that.  But that’s ok because I have just made some really pretty lavender bags, and I have suggested he takes some and gives them to the Sergeant to put amongst the spare uniforms. 

Oddly enough he’s stomped off shouting “Aww Mum,  please don’t” .

 Isn’t pink a military colour?  

I have just added a Princess Piggy necklace to my site - it is one I have been doing for quite a while, but I usually just sell them through one of the Galleries I supply.  They are funny little pink glass pigs, and I put a little crown on them just a bit of frivolous fun - and hence my resistance to  putting them on the site, as I try to produce much more serious pieces.  But after all she is cute, and is a princess............and I am sure she will be well behaved............

  oink oink.  

I finally finished my accounts and tax return last week, and once again have made a resolution to do them monthly (I do this every year), but then inspiration hits and I would rather make new designs than balance figures.  

It's that time again.  January, when I do my tax return, my accounts and spend a lot of time shouting at the computer. I'm not allowed out the office until I have completed it and 'grumpy' simply does not cover the situation......

Mind you I will be allowed out to do the Bridal Fayre at the Guild Hall Hull on January 17th - so I'm really looking forward to that.

Now, what's the tax code for crystal........... 

Thank you Cambridge Ladies (and the Gentlemen too) for making me so welcome - and I hope you all enjoy your new jewellery!

Diane

97% of my customers are ladies, but just occasionally I am contacted by gentlemen to organise a lovely surprise for the lady in this life.  Obviously I am not going to give away any details, as discretion is guaranteed, but to the four so far this week (and it is only Wednesday), well done for being so organised, and so romantic. 

You know it's probably best not to launch into joining in with the actions to "YMCA" whilst holding an open packet of seed beads...........  right where's the hoover?

Needle in a Big Haystack

I always enjoy meeting my customers and had the pleasure of talking face to face with some of them at York and Burton Agnes Hall at events this week.  I enjoy hearing their thoughts about the jewellery and the site, and two points came up. 

Firstly that they wanted to see more jewellery on the site (particularly you Moira) and hands up to that one, I agree, and I will try to put more on more frequently.  I have added new delicious earrings today, so get ‘em whilst they are fresh!

The other comment was from several of my customers who have non pierced or unpierced ears and say they just can’t get gorgeous earrings. 

I do hold base metal clips, but don’t like to use them because I believe my customers deserve the best.  So  after two days solid searching I have managed to source sterling silver and 9ct gold Hinge clips and Screw Fit earrings .  I will add these options to new earrings, but feel free to e-mail me if you want them adding to any others. 

The clips took some finding, rather like a needle in …………………..

I am just about to start work on a necklace, which is going to be soft greens, browns and golds.  It's got a rather unusal destination, Oslo in Norway.  The lady who commissioned it leaves tomorrow (and I only received the order today), so a VERY short update - and I better get on with it!

Here I am back in the studio after my travels across Cambodia and the area around the Andaman Sea in Thailand, (with my gorgeous new husband).  And although the cooler weather is here, I am reminding my self of the soft sheen of clear seas over silken sands, by making a new range of jewellery.  It’s going to be called the Andaman Range, and so far features ripples of silver swaying over the palest pearls.

And as for the Typhoons, well I am a rain worshiper, and goodness me, what rain in Cambodia – no wonder it is the perfect place to grow rice.  I met what must be some of the nicest people on earth, and will return again I hope one day. I have it say though, they are a little too willing to share their tarantulas around - I have photo of one on my t-shirt, heading for the gap between the shirt, and my Shorts – Any one know the Khmer phrase for “please remove this big hairy spider immediately”?  If you want to see a photo – I’ll post one.

I have just come back from a week in Pembrokshire, Wales.  A gorgeous area of the UK, after a much needed week off from work. 

The jewellery is so exciting to make, that I have to be physically removed from the gorgeous materials in my studio, to rest my hands and elbows.  This is the minor disadvantage of carrying out all the work myself - I do this because that way I can control the extremely high quality standards I insist my work meets.  In addition, I can guarantee that there is no exploitation of children in the making of my jewellery.

So a week in Wales relaxing and plenty if fresh air, but one question.  Does the rain always blow sideways?

