We all handle grief in our own way. I found all my losses really difficult, but some hit me harder. I've lost 7 family members and 7 friends over 7 years. I even had friends who couldn't cope with my grief, who are no longer friends, and that made me very sad. One of the hardest things when you lose somebody you love is feeling that you have to stay strong on the outside when your world has forever changed. There are so many firsts that are oh so difficult, including birthdays, anniversaries, and of course Christmas, which can be such a tricky time to navigate, when people all around seem to be having fun.
I’m not going to lie, my losses did nearly break me, but I somehow managed to find myself despite everything. My emotions were all over the place. I’ve been through counselling and done loads of research into wellness, mental health and personal development. I’ve invested time and money so I can make a difference and help people after their losses. I'm passionate about wanting to help others and I'm excited to announce my new Beta programme.
This is a unique course for people with a broken heart, who have lost somebody they love. I am a jewellery designer and maker who will help you celebrate the life of your loved one, so that you can feel positive about your future again.
We’ll work together to design and have a special, bespoke piece of sterling silver/ semi precious gemstone jewellery created for you, to mark the passing of your special person or people.
So that you will always have something special with meaning to take with you as you move forward with your life, taking you through your grief to self love and finding joy again. Your jewellery will be imbibed with the love, memories and stories about your loved one to take you forward to live your best life after loss, as you rebuild your life.
Don’t let those good memories slip away. This unique programme is designed to help you remember and celebrate the life of your loved one so that you can rebuild your life around your grief and create new hope for your future. Self care and self love is how I have created a life I love again after being very broken by my losses.
This is what we will cover on the course:
Remember
Express Grief & Nurture
Design & Create
Heal & Celebrate
Future Legacy
Love, Cherish & Hope
This will be a supportive small group programme with me, Sally as a mentor. I will guide you through the remembering of your loved one and enable you to share your feelings and emotions of loss.
I have had multiple losses myself over the last 7 years. I have been through counselling and hold an NCFE Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace Level 2 and I am trauma informed. I'm able to hold space for you and support you in this safe space I have created. I am a qualified teacher and mentor for Jewellers and a business mentor. I am used to supporting people with love and kindness.
I will help you to co-create a beautiful piece of jewellery even if you have no previous design experience. Once the course is completed I will send you your design for approval before I make it. If you are a jewellery maker you may prefer to create your own design at this stage. You will still get so much out of this course. It's so much more than just the jewellery.
Self care has become such an important part of my life now and it has helped hugely to accept and understand my grief. My new programme is about designing a piece of jewellery for you, to celebrate and remember your special person, but it’s so much more. It’s not counselling, but I’ll be sharing some of the strategies I’ve used to turn my life around after loss. I'm not going to be able to take your grief away but I'll help you to build an amazing life around your grief, so that it becomes surrounded by things that you feel good about. I'm so excited to be able to share this with you, my life has been transformed into a life I love so much.
The programme starts in March with zoom calls over 6 weeks. They will be small group calls and you don’t need to have your camera on if you don’t want to. The calls will last approximately 60 mins.
This programme will be starting in March 2024 and places are starting to fill up. This is a Beta course, so the cost this year will be only $497. After the beta round it will be £997, so you will get £500 discount. If you want to make a commitment to your own healing please do join me.
I’m really looking forward to helping you with this. Please book a free Loving Legacy Clarity Call or email me with your questions sally@howfinedesigns.com
Love and sparkles,
Sally xox
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I did wonder whether there's more we can do, and yes I think we can all do more, but at least we can do small things consistently to help climate change and avoid over consumption.
These days I'm shopping on sites like vinted for pre-loved clothes and mending things that are still lovely, but need a minor repair. I really dislike the throwaway society, and would much prefer to buy once and get something better, than to have lots of things. This sometimes means I need to delay my purchase, until I can afford it, but that's ok.
It's very important to me to be as sustainable as possible in my business too. This includes looking for preloved tools before buying new tools. It means that I benefit by getting tools that have already had plenty of life, but still have plenty of use left. They are usually well made and they have already stood the test of time. Many jewellers tools are made of steel, so they are very hardwearing. Sometimes they need a little clean up, but most of them are good.
Here you can see the box of tools I've bought from another goldsmith. Many of them have been adapted and they are still great for many years because they were well made. Some of them like the hammer have a great character. Others like the pliers have been adjusted for holding metals more easily. The punches are for stone setting, so they will be useful and there are a couple of needle files too.
I also bought a rolling mill to roll fancy wires, and I'm very pleased with this, as it will help me to make wires of different profiles. This mill needs a little bit of a clean up and will be bolted to my bench soon, but it will help me to be more sustainable. Now I'll able to roll wires that I need to make my jewellery.
Here is the first wire I made, a triangular one from recycled silver. I'm really excited about the new pieces I'll be able to make with this!
Sometimes it feels overwhelming trying to be eco-conscious, but we all need to do small things to make the world a better, greener place. There is no planet B option.
Find out more about why it's important to buy sustainable jewellery here
]]>I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. I discovered Jewellers Academy about 6 years ago and since then I've been a member. It’s a wonderfully supportive community that I’m proud to be a part of. I've invested in quite a few of their courses myself, including the Fine and Advanced Diplomas. I now work part-time for Jewellers Academy supporting and mentoring the Silver Diploma students and I'm in the Jewellers Academy Admin team.
I’ve always been fascinated looking at the jewellery other jewellers make. Just looking at how people wear jewellery, it’s fascinating how every jeweller has their own style and identity. I’m currently working on refining my style, and I've been busy upskilling and reinventing my designs, so I was particularly excited for this book to arrive.
As you can see I enjoy reading books. Along with tools and gemstones, books are one of my guilty pleasures!
I was expecting the book to be good because I’ve had lots of glimpses behind the scenes, but the actual size of the book (spoiler alert, it’s a heavy one!) and the quality of it (it’s printed on beautiful paper) have blown me away. The full-colour printed pictures feel decadent and luxurious. The design is clean and easy to read. Well done to Emma Rene for her creative flair. The whole thing has been well thought out. The layout is easy to read and flows beautifully.
The content written by the wonderful Jessica Rose is packed full of useful information you’ll be able to apply to your business and there’s plenty of inspiration! Not only is it a beautiful coffee-table style book, but it is also packed full of information you’ll be able to implement in your business.
If you’re starting out on your jewellery journey it will be inspiring. You’ll be able to refer to it along your journey and it should make that process so much easier.
I’m really excited about the Developing Your Signature Style chapter. That’s where I’m currently spending my time. It’s helping me to work out which direction to go with my designs. I’m now realising what I don’t want to do, as well as what I want to create moving forwards. Some real aha moments for me on my first read-through!
For jewellers who have been making for a while, you’ll really benefit from the individual business case studies. There are lots of jewellers at different levels who pass on their learnings as case studies. They all have different business models, so it's great to plan out the pathway that's going to suit you and your lifestyle.
The Mastering Your Money chapter is really valuable. Jess explains some of the common pricing pitfalls and explains how you can create a profitable business. There's also information about some of the trickier aspects of running a business such as intellectual property and copyright.
There’s photography inspiration galore, and hallmarking is explained, together with useful content about websites, Etsy and social media, as well as plenty of ideas you’ll be able to use to promote your business.
It's full of inspiring content "You have much to offer the world, so it's time to get out there and sell your beautiful work!"
Here's me reading my book at home. The perfect excuse for a cuppa and a bit of me time. This is a book I'll be constantly referring to; as well as being beautiful it's also useful and inspiring.
Although I received a free copy of the book to review as part of the Jewellers Academy book launch team, I do wholeheartedly recommend that you buy a copy.
I even bought another copy as a gift.
Best wishes,
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It’s an intensive 8 week programme designed to give you the complete training in launching, growing and scaling the jewellery business of your dreams 💭
Since joining Jewellers Academy Membership I have grown my business and made better decisions about where I spend my time and effort. My focus has improved and my business has become more successful each year. Bootcamp is an intensive 8 week training programme with a wonderfully supportive community. It helps you whether you're a beginner thinking of starting to sell jewellery, or a more experienced jeweller looking to move to the next level.
Through weekly online training sessions with downloadable workbooks, plus live weekly Q&As and co-working sessions this course gives you the knowledge & skills you need to effectively plan and take action in your business 📝👍🏼
There’s also a super supportive Facebook group Bootcampers and help each other stay accountable and on track.
You also get access to all the other making and business courses in membership for the year (except the Diploma courses).
Click here to see the prices. The top year option has my code applied. The monthly pay choice and the Lifetime option you can apply my SALLY22 code.
Here is some more some information about the Bootcamp
Find out more about membership
Listen to Raissa De Guzman from Abloro Jewellery talk about Bootcamp on the Jewellers Academy podcast here
There is also a 5-month payment plan to help you spread the cost into manageable chunks this year. For all the info on how to join just click here
Full disclosure I am an affiliate for this course meaning that if you purchase them through my links I will receive a payment but at no extra cost to you. Please be assured that I wholeheartedly recommend this course and I am sure that if you want to develop your jewellery business it’s a fantastic option. If you do purchase the Bootcamp please do let me know! I’m @howfinedesigns on Instagram or sally@howfinedesigns.com on email xo
The year pay option has my voucher already applied. For the Monthly and Lifetime Membership please use my coupon code SALLY22
]]>Who hasn’t started the new year full of intentions to lose weight, be more organised, to stop biting our nails, or to make this the year that we finally take care of our health? I certainly have, but then I realised I never managed to keep them. I’d given up on them. I’d stand by while others chose their resolutions in the new year and decided not to join in! Finally I decided to choose a word for my focus and it became a real treat choosing it.
Choosing a word of the year reminds you about what you want to strengthen and develop during the whole year. You’re not expecting instant results and it does give you time to experiment with how it will work for you.
If you choose your word as a positive affirmation, rather than a negative nag, it has the potential to help you be a much better version of you. The power of the word means that it’s your focus for the whole year and you can keep making baby steps towards your ultimate goal.
Since 2015 when I started my jewellery business I’ve chosen a new word to help me each year. This word has helped my business and my life in general more than I’d imagined it would.
I spend time at the beginning of each new year thinking of what I want to focus on. Where I would like to grow or develop. It is sometimes really obvious to me and the word leaps out. Other years I begin by adding a few words to mull over. I usually write them down on post it notes and add them to my mirror while I consider which will be ‘the one’. Then I try each word in my shortlist on for size. After some thoughts a few of the words just don’t feel right, so I cross them off! Gradually the word becomes clearer and the choice seems easier. It’s all about having a growth mindset. Where we focus our attention we grow. Our inner mind monkies gradually quieten as we get used to focusing on this positive area for growth.
This is the list of words I’ve used to guide me on my journey since I began my word of the year practice:
2015 begin - this was the year I started my business. I gave myself to start my business alongside my part time teaching.
2016 make - this year I decided I needed to make lots of rings to hone my skills and get the sizing right! I spent time at my bench just making, even if I didn’t have a commission or order. I gave away lots of the designs to friends and family, and felt that my making skills really improved over the year.
2017 blossom - this was the year I was determined to make a success of my business. I adjusted my pricing and felt much more positive about the jewellery I was making. I got some great feedback from a growing number of customers. I continued to plant new seeds and develop my skills by investing in my learning. These seeds were paying off and I felt as though I really was blossoming. I had shiny new business cards and branding, but a blow came to me part way through the year when my father fell ill. Then after a very difficult 6 months he died. This was the most difficult year of my life and I’ll be honest I gave up on my word for the rest of the year.
