The Ancient High House - Stafford

Four hundred years of history are waiting to be discovered within the walls of Englands largest timber framed townhouse. Today people were discovering my jewellery. Today, the High House was the setting for a Jewellery Fair with a wide range of jewellery from local artists and craftworkers. There was even a jewellery making workshop where Esme made herself a beautiful pair of earrings. It was a great day for myself, very well organised and promoted, thanks to Lynne Griffiths. One particular nice range of jewellery was by Green Tea Treasures. Their bracelets were lovely so I treated myself again. Libby who loved my range, treated herself to a couple of pieces. I can't wait to come back here on Saturday 6th September 2008 for the Christmas Fair.

Magazine Feature - Spirit & Destiny

We were very honoured to have a feature in Septembers Spirit & Destiny Magazine. The feature was about charms and in particular the Hamsa Hand. The bracelet featured was our very popular Thierry Henry Hamsa Bracelet with charm.

Cheadle Hospital - Staffrordshire Moorlands

An unlikely place to have a jewellery sale you may think but I alway do well here. This was the first place I held a sale and the people are always pleased to see me. Of course, I was pushing my new stock and the first item to go was my new freshwater pearl necklace. Followed by a silver necklace on leather , a pair of matching earrings and a keyring. Again, loads of positive feed back on the new stuff and a couple of posible web sales.

My new stock arrives!!

Heading up the M1 moterway to meet my supplier today. Because she is based in Leeds and I am in Stoke we meet halfway - at a service station. This always attracts lots of attention from customers and staff. One lady who served us coffee, had been looking for dragonfly charm earring everywhere - and was delighted when she saw ours.

There is so much lovely new stuff that I wanted to buy it all for myself. As well as the new Danon catelogue, there was the Starinbar Collection. Made by Danon and designed by Dorit Winehouse. Of course I did treat myself.

Burslem Art & Crafts Fair

This has definitely been the nicest day of the year so far with the temperature up and beyond 21c. I had booked an inside table at the historic and superbly renovated Burslem Art School but was glad to swop an outside table with a lady who wanted a powerpoint. There was a lot of attractions to pull in the crowds and combined with the weather the day looked promising. There was about 5 more stalls selling jewellery but this was mainly the lower end jewellery and beads so I was confident of a good day. I was lucky enough to share a table with a lady who painted her own paintings which were lovely. She loved my jewellery so we considered swapping a bracelet for a painting. After about an hour I had my first sale which was the popular double heart necklace. People just loved the stuff and I was very pleased at the way things were going. I wished I had as many sales as the business cards that were taken. Packed up about 4.00 as people were starting to thin out. Conclusion - Foot fall was low considering the weather and the attractions, probably due to lack of promotion. Sales were low but at least I made sales. The nice lady with the lovely original pictures didn't do anything, maybe because they were a tad expensive for the Burslem crowd. Overall a lovely day and well organised.

Home Jewellery Parties - The Great Way To Sell Your Jewellery Pieces by

What do all these multi-million-pound corporations have in common: Tupperware; Mary Kay Cosmetics; Sarah Coventry Jewellery; Especially Lingerie? They all started out in home party sales! There are many other companies whose success is founded in home party sales, but these are the ones that first come to mind. They are proof that home jewellery parties are a fantastic business strategy for marketing and selling your hand-made jewellery!

To plan your home jewellery party, take an inventory what you have on hand. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, even a toe- or belly-button ring or two, or coordinated pieces provide a good variety of popular jewellery for a home party. Try to have several pieces of each design, especially those that are sold in sets.
Determine how many pieces you want to sell, and how long it will take you to create any additional pieces you want for your sales collection, before you schedule your first party. If you don't have enough pieces, or simply want to help out a fellow crafter, invite them to sell their work at your home party, and collect a commission on their sales. Friends, family members or co-workers are usually willing to help out by hosting your party. Posting flyers and business cards at community bulletin boards is great free advertising, and a press release in your local newspaper is sure to draw attention to your home party.
Discuss with your hostess what refreshments will be served and how they will be provided, as well as seating for the guests, on what you will set your displays and how they will be arranged. Keep your displays simple, but attractive and easily accessible for browsing. Work up short presentations for pieces or sets you want to highlight, and pass them around so guests can get a good look at them. For more expensive pieces, or for special orders, have a small catalogue of high quality photos. If you have an Internet web site, be sure the URL is on your business cards, and pass them out to the guests. Have inexpensive, but nice, door prizes for the guests to win, or better yet, have a Grab Bag or play the "Trading Game" so no guest leaves empty-handed. Lastly, be sure to take the names and contact information of guests who would like to host a home jewellery party.
Reward your host with a lovely thank you gift! Allow him or her to choose their favorite piece from your collection, or give them a specific piece, based upon the amount of sales at the party. Something any home party host will love is the gift of a piece of jewellery designed and made especially for her or him. Get your ideas for the item by observing their favorite jewellery, colors and tastes. Seeing their host receive such a special gift may inspire guests to also host a party for you!
Don't rule out other traditional ways of selling your jewellery! Set up a booth at a flea market, craft, Celtic or Renaissance Fair, a special display in gift shops, or post your creations on e-Bay. However, having home jewellery parties draws in and familiarizes customers from your own community with your work, and establishes a solid customer base and reputation. For more information on home jewellery businesvisit http://www.beading-software.com and download a freetrail of Bead Manager Pro.
Article Source: http://www.article-library.net

Leaving Spain

After 8 months living in our Spanish house we have decided to leave and come back to England. We had debated long and hard about this but thought it was the best decision for all of us. We are all happy to come home and have several irons in the fire. We feel very privileged to be able to have done this and have wonderful memories to take back. We will see all our Spanish friends again in July for the long summer holidays.

Last day at the Guardaria

The Guardaria (Nursery) in the village is only open for the olive season and this was Finlay's last day. Both Finlay and Esme loved it here as it gave them time with Spanish children and we had a bit or respite. Ridiculously cheap - only 1.2 Euro per day and that included a 3 course lunch. Finlay has never eaten so well so we have had to try and replicate the high garlic diet to get him to eat.

Painting the house

Knowing we won't be back for a while I decided to paint the house. I've use a non permeable paint called Coucho which means its got rubber in it. Wished I'd discovered this before as any damp is kept at bay.

Sierra Navada Ski Resort

Just here for the day with Ange & Tony to check it out in preperation for next season's skiing. We plan to have lesson back in the UK.