And Vogue?  On my return I found a mail asking me to advertise in Vogue,  hmmm, would I still be able to meet demand all by myself?

x Diane

This week   I have had the absolute pleasure of working with 9ct gold.   I have been combining   the gold, donated   from two families to make a set of special wedding rings.   The gold in the rings symbolise the joining of the two families, and minimise the impact of harvesting the gold from the Earth.   (Did you know it is a really destructive process to mine gold?).

They are not finished yet, but already they are full of positive resonance, and I hope they bring good luck and much happiness to the wearers of the rings.  

(and Thank you Nicola for all your help!)

I've got that song on my brain now.   I've been singing it in my head for a couple of days now, because I have working on a commission for a lady who wanted a selection of   dainty 'Ruby' jewellery for her friend who is Having a (you guessed it), Ruby Wedding anniversay.  

She gave me an indication of price she wanted to spend, a description of the friend, and the fact she wanted dainty pieces.   So yesterday a box containing a selection of four pieces went off to her.   My customer will choose one, and return the others.   Easy shoppping from your own home.   Want to try this?   mail me a Diane@myjewellerydesigner.co.uk

Cheerio   Diane

la la la la laaaaaaaaaa.........

Did you see the amazing rain yesterday? It poured down, hitting the ground and bouncing almost a foot off the ground - a real spectacle (well at least from indoors on high ground).  The petunias are looking a bit battered this morning, but the garden is so fresh it sparkles. 

The leaves on the conker trees are fully out, with the conkers fattening nicely - I'm working on a commission bracelet to match a necklace I made last year.  This project is all about the way the light falls on the leaves.  Sometimes absorbed, with the soft sheen of a pearl, and where the rain drops rest on the leaves, twinkling and reflecting.  I have also included the rich colours of the conkers, to represent fruitfulness.  Enjoy the weather.  Diane x

I'm a great beliver in positive thinking, and sometimes it helps to have a focus for the thoughts  - so I have designed the positivity necklace.  The idea is that as you wear it, you rotate each of the spheres and say out loud (but not loud enough for people to stare at you), your positive affirmation.  For example you can say "I invite happiness, I welcome happiness and I want more happiness to come into my life".  Do this for each string of Venetian Murano Glass spheres, so you say it three times in total.  It helps you to become a more positive person, something we all struggle with from time to time.  And besides, its a gorgeous necklace.

Cheerio  Diane x

Here at My Jewellery Designer, I am enjoying the space in the new studio-office and I have welcomed my first on site customers, this week.

Both attending separate weddings, one as beautiful Mother-of-The-Bride and one as the equally beautiful Bride. 

 For the Mother, she brought her very smart suit and hat, and we worked together,  choosing all the most delicious gemstones and crystals for her jewellery.  I can now add to, and combine these into a perfect necklace for the occasion.  It will fit the lady, fall at the correct position against her neck and match her outfit perfectly.  She was happy with the service, especially as she had travelled to London (that bigh scary place) and not found anything suitable.   I can't wait to get started!

And as for the Bride.  All my brides are beautiful, but this one especially so.  I am combining heritage pearls with new materials to make the most perfect set of jewellery for her.  It will be light, comfortable, bespoke and made carefully just for her using top quality materials and positive wishes.

Unique and precious - like my customers.

Cheerio

Diane

Both I and Myjewellerydesigner have moved.  So I am delighted to be sitting in a much bigger studio-office, and once I finish unpacking the sea of cardboard that surrounds me, it may evn look tidy (ish).

I'm still located in the lovely Village of North Ferriby, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, so keep in touch!

I am just making up a few Swarovski Stock pins, wonderful for dressage, which are available either from me directly or via Riders Paradise up at Beverley.  Several of my customers have reported that they bring them good luck with their eventing.  I am happy to hear this, because I always try to generate positive images as I make them.

Cheerio  Diane

I can't believe the amazing colours and scents of all the trees at the moment.  I find this time of year so inspiring, and I have made a promise to myself, that if I ever live abroad, I will come back in April.

Geoff, our lovely postie has just delivered some crystal I need for a wedding later in the year.  The theme is a soft golden colour, with a sort of deep amethyst - they look gorgeous and I can't wait to get going with the work.  The crystal is quite a rare colour, and to get the full range of shapes I want, I have had to contact America to track it down.  Well worth it for a precious bride!.