2018 strength - after the loss of my father I almost gave up. This was a hard time for me personally and I decided that I needed to give myself time, space and to nurture myself. I made very little but eventually I decided to have some play time to rediscover my creativity. I decided to choose the word strength because I knew I needed to get stronger to face the world again and to pick myself up after my loss. I nurtured myself and started to rebuild my strength. This took the pressure off and I came back to my art and jewellery making with a new passion. I was finally able to use some of my fathers tools and knew that he’d be so happy :)
2019 flourish - this was the year I decided to go with my heart and to begin planting seeds again. So I started some personal development courses and began to find myself again. I gave myself permission to do anything I needed to flourish, whether that was to go for a walk, or to have tea with a friend, to take time with a book, to paint, or create fun with my family.
2020 focus - this was the year I made myself much more effective. As a creative I never had a problem with having ideas, but the word focus enabled me to think about direction and whether I should say yes or no to things. I began to have much more clarity about where my time was being spent. This was really empowering for me. I started to say yes to more opportunities that I had previously turned down because they scared me. I also felt less guilty saying no to things that weren’t what I wanted to do. I had a realisation that saying no to one thing meant more space to say yes to other often better things! There’s something very empowering about this.
2021 fearless - this was the year that I showed up to help other people and got over myself. I had never usually appeared on zoom calls (previously I’d usually lurked on calls with my camera off). Instead I showed up regularly in my own business and in Jewellers Academy where I support jewellers as as Community Advisor on Facebook on their Silver Diploma course. I also work as a Jewellers Academy Administrator (part time). I’ve appeared on 6 podcasts and on several Facebook and Instagram lives. I’ve co-created a course with Jessica Rose about Pinterest for Jewellers. I’ve also created a Pinterest For Creatives Facebook group where I help others learn to use Pinterest to promote their creative businesses.
I really have started to worry less about what other people think and have reframed it as helping others. I’ve also used my teaching skills to make my wedding ring workshops even more popular and met some wonderful clients who’ve made their own wedding rings.
For 2022 I had a shortlist of: abundance joy love gratitude kindness
I spend the first couple of weeks trying these out, then made a decision about which would serve me most. I chose joy, and adding more joy to my life and to others was a great choice!
Here's my silver ring with my word stamped in, so my word came with me as a lovely reminder. I also became a mentor for the Silver Diploma and now teach and support others making jewellery. That also brings me lots of joy, knowing I’m passing on my skills to others!
For 2023 I've chosen gratitude, this followed after I began a gratitude practice last year. I found that it helped me to focus on the many things I have to be grateful for. I'm looking forward to fully exploring this as my word and expect it to be a powerful word, even when things are difficult at times, it should show me I have plenty to be thankful for.
Here’s a list of words to choose to make your year better than ever. Remember you can also combine to make it your own!
growth flourish blossom focus believe strength power fearless gratitude nurture boundaries health balance ease care believe caress simplicity best courage show up just do it explore heart prioritise travel laugh rest metamorphosis clarity imagine soar cherish freedom progress change lighter develop brave innovate perseverance do joy breathe atomic explore rise happiness frequency emerge focus ease fruition trust confident invest consistency persistence create stretch nurture nourish thrive tenacity serendipity growth innovate progress freedom empress empower reach plan replenish yes make creative contentment dream big courage try flow innovate strength tenacity imagine rebel space rebellious spirit elegance fun sophisticated energy meditate heart action slowly powerful wealth value health resilience persevere abundance treat chill restore rise light adventure phoenix laughter passion self-love relax start future-self bloom abundance eat the frog devotion flow shine no is a word brave grit manifest calm you’ve got this embrace rebuild
Write your word down and keep it somewhere visible where you’ll see it several times each day. Try adding a post-it on your mirror, or make a picture with your word in a frame, or as I do add a ring to your finger. These are all great ways to remind yourself of your word and strengthen your focus.
Jewellery bought for yourself is the most powerful way to make something amazing happen. Rings are the most popular item of jewellery to wear because they are constantly in your vision, so act as a constant reminder of what you want to manifest. Having the word stamped on your ring makes your word become more concrete, more tangible and keeps it at the top of your mind. You can decide whether to have your word on the outside of your ring for all to see, or on the inside, for your eyes only. I call this the secret word ring.
Whatever you choose - do remind yourself, especially in the first few weeks, if things don’t exactly go to plan first of all that’s ok. Simply focus on your word and your longer-term goal and reset. It’s fine to start again. After a while, it becomes second nature to focus on your new personal development goal. Your word often starts to gather new meanings which weren’t so obvious when you first chose it. It’s amazing how a simple word can gather so much more positivity and progress than you set out to record.
You may like to check out my original word of the year rings like the one in the review above they are daintier.
Or the newer version empowering word of the year rings here which are slightly thicker silver and capital letters - very luxurious!
If you don't know your ring size simply place your order and leave the size blank. I'll automatically send you a ring sizer for you to try on and find out your size. Don't worry it's a reliable way to make the correct size ring.
What would your word be?
Please do let me know in the comments below. I’d love to know what you’re going to choose!
Love and sparkles,
Sally xo
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If you’re a creative person (or any person at all, for that matter), then you know the importance of much-needed rest and relaxation.
Have you ever had those days where you are working on a deadline for a project but your mind is blank? It’s like there are NO creative juices flowing.
You are not alone. Many creative people go through this because we can’t always be creative right on the spot or under pressure and stress.
You need to make time for self care to help you to recharge, calm your mind and get those creative juices flowing again!
I’ve learnt that especially when I have a lot going on, scheduling self care helps a lot! We make plans for everything else, so why not do the same for time we want to spend with ourselves?
Here are some easy ways you can make time for self care in your daily routine.
Regular physical activity benefits your health, helps you reduce stress, fight the anxiety, feel better, look better and sleep better! It’s the number one pillar for self care. I personally love to go for a walk around my neighbourhood in between work tasks - Getting some fresh air and moving my legs is the perfect combination for me.
I recently read an article about this new trending term “sleep-care” and how one of the most efficient ways for you to help your body be healthy is making sure you get enough sleep.
Sleep can have a huge effect on how you feel both emotionally and physically. Not getting enough can even cause major health issues. But stress and other distractions can wreak havoc on our sleep. So make a good night's sleep part of your daily self-care routine.
Making time for self care also means getting time to consciously choose what you eat. Food has the potential to either keep us healthy or contribute to weight gain or diseases such as diabetes, but it can also keep our minds working and alert.
Make sure you keep to a healthy diet by swapping your processed foods for things like nuts, green leafy veggies, legumes, blueberries and more. Start thinking of food as fuel for your body.
Water is an essential nutrient the brain depends on to maintain optimal function. When our brains don’t receive enough water, many negative effects can result, such as concentration and memory problems, brain fatigue and brain fog, headaches, sleep issues and more. So make sure you drink plenty of water.
If you struggle with remembering to drink water, here’s what I did: I got one of those 2 litre bottles that have time markers and put it next to me whenever I’m working. This has worked wonders for me!
Ensure you have a support network of people who understand the realities of what you do in business. Often this won’t be our friends or family, but new people we meet in a business capacity.
Having a network of peers who are on the same journey as you is essential to not only your emotional wellbeing, but also your growth in business or career. And you’ll find that many of your fellow entrepreneurs know the struggle around making time for self care. It’s always helpful to talk about that with other people that know and understand your situation.
Make sure you’re taking time off from tech! Try switching everything off for an hour before you go to bed, it can really help to create some downtime.
And just a general reminder: You don’t have to be reachable 24/7. That work email you see at 11 o’clock at night? It can wait until tomorrow. It’s important to not only make time for self care and set those boundaries, but to also stick to them.
So, next time you question ‘how to make time for self care when I’m so busy’ try one of all of these tips!
When you carve out time to recharge and replenish, you allow yourself the space to think outside the box in entirely new ways.
I hope you can work to incorporate more self care practices into your life. We all need time to recharge and reset every now and then. One of my favorite quotes is, “Do something that makes you happy every day”.
Jade Jemma is a sought after sales growth expert and speaker based in London, UK.
Through her private mentoring, group programs and online courses Jade helps freedom-focused entrepreneurs to simplify and accelerate their sales growth so they can create their ultimate freedom lifestyle.
> More blog posts by Jade Jemma
> Her website Freedomzest.com
Jade Jemma, Sales Strategist, London
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I first started by squirrelling away lots of tools 🔨 and learning how to use them 🔥 Now I’m improving my skills and investing in things I need to move my business forwards.
It's been quite a journey with ups and downs but I’m still loving it! 💍 I have taken a long route to get the skills I need to build my jewellery business but I’m going to share a shortcut you can take to get there much quicker and learn all the skills you need to run a successful jewellery business.
I’ve been a member of the Jewellers Academy for the last seven years and I’ve been working for them as a Silver Diploma Facilitator on the Silver Diploma group calls and as a Facebook group Advisor in the Silver Diploma group. I am a mentor for the Diploma in Silver Jewellery.
I’m really excited to share about some jewellery making courses run by my friends at Jewellers Academy that are now open for enrolment. They are online Diploma courses where you can
Watch the professionally filmed lessons anytime - time zone is not an issue!
Get termly one to one support from a goldsmith mentor via Zoom
Get individual feedback and assessment of your work
Get your questions answered in the weekly live Q&A sessions and in the private Facebook group
It's a wonderfully supportive community of jewellers run by the inspiring Jessica Rose. They've been offering the Diploma in Silver Jewellery for a number of years now. It has been successfully running online for several years and I've been lucky enough to have seen the amazing things the Diploma students have made on this course. Honestly you’ll be amazed how much they’ve learnt even in the first term. The Diploma in Silver Jewellery will be running again in September 2024 and is suitable for beginners and jewellers with some experience.
You can watch the 2022 Open Day replays by clicking the links below:
Diploma in Silver Jewellery Open Day
Diploma in Fine Jewellery Open Day
Learn to make professional jewellery from home including wedding rings, engagement rings, silver collections and working with gold. This year-long course is a complete training in silver (and gold) jewellery making suitable for beginners who are looking for a structured, supported online training in making professional silver jewellery from home.
Youtube trailer Diploma in Silver Jewellery
There is also a Diploma in Fine Jewellery which is for Intermediate and more advanced jewellers.
If you are interested in taking your jewellery making skills to the next level this may be something to help you do that. I’m so excited and can hardly wait to be able to set the marquis ring in the picture below!
This course is for the intermediate and more advanced jeweller. It’s designed to equip you will skills that are not only enjoyable and fulfilling to master but will also help you to create commercial, highly desired fine jewellery.
With a focus on mastering techniques ideal for commission work, making engagement and wedding rings, tennis bracelets, earrings, necklaces, design and rendering and of course your metalsmithing skills.
There is no course quite like this created for this end of the market for jewellers with this level of support.
I'm have taken part in this course and it’s been great. I’ve certainly been able to advance my own jewellery making skills. The stone setting is amazing and I'm really enjoying it!!! I’m finally able to make to the high end jewellery I've been dreaming of. It’s really helping me to develop my skills.
Will you join me? If you’re not sure whether it’s going to be suitable for you or whether you’re good enough please message me and I’ll give you my honest opinion.
