I think my nan gave this to me when I turned 18, but it's so tiny I didn't really wear it much as I was scared it would come off and I'd lose it. Which is a shame as its a very pretty and delicate ring.
I got this from Oasis about ten years ago when butterflies were really in (the first time round!) and were all over the shops. I don't think I ever wore it though as I thought it might be cute to wear it on my little finger but actually, it's just annoying!! Sorry about the rubbish photo!
This was from M&S I believe, in their post Christmas sale I think. That's the only explanation I can think of as I don't tend to buy chunky rings any other time than winter when the idea of wearing something so big doesn't make me sweat just at the thought! The stone is a really deep rich purple which really shines when it catches the light.
I got this in a really cool vintage shop in Angel, Islington. In fact I think I self-gifted it for my 27th Birthday! You can't beat a bit of self gifting on your birthday (which now I've written it down sounds worse than it did in my head, ooh-er!)
This is the other ring I got when I was out in Barcelona. sorry, it's a really bad picture isn't it! I know the colours are a bit girly but I like the pastel shades and how they glint in the sun.
Seeing as a lot of the rings I've been wearing have been heirlooms my Shop of the Week this week isn't one actual shop. It's the shops we all have within our own families. One thing that makes me really sad is that I don't know a lot of the stories behind some of the rings I own and I wish I did so if you have relatives who often say to you that they're going to give you this ring or that necklace later on, make sure you ask them while they are still here what the stories are behind them. Those stories won't add monetary value and you'll never part with them anyway, but it makes them worth just so much more...
I am not too sure where this ring originated from, presumably my great aunt or grandmother, but I love how simple it is! I love the knot style and how delicate it feels. With a lot of the rings from my relatives you can see how dainty and teeny tiny their fingers must have been compared to my little chipolatas. Seriously, my husbands 9 year old niece has hands the same size as mine - its a loooong running source of amusement for the Husband! Speaking of which, it's out first wedding anniversary today, yay!!
Another of my experiments but this one went quite well and I kind of like it! Its very statement-y but I'm pleased with how it turned out. It's just one big mauve glass bead strung on some silver wire which I've formed into a ring underneath. It's quite heavy so I couldn't wear it for a long time but I like the cold feeling of the glass bead and its a nice way to bling up a plain outfit!
I think this might be from Next, and its one of my favourite 'holiday rings' keeping in with my love of all things turquoise when it's hot and sunny. It's quite big but its really comfy when its on and not at all heavy. Perfect for a bit of sun!
I call this experimental as it is a bit random and was me just trying some things out when I first tried to make rings. I kind of like its randomness although its just too impractical to get a lot of wear out of it! It reminds me a little of loads of planets all coming together, like something out of Ogre's workshop in the Dark Crystal
I think this was from somewhere like Debenhams, and I have to confess I think it might have been a present from an ex! Eeek, probably why I don't really wear it! It's a bit too blingy for me but it looks pretty enough on.
This was either my grandmothers or her sisters, or to be honest there is a chance it belonged to her mother - so it's old put it that way! It's way to ostentatious for me to wear but I love the effect the rubies or garnets make against the gold and I really like the dome shape they form. It's not the best photo I grant you that, but I really do love this ring and bet its got a fair few stories to tell.
This was the first ring I ever made (I think) and I don't think its that bad! I wish I'd used silver wire instead of copper as I didn't expect it to come out as it did but I'm really pleased with it. It's just one piece of wire, coiled, and then formed into a ring underneath.
I wore the chunky Evans ring yesterday and it reminded me that for the fat of finger (I really do have the shortest, stubbiest fingers ever!) you can't really fault Evans. I have a lot of issues with their clothes of course, but when it comes to jewellery I think that Evans does really well and I regularly see their stuff featured in fashion spreads in magazines like Look, which is great. Just because you don't have the wrists or fingers of a dainty size 8 doesn't mean you don't want to rock the latest trends so good for Evans for offering pieces that can be both fashionable and flattering. That makes them my Shop of the Week this week.
I got this from Evans a long time ago - I don't usually wear chunky rings but I was going to a wedding and had a black and white dress so this really worked. Actually, when I spotted this ring in my drawer I counted 21 other rings that I'd not worn yet (eek!) - and I also spotted a lot of sterling silver ones that had tarnished really badly. I need to find my polishing cloth and then I'll be able to wear those later in the year but I decided that as I am quite bad at alternating my rings (apart from my wedding and engagement ring I tend to only rotate 2 or 3 on a regular basis) then for the next three weeks I am going to wear a different costume rung every day! A challenge within a challenge! To be honest I only decided to do it because there were exactly 21! So this is number one, I hope you enjoy seeing the rest! I've also slightly moved my photographing point as we're having a bit of a spring clean at the mo and my usual spot in the hall is a little, how shall we say, umm 'busy!' This ring also makes me chuckle a bit as I think the middle 'flower' looks like a dead fly!!
I made this using the wooden beads I bought from Smitten Beads and I also added a Karen Silver flower bead also from...Smitten Beads! I feel like I should live on a tropical island or something when I wear it...maybe I just need a holiday?!
