Day 120 - Handmade seahorse necklace

I made this one yesterday using the findings I bought from Smitten Beads and a left-over turquoise stone I had. I've just strung the lovely seahorse pendant from an antique brass chain and then used a clasp at the back to seal it. I really like seahorse pendants and think the combination of the antique brass really works well with the blue stone. It feels a little summery which is a good thing given that today is the first sign of sun we've had for quite a wee while!

The Sunday Summary

This Sunday I thought rather than highlighting just one Shop of the Week I'd promote charity shops on the whole. You can pick up some amazing bargain jewellery from charity shops, either to wear straight away or to recycle into new pieces. A lot of my bits are from charity shops and they're a great place to pick up some bargains and find some inspiration too! You might have to root around to find the real gems but that just gives you an even greater sense of satisfaction.

Day 119 - handmade beaded bracelet

This was something I made a while ago but I don't wear it very often. I really like the flower detail on the shell and I've just strung it simply on some elastic with some black plastic beads. They're really tactile and it feels a bit like I'm wearing a corsage when I've got it on!

Day 118 - Beaded hoop earrings

These were another one of my Christmas presents, and its the first chance I've had to wear them. They're really pretty and incredibly comfortable to wear.

This photo looked better on my phone - the light itsn't great here but they are silver hoops strung with different coloured silver, pink and purple beads. They're nice and light and swingy and realyl brightened up my all black outfit today!

Day 117 - Witchery necklace

This was a present from one of my friends who has emigrated to Australia (lucky cow!). It's from a shop there called Witchery and I love it. Its not the sort of thing I think I would have ever picked out for myself and its also not the sort of thing I would have thought that my friend would have picked...but thats why I love it even more as I don't think I would have had it in my life otherwise. It's really tactile and has made me consider looking at pieces that don't immediately catch my eye. It always gets lots of comments so maybe I need to put in an order for more stuff from there. Like this bracelet maybe??

Day 116 - Crackle ring

I think this was either from a charity shop or from somewhere like Next or Wallis. Its a bit big and blingy for me to wear more often but it works with the rest of my outfit today which is all kind of shades of browns, blacks and greys.

I like the crackle effect of the stone, its really tactile. And is a bit of a 'power ring' something I can wear and feel a bit like my armour to take on the world. Which I needed this morning when my train was half the length it should be and the rain was torrential! Hopefully summer will be here soon... 

Day 115 - Seahorse earrings

I made these last year and I really like them - although this photo doesn't do them justice.

They are my 'seaside' earrings, featuring a seahorse pendant, a black pearl, a turquoise bead, an oval glass faceted bead and a silver charm that looks a bit like a sea urchin.

They're suspended off a small section of chain and I like to think that they are all much the kinds of things you see at the beach! The sea urchin and sea horse are obvious, as is the pearl, the bead is like the colour of the sea and the glass is like the texture of waves.

I made a matching necklace and I am sure I'll be wearing that soon - once we get a hint of summer (she says on the wettest day of the year!)

Day 114 - Long Accessorize bead necklace

Another Accessorize purchase! This was in the sale a couple of years ago - I usually wear it long but today I fancied wearing it shorter. I've noticed a lot of people wearing grey at the moment, in fact my entire train carriage yesterday was made up of all grey outfits! I like the fact this mixes up greys and silvers with pale sage green beads and off white pearls. It's a real 'goes with anything' necklace.

Day 113 - Long key necklace

I actually made this first thing this morning - I had meant to make it yesterday but as I mentioned, I was pooped. I used all the findings from Smitten Beads that I got a week or two ago, and it literally took me a few minutes! All I needed to do was to make two jump rings from some wire I had, cut the chain to length, then use one ring to close the chain into a loop (making it a necklace) and then use the other ring to attach the key to the chain. I really like it although I may attach a bead to it so its not just the key on its own.

It's also meant I've been singing this song all day too!

The Sunday Summary

I was hoping to do a jewellery master-class this weekend but I was up at the Marathon all day and didn't get a chance - plus it turns out that standing cheering for 5 hours when you have a slipped disc is pretty darn painful so I wasn't really capable of much after I got home!

So instead, the Shop of the Week this week goes to Joy - as I remembered how much I love their stuff when I wore the bow bangle earlier today. I'm loving their gold and turquoise stuff at the moment, its so summery, this has to be my favourite!

Day 112 - Joy bangle

I really like this one although I can't really wear it much as its so statement-y. And I can't wear it for work as it would drive me mad! It's from Joy and it makes me chuckle.