YouTube Trailer Fine Jewellery Diploma
What are you waiting for? Watch the open evenings and once you've decided which course is right for you click the link above for the course that's going to take your jewellery making skills to the next level. If you prefer to listen there's also the Jewellers Academy podcast. Listen as Jessica Rose talks to a Diploma Student about her experience of the Diploma in Silver here and there's a full overview of the Diploma in Silver Jewellery and the Diploma in Fine Jewellery courses in the podcast
Please pin this on Pinterest 📌
For all the diploma courses you will have access to the videos and all the course materials after the course has ended, so you can always go back to revisit the skills you have learnt. There's also the option to buy a tools and materials kit for the Silver Diploma and a materials kit for the Fine Diploma. There's also a tool and material kit for the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay. There's a stone setting kit by Scott McIntyre included in the Advanced Diploma.
You can of course get the list for all courses and buy your own tools and materials. For all of these Diplomas you can work from home whenever it fits in with your lifestyle. Some people set aside a day a week to do the course, and others fit in an hour or two on several evenings. You can fit your learning in with whatever suits you.
NOW - all Diplomas are open for enrolment
You have until April to enrol, but don’t leave it too late to book because the tool and materials kits may run out!
You won’t be disappointed I’m sure!
Youtube trailer Diploma in Silver Jewellery
YouTube Trailer Fine Jewellery Diploma
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-silver-metal-clay
Diploma in Silver Metal Clay YouTube https://youtu.be/jknQLsEop1A?si=HzIxQ1RcXPuwa6Ae
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/advanced-jewellery-diploma
Advanced Diploma YouTube https://youtu.be/9ymYLuaw8BI?si=1IO6zlCKQ-TnwcdZ
Watch the Jewellers Retreat on YouTube episode 1 where you'll see our Advanced Jewellers making beautiful pendants with stone settings
Watch the Jewellers Retreat on YouTube episode 2 this week our talented jewellers make matching ring sets to show off their stone setting skills
If you do get a place on any of the diplomas please let me know - I’d love to know if you do join. You can send me a DM on Instagram @howfinedesigns I’m also happy to let you know which course I’d recommend for you, if you’re unsure.
If you’re not sure about whether this would be right for you, please do send me a message if you’d like more information. I'm a mentor on the Diploma in Silver Jewellery. I have done the Diploma in Fine Jewellery and the Advanced Diploma. I also facilitate calls on all of the Diplomas including the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay.. So please do ask if you have any questions.
Sally xo
If not now - when?
If you do sign up for a Diploma course please let me know and let Jewellers Academy know that I referred you. I do receive an affiliate payment and can assure you that if I didn’t think this course was brilliant I wouldn’t be sharing about it
Please be assured that I wholeheartedly recommend these courses and I am sure that if you want to develop your jewellery education they are a fantastic option. If you do purchase any of the Diploma course please do let me know! I’m @howfinedesigns on Instagram or sally@howfinedesigns.com on email
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I first found out about the opportunity when my friend and business buddy Sonia Rutter asked me if I’d heard of the pop up company. They are The Great British Exchange and funnily enough they are based in Harrogate where I live. So I contacted them via email and filled in their application form.You have to upload images, descriptions and prices of a few products you would like to sell in John Lewis and write a brief bio about your company along with why you want a pop up shop and what you would do. I heard back fairly quickly that I had been approved on a local level and then had to wait for the head office to agree.
I honestly didn't expect to get approval, but it just goes to show you have to go for these opportunities, because they did say yes. I was absolutely thrilled and fairly daunted too. I knew I only had a few weeks to get everything in place, as I don't usually have a lot of products finished in stock.
Once we had the go ahead I chose my date from the ones available and had a choice of three stores nearest me Sheffield, Leeds or York. I decided to go for the Leeds store because it was near me and quite a large new store. I chose the half term week 26th October to 1st November as I thought it would be good to sell my Christmas products. These include my Silver Mistletoe Decorations and Christmas Limited Edition jewellery. To be honest it was a lot of work, but if you focus you can definitely achieve more.
In hindsight this was a great decision because lockdown number 2 was announced in the UK on the Friday evening of my pop up week, meaning no more shopping apart from essentials for the next month. I had almost swapped to a date in November, but decided against it in the end. A very lucky choice. I really feel for the people who were meant to be following me though, as they've had their shops postponed.
During the next few weeks I worked hard on making stock for my pop up shop. John Lewis can’t really give you any idea of how much you will need, so you have to decide yourself how much to take. I definitely think it’s worth several of each item, but I found that it’s good to get things on display so you can get feedback from people in store. I also took quite a few one off designs, which was also good because you can say this is the only one of this design. It's really helpful talking to people about their favourite designs once you're in store.
I was busily making jewellery and found a production line set up was much more efficient. Making several of the same thing by batching was much quicker, and although occasionally it’s a little boring, having some music or podcast as a distraction meant that I was able to produce my jewellery much more productively.
Getting all my packaging ready was relatively easy, as I had placed an order fairly recently, so I chose to get some extra large eco cotton pouches for my mistletoe decorations. I also needed to order a banner with my business name and a sign for my table. Some more business cards were also ordered. I gave about 300 of these during my week in store. Bear in mind that orders for any supplies are taking longer than usual so any extra orders need to be done in good time or they may not arrive in time for your pop up shop. I also ordered a pop up banner and an acrylic sign with my branding on for the table.
The next exciting thing was my store induction visit. I went into the store and met my contact Laura (another Laura!) at the Customer Collection desk and she took me on a store tour showing me where my pop up shop would be. I saw the sort of table I would be using as well as having a behind the scenes visit to the loading bay, the locker rooms and the staff area with the restaurant, fridge and relaxation area. This was brilliant because she was able to answer my questions and made everything seem achievable. John Lewis made me feel very welcome and they're very well organised. Things are clearly managed well to make things easy even though we're only in store for a week. Everybody I met in store were really helpful and the partners were all so lovely.
After this I had to send my product list to John Lewis itemising each item and the price. These are then uploaded onto the card reader you sell from by The Great British Exchange so it's worth checking all your listings carefully to make sure all your items are included and the prices are correct.
John Lewis needed product shots for publicity and use in-store. Mine were done by the lovely Karen Young Photography The Leeds store I was in had A3 and A4 acrylic frames. I used a couple of the largest ones for product shots and one of the A4 ones for my bio, the other one for my hallmarking sheet which is a legal requirement for anybody selling jewellery. Mine was downloaded from the Birmingham Assay Office which is where I get my hallmarking done.
Planning how my pop up show would look was my next mission, so I headed over to Pinterest for some inspiration. Here's the Pop Up Shop board I made while deciding what my shop would look like. I wanted a clean high end feel which would showcase my handmade jewellery. I also wanted to focus on the sustainability aspect of my business, so chose to use a few plants.
Once the week of my pop up shop was approaching I had lots of small details to finalise, such as packing up my jewellery and organising it, making sure it was ready to put out quickly on the first morning. My organisation had to be good because there are only a few hours to set up shop, and the time goes very quickly!
The night before my shop I gathered everything ready by my front door and checked off my list. I used my notes app on my phone with the tick box to check things off as I made sure I had everything I needed. We read through the documents again telling us of all the procedures, which made it easier to know what we should be doing, such as providing hand sanitizer and wearing a mask.
The day of my pop up shop and we packed things into the car. My husband drove my daughter and I to the store. We pressed the buzzer for the loading bay and drove right into the underground loading bay of the store to unload. We were given our visitor passes and the code for entry and exit. Our personal effects were left in the lockers and we locked them with a padlock (bring your own) while we headed upstairs to set up our shop.
I loved the feedback I got and found that this was one of the biggest positives about having the pop up shop. It was a bit of a shock to me having to stand up all day, but amazingly I did get used to it. Bizarrrely enough by the Sunday I felt better than I did at the end of the first day! Comfortable shoes are my top tip!
I used any quiet time to take photographs and add to my Instagram stories. You can find me on Instagram here. My story highlights are in the circle labelled John Lewis near the top of the page. You wouldn’t believe how many DMs I got from my stories. I also spent some time cleaning and rearranging my display. Cleaning cloths and spray are really useful.
Once we got into a routine the days went fast and I enjoyed talking to customers. Feedback was positive and people were really complementary, which was lovely.
I would definitely recommend having a pop up shop. Overall it was a really fun experience, I enjoyed interacting with people far more than I expected and the publicity from having a pop up shop with such a well respected brand as John Lewis was really worthwhile. If in doubt apply and go for it!
To see my best selling product in John Lewis please click here
Please leave any questions below and I'll do my best to answer them.
Love and sparkles,
Sally xo
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We have limited world resources and every choice we make does make a difference. All the small choices we make added together make a big difference when you add them all up. As consumers we all play a part in the way we shop. Supporting the work of individual makers does help the local economy and every time we shop at a huge global enterprise it means the small businesses lose out. Thank you to all of my wonderful customers who help support my small business.
Sustainable fine jewellery is made from recycled silver or gold, so it's often described as Eco friendly. Repurposing silver or gold has been a sustainable practice for many years and reusing inherited jewellery and gemstones is sustainable.
Sustainably sourced gemstones are traceable to their source or origin, and the standard of living of the miners is generally much higher than those where the origin is not tracked or traceable. If you've heard about blood diamonds or conflict diamonds which was a problem particularly in the 1990s. These were diamonds that were mined in a war zone. The Kimberley Process was set up to ensure that diamonds were fairly sourced.
As jewellery designers the more often we specify and buy sustainably sourced gemstones, the better the conditions are likely to be for the workers who produce them. They will be treated better and paid a fair price for their work. We certainly shouldn't be exploiting others to make objects of beauty, so it's reassuring to know that sustainably sourced gemstones offer a fair wage to the workers who mine them. By asking where our gemstones come from we are encouraging our suppliers to ask questions too. As a consumer you can also ask questions about where your gemstones come from.
My jewellery is produced using environmentally friendly making methods whenever possible, creating less impact on the world. So when using chemical processes we can as jewellers choose between using hazardous chemicals and substances such as citrus pickles that are going to make less harm to the environment.
One of important issues for jewellers is how their waste is disposed of. As copper is a by-product of pickling silver I am careful to ensure it doesn't get into the water system, as it's highly toxic to aquatic life and must not enter. I'm careful to neutralise my pickle solution using bicarbonate of soda and then dispose of it pouring it into a pot containing cat litter and disposing of it at the recycling facilities at my local council. Ensuring that it is carefully sealed and labelled “Citric acid pickle - contaminated with copper” My pickle solution is used for months or years before it needs replacing so I’m talking about it here to raise awareness that this should be done. We all play a small part in making the world a better place.
All my packaging is made of eco-card where no more wood is cut down than the forest can produce. My jewellery boxes are made of eco-friendly FSC®-certified Cardboard and my pouches are Fairtrade Eco organic cotton pouches.
This is taken from my packaging suppliers website:
"Fairtrade® is an international labelling system and is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives."
Find out more about Eco packaging from my chosen packaging supplier Westpack
Would you choose a green Eco box or a cream Faitrade Cotton Pouch?
When you buy my jewellery you can add a comment in the checkout box saying if you'd prefer a box, a pouch or a naked product wrapped simply in acid-free tissue paper.