This is another charity shop find, although it may have originally been from somewhere like Wallis. It's super long and is a mix of silver and black beads. It's hard to get a good shot of it without making my chest look humungous or my head really small - this was the best I could do!
I got this bangle from a craft fair, I like that it's a little bit tribal! It's not the best photo here but there are lots of different patterns inscribed and I like the shape of it too, its really unusual.
This was the silver heart pendant I bought at the weekend from Hobbycraft which I strung on a chain last night. I am wearing a top, I promise!!
I should have worn this on Sunday really, but I'm a bit late. I got this from a clothes swap event at work and wanted to crack something gold out to commemorate the Olympics. I'm feeling a little bereft if I'm honest, but excited that we've got some Paralympic athletics tickets for early September - yay!!
I bought this from a boutique in London called Something, but I just discovered that they are now only online. I don't wear this very often as its so delicate but I think its really pretty so I wanted to wear it again as I've had a bit of a blue phase recently!
Today it's all about Hobbycraft. I popped in there again today but stopped myself from buying too much - just a pendant that I'm going to pop on a chain and wear in the week. So, for all the different ways you can use things from Hobbycraft to make jewellery I'm making them my Shop of the Week.
This was the other piece I made from the remnants of the long broken rose quartz necklace (as well as the earrings I wore a few days ago). I've strung it with two silver flower connector beads - I normally wear it over long dresses but today it was just too hot to wear anything other than a t-shirt and shorts!!
I made this using a silver chain and a swarovski bead I found. I think one of my friends may have given me the bead about 15 years ago when we went through a teenage jewellery-making phase and then when I re-discovered it I thought I should put it to good use!! It is a bit blingy for me but would be a nice piece to wear to a special event, especially in the summer as when the light catches it, the reflections are really pretty.
This is another charity shop find. You can only really get away with wearing a bangle like this when its sunny can't you!
I think I found this in a charity shop and it made me laugh - I first wore it as part of a fancy dress 80s outfit. I just felt like being a bit bright and silly today!!
I was inspired by the Love Hearts and Crosses necklaces that I flagged to you on Sunday so I made this using some bits and pieces I bought from Hobbycraft. The blue agate slice is really nice and cool to the touch and I strung it on wire with blue wooden beads and gold beads. I'm pretty pleased with the result! I love these colours when the sun is shining, they really remind me of holidays and having a tan.
I made these a few summers ago and I really like the earring hook with the flower on it which matches the rose quartz stone really well. These were made by recycling some beads that came from a long rose quartz necklace that broke - I actually prefer the jewellery I was able to make from it over the original!!
I made this ages ago and only found it again recently. Its very simple but nice and understated which is good for a Monday. I am actually wearing clothes - I just popped it on and took this picture when I was still in my jammies first thing so it looks a bit more compromising than it really is!!
I stumbled upon Love Hearts and Crosses this weekend and although my shopping ban prohibits me from buying anything I am loving their necklaces, especially the Agate Slices and the Amethyst Druzy ones! So this week they are my Shop of the Week, at least if I can't buy anything you all should!!
I bought this at a craft fair ages ago - I don't wear it much as the shell beads are a bit too long for my small hands/wrist combo, but I thought I'd wear it today as I am feeling pretty lazy. I have barely moved all weekend, I can't belive how rivetting the Olympics has been.
Speaking of Team GB (as I did yesterday!) I thought I'd wear some good old gold today to celebrate all Team GB's achievements! I made this when I was experimenting - making rings just using wire and beads is a bit harder than it looks and its not my best creation but I like the random-ness of it and the beads look really pretty when they catch the light.
I made this at the same time as I made the other (very similar!) bracelet I wore last week. I think I prefer this one as I really like the blue and green tones in it - and it feels a bit patriotic at the moment with Team GB mostly in shades of blue!
I went to Barcelona with four friends for my 25th Birthday and bought this ring from a stall out there. I bought a pink and purple one too which I might wear soon! It's pretty cheap and cheerful but it reminds me of a great birthday and fun break which was definitely needed at the time! Even if we did stay in an apartment with the most terrifying shower curtain ever...
I made this ages ago, when I was first trying out jewellery making. Its a simple elasticated bracelet with alternating purple glass square beads and square hematite beads. I like the fact these beads are really cold to the touch which is nice in this weather!
I bought this some time last year - I can't remember why but it might have been part of an 80s fancy dress costume or maybe a day when I was channelling Madonna in the late 80s or early 90s. It's from New Look and is a series of charms strung on a dark chain. There's a cross, a heart, a teardrop pendant and a crystal bead. I'm wearing it with a black dress and red cardi today - apologies for the excessive cleavage on display!!
Nice bit of poetry for you on a Friday! Ooh, and again!!
I made this using the beads from a necklace I got in a charity shop. They are just simple chunky flat wooden beads strung with small silver round beads between them. Its quite a nice tactile necklace to wear as the beads are so smooth.