Day 111 - Flower ring

Again, I can't actually remember where this ring is from! I really should start remembering these things, but I tend to subscribe to the way of thinking that once you hit 27 your brain is full and it has to lose 'irrelevant' information to make room for the more important stuff. Which explains why I know how to say 'there are not enough poles' in Swahili, but not where I got a lot of my jewellery from! 

Day 110 - beaded ring

I think I got this from either a charity or a vintage shop - I can't be too sure! I really like the detail in this ring - its quite big and blingy for me but I think the amber tones keep it from being too in-your-face!

I don't wear big pieces like this often but it is a Friday...! Hope you all have fab weekends planned. I'm just hoping to get a good sleep after suffering with really bad allergies and hayfever for the last few weeks. Good luck to anyone running the London Marathon on Sunday - I'll be there, soaking wet but still cheering :-)

Day 109 - Peacock earrings

I think these are from Accessorize but I am not 100% sure! They're really nice to wear - not too heavy and not too big, but 'statement-y' enough to feel like you've made a bit of an effort.

I really do seem to have a bit of a thing for butterflies and peacocks don't I?!

Day 108 - Butterfly bracelet

This bracelet was one of the presents in my Christmas Stocking last year, and I added the butterfly charm as there is a space to add something which I thought was areally nice touch. The butterfly was actually free with a jewellery making magazine so its nice to be able to use it with something like this. I'm wearing a black dress today with lots of purple accessories so this is a nice finishing element!

Day 107 - Birdcage pendant necklace

I made this over the weekend after my super-fast delivery of materials from Smitten Beads. This is an antique silver coloured birdcage pendant that I've strung on slightly tarnished style silver chain. I might add a bead to it at some point, but I couldn't decide this morning so kept it plain and simple.

Day 106 - Crystal necklace

This is another of my own pieces that I made ages ago. I like the way the light catches the different shades in beads and you all know teal/turquoise is one of my favourite colours!

The light is really bad in this shot but the beads are a deep teal shade but they reflect all kinds of yellows and purples and blues too.

The Sunday Summary

This weeks' Shop of the Week goes to my lovely friend Alice and her fab shop Too Hip to Hop. I love her knitted pieces and her fab scrabble jewellery too. Plus it means I can write 'knitted knotted' a lot which, for some ridiculously simple reason, makes me smile.

Day 105 - Knitted knotted necklace

My friend made me this last year - I really like it and she's made some amazing jewellery that puts a lot of my stuff to shame! This is her shop you should definitley check her out! This is also one of hers. See...amazing!

Day 104 - Oyster necklace

I made this myself today - I was really impressed with some jewellery making supplies that I ordered yesterday from Smitten Beads and they arrived this morning! You'll see a few more of the new creations next week...I really like this charm so decided to string it on a necklace although I may get another and string it on a pearl bracelet!

Day 103 - simple wooden bangle

I'm not sure where this is from, its probably somewhere like Boots or New Look or Dorothy Perkins though. It came in a set with different sized bangles but I just fancied wearing the one today.

I'm not feeling too great so wasn't capable of much thought at all really when I got up. I've thrown on an outfit I wish I wasn't wearing (chiffon dress over a slip - am really conscious of it getting cuaght when I sit down or it blowing up in the air on my way home!) and my jewellery choice today was equally uninspired. Must try harder!!

Day 102 - Red glass bead earrings

These are just some simple glass bead earrings, not dissimilar to these ones I wore in February.

I made these a while ago, if I remember rightly to match a dress I was wearing that day! I never feel that 'done' when I've got my hair tied back so it's nice to pop on some earrings to finish an outfit-and it makes me feel a bit more 'ready!'

Day 101 - Banana Republic pearl and crystal necklace

This is another one of my birthday presents - I told you I did well! I really like the fact this is a long necklace as all too often pearls come strung on shorter chains. It's not too clear on the photo but there are also some clear crystals hung on the chain too. It's from Banana Republic and it's the only piece of jewellery I own from there. I've got some of their clothes but have never really thought of them for jewellery...that's now going to change! I really like the fact a lot of their stuff is very classic but with a modern twist.

Day 100 - Amber necklace

Wow, we've made it to day 100 of the challenge! Its been tricky at times but I'm surprised that I've made it so far without having a panic. That's a bit scary isn't it!

This is a really old necklace from Accessorize. I rarely wear it as the clasp at the back has a habit of getting stuck in my hair but I thought i'd risk it today as I'm wearing a bit of animal print & it seems to work pretty well. It always makes me think of Jurassic Park and the whole mosquito in amber scene but luckily this necklace doesn't contain insects or indeed any dinosaur DNA, thankfully!

Day 99 - Sparkly eternity style ring

I thought I'd keep up the sparkly theme of the weekend by wearing this ring today - its from Marks and Spencer and I really like the classic style.  