I have made a commitment to use recycled packaging wherever possible. I don't buy any new plastic, but I do currently re-use bubble wrap I receive in other parcels, as I would rather reuse plastic than send it to landfill. I now choose to wrap my parcels in plain recycled brown boxes, with an outer layer of recycled brown paper and I'm currently using my last roll of plastic tape, then I will move to use gummed paper tape. I also use small eco Jiffy bags for smaller size parcels.
You may like to find out more about Custom Jewellery Designs
I've got something really exciting to share with you. I'm on the Jewellers Academy Podcast talking about Pinterest for Jewellers 👈 click here to listen.
You can find out more about how I've used Pinterest to grow my business. Because it's a visual search engine you can use it too. Millions of people around the world are using Pinterest to search for gifts and many of those are ready to purchase. Lots of people even have a board where they save gift ideas ready to go back to when they need a present. It's full of creatives and it's likely that your target market will be on there looking for ideas and inspiration. So if you want more eyeballs on your products it is worth doing. Pinterest is really great for improving your website SEO or search engine optimisation. If you can convince Google that your website is useful then you have a much better chance of ranking higher and improve your chance of being seen. Blog posts with clear graphics are a really great thing to pin. So think about how you can help your customers and create information to pin on Pinterest.
Pinterest is such a fast growing platform and because it’s very visual you can use it successfully as a creative. Pins have the potential to last much longer than on most other platforms. Evergreen pins are amazing and are repined each season. In the podcast I talk with the wonderful Jessica Rose about how you can start with Pinterest as a business even if you’re only just starting out. Find out why and lots more by listening to this episode.
I explain how I've really focussed and now use Pinterest to drive the majority of traffic to my website. I reveal golden nuggets about what I've learnt from Janet Murray Jeff Sieh at Manly Pinterest Tips and Andrew and Pete at Atomic. I also share how my top tips about how to be more efficient at pinning. It doesn’t need to take all of your time.
If you have any questions about Pinterest please ask them and I shall do my best to answer. Please leave any questions or feedback in the comments below. Thanks for listening!
Love and sparkles,
Sally xo
Here's the link to listen to the Jewellers Academy Podcast
Here's my link for Tailwind you can sign up for a month free trial and if you decide to keep using it you will get a $15 credit and so will I. Tailwind is the scheduler I use to plan and post automatically. You can put all your pins in a queue and it posts for you. It’s a great timesaver and has lots of analytics and extra features like Tribes too.
PS. I would love if you would leave a review if you enjoy the episode.
PPS. If you’ve found this useful please pin on Pinterest 📌
Let's make Pinterest the go to platform for jewellery shopping
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Please note: this blog contains affiliate links and I may receive a payment if you sign up for any of the products from the companies recommended above but this will be at no additional cost to you. They are all highly recommended and have helped me grow my business significantly.
]]>Is custom jewellery only for the wealthy?
Like everything you can have the very best if you can afford it. If you have money to spend on the finest precious gemstones, the most expensive gold and a designer with the most experience you will be able to commission the finest bespoke jewellery you desire. This is more like high couture fashion. For people who have deep pockets and want the very best the world has on offer there are high end jewellery designers.
At the other end of the scale there are newer emerging jewellery designers who are keen to make jewellery designs. If you are prepared to take a slight risk as they are less experienced, you may find you get an unusual piece of jewellery with a better value price.
In between these extremes are many jewellery designers who enjoy working on custom or bespoke designs. It's a good idea to look at a jewellers work first, then make contact with them. If you know what you are looking for it will save lots of time.
So we've established that there are many different types of jewellery designer and many different levels.
Some designers concentrate on making collections and their work is often themed. Designers develop their own distinctive type of work. Some designers love to make collections, but don't enjoy making commissions. If you ask a jewellery designer whose work you like whether they would make you a commission they may say yes or no. Please don't be offended if they say no. Many times you will get a yes and a unique piece of jewellery.
How should I select my designer?
You should look at their previous jewellery designs and see whether you like their style. It's better to keep looking to find a designer whose work you love, than ask them to do something very different than their usual design style. Try following a few designers on Instagram and see what their work is like and whether they communicate well. That's an important skill as you'll be talking to them about your jewellery designs. You also need to build up a level of trust with them, so try having a conversation with them via DM or email. Is there an option to talk with them on the phone or to book a zoom call? Do you live near to their studio or shop so you can speak to them in person?
What questions should I ask my designer?
There are lots of things to consider including your timescale. Most custom designs and commissions take at least 6 weeks to allow for designs and hallmarking. Commissioning a special piece of jewellery can be really exciting as you will have something truly unique as a wonderful memory.
If you'd like some help with this sign up for my free How to Commission Custom Jewellery download
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There are lots of amazing sellers to choose from and you'll be sent an access link so you can get super organized with your gifts or treat yourself to something lovely from a beautiful catalogue which will be sent to you by email 💍🛍
You'll also get codes for special discounts 🤩
As small businesses all our usual in person events have been cancelled, so your support at this event would mean so much to us all 💌
Please consider buying early Christmas gifts. My Limited Edition Christmas Collection is available until December 6th (there always seems to be that last minute rush on presents and the post is likely to be extremely busy this year!) 🎄
👇You need to register to take part. So please do sign up now👇
Here’s the link.
👉But you'll only get these discounts if you register, so please do hit the link 👈
The event directory will go live on Friday. Once you've registered you'll automatically find an email in your inbox on with a directory listing all the sellers and their discount codes.
You will be able to look through at your leisure and decide what shopping you want. Don't forget that there will be limited numbers of some items, so if there's something you want it may not be there for long.
It will be live for the whole of the weekend
My discount code is CLPOPUP20 for 20% valid for any products on my website. I've gathered together a few things I thought you'd like here
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This gorgeous citrine has just been selected for a custom ring for May King Tsang. Watch as the ring is designed and find out more as the design evolves. Discover why May King chose a citrine and the choices she makes as we design a stunning ring for her.
We began with a chat about the sort of things May King likes. We arranged a Zoom call and talked about the colours she liked and the size of gemstone ring she was looking for. May King loves to wear big rings and because she's often on camera holding a microphone at in person and online events a ring is a good pop of colour for her. May King is a FOMO creator which means she creates a buzz around what’s happening at live events and virtual events so that people who aren’t there get FOMO or “fear of missing out”.
Once we’d discussed what May King wanted the next step was for me to track down a stunning gemstone, so I went hunting for the perfect stone. Once I had collected some suitable stones I added them to a secret Pinterest board which we used to choose the one you see above. Spoiler alert there’s more to this story and you’ll find out soon.
Bookmark this page and watch May King's reaction as she sees the citrine she chose for the first time
In case you’re wondering who I am I’m Sally. I’ve been designing jewellery for 10 years and in business for 5. I first met May King at one of Janet Murray’s Media Influence Live events in London where I was impressed with her live tweeting. She was working as a FOMO creator and live tweets at the most incredible speed to create fear of missing out and publicity or as May King would say publiciTEA! The event was soon trending on Twitter and I’m not surprised she’s a one woman whirlwind on social media and her engagement is awesome.
I’d actually been at a previous Atomicon event in 2019 where May King was hired by Andrew and Pete but hid from her when she was coming round with her microphone! She was interviewing business owners at the event but I was definitely not going to talk on mic at that point so rapidly moved out of her path!
This year May King was creating FOMO once more at Andrew and Pete’s Atomicon20. Sadly due to lockdown it had to be held online. But instead of holding a two day live in person event Andrew and Pete held a whole month of online speakers and training. It was an absolute extravaganza. With so much going on... Of course May King did an incredible job each day going live inside our event Facebook group telling us what was on and creating a real buzz about the speakers. There were table discussions where the event participants took part to talk about things from our fave tech gadgets to YouTube when Justin Brown from Primal Video even dropped in to join the discussion. May King also did takeovers on Andrew and Pete’s Instagram and Twitter accounts. Andrew and Pete were so happy with May King (see their wonderful tesTEAmonial here).
After the event May King and I discussed a special ring to celebrate and create lasting memories of the event and how it made her feel. And most of all to help her realise and celebrate the fantastic job she did at Atomicon20. Channeling all of those feelings of pride and gratitude for the wonderful relationships formed and business deals done at the event. And to take her forward with courage in future events.
We originally planned for May King to have a deep pink stone, but the prices for the largest stones were eye watering so other colours were also considered. Here’s a link to our planning board where you can see the stones we considered.
Next time we will talk about the design process and you can see how the silver will hold the gemstone in place. You will learn about our next zoom call where we discussed the different choices and hear what the design process is like. You’ll also see the designs as they are made. Follow along by bookmarking this page.
To be continued...
If you’ve enjoyed reading this please share or Pin on Pinterest 📌
Find out more about Ring Styles here
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How long should your necklace chain be? We are all different and there's a necklace to suit us all. It's well worth considering your body type. Jewellery can draw attention away from body parts you're not so fond of. Knowing how long your necklace chain will be when you order it will be useful. Necklaces can also frame your favourite features.
It's a bit like choosing a frame for your favourite picture. Some styles just don't bring out the best in the picture, so even though we may like them they may be best choosing something that will complement the artistic style of the picture. Knowing your body and face shape is fairly straightforward, but it may be worth asking a friend if you're unsure of yours.
The most popular necklace for most body types including medium or average height is the Princess or 18" necklace, as it is universally flattering. Worn on the collarbone this is a very safe choice. This also makes it the perfect choice for a gift.
If you are smaller the shortest necklace would be ideal for you. So choose a Collar, a Choker or a Princess chain.
For taller people the best sort of chain for you is the Lariat/Rope necklace or the Opera.
If you are larger than average you should consider a feature necklace. Something with larger detailing around the neck and above the breast line works best. You should avoid longer necklaces.
If your neck is wider, a tight small necklace is best avoided. Choose a chain which gives your neck space and creates a focal point away from your neckline. The Princess chain or the Matinee would be perfect for you.
First identify your face shape by pulling your hair away from your face. If you have longer hair putting your hair into a ponytail will help you.
Round faces suit necklaces that are mid length such as the Princess or Matinee.
Rectangular shaped faces suit a shorter chain like a Choker and softer shapes will be more flattering.
Triangular shape faces need the longer Matinee or Opera necklaces to balance your wider forehead and narrower chin.
Heart shaped faces suit a shorter length to mid length chain.
Oval faces are very lucky as you can wear any length of necklace. Most designs and shapes look good on you.
Diamond shape faces can also wear any necklace lengths. They can also experiment with curves to balance or more geometric angular designs to accentuate their features.
PS. If you've found this useful please share or Pin on Pinterest
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Engagement Ring
Traditionally this ring is a solitaire diamond or cluster of diamonds with coloured precious stones on a gold ring shank. These are usually given to the woman by her partner to show they are to be married. The engagement ring is worn on the left ring finger of the woman before a couple are married.
For equality some men now wear engagement rings. These are known as mangagement rings and can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Some men are choosing diamonds as well as the harder precious gemstones such as sapphires and rubies.
The hardest gemstones on the Mohs scale should be chosen. This scale was invented in 1812 by Friedrich Mohs a German geologist and mineralist. Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale meaning that they are extremely hard wearing and highly resistant to scratching. Sapphires and rubies are known as corundums and measure 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. Citrine and Topaz are 8 and, Emeralds and Amethysts are 7.5 to 8, while Quartz, Tourmelines, Aquamarines are 7.
Mohs Scale by GIA (The Gemological Institute of America)
You will want your engagement ring to last a lifetime so while it's lovely to consider alternatives to tradition it's essential to avoid using softer gemstones. There has been a recent trend of using beautiful stones such as opals, which although extremely eye-catching will be unlikely to stand the test of time.
