Summer Sale

*SUMMER SALE*

 

I know it's half way through the month of August, but I forgot to mention that I'm having a summer sale in my Etsy shop, oops! The past couple of weeks have been hectic, the twins are off school for the summer holidays and we've had family and friends come to stay with us, for the past couple of weekends. I've also been busy running my Etsy shop and website and dare I say it, planning my new jewellery designs for Christmas.

 

 

If you enter coupon code SUMMERSALE20 at the checkout, you will receive 20% off your order and the sale lasts till the 31st August 2013.

Click on the link to my shop  www.etsy.com/shop/michelleshandcrafted If you've had your eye on something there, now is the time to get it, happy shopping!

Bye for now. x

 

 

 

  

Summer, Summer Time

 



I love the sun and here in England we've been having glorious sunshine, I just don't want it to end. My summer  jewellery usually includes ankle bracelets, which I love wearing with my summer outfits, for me, wearing an ankle bracelet, is just like wearing any other piece of jewellery.

Before I show you the new ones that I have made, I though I'd share with you my homemade body scrub treatment, that I like to use to get my skin in tip top condition for the summer.
When it comes to skin care products, I do try to use natural ingredients, I've been using this mixture for several years now and it always leaves my skin feeling amazing. My body scrub is simply made from extra virgin olive oil and sugar! I pour half a cup of sugar in a small bowl and add one table spoon of extra virgin olive oil, then mix it, then add another till the consistency is not too runny and not too thick.

I apply the scrub after a shower or bath, rubbing it gently into the skin, then rinsing it off and I have to say, it will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth

Ok, after a long introduction, lol,  here is a collage of the new ankle bracelets that I've added to my website, this year, one of which is not shown here, as it was sold within 30 minutes of me listing it on the site, after posting a picture of it on my Twitter account, yay!

 

Summer Ankle Bracelets 2013

 

 

 

 

To get a closer look at them and all my other handmade jewellery, visit my website at www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com

 

Enjoy your summer.

 

x

 



 





Men's Bracelet Collection 2013

One of my best sellers in my Etsy shop are my Vintage Coin Cufflinks.

I have sold these coin cufflinks, with dates from to 1947 to 1966, as birthday presents and also as wedding gifts for the ushers, in a wedding party. 



Until now, that was really how far I'd ventured into men's jewellery/accessories. But with the fantastic hot weather that we've been having lately and everyone out and about enjoying themselves in the sun, I've seen lots of men with rolled up shirt sleeves or wearing t-shirts, that have been wearing smart and masculine bracelets and that has been the approach I have gone for, with my men's bracelet collection for 2013.

First up, is a black and white zebra jasper bracelet. The beads have an unusual black and white pattern, that look will remind you of a zebra.

 

Black and White Zebra Jasper Bracelet

 

 

 

 



This is a rainbow jasper bracelet, the beads have  beautiful shades of green, red and brown.

 

Rainbow Jasper Bracelet 

 

 

 

I love the shine and glossy look of this hermatite bracelet. The beads have a dark grey/gun metal colour.

Silver and Hermatite Bracelet

 

 

 

 

I have used shiny wooden black beads for this bracelet, the gold beads have been added to the front,  to break up the continuity of the dark coloured beads.

 

Black and Gold Bracelet

 

 

 

 Last, but not least is a bracelet made with very unusual gemstone beads.  They are called Unakite beads and have a mottled green and pink colouring. This bead is also  a member of the Jasper gemstone family.

 

Unakite Bracelet

 

 

I hope to be adding some more bracelets to this collection, later on in the year. Since we've had glorious sunshine for the past couple of weeks, I've been making ankle bracelets, which for me is one of my favourite summer time jewellery to wear.

 

If you would like a closer look at the above bracelets and find out the useful properties of the gemstones that they have been made with, head over to my website at www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com

Also, while your there, don't forget to take a peek at the new ankle bracelets, listed this week.

 

Enjoy your weekend.

 

x   

 

Ladies Night!

I'll be doing my very first ladies night/craft show on Friday night, yikes!

I'm excited and scared at the same time. I've been meaning to do one for a while, but have been putting it off. This event is taking place in the evening from 6.30pm, till 9.30pm, so not a full blown show, more like a part-time show.