High street jewellery is a great way to get the look of expensive pieces but at an affordable price. One day I'd love an eternity ring like this but until then this version keeps me happy!

The Sunday Summary

Its been a bit of a wash-out for a bank holiday weekend hasn't it!? This week my Shop of the Week goes to Glitzy Secrets, whose bracelet I wore today. I really like a lot of their stuff and the fact they have a whole vintage vibe going on - my favourite piece definitely has to be this bangle which I very nearly bought to wear to my wedding last year!

Day 98 - Sparkly bangle

This isn't a matching set with the necklace I wore yesterday but I got it to complement it and I think they work really well together. This was from Glitzy Secrets and it's only costume jewellery but I think it looks more expensive than it was - which is always a bonus!

Day 97 - Sparkly swirls necklace

Keeping on the theme of presents from the Husband this was the very first one he got me. Well, half got me. I saw it when I was over in Northern Ireland for work the week before my birthday and totally fell in love with it. It was too expensive for me to justify a bit of self gifting and we'd only been together a few months so I didn't expect him to buy it outright so we went halves. I love it so much - its such a striking design and its so tactile as well. 

Day 96 - Aquamarine ring

This was a present from the Husband when he went on a family holiday to Thailand over Christmas when we'd been together about a year. I was a bit scared when he texted me asking my ring size! 


It's a nice simple design and its a really stunning stone as well. We only realised recently that its the same cut as the diamond in my engagement ring - spooky! I'm quite impressed I managed to capture the sparkle in the photo!

Day 95 - handmade turquoise earrings

I'm going to restrain my Samantha Brick rage for now. I see she's still at it, bless her.

These match the necklace I wore way back in January. I made them last year and they're nice 'go to' pieces that feel a bit dressy but are still quite classic and simple.

Hope you've all got some fun things planned for Easter - I'm so glad its 'sort of Friday' today, roll on the long weekend!

Day 94 - Handmade glass bead bracelet (and an open letter to Samantha Brick!)

This is another of my own creations. It's just a simple glass bead bracelet, I really like the smooth texture of the glass beads, it makes it really tactile, and I'm wearing it with a blue dress so it really picks out the aqua tones. This post is quite short as I wanted to use the rest of the space to send an open letter to Samantha Brick, the woman who has been causing a storm over the internets for the last couple of days!

My accessorising principles can pretty much be summed up as follows: you might not be able to polish a turd but by god you can roll it in glitter. I'm not saying I'm a total munter, sometimes I can scrub up pretty well, sometimes I look as rough as hell and the rest of the time I'd say I safely cosy up in the average corner. Where am I going with this you ask? Well I didn't comment on this yesterday but she's at it again today and I can't hold back any longer...

Oh Samantha Brick.

You really don't understand the backlash do you? Granted a lot of the comments have been downright cruel & hurtful and I'm sure they upset you but without wanting to be mean here myself-you admit you knew you were setting yourself up for a fall.

The issue which you just don't seem to get is that you claim to be beautiful. However whilst you may be attractive to some people (as is clearly evidenced by your experiences), what you fail to grasp is that beauty isn't about being attractive. It's about being humble, being funny, being modest, being caring, being kind, being considerate, being self aware, being a package of wonderful things-physical attractiveness is just one small part. The reason women don't seem to like you that much is because you don't really seem to possess any of these other characteristics.

In today's piece you mention how upset you were that friends you'd supported financially were mocking you on facebook. Why do you feel the need to point out that you'd supported them with money, are you implying that they in particular 'owe you one', or that you were shocked that your financial support hadn't bought their emotional support? Here's the thing love, being a friend means you just do things for each other, selfless things. It's not about who owes who what!

You also bemoan the fact you've never been asked to be a bridesmaid and that it must be because your friends are jealous of your beauty. Whilst I don't know these 'friends' of yours I do know that when I got married last year I had bridesmaids who were thinner than me and who were prettier than me. I asked them to be my bridesmaid because they are friends, they are family and I love them. I don't care what they look like. It's my bloody wedding and guests are there to see me & my husband get married-it wouldn't have mattered if Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt & the cast of Mad Men had shown up-it was our day and the people in our lives were there for that and nothing else. So I don't pity your beauty my dear, I pity the fact you don't have these kinds of people, these amazing kinds of friends in your life. Maybe you could do more to find these people and enjoy the wonder, the beauty, that these relationships bring. That is if you can get over yourself in the first place as funnily enough I don't think people will be queuing round the block to be friends with you if you continue to display your current attitudes.