Wedding Ring
A ring band made of precious metal usually Gold, sometimes Platinum, Titanium, or similar. More unusual ring materials can be chosen such as wood, however these are unlikely to last a lifetime. Tungsten rings are very strong but may be shattered and there are some safety concerns as they wouldn't stretch or deform like gold, which could be a risk if you trap or snag your finger.
On the day of the wedding no rings are usually worn by the bride to be until they are married. The wedding ring is then worn closest to the heart with the engagement ring worn on the outside. Some people choose to have a wedding band shaped around their engagement ring, with a curved or wishbone ring. Others simply opt for a simple traditional wedding band and wear their engagement ring on their right hand. Some professions cannot wear a wedding band at work, for hygiene or safety reasons. People have been known to wear their wedding band so some people
For a gold ring the hardness of the ring is measured in Carats, or ct. Pure gold is 24ct but this is too soft for a ring. Wedding rings are usually from 9ct to 14ct or 18ct. The colour of the gold is richer as the number increases, so for 9ct the colour is less intense but strong because it contains more copper. For example as the number of carats increase the purity of the gold is higher, the copper content is lower so the colour is more golden and buttery.
You should aim to match the colour of your engagement ring. So if you have a 14ct yellow gold engagement ring you should choose a 14ct wedding ring, or over time the hardest metal will wear out the softest metal as they rub together.
Eternity Ring/Infinity Ring
A ring on a circular ring shank made of precious metal usually set with diamonds to symbolise never ending love. Usually this is an anniversary present on a significant anniversary, such as 10 or 15 years. Sometimes a half eternity ring is worn with diamonds on the top half of the ring and a plain band underneath.
Antique or Inherited Rings
These rings have sentimental value and often hold a connection with an important person. Occasionally we get lucky and the style and size are exactly right for us. Often we love what the ring stands for and the special person it connects us with but it doesn't fit us or suit our style.
The options are to wear the ring on a chain around our neck, attach to a bracelet as a charm, or even to have it remodelled into a style of jewellery we would love. By remaking the jewellery it's possible to keep the sentimental connection with our loved one, by reusing the gold and gemstones to give the ring a new lease of life in a new contemporary design.
Cocktail or Statement Rings
These are larger or feature rings usually worn as occasion jewellery. For more impact they are often worn alone to catch attention. May include larger faceted semi precious or gemstones to catch the eye and reflect the light.
Signet Rings
These are often designed with a family crest, motif or initials. Traditionally worn by gentlemen on the little or pinky finger they were used as a business seal. Signet rings have recently come back into fashion.
Stacking Rings
Rings worn together. Several narrow rings worn on the same finger look great together. Think about odd numbers and combinations of textures for an interesting stack.
Midi/Knuckle rings
These are worn on the first joint at the top of the finger and are sometimes paired. Chevron designs and repetition of a theme can work really well.
Empowering Rings
A self gifted ring can act as a powerful affirmation reminder. These rings have the power to remind us to focus on what's important. With a word or symbol to represent our goal they can be a constant reminder to ourselves. As they are in our vision they are seen often, so are a great visual prompt to stay on track with our goals.
If you enjoyed this blog please share or pin on Pinterest 📌
💍
If you’d like a free ring sizer email me your name + address and I’ll post one to any UK address
💌 sally@howfinedesigns.com
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Choosing your wedding rings is such an important task, because long after your wedding day, your rings remind you of the love and trust you have for each other. Find out more about the different styles and decide what sort of rings you really want.
This is flat inside next to your finger and curved on the outside. A traditional choice for wedding rings.
A round section ring is completely round. It is also known as a halo ring as it has no flat sides, so it looks like an angel's halo. Quite a dainty style in narrow sizes.
This is an oval profile ring, wider in height and narrower in depth, with gently curved edges.
This is curved inside and flat on the outside, it feels comfortable to wear. A more contemporary look.
This is flat on the inside and outside, also known as rectangular. It can be gently rounded so the corners are more curved. This makes it more comfortable to wear.
18 carat yellow gold D shape classic wedding rings made at How Fine Designs Wedding ring workshops
You may like to add a textured finish also known as hammered finish. Jewellers use various shapes of hammers to create different patterns, for example dotty or striped. This type of finish reflects the light in different ways and is great to add a reflective surface to an otherwise plain band. These are generally very hardwearing and tend to stay looking good over the years.
You can also choose to have a satin or scratched surface. This is another more contemporary finish. It will likely need to be retextured once in a while to retain the satin finish as it is more of a shallow surface decoration, but this is not expensive and is relatively quick for jewellers to do.
The surfaces of your rings can also be shaped or textured, or simply highly polished in the classic style.
Handmade wedding rings white gold and yellow gold
Yes, it's a great idea to match the style of your engagement ring. Many people do wear wedding and engagement rings together once they are married, and it's right that they should look good when they are worn together. Some people do prefer to transfer their engagement ring to their right hand, but even if you plan to wear them apart it is still lovely when your engagement and wedding rings look great together. If you wear them together you would usually wear the wedding ring closes to your heart, then your engagement ring on top.
It's sensible to choose the same metal for both the engagement ring and your wedding ring, as the hardness of metals can wear them down at different rates. The purest gold is 24 carats, but it isn't really used for making rings as it is too soft. Gold is alloyed with other metals such as copper to make it stronger. So the best gold for making rings is usually 18 or 14 carat gold. 9 carat gold is sometimes used for making wedding rings, but the colour is not so rich or golden as the higher carat golds because it has much more copper content, but it certainly does bring the price down.
So if you have an 18 carat gold engagement ring it really is sensible to buy an 18 carat gold wedding band, as they will match and have the same hardness. A harder 9 carat gold wedding ring has the potential to wear down a softer 18 carat gold engagement ring, so this sort of combination is best avoided.
No, it's your wedding, so you should choose what you like most. If your partner wants something specific, but you want something else, that's fine. You will have your own personalities and styles. Sometimes couples choose different metals, but both opt to have the same surface texture, which makes them 'go together'.
There are many different things to consider when choosing your wedding rings. If you have slender fingers or are more slightly built, a slimmer fit of ring may be more suited to you. If you have larger fingers you may prefer a thicker style of ring. Though obviously much of it will come down to personal preference. The average mens wedding ring is between 5mm and 7mm wide and the average ladies wedding ring is between 2mm and 4mm. The wider your ring you will need to measure up in size slightly, so it is worth trying a few styles on to see which style and fit you prefer.
These are both D shaped rings. The wide hammered ring band is 6mm and the narrow wishbone shaped ring is 2.3mm.
This is how much your ring is raised up from the surface of your finger. A deeper ring depth contains more gold and so is less likely to get misshapen over the years. So if you are very active and know that you will be likely to damage a thinner ring a deeper ring may be stronger. People who are more careful are likely to be fine with a thinner depth of ring shank and it will reduce the cost of your precious metals.
You may like your rings to contain an engraved message; from the simplest initials and date of your wedding, to a fun message for each other. Some clients send each other messages which remain secret until they are married!
Font readability known as legibility and sizes are important to consider, as the tiniest font sizes are barely legible to the eye without a jewellers loupe. Larger bands 3mm and above make it easier to read engraved messages. Think about whether you would like a clear font such as Ariel, or Helvetica, or whether you would prefer script, which looks more like handwriting. As guidance you will need more space for script and it tends to look better in upper and lower case, than all block capitals. Try printing out your idea of text in your chosen typeface and size to see what it will look like. If you can read it easily it will look similar when engraved. NB. Be extra careful to type the message correctly and check it, as mistakes once engraved cannot be easily changed.
You may also consider adding diamonds for added sparkle; these used to be saved for eternity rings, but are now more popular in contemporary wedding bands.
Wedding rings symbolise your new lives at the beginning of your journey together. With each ring you give each other a perfect circle representing infinity and symbolising your love for one another. Long after your wedding day is over, your wedding rings will be one of the only gifts that you will wear or use every day. A very precious thing.
Through history the wedding ring has been worn on the left ring finger in most western countries. It was thought to represent the vein leading to the heart and although our knowledge of anatomy has improved since then, it's still a sweet thought! In some European countries wedding rings are worn on the right hand.
The circle of the ring symbolises your unbroken love. The oldest wedding rings are thought to date from Egypt where natural materials such reeds were used to make rings. These were replaced as they broke, and before long more hardwearing materials were used including leather and bone. Luckily we now use precious metals which should last a lifetime.
Have you thought about making your own rings for one another? You would be starting with a new piece of gold and be able to create a perfect ring; an infinite circle made for each other with your own hands. If you would like to know more about making your own wedding rings in Yorkshire you may like to read this.
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Mental health and wellness is so important. In life we all have things wrong with us at some point. The mind and its wellbeing are essential to maintain. Once we notice something needs to be done it's an important step. Wherever you are, or whoever you are you may need help at some point in your life. Or you may be able to support somebody else with their mental wellness.
Each time I’ve lost somebody special I do take time to process the grief. I take myself off social media for a while, because for me that doesn’t feel like the right place to be and I need to take a break. But after spending time grieving I realised I needed to break the cycle and get going with my life again. Each time it has happened recently I have felt better sooner, so know that I have learnt how to heal myself without medicine. I'm not saying it will always work for other people, but it is certainly worth trying and if I can help one person feel better it's been worth sharing.
The act of creating something can be quite cathartic, however simple. When we are doing something creative for ourselves that can become our why, even if its only for a few minutes. By re-engaging our inner child, we can free ourselves and release ourselves from the fear of failure and overcome our anxiety for a short while. When you watch small children playing or even creating art work they spend some time doing the activity; they might think well this is absolutely fantastic, they might think that's not how I wanted it to be, but at the end of the session they put it aside and quickly move onto the next thing! When asked if they want their picture, very often they don’t, because it’s not about the outcome. They don’t judge what they’ve done, and we can learn a lot from that.
My advice is to try to return to your inner child, and allow yourself to produce creative marks without the pressure of judging the finished product, simply to enjoy the moment. To enjoy the act of putting the paint on to the brush, mixing the paint with water, mixing the colours and enjoying how they react to one another; simply being in the moment. How does the paint react when you apply it to the paper, or mix it with another colour? Even though we’re not focused on the outcome, it can often lead to a better picture anyway! If we are able to see what happens to try things out. At the end of the day what's the worst thing that's going to happen if things don't go right? Even if it’s bin worthy, we can always make another one!
Putting things into perspective it’s a piece of paper, so it's not the end of the world if things don’t go quite to plan. I think if you look at things in this way we can be freed to be more experimental and if things don't go right, it doesn't really matter. If things go well, that’s a bonus. I like to tell people in my groups and classes that moving forwards is more important than rubbing out, so if you're making a drawing and you want to make corrections sometimes it's good to forget about erasing the bits that aren’t right yet, instead just continue to draw over. This will help you to keep forming what you're trying to represent.
Before long your new marks will cover up your old marks and in the scheme of things the drawing underneath generally doesn’t distract from where you're going. If you start to look at things like that, you have the evidence that you were forming your idea underneath and it shows your progress. Gradually as you draw more your ability and control will improve and so will your confidence.
The final outcome generally also tends to be better, whereas if you are constantly erasing or rubbing out your drawing, its likely that you’ll keep making the same mistakes, so you feel as if you’re going backwards, or certainly not moving forwards very much. So baby steps in the right direction rather than completely starting again is what to aim for.
