Day 310 - 316 and Shop of the Week



My Shop of the Week this week is dedicated to charity shops everywhere! I've discovered that I have a lot of bits and bobs that I picked up for next to nothing. It's sad that I probably only wore them once or twice and then forgot I had them but the joy of these pieces is that you can come back to them and maybe rework them into something else, a beaded necklace can become a bracelet or a pair of earrings for example! As they were so cheap there's no fear of what might happen if whatever you create doesn't work out!

 

No theme this week I am afraid! Lots of random odds and sods!! Top to bottom: multi charm necklace (Accessorize), shell and stone charm necklace (Next), Star pendant (Marks and Spencer's), silver and turquoise bird and bead bracelet (Sam Ubhi), long teal glass bead necklace (charity shop I think), silver oval necklace (not sure where this is from, maybe New Look?) and green glass bead necklace (charity shop, same as the teal one I wore earlier in the week)

 

 

 

Day 296 - 302 and Shop of the Week

We've broken the 300 mark!! I'm really excited about this as it means the end is in sight but it is freaking me out slightly that I have more than 300 pieces of jewellery! There are no rings this week you'll be glad to hear. This week I've been rooting through some old necklaces so there are quite a few really old pieces but it was nice to stumble upon them.

My Shop of the Week this week goes to Debenhams, and specifically Jon Richard. Their lovely PR team found my blog and really liked it so they sent me some bits and bobs that I'm going to be wearing between now and the end of the year. As you know I do love a bit of costume jewellery and I think if you want something on trend and a bit blingy then you can't really go wrong for the party season. Go check them out!

From top to bottom - black wooden bead necklace (think this was free with a magazine?), Simple three drop crystal necklace (maybe from a charity shop), gold square string necklace (definitely from a charity shop!), long silver shell necklace (made by me using materials from Smitten Beads), pearl bracelet made out of a long pearl necklace (not sure where this is from, silver and blue earrings (from Sam Ubhi, a present from the hubby), and long wooden multi-bead necklace (this might be from Wallis but its around 10 years old!)

Day 201 - Sam Ubhi teal bracelet

This is the bracelet that matches the earrings I wore earlier this week. I think the full set looks lovely when worn with a simple black dress as it really brings out the teal shade. This brings us to an end of the 'almost a full week' of Sam Ubhi jewellery. I hope you have discovered a love for her work as much as I have. I also really hope one day I can make such well crafted and designed pieces. Mine feel pretty amateur in comparison but I suppose we all need to start somewhere!

Day 200 - 'Sing as if no-one can hear you' bracelet

This bracelet from Sam is inscribed: 'sing as if no-one can hear you' and it has special meaning to me as I have issues with singing. I was in our school production of Oliver and had to sing a solo which basically ruined my throat. I had to pull out of the show for a few days and my friend had to stand in for me but I ended up doing at least one performance, the one they filmed. When we watched the film back you could barely hear me and its given me a total complex about singing ever since. I can hold a tune (kind of!) but I have a very quiet voice and my range is quite low and deep so I can't hit the high notes; I am wary of singing in front of people. One thing a friend once said to me is that if I was ok singing with my husband (he was my boyfriend at the time!) then he was a keeper. And its true, he's one of the only people I will sing solo in front of. So basically, this bracelet reminds me that its ok and that I should have the confidence to sing in front of others.

Oddly I have no issues with rapping - I rapped Ice Ice Baby (word perfect may I add) on both my hen do and on my wedding in front of all of our guests. Word to ya mutha.

Day 199 - Sam Ubhi earrings

These are so simple but I love the pale teal shade and the delicate wool work that has been done to create the almost lattice style effect. I have a matching bangle from Sam that I will be wearing shortly!

Day 198 - Sam Ubhi charm necklace

This was my first piece from Sam and I still love wearing it as often as I can. I love the mix of stones which make it work with most items of clothing I have (oddly!) and also the flower charm at the end means that it works well with floral dresses (of which I have a lot!).  