We're lucky, us women, in the western world to be on a reasonably level playing field. But we've been oppressed and have had to fight to where we are today. We know there's still some way to go which is why, when given a voice, an opportunity to be heard across the globe, it's a shame that you chose to put across the argument that you did. I'm sure the oppressed women across the world will thank you for it. We women have a chance to unite and show the world how awesome we are-how we can be intelligent, funny, attractive, modest, humble, brilliant and considerate. How we can be all these things. How we can be truly beautiful.

So no Samantha, women don't hate you because you are a beautiful person. They hate you precisely because you are not. 

Day 93 - Chunky red flower ring

Yep, another birthday present! I have a lot of rings but do often fall into the trap of wearing the same one or two all the time. I'm hoping thsi challenge will help me change this as I have some really fab rings that I've made as well as some vintage pieces and some more contemporary designs. This was a present from a friend who I saw this weekend and I really like the pop of red; I'm wearing it today with a red dress and black tights/cardi so its really helping to make the red stand out.

Day 92 - Perspex birdcage necklace

This was another one of my birthday presents - aren't I a lucky one eh?! I did take a photo of it against my dress but it came out really dark so this is one with the pendant against our window so you can really see the detail. It was made for me by my friend who runs Strawberry Lane UK on Etsy.

It's made from bottle green coloured perspex and has been laser cut - the detail is amazing and I love it!!  

The Sunday Summary

I'm sad that this is the last day of nice weather, I'd quite got used to our mini summer heatwave and being able to wear nice summery jewellery and dresses. Hopefully it will be nice again by Easter - at least we've got a run of 4 day weeks now!


My Shop of the Week this week has to go to Hannah Zakari - after my colleagues got me the lovely wooden squirrel / nut earrings for my birthday! I really like their new Polli collection too and could quite frankly spend a fortune given half the chance! 

Day 91 - Oliver Bonas flower necklace

This was a present from my parents, its also from Oliver Bonas. I do love that shop!! It's nice and simple but striking and its been lovely to wear it in the lovely weather with a floral dress. 

Day 90 - Hannah Zakari earrings

I introduced my colleagues at work to this site so I was rather chuffed that they got me these beauties as a birthday present. They're fabulous wooden earrings,  one is a squirrel and the other is a nut and they make me smile. They are from the marvellous Hannah Zakari 

I've just started chuckling at the layout of this post; where is my face?!!

Day 89 - Accessorize heart necklace

This was a present from my oldest (as in longest serving as opposed to being elderly!) friend and her children who we refer to as my fairy godchildren as they're not a religious family so I can't be godmother, therefore I must be Fairy Godmother! I like the sound of this. Although I don't get a wand or anything. It's a lovely pale gold necklace made up of interlocking hearts and its from one of my favourites, Accessorize. 

Day 88 - Oliver Bonas earrings

You see! And he didn't even read the post when I said I liked them. Scary or what. He's a keeper. Although I do have to say I didn't realise online that they are so tiny in the flesh - they're super small. But I love them.

Day 87 - Oliver Bonas Necklace

Today is my birthday, yay me! And what is also quite random is that without having read this post on my blog, the Husband went out and bought me my presents from Oliver Bonas. He got me this lovely necklace and then the earrings I am wearing tomorrow - you'll see why its random then! I was lucky to get lots of lovely presents and a lot of them were jewellery related which is great seeing as I'm not supposed to be buying any!

Day 86 - Swirly whirly earrings

I'm not 100% sure where these are from but I think they might be a market or craft fair purchase - possibly from one of the boutiques on London's South Bank. I'm marvelling at how randomly blonde my hair looks in this picture - am pretty sure it's the light as I am not that fair! 

The Sunday Summary

Hasn't the weather been lush! It's been so nice that I've struggled to come up with one Shop of the Week this week, so instead I am going to recommend the entire Folksy jewellery selection. They really do have pieces for everyone and it's definitely worth having a perusal. Folksy is like the English version of Etsy, and I have found some amazing presents on there - go have a gander!

Day 85 - Mystery sparkly earrings

I have literally no idea where these are from. I found them in my jewellery box yesterday and thought I'd pop them on today. They're very pretty and I really like them but no, can't place them at all!

Day 84 - Marks and Spencers Butterfly bracelet

If I remember rightly, this was from a Marks and Spencers jewellery advent calendar. I know - pretty amazing huh?! Except it wasn't really that amazing. A lot of the jewellery was really bad quality and not stuff anyone would really choose to wear. So I think out of the whole thing there were only 3 pieces I actually liked, this bracelet, a snowflake pendant and a basic black beaded bracelet. I wore this out to some drinks with friends and I like the fact its light and not too jangly but also sturdy enough to feel like you're wearing something.