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Here's one of my hand stamped Word of the Year rings which you may find helpful. Please click on the image below to see in my shop.
I've been fascinated by the humble bee recently, so have done a bit of research into them.
This may sound over-dramatic, but our food supply does genuinely depend bees and their pollination of our crops. But bees are threatened with climate change and by our over use of pesticides.
Read on to find out more about why we need bees; how to provide bee friendly plants in your own garden, why you shouldn't be afraid of bees and how to revive a tired bee. Plus discover some of the reasons bees have gained extra significance to many people in Manchester, England and to see my bee design necklace.
The UK is home to many species of solitary bee, and believe it or not they all have different specialisms! They are experts at pollinating flowers with their own anatomy, so some bees only pollinate certain sorts of plants. That's why bees look so different. If you've ever wondered why some bees are thin and shiny, and others are plump and fluffy, it depends on their job. Nature is great at adaptation to role.
There are over 20,000 known species of bee around the world. Around 270 species of bee have been recorded in the UK. Only one of these is the famous Honeybee. Honeybees are the ones that produce the honey and most of them are in hives looked after by beekeepers.
Why not see if you can identify the bees you can see with this wonderful bee identification guide from the Friends of the Earth.
They have launched their annual Great British Bee Count. So you can join me in downloading the app and counting the bees where you are. I do think there are less than I can remember in previous years, which is why I'm helping to promote this. I'm hoping that this is simply the result of our hard winter, and that more bees will soon emerge.
If you are afraid of bees, you really should be reassured. Bees rarely sting. If they are flying around you they are probably looking for pollen or water. They are sometimes confused by sweet smells, such as sugary drinks or perfume. So stay still and calm. They will soon realise that you are not what they are looking for. When honey bees sting they die, so they are very unlikely to sting you and will only do so if they are being defensive and fearful. Female bees are the only ones that can sting too, so many bees are unable to sting anyway!
Famers depend on bees to pollinate their crops and already farmers in the UK are are successfully growing crops without neonicotinoid chemicals.
We too can avoid using pesticides which are damaging to bees and find natural solutions in our gardens. Biological pest control is a great way to use nature to help maintain a natural garden. Gardening organically is obviously the best thing to do, but every step taken to reduce pesticides will help to save the bees.
We can all help by planting more pollen and nectar producing plants and flowers. If everybody planted a few more bee attracting plants, even in pots on our doorsteps, balconies or yards.
I am lucky enough to live near the RHS garden at Harlow Carr and I often buy bee attracting plants at their nursery. You can use this RHS link to see their recommended plants for pollinators
If you find a tired looking bee you can help them by making an energy drink using sugar and water solution. The bee pictured above enjoyed my mixture of two tablespoons of white sugar with one tablespoon of water. If you mix the solution and place the mixture on plate or spoon. This lucky bee soon felt better and flew away after their refreshing drink!
NB. You shouldn't feed bees honey, as it can give them viruses.
If you've ever wondered what bees do when it rains you are not alone. Bees can cope with a little bit of light rain, but if they sense it's going to be very rainy they get extra busy before the rain comes, then hide out for the duration of the rains. The water actually dilutes the nectar, so bees wait in their hives for the flowers to dry out again before visiting them to collect their nectar. So if you see bees being really busy collecting nectar from flowers near you, perhaps they can sense the rain is on the way!
Yes bees can definitely fly when it's windy, but mostly they wouldn't choose to leave the hive or to fly if the wind speed is much over 25 miles per hour. They can and do fly home though. In fact collecting pollen is what they mostly choose to do if it's windy, as it acts as a ballast and stabilises them in high winds, as its carried on their leg hairs. When they collect nectar it is collected on their abdomens, but in high winds this makes steering more difficult. So bees are clever creatures and are often making the decision which food to collect based on the conditions they find. This article from the PNAS explains more.
More specifically, the bee is a worker bee and is a symbol of the city’s hard-working past, during the Industrial Revolution. Manchester has strong links to the bee symbol and it has been used on some of the buildings, so if you are in Manchester you should look up to see some of the bee symbols there. I know there are 7 bees on the city shield and I've spotted some in King Street. Some more have been spotted on the Mosaic floor in The Town Hall, on the brick work of a building in St Anne's Square and in Lincoln Square on a bench. More recently the bees have been put on the city litter bins. Have you seen any more?
Since the 2017 Manchester Arena attack at the Ariana Grande concert which left 23 people dead and more than 800 people injured, including people from my local area. It was a shocking attack, but it's great to see how people have supported each other and become stronger through such adversity.
Emma Mowbray @mowbles on Instagram has done some amazing bee tattoos and together with other Manchester tattoo artists they are raising money for the youngsters involved in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017. I love that so much positivity has come out of such a tragic event. The One Love Manchester concert held just a month later by Ariana Grande was something to be really proud of.
For my own silver bee necklace you can see a bee necklace I make using fine silver. Handmade in Harrogate, UK. Please click on the picture below to see the Bee necklace.
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If you've ever found your jewellery in a tangled mess you'll understand the frustration it causes. And no, I don't understand how they get like that either... But much like finding odd socks after washing, it's another of life's great mysteries!
The dreaded tangled chains always seems to happen when you're in a rush, but really want that special necklace... So don't pull your hair out, or throw the whole knotted bundle of chains out of the window; this should do the trick.
Ingredients:
Essential
Small or medium size plastic bag
Talcum powder
Two pins or needles
Tangled chains
Optional but recommended
Newspaper
Relaxing music
Cup of tea or similar
Method
You can measure a ring you already wear as long as it is still round. Note: If your ring has become misshapen, this is not the best way to measure.
Use a ruler to measure from the INSIDE of the metal from one side to the other. The diameter measurement in mm can be sent to your jeweller.
Remember your jeweller will be making the ring to the size you tell them. If you make a mistake you can't expect them to change it without charge. So make sure you double check your measurements before you send them off.
Getting your finger measured professionally is always the best option.
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1909 Valentine’s Card. Credit: Wikipedia
One thing I’ve been thinking about recently is what makes people feel loved.
It seems that Valentine's cards and gifts are becoming less popular. I thought I'd find out more.
My husband and I have always sent each other cards and gifts, but recently I've been wondering about the history of the Valentine. Exactly why do we exchange cards? I had a feeling there was a connection to the card making industry, but it seems that Valentine’s Day has a much longer history.
Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated on 14th February. It began as a religious holiday to honour an early saint or possibly several saints called Valentinius. And it wasn’t until the 18th century in England that people began exchanging cards. These were hand written love notes or ‘Valentines’. Flowers and candies were sometimes given, and keys were also sent to unlock the lover’s heart!
I discovered that women purchase about 85 percent of all Valentines. Does that mean that the majority of them don’t ever get anything back? Hallmark cards claim that 144 million people buy Valentine’s cards... Am I alone in worrying about the recycling?
If we want to make something ourselves a hand made card or gift is often even nicer. Perhaps we should go back to exchanging hand drawn hearts and messages. There are certainly lots of lovely artisan independent designers for that more individual personalised card or gift, who put a whole lot of love into what they do. I don't know about you, but I love cards and gifts that are created by people who love what they are doing.
I also began to think about people who may not be in a relationship...
Singles Awareness Day 11th March
Did you know that there is a special day called Singles Awareness Day? It seems to have started as a bit of a backlash against Valentine's Day. I discovered that In the UK it's 11th March, China it’s 11th November and in America there's a National Singles Day on 22nd September. The idea is that singles gather together to have fun and also buy gifts for themselves. A treat if you like. I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of buying something lovely for myself and having fun. That’s something everybody should be able to do without feeling guilty, whether in a relationship or not. Permission to spoil yourself or a lovely friend is granted!
Galentine’s Day 13th February
A more recent celebration first seen in the American series Parks and Recration (2010) is credited with starting Galentine's day. Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope said “It’s only the best day of the year”.
It seems that Galentine’s Day, despite its youth is growing fast. A quick peek on Pinterest and you'll notice just how many Galentine’s boards there are. Whether or not you celebrate Valentine’s, you may really enjoy Galentine’s. I mean who needs an excuse to spend time with your besties? So gather your friends and a good movie, a bottle of wine or a pot of tea, a few nibbles and share some laughs. Virtually of course at the moment. Or send them a surprise card or gift through the post.
Biscuits courtesy of http://www.sugarplumbakes.com (thanks Vaani xx)
I’d like to wish you all love and happiness, whether it’s for valentine's, galantine's or singles day. Lets just try and have a happy day every day. Hopefully we can all be more inclusive and celebrate love!
Please do support artisan makers and let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Of course we need more love in the world every day and not just on these special days! We also need more self-love, so be good to those you love all year round and remember to make time for yourself too!
Why not treat yourself or someone you love to a heart shaped piece of jewellery. Last order date to arrive for Valentine’s Day is 11th February. Visit my Heart Gallery
Sending you all love and sparkles,
Sally ✨💝✨
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When I first started making jewellery I was learning the techniques and spent many hours making things. I beavered away and obviously wore some myself, but mostly gave away the jewellery to friends and family. To be honest it took me so long to make things, and the quality was probably not the best, but I made things for the joy of making and loved the creative challenge. Soon I realised I loved the feeling of giving.
After a while I felt sure that family and friends would be fed up having jewellery as presents. Luckily at that point I was being asked often where I sold things, so I worked very hard to set up a website. And all was very exciting until I realised that after all my efforts very few new people actually came, so thank goodness for my lovely friends! I very nearly gave up... all that work for nobody to see!
Then I discovered Instagram. I have always loved it on there because it's such a friendly community. People are very generous with their comments and I've found that its a great place to get feedback about my products. Its so lovely to be able to talk to your customers when you don't have a bricks and mortar shop.
So I held a few giveaways; the lucky winners have always been very happy with their wins and I get to find out more about what people like. I have also been lucky enough to win a few prizes too! Happily I was getting found and have built so many lovely friendships on Instagram too. I’m now managing to get a steadily increasing flow of traffic to my website. It's definitely still baby steps, but its making me feel much more positive.
I first discovered the power of positive thinking by wearing one of my hand stamped rings myself. I stamped a ring with ‘I am an artist’ and it really helped me. I had previously experienced a really dry patch and couldn't really get creative with anything. I was amazed how simply having this daily reminder increased my creativity. I sold a ring to one of the lovely ladies in my adult art classes and she said it helped increase her confidence in her work. Then I began selling to creatives I met through Instagram and artists as far as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, America and New Zealand are now wearing my jewellery.
I’m not a fan of new years resolutions. I've never found they work for me. Instead I prefer to set myself a more positive goal to guide me through the year. Simply by having a word to guide me helps me a great deal. The words I considered for myself this year were evolve, brave, creative, thrive, trust, joy, focus, flourish, meraki, love, magical, vision and simplicity.
I wanted a word that supports me being more visible promoting my business, but also in my personal life making sure I nourish my body with good food choices instead of junk. I also wanted to make time to nurture my creativity and not feel guilty about doing things like going for a walk in nature or treating myself to a gallery visit, or a much needed massage after lots of hammering.
