Day 18 - Past Times butterfly ring

I wore this Past Times ring on the same day that I wore my favourite Pearl Lowe for Peacocks dress as it was announced that both stores were going into administration. This makes me really sad as I think both of these shops have really good things to add to the British high street and at the same time when bankers are reaping £billion bonuses there are young people losing their jobs left right and centre in our retail sector. I don't work in retail but for a fair few years of my life I did and it just makes me angry. This ring was actually my stand in engagement ring for when we had to send it off so that the designers at Harriet Kelsall could ensure the wedding band fitted perfectly. I guess I'll always treasure it because of that but it makes me sad that I won't be able to treasure half of the shops I grew up with as a child by the time I have kids.

Day 12 - Nepalese silver and amethyst earrings

Yesterday I mentioned how certain things can trigger memories and the same is true for these earrings and unfortunately its a sad memory. They were a present from two people who sadly passed away in an accident about a year after they were given to me. I used to work for a conservation charity and we were due to go out to Nepal but the trip was called off at the last minute. One of my colleagues from the UK office was already out there and she called me to tell me about the cancellation. We knew there was a chance it would happen so it wasn't too much of an issue but she explained that the staff in the Nepalese office felt really bad and wanted to give me a gift by way of an apology. Obviously I said that it was completely fine and that wasn't necessary but she told me that it was part of their culture. She had already told me about the stunning jewellery out there so I just said to get me some sort of accessory; She came back to the UK a week or two later with these beautiful earrings. Unfortunately the following year when she was out in Nepal again there was a tragic helicopter accident and my colleague, along with many others, including the head of the Nepal office who had wanted to give me the earrings, all passed away. I didn't wear the earrings for some time as I felt so sorry each time I looked at them but then after a little while they started making me think about how lucky I was to be here and that life really is so incredibly precious and short too. We all have days when we would prefer to just stay in bed but these earrings remind me to live live to the fullest as much as I can as you never know what's going to happen.

Day 11 - Bentalls silver bangle

I am not sure who designed this, I know it was from a jewellery conscession in the store Bentalls in Kingston but other than that I am at a loss! I call it my mushroom moon bangle as I think the discs look a lot like little moons or planets and the underside of each one has little lines, just like the underside of a mushroom. Simple things eh? More importantly this bangle is one of the pieces that I own that really links to a memory - a bit like how everyone in 1996 smelt of CK One so now anytime I get a whiff of that lemony scent I am transported back to the latter days of Grunge (the first time round!) and a bit too much denim, if I remember rightly! The memories that are linked to this bangle, oddly enough, are that I had a massive argument with my dad about the wedding (we got married last August and I think I must have bought this bangle in May). It was a proper full on 'the wedding's off' kind of argument (we had a few of those, as I think most engaged couples do!) so now when I wear it I do feel a bit anxious - but then I remember that its all fine and everything went well in the end. I guess it reminds me that if I am having a tough time that it will get better, eventually!

Day 5 - Gold seashell pendant with pearls

I got this lovely little locket from the marvellous Eclectic Eccentricity in one of their brilliant sales last year. They do some great vintage look items and I've got a few of their pieces. I want to get one of our wedding photos reduced in size so that I can actually put photos in here as I remember as a child being really fascinated with lockets and the fact that people kept images in them so that they could feel close to their loved one - there's a real romance to lockets I think that we've probably lost a bit in the modern age when you're only ever a click away from anyone at any time.

I don't often wear much gold jewellery as I am not sure if it suits me but when I do I like it to be something a bit special and I think this definitely fits the bill.

Day 1 - simple silver ring from Crete

Happy New Year! I don't know about you but I've spent most of 2012 sleeping so far, so it looks like its turning out quite nicely...!

My first piece of jewellery for this challenge is this silver ring. Its really basic but I love it as I found it in a tiny little village up a mountain in Crete when we were on honeymoon. It only cost about a fiver and is tarnishing around the edges but its really special to me. That's something I love about jewellery, there usually tends to be a story or a memory linked to it and if I'm ever feeling gloomy I can look at this ring and remember that little village in 35C heat and how lovely a time it was. And yes, I know I am never going to be a hand model.