Day 197 - Sam Ubhi Dream bracelet

I bought this bracelet along with the matching earrings in the Sam Ubhi sale but have held off wearing this as I wanted to do a bit of a special Sam Ubhi week! I really like this bracelet, from teh aged effect and slightly battered bangle itself, to the Dream charm. Its very inspiring and simple enough to be both striking and classic at the same time.

The Sunday Summary

This week my Shop of the Week goes to the amazing Sam Ubhi. Sam's website is under construction but you can buy her jewellery online in places like Asos, as well as at her studio and shop in South West London. You'll have seen from the earrings I wore yesterday how stunning her jewellery is and she kindly spent a few minutes with me answering some important jewellery based questions this week!

How did you get into jewellery and jewellery design?

It was quite by chance actually. I graduated in woven textiles, and my work involved a lot of beading embedded in paper. I would make myself some jewellery , the days of big Pat Butcher earrings. On a trip to New York, I was approached by a woman who loved my earrings and wanted to know where I had bought them. She turned out to be the buyer at Barneys!! So this chance encounter resulted in my first jewellery commission!!

Who are your favourite designers?

There are too many to mention but I adore Dries Van Norten , Simeon Farrar for contemporary design, Natalie Hambro, McQueen, ......

What are your key trends for 2012?

Keep it long, strong, layered and full of charms. Layer bangles together to give a big impact, and personalize with vintage pieces.

Do you have a particular material/metal/stone you prefer to work with and why?

I love working in most metals, but I love the strength and pliability of brass! Stones on the other hand, I have my favorites ....diamonds are a girls best friend! Labradorite for its rainbow of colours and translucency & Chrysoprase for its depth of organic colours and feel.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery you’ve designed/created?

Again there are too many too chose from, but I adore the Serpentine bib that we made (picured left). It’s made from one piece of wire, and it is a traditional African technique of swirls....and more recently the rough diamond collection of rings set in gold.

What are your top tips for people who are keen to get into the jewellery business?

If you have ambition and an idea, go for it! Don’t let any one tell you that you can’t do something. As any business, it is tough, but it is important to understand the creative side of the business, and just as importantly the business side to it too! You’ll make mistakes , but that is just part of the process .... And keep an open mind and learn something new everyday!

 I wholeheartedly recommend going along to Sam's shop if you can. She regularly holds amazing sales there and I tend to bulk buy (when I'm not on a ban!!) and then give out her pieces as presents as they really have 'soul'. That may sound odd but I'm going to have almost a week of wearing my other Sam Ubhi pieces (in addition to these earrings, and these earrings and this necklace!) so you can see what I mean! The best way I can describe it is that its as if they have lived a life and have stories to tell, combined with the fact you know its taken time and skill to create such masterpieces.

Day 196 - Sam Ubhi earrings

I absolutely love these earrings from the fabulous Sam Ubhi. They're as statement-y as I get but the detail is just amazing. They're made from one piece of silver that has been coiled-just stunning.

Day 24 - Sam Ubhi necklace

I love this necklace. It was a Christmas present from The Husband (well I made him get it for me for Christmas, he didn't choose it). He actually really doesn't like it which in some completely wrong kind of way makes me like it even more! I love Sam Ubhi's jewellery, I have a bit of a thing for turquise as you know, and I also really love swirls in jewellery so to have the two combined is pretty cool.

Today is the first time I have worn this necklace to work and I've had lots of compliments - which is always good to brighten up a day like to day!

Day 3 - Sam Ubhi 'Dream' earrings

I love these 'Dream' earrings - I got them just before christmas at the Sam Ubhi Christmas sale and they come with a matching bracelet. I could go on forever about how much I love Sam's jewellery and I highly recommend her sales which she does a couple of times a year. I'll be wearing a few of my purchases in 2012 but I thought that considering its such a bleak and dreary day today I would wear something to inspire me, or at least remind me to imagine I am somewhere tropical, dry and sunny!

Sam's website is under construction but you can find some of her stuff on ASOS.  Or you can pop to her lovely studio and shop in Tooting!