So after living with a few words pinned on my wall for a while, I have chosen my main word to be ‘flourish’ and I’m loving how its helping me to be more outgoing and to feel better about nurturing myself. As a supporting word I decided to choose 'meraki' (pronunciation may-rah-kee) which means to do something with soul, creativity or love, to put something of yourself into your work. Its a Greek word and I really like its meaning because I do put a little bit of myself into every piece of jewellery I make, so need to make sure I nurture my own creativity. Daily meditation is another of my meraki choices. As a typographer I also love how the word looks and find it visually inspiring. I'll be wearing my rings daily and enjoying the confidence its giving me..
You might wonder why I’m excited about giving products away. Well it’s one of my business core values. Kindness. Because by being kind I get more of my products into the world, and more people will experience how good they are at making them feel better. A self fulfilling prophecy if you like. I have also donated jewellery to good causes, which is something I love to do.
So I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was when I found out about a project on Instagram started by the lovely Victoria from @featherandwild www.https://featherandwild.blog
With her #atouchofkind project she's started an initiative to show random acts of kindness to people and also supporting independent makers. The general idea is that makers will send out mostly handmade items of any sort to people without cost to them and without any expectations, but with the suggestion that they too might pay it forward in some way. So of course I’m going to be sending out a few of my handmade silver word of the year rings with the hope that it helps people.
I’m now looking forward to being able to pay it forward with a touch of kindness to other artists and creatives. I want to give them the self-belief and a little reminder to live their best lives. Being kind to ourselves is something we really need to do, so if I can help people to be good to themselves as well that's another benefit. Do pop over and say hello if you're on Instagram.
What next?Obviously this isn't a sustainable business model. While I'm able to offer a few offers like this I will, but longer term I plan to give back to charities I support wherever I am able.
]]>The third Monday of January is officially the day known as BLUE MONDAY. This is the day more people are reported to feel fed up and blue: I really don't like that idea, so I'm giving you some creative tips to avoid feeling the blues... or at least to really enjoy the blues you create! There is no need to do all of these, just choose the ones that appeal to you.
Top tips to make your life more colourful and creative:
Splash some colour around. Painting is a great activity. Don't worry about what to paint, just let the colours do whatever happens. It's the act of painting, the process that's important rather than the outcome.
Treat yourself to doing something different such as learning a new creative skill or activity. It doesn't have to be art. Try joining a choir, playing an instrument or take a dance class. The sound of music is known to induce feelings of wellbeing, and the social side is really good for you too!
Take a walk outside. Walking is brilliant for you. Research has shown that regular brisk walking several times each week improves your overall health considerably.
Take any sort of exercise. Whether it's walking, running, pilates, yoga, football, tennis, swimming, boxing, it doesn't really matter. All sorts of exercise are good to make your blood flow and to increase endorphins.
Gratitude journaling. Begin to write down things that you are greatful for. If you are feeling really blue you may not think that you have much, but even the smallest things should be noted. Make a regular time, it only needs to be a few minutes each day.
Draw something. It really doesn't matter what! Just start with making a regular drawing every day. There are lots of word prompts on line to give you a stimulus for the subject matter. This regular activity will repay you with a steady improvement. Just don't quit after the first few days. They say that 21 days is needed to achieve results, so aim for three weeks or more.
Turn your phone and tech to night setting. On an iPhone go to Settings then select Display and Brightness and press Night Shift. You can preset the times you want to use the softer colours and it eliminates much of the harsher blue light, with the aim that you will sleep better.
This image was taken at The Hepworth, Wakefield. Steven Claydon, Like Shooting Sparrows in the Dark 3, (deterrent lure) 2016. Courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London
Try to make your bedroom a technology free zone ( yes I know this is a tricky one). Save the tech for downstairs and use an alarm clock to wake you. If you banish electronics from the bedroom you won't be tempted to use them during the night. By putting a notebook and pencil by your bed to jot down ideas and thoughts, or nagging worries, make a to do list for the next day etc. the idea is that you will sleep better. If you are lucky enough, perhaps you will even be able to record your dreams in the morning... Your body will benefit from the more restful sleep you will hopefully enjoy. You may also find a SAD light is a helpful bright light to make you feel more optimistic during the daylight hours. I use one during the dark winters days and love it!
If you have financial troubles seek help. Get a credit card with 0% interest. Tell somebody and work out a manageable plan to make your repayments.
Breathe Deeply. Before you go to sleep and when you wake up treat yourself to a minute of really deep breathing. Oxygen is necessary to repair your body, so your body will thank you.
Have some FUN! Do something you wouldn't usually consider. Schedule it into your diary and take a friend along. It doesn't matter what, as long as it makes you laugh. Ever fancied archery? A night at the latest cinema release? Sledging with the kids? Yes good old human interaction!
Look at artists. Picasso was famous for his blue period and Yves Klien even invented his own shade of blue. A famously depressed artist was Van Gogh... Do you have any other suggestions?
Rose tinted glasses? Treat yourself to some fresh flowers. Really spend time choosing colours and shapes you are drawn to. I recommend going to an actual florist, as they will let you mix the colours and textures. You may even smell which ones are loveliest!
Smells... Scents and fragrances are very powerful and can be really uplifting. Try going into a department store and try on a few new fragrances. Your nose can get overwhelmed with too many: three seems a good number.
Cook something tasty. The brighter the colours the better, think blueberry muffins, beetroot soup! You get the idea I'm sure...
Wear bright colour clothing. That's sure to make you and everyone around you feel brighter.
Make a brew of your favourite cuppa. Meet up with a friend in real life, or at very least stick the kettle on, have a cuppa of your favourite brew and phone a friend. Make it a BREW Monday... (but if you have trouble sleeping make it a decaff after 2pm in the afternoon).
Please let me know in the comments below if you found this helpful or if you have any other top tips. I'd love to hear what you think.
If you have found this article hasn't helped at all please don't feel that you are alone. Depression is an illness, so if you think this is something you can no longer handle on your own please seek help. You are certainly not alone. I recommend the book 'Cheer Up Love' by Susan Calman.
Having a word of the year is a great way to keep you positive. To see my Empowering Word of the Year Silver ring to help you stay focused click here
Read my Word of the Year blog here
Please pin this on Pinterest 📌
If you are still feeling depressed tell a friend or visit a medical professional. SAMARITANS www.samaritans.org or call free any time on 116 123 (UK)
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Do you have a dream? Well it will be likely to stay that way......
Unless YOU start making plans to make it happen. Several years ago I had a dream to start my own business. I had made jewellery for years. To be honest, at that stage it was an expensive hobby and although I did make lots of gifts for family and friends, I was sad that I had let another New Years Resolution date pass me by. I don't believe that many people ever stick to their resolutions.
Four years ago I decided it would be different. I wrote down what I wanted to achieve and started to make notes in my phone every time I had an idea. Next I decided to actually tell people what I was thinking of doing. I joined a few Facebook groups and then paid for mentoring from people I knew were really respected in the industry.
At first people told me it would never work, as jewellery design is a pretty saturated industry, but what happened next was great. I had a lot of positive feedback for my ideas. I decided that I would really go for it; after all what was the worst that could happen? If it failed at least I had tried.
The best thing I noticed about sharing my intentions, I realised the one thing I was most scared of was of failure...But then I thought, what would happen if I never tried? I guess I would never have known.
As an art teacher I often encourage people to be experimental and to just start where they are. I don't know whether you have heard of daily practice? If you keep doing something creative, regardless of the outcome, eventually you get less worried about what other people think of your work; it's quite liberating actually. So I decided that I would take this innovative approach for my business building. I have attended numerous webinars, joined countless Facebook Groups, posted hundreds of pictures on Instagram and met so many lovely people (I'm @howfinedesigns), I've been featured several times, read lots of books by inspiring authors, designed my website. I launched my website and had my first sale in November 2015. I'd like to say a very big thank you to everybody who's helped me along the way. Now in 2019 I continue to have lots of exciting plans for the future.
If you would like to order one of my hand stamped silver rings to help you make your dream come true simply click on the picture below to shop.
Return to traditional values.... Remember the good old days? Everybody likes to reminisce about days gone by..... even small children remember when they were tiny (a year seems like a lifetime to them)! Childhood memories are precious, so finding a gift that reminds people of this is priceless, even though it needn't cost a lot. The vintage glass buttons in the picture would make a brilliant present for somebody crafty who likes to make things.
In Harrogate we are lucky enough to have a fabulous haberdashery shop called Duttons for Buttons, which sells amazing array of buttons, lace, threads and all sorts of fantastic colourful treasures for the crafty friend or relation. If you have a similar haberdashery store this sort of thing makes an original present idea, otherwise Ebay is a great place to find things for creative friends and family. These glass baubles were one of my Ebay finds and I love them! Todays featured Marble Swirl necklace has been a really popular gift and is quite a fun piece of jewellery with the lovely associated memories of childhood games.
Featured here is the Marble Swirl Necklace at £30 without a chain (use your own chain) or £45 on a long silver chain (as shown above)
What do you buy for an artist or designer? This can be a tricky one if you are buying for a creative friend or a partner...... Something well designed will be well received..... Designers and artists usually like things which have been well thought out and sometimes quite minimal. Think "less is more".
I have a few fabulous Alessi products which are beautiful and useful too. Google the wonderful Alessi Anna corkscrew and the Alessi Blip spoon rest which is curvaceous, wavelike and beautiful, but also useful.... Art books or vouchers are always really popular..... at least most artists I know love Art books. Another tip is to buy Artist quality materials such as these Faber Castell Polychromos pencils, something from a gallery shop, or best of all a beautifully handmade item. Artists and designers mostly LOVE other artists work!
An empowering ring such as this "I AM AN ARTIST" ring is a wonderful handmade gift to help your artist to really believe in themselves. Each is uniquely made to fit and will have the individual style of a one off piece of jewellery, meaning that each is subtly different from the next. Made of Sterling Silver and with a comfort fit band this is one ring they really won't want to take off.
Featured "I am an artist" ring made of Sterling Silver at £70 or you can add your own words or phrase (use the contact box to let us know the words you would like e.g. I am enough)
Spending time wrapping presents as you go along is a great thing to do... and I should know! Having left everything until the last minute and ended staying awake into the wee small hours on Christmas Eve when the children were small! It also saves last minute dashes to buy more wrapping paper ((yes me again)). Adding little flourishes like hand tied bows is my top tip for a creative wrap. In the image above you can see I have layered tissue paper on top of another sheet of paper and simply scooped up the present with a ribbon and tied a bow...... no need for sellotape for this one! Match the writing inside the card to the ribbon and you have a beautifully co-ordinated creative pressie. What do you get for the person who has everything you may ask? New to my range is a leaf tie/lapel pin.
Featured Jewellery is the Silver Leaf Tie/lapel pin at £39
Advent Day 7
A workshop can be a great present for an artistic friend or relation. I made some of my own Christmas presents at a nearby artists workshop.
Although I currently make jewellery, I also teach art and really love to create things in different media. The glass bowl above was really exciting to make. This wasn't my first attempt I have to say.... We started out by making four glass coasters and even these were very impressive. I had so much fun that I've done several workshops now and its great to take a few friends along too. We learned how to cut the glass safely and were able to choose and make our own designs after a while. The colours are simply wonderful!
If you're in the Harrogate area why not check out The Glasshouse Studio in Knaresborough. If you do, be sure to tell the lovely Jane I sent you...... You could begin making your presents for next year and be really organised!!!
