Happy Christmas & New Year

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and have an even better New Year.

 (Photograph is of the Christmas cakes made and decorated on Christmas Eve!!)

This is just a quick update to say that we are having a sale on Jewels and Finery of many pieces of antique, vintage and second hand jewellery.

 Vintage brooch by Hollywood

Already reduced is our Christmas and party jewellery and vintage men's jewellery. But there will be many more great sale offers over the next few days - but only until the new year.

Modern contemporary brooch

Vintage clip on earrings

Jewels and Finery Craft  now has more items on for sale, including vintage beads, buttons and other craft supplies.

Vintage brown splatter buttons - English made

Red round vintage buckle

Back to normal in the new year including book reviews, Sarah Coventry brochures and updates on Exquisite jewellery.

Happy Christmas 2010

Every year we send Christmas cards with scenes of snow and the bookies odds are up and down to will it be snowing on Christmas day. Well this year it looks to be coming true. Its snowed for most of this month.
Writing this blog at about 6.30 am on a cold Wednesday morning, its once again snowing and we still have a thick covering on the ground. Not that I intended getting up so early but my oldest has flu and is one of the worst when he is ill.
He has Asperger's Syndrome a form of high level autism and has little awareness of time. Snow is an extreme of temperature and represents change, so his anxiety levels were raised last weekend when it came down thick and fast. As the snow has been here for a few days now, he was just starting to settle again but then he came down with flu! Oh the joys - this probably means that we will all get it now.

So with the heating just kicking in and feeling cold I thought I would show a few "warming" jewels to bring out the sun.

 
 A large vintage brooch in the design of a vulture. Makes me think of hot desert areas and cactus plants.

 
Warm seas and swimming for this 1990s sea horse pre owned brooch with sparkling diamante and enamel.

A second hand snake clamper bracelet in black enamel and clear diamante - for hot swampy areas with snakes skimming the river banks and noisy insects.

Finally managed to make my cakes for Christmas and will show the photographs next time.

Jewellery Glossary - H

With just 11 days to Christmas, I still have yet to start making my Christmas cakes - but plenty of time left!!

So to our jewellery glossary - now on the letter H.

Haematite/Hematite - A common mineral with a high iron content. Tumbled stones are shiny, metallic and heavy for their size. Thought to energies, empower and grounds and anchors us.

Hallmark - A mark on jewellery to show silver/gold/platinum/precious metals as set by the country of origin.
Some require additional information such as patent, manufacturer and origin. 

Heliotrope or bloodstone - Dark green quartz with red, brown or yellow markings. Essentially green jasper with red flecks. Thought to strengthen, add courage, support and stimulate.

High relief - Used to describe a cameo which is carved to create a three dimensional look.

Horn - Animal horn used in jewellery. Some horn was thought to have magical properties. Now an outlawed practice in many countries.

This week we have added many brooches, necklace, earrings, bracelets, men's jewellery and clips.

Clothes show live 2010 video link on You Tube

Here is one of the videos that I took at the Clothes Show Live 2010 at the NEC, Birmingham.

It's a small section about movies with dancers and models. Love the lights and the backdrop.

We have added lots of vintage Christmas jewellery this week to Jewels and Finery.

Impressive blue rhinestone brooch

Here are some photographs of the Christmas and party jewellery we have for sale at the moment.

Large angel brooch

Christmas brooch by Jewelcraft

Christmas bells brooch circa 1960s

Starflower diamante brooch modern.

Blue aurora borealis necklace 1970s

1990s large star-shaped clip earrings

Ble cabochon earrings for pierced ears 1980s.

Well, it is still cold, icy and some areas still have snow in the UK. The Christmas tree is up and plans have been made for Christmas itself. Who's going to cook the turkey this year? I will get round to making the Christmas cakes - late but the way that I have always done them; and they are always lovely and moist (With no orange peel and lots of nuts). But more next time and the recipe.

Clothes Show Live NEC 2010

On Sunday my daughter and I with her friend, went to the NEC, Birmingham for the Clothes Show Live 2010.
Aimed at teenage to twenties fashion and lifestyle, I still enjoy going.

 Gok Wan presenting the Clothes Show Live show

None of the clothes were suitable or even fitted me. My diet is going well though and so maybe next year!! Plenty of choice from "market type" stalls to designer wear at lower prices. Short dresses were in plenty as well as trousers, tops, woolly hats, leather gloves and Pashmina scarves. Small bouquets offered that something a bit different from the high street fashion lines.  Again I visited the vintage section with clothes, jewellery and accessories.

This year there was a section for making clothes and accessories. Cloth, buttons, patterns, yarn, sewing machines and expert advice were available. Along with colleges that offered specific fashion and textile courses.

Make up by names such as Bourjois and Rimmel, along with many other manufacturers are for sale. the choice is amazing and offers abound. Various stalls offer make overs, hair styling and massage. One celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford, has amazing stamina. Every time I passed his pink stand, he was talking to people, having his photo taken and posing with everyone. Not bad considering we were there from about 10 am and left after the last show at 7 pm!

The show was hosted by Gok Wan but I could not see him over the sea of people at his book signing.

 Gok Wan being carried of stage by a whole load of hunky bare chested men

Next to the Clothes Show and included in the tickets was the Dance Show.Stalls specific to dance and many small and a large stage to watch many forms of dance. One of our friends is a member of the Phoenix Dance Company and so we watched her appearing on the large stage.

  The Phoenix dance Company in action

This year I came away from the shows with enough make up to last a long time, leather bags, magazines, free samples and lots of jewellery both vintage jewellery and some new ones.

In all the hours spent at the shows, I still do not think I saw everything as there is so much to see and do. My only gripe is the lack of seats and food prices are far too high.

This year I managed to video part of the show. In fact its the first time I have videoed anything!! So shaky hand and a bit distant with muffled sound. Well what do you expect ....it was a total mistake really I pressed the wrong button on the camera and should have taken a photograph.

And that I will post this week when I have mastered You tube!!