Since I decided to do it, I've been creating my table display, making parts of it and buying bits and pieces. I've been trawling through the craft show display pages on Pinterest, which have given me inspiration and ideas, I've then recreated them in my own special way. I finally finished it all on Sunday and laid it all out on a table at home, I've been tweaking and swopping bits around and now it's exactly how I want it to look.

My brand colours are lilac/purple and black and I've incorporated these colours in my display and packaging. I never realised how much work went into setting up a stall for an event, it's exhausting. To make sure I did not forget anything I drew up a 'To Do' , which is nothing new, I'm always making 'To Do' lists, I normally make one everyday. Also I came across on Pinterest, a craft show checklist, of all the bits and pieces you might need, like, scissors, tape, spare prices tags, e.t.c., this list has been really useful.

On Friday, everything will be packed up carefully and taken to the event, I'll make sure I'll take some pictures of my table and I'll tell you all, how it went. If you live near the Highwoods and St John's Community Centre in Colchester, in Essex, pop in on Friday and say hello.

Wish me luck! x

Get Spiky!

I must say I have missed not blogging on a weekly basis, but  at the moment,  time is in short supply, I've been busy getting ready for my first ladies night/craft fair on the 28th June 2013. It is taking place at the Highwoods and St John's Community Centre, in Colchester, Essex. I've been making extra stock and jewellery display materials, earrings cards e.t.c.  lots to do, but I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Whilst I've been busy preparing for my show, I've also created a new jewellery collection, called the 'Get Spiky' Collection , featuring bracelets, necklaces and earrings, adorned with silver spikes. Spike jewellery has become one of this years hottest jewellery trends. Spikes do add a gothic and punk edge, to any type of jewellery, I have mixed my spikes with crystals and pearls.

Get Spiky Collection

 

 

If you would like to see my new jewellery range up close, head over to www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com

 

Bridal Wedding Colours 2013 - The Colour Purple

I like making bridal jewellery, I think it's because I like pearls and pearls are one of the popular choices for brides, when choosing their bridal jewellery.

The days when brides only chose white, ivory or pink for their bridal colours, have well and truly gone. This year the most popular bridal colours are purple, mint green, gold, silver, red and navy blue.

My favourite colour is the colour purple, so I thought I'd show you the purple coloured wedding items in my shop.

Here is a purple bridal set, consisting of a bracelet and earrings, made using purple glass pearl beads and rhinestone beads.

 

Another design, this time, this time I used a ivory pearl to compliment the purple pearl and gold plated earwires

For the necklace, I've added a gold plated chain.

 

 

This is the bridal comb I made last week.

These wedding pieces don't have to be just worn for a wedding. I think with jewellery, there are no rules, I've worn pearls with a pair of jeans, you can mix and match, do what you want to do, find your own style.

If your still looking for ideas about your what colours to choose for your wedding jewellery, do take a look at my website at www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com, where  I have traditional bridal colours and the most popular bridal colours of 2013.

Which glass is mine?

Have you ever been out at a some sort of function, such as a party and you've put your glass down for a minute and then gone back to retrieve it and then you can't remember which one was yours, as the table is full of glasses? Well I've done that quite a few times and each time I've just shrugged my shoulders and gone off and got another glass. That is both time-consuming and a waste of a drink.

There is no need to do that anymore, the answer is a wine glass charm. I know some of you out there are saying, 'a wine glass what???' Wine glass charms make it easy to identify which glass is yours at a gathering. They usually have a charm, dangling from a silver ring and decorated with beautiful beads and all you do is unhook the loop and wrap it around the base of your wine glass. Each one is different, so you'll always remember, which glass is yours. I've been adding some new wine glass sets to my website.

This set, can be for an engagement party.

A couple of girlie themed wine glass charms, for a hen night or a girls night out.

Also a couple of sets of baby themed wine glass charms, for either a christening or a baby shower. 

I also have a range of wedding wine glass charms, that can also be used as wedding favours, for the bride and groom and the wedding party.

To see my range of wine glass charms, please visit my website at www.michelleshandcrafted.etsy.com