If you're getting stressed about the Christmas preparations why not go outside and stretch your legs, I picked these holly sprigs nearby. Immediately I felt much more festive and calmer. I think sometimes the simplest decorations are the very best and bringing nature inside always looks lovely. A plain bow around them looks simply timeless. Oh yes and clementines...... I simply can't get enough of them at this time of year, anybody else?
Todays featured jewellery is the This Twig Bangle bracelet made of Sterling Silver at £139.
Entertaining at Christmas can be lots of fun, but the rush of preparing for it can be quite a lot of stress. Even when you're not hosting you have to make or buy gifts for your hosts and to make sure you're the most fabulous guests. After a few days of such close proximity even with close relations sometimes people can be prickly with each other.....
Sometimes we have to remember what its all about and for me that's spending time with family and friends. Recently losing a couple of friends and a family member makes me realise that we shouldn't take each other for granted.
In the future I'm definitely going to try to be a great house guest and be really helpful to my hosts..... I know they have worked really hard to make things special and memorable for us. I'm also sparing a thought for elderly friends and relations who can't make it to our celebrations this year, so I'm going to send special messages and presents even though we won't be seeing them xox
Todays featured gift is the You're a Star tie/lapel pin in Sterling Silver at £43
At this busy time of the year amidst the kinetic activity of life and the social whirl of the festivities, its really important to make sure you give yourself some nurturing time and space. So make sure you schedule some me time..... light the candles, put on the fairy lights and the relaxing music, paint your nails or whatever takes your fancy and give yourself some LOVE!
And if you're doing some online shopping this week you can choose a couple of things for yourself too.......
The featured jewellery today is our Queen of Hearts glass and sterling silver necklace
Advent Day 10
At Christmas it's the smallest things that make a difference..... fresh foliage on the table, hand written place cards, and fairy lights to make the place more magical! These really do add to the atmosphere and come in a huge variety of different styles. My preference is for a warm light. The cool ones feel rather too cold for my liking most of the time, and particularly for Christmas I do really love a cosy atmosphere. They are great for taking photographs and give a lovely warm cosy glow. Also remember to help out with the chores. When there are lots of people coming there is always another cup of tea to be made and another pan to be washed so I always get a new pair of marigold washing up gloves (as a jeweller my hands take lots of abuse already!)
When we are old we shall enjoy watching the younger generation rushing round looking after us I am sure....
Todays featured jewellery is the Shiny Heart Earrings set made of sterling silver
When I've had enough of all the chores I love to spend a few minutes planning the fun stuff...... like how the table should look at Christmas. Usually I love to have candles and things, but at Christmas time I think its best to keep the table arrangements low down, so they don't get knocked over amidst the pulling of crackers and the refilling of Champagne glasses!!! I've been looking for something simple and came across these gold spray painted leaves. I bought these ones from M&S but may have a go at spray painting myself if I have a spare few minutes. My advice is to lay newspaper or an old sheet outside in the garden and definitely don't spray on a windy day! The cranberries and jewels just add a fun colour pop, but I'm sure you can think of your own ideas.
The mince pies in my picture are from Betty's.... I do think its absolutely fine to pick and choose what to make yourself and what to buy..... After all we do want to enjoy the celebrations at Christmas, not find ourselves in bed with exhaustion. So pick and choose what you want to make and what you'll add yourself, then add the others to your shopping list! I used to try to make everything, but think its best to keep a balance and make the things I'm best at! Hope you enjoy creating something. Please do let me know in the comments below what you're planning to make? I'd love to know.......
Advent Day 12
For the final day of Advent I'm going to wish you all lots of love, and a healthy and happy Christmas. This adorable gingerbread house was made by my daughter (Mary Berry's recipe, which tastes delicious by the way) and the chocolate penguins are from Betty's famous Tea rooms in Harrogate.....
If you haven't heard of hygge yet (pronounced HOO-GA) I'm going to recommend a couple of books for you. One is 'How to Hygge' by Signe Johansen and the other is 'The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well' by Meek Wiking. In essence the Nordic countries are renowned for having a superb quality of life, but we can recreate the 'cosiness' in our own homes by being kind to ourselves, and others. Nature, candles and good food all play an important part. Perfect for Christmas time hey?
I hope you all manage to enjoy your nearest and dearest, whether it be your family or friends. Go create some lovely memories and spend some blissful time.....
Love and Sparkles,
Sally
But how do you get to be creative again? Follow a few of these simple steps to feel inspired again.
Take a break
It sounds simple doesn't it..... but its not always that easy is it?
Well actually stepping away from your home or workspace is really important. I know life gets in the way, but getting some fresh air, even just going for a brief walk outside does wonders for creativity. Nature is one of the most inspiring things. So many different colours, textures, patterns, sounds and even smells..... (fresh cut grass - I LOVE that so much). Take a camera to record images. Start to really look at things. Zoom in. If you live in a city that's no excuse. Try looking up for a change. A change of perspective is always useful. There are so many ideas in every environment. Best of all it's free. Treat yourself to some ME time every once in a while and quit feeling guilty. Feeling refreshed is important. Think of it as an investment. If you're feeling washed out and tired, you won't be creative anyway!
If you really can't get out try running a fragranced bubble bath and play some music. Meditation and yoga can also work, they are both really beneficial for me.
Plan some time for yourself. Even a few minutes can do wonders......
Make a mess
Yes really!
Designate an area where you can be untidy for a while and leave your work out. Whether it's a table in the corner of the dining room, an easel in the kitchen, a work bench in the spare bedroom or a shed. Just having your own space to work as the mood takes you is most important.
Be prepared to play
Think about how creatively free children are......
As adults we rarely play enough to be honest. To be more creative we need to enjoy ourselves and take risks. Take time to be in the moment and enjoy the process. Commit to exploring and having fun, without attachment to the outcome. Many adults fear what other people think of them and this prevents us from being our best selves. Forget what they think and simply be yourself.
It really doesn't matter if we make mistakes. At the end of the day we want to enjoy ourselves right? We can always buy another sketchbook or a new canvas. Permission granted....... Don't worry about what other people think. Have fun!
Often our mistakes are a record of learning. Out of a mistake comes knowledge. From knowledge comes understanding. Have you noticed how small children aren't even remotely interested in what they have made. They are forever moving on to the next activity. Schedule your play time now and enjoy making marks instead of worrying about the outcome. You never know you may surprise yourself.
Forget the blank page
That blank white canvas or perfect piece of shiny new silver can be quite intimidating.....
So begin to work over a piece of work you are already unhappy with, so that you can take risks. Nothing to lose, right? Next up try working on a different colour background from usual. That coloured ground will give a very interesting effect. Jewellers can create wonderful things from their scrap jar. If it doesn't work out there's nothing lost, because you were only playing. Besides it really is a fabulous feeing when you design something awesome out of scraps!
Change of scale
Get away from your usual routine.
Work really large. This can be pretty liberating. You may try working on a huge roll of paper in the garden. Have you seen how cheap wallpaper lining paper is? Or try really tiny...... Miniature things are so cute right?
Use a different media
Switch it up. You are sure to delight in using your old watercolour set. Try wetting the paper before flooding the page with yummy colours. Fun hey! Those gorgeous pastels you have unused in the box, you can open them and use them. Yes I know they look so beautiful and neat, but honestly you can always buy more if you use them up. Go on.... It's playtime x
Visually stimulate
Visit a gallery or sculpture trail, look at pictures in books or make an inspiring collection of images on Pinterest. I'd love you to follow me @howfinedesigns There are heaps of amazing things out there which can spark ideas. When your mind is stimulated it will want to create. Looking at other visual imagery is one of the best ways to inspire your own ideas. Next try making a brainstorm to start your own creative flow.
Neon by Tracey Emin
Enrol in a class or workshop
Go back to being a beginner for a while, perhaps try a new media. Remember the thrill of discovery when you were starting out! This is a great way re-engage and you will love to rekindle your creativity and reconnect with why you decided to be creative in the first place. You’ll also meet other like minded people. It's amazing how inspiring this can be in itself. Swap ideas and chat about what you're thinking. In my classes the chatter and laughter is my favourite thing! As soon as others see your work, they don’t notice the struggles you had to make it. Talking to people who are more distanced from you can be fabulous for your ego and will inspire you on your path to creative freedom.
DO NOT DISTURB
Its worth making sure other people know you should not be disturbed while you are busy creating. Let people know this is your time and you will be unavailable. Consider scheduling a regular day or evening for your creativity. Remember to turn off social media, phones and those pesky Facebook notifications while you are creating, as these are notorious for interrupting your flow. Try putting up a sign so people know you are busy being creative. People will soon get used to the idea.
Remember WHY you want to create things.......
If you can think back to why you started creative activities. It's likely that you enjoyed the activity and it made you feel good. That's what you should remember. Honestly just stop worrying about other people.
Even if you sell your work..... If you like what you make, that is so important. Don't try to second guess what other people would like. That's a slippery path. Other people are sure to like your creations too, you just need to find the right people. When YOU are CONFIDENT in your work because you have LOVED making it that really does show through.
Believe in yourself
Creativity NEVER gets used up you know.....
The more you use it the more you get. Great hey?
And DO have some FUN!
Pssssst Have you seen my Empowering Rings? You can order your own words too! Perfect for setting goals for your intentions for 2021
"Creativity is intelligence having Fun"
Albert Einstein
Images above unless credited are by me, Sally How and the lovely artists in my classes and workshops at Rossett Adult Education, Harrogate.
I've always loved Patsy and Edina from Absolutely Fabulous and I can hardly wait to see Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie...... Sadly my ticket to the premiere didn't arrive!
Having grown up with Absolutely Fabulous the TV series I'm excited to see Patsy and Edina (Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders) again! Not to mention the adorable June Whitfield starring as the terribly sensible Saffy's granny.... no I can't believe she's 90 either.... just goes to show that age is immaterial if you have style.
Do let me know if you see it before I do...... I just love a feel good movie!
My news is that I'm featured in the same edition of The Lady as Joanna Lumley no less...... crack open the Bolly!!!
My new favourite saying is 'I'm fabulous every day darling!' Please click on The Lady at the bottom right of the website. It will take you through to my listing in The Lady.
So until next time stay fabulous,
Sally xox
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Like choosing to drink coffee which has been freshly ground and brewed, instead of instant, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, having a pair of custom made shoes or a beautiful linen dress, which gets better every time it is washed. We are seeking quality products from boutiques and makers, as an anthesis to the standard high street offerings.
Really appreciating the craft and workmanship in handmade products, we are realising that it is lovely to surround ourselves with beautiful and well made items instead of mass produced ones. We know that the slight differences between each piece exist because they are made by the hands of the designer.......I'm a lover of Art, ceramic pots and glass. Buying handmade jewellery is investing in something which we will enjoy for many years. It will not be cast aside with all the other impulse buys, instead it will be treasured and passed on to the next generation. So next time you look in your jewellery box, how lovely would it be to choose something made with love and designed to stand the test of time, rather than cheap, thin metals which are designed to be throw away. Buy well buy once is a great way to have beautiful things you will always enjoy.
By supporting businesses who make their own products, you are ensuring that these traditional skills are retained in a world of mass production. Furthermore it's a fabulous way to express your personality, individuality and bring something authentic and creative into your life.
I'm definitely a lover of beautiful products and love to think that the designs I make will be treasured, enjoyed and passed on.
Do please let me know if you agree and if you have any product recommendations.
]]>Flowers are gorgeous but they wilt
and chocolates taste lovely BUT one minute on the lips.......