A new year, a new start, a new project!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year, I had a brilliant time, but cannot believe it's 2014, time does fly when your having fun. But I do look back to the past year and reflect what I did and how I did it and in what way I can improve and do better in my business and personal life.  

A new year always inspires me to set new goals and try new projects that I've been meaning to start,  but have had to put to the side, so that I can carry on with my existing projects, namely Christmas gifts. I've always made lists, every morning I write down what I'm doing that day and I try to follow it, but I'm not perfect, I do stray sometimes when comes to popping into my Twitter/Facebook or Pinterest accounts. But this year I'm going to find a balance, I love social media, but I love creating much more.

I've always been interested in wire work, I have an shop on Etsy, www.michelleshandcrafted.etsy.com and I just love browsing the other shops that have wire work jewellery pieces, the designs can be simple or intricate, but they are stunning and I'm eager to try my hand at making a piece of jewellery incorporating some sort of wire, so  I've bought  steel bench block and Nylon Jaw hammer. I've already got a chasing hammer and a ball pein hammer, both which were birthday gifts from my partner.

 

I cannot wait to start using them, I'll do another blog when I've made some items, I might start off with earrings and see how it goes. A think when your a crafter, you always want to try something new, I've got other things that I want to try, but there are just not enough hours in the day, but that will not put me off, I know I'll have lots of projects on the go. 

 

Right I'm off, let me know what new projects you are trying this year, love to know how you get on.

 

Bye

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Gift Guide

 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas

 

 

 

 

It's that time of year when you look at the calendar and think 'yikes', I need to start looking for gifts for everyone for Christmas. If your struggling with ideas, you can't go wrong in buying a handmade item this Christmas and in particular handmade jewellery and accessories

 

 I know how hard it can be deciding what gifts to choose, so I've rounded a selection of handmade jewellery and accessories that might be ideal Christmas gifts. 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Gifts for Her

 

 

Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings, Wine Glass Charms

 

Accessories

 

 

 Bookmarks, Key Rings, Bag Charms, Kilt Pin Brooches

 

 

 

 

Gifts for Him

 

 

 One Shilling Coin Cufflinks, Unakite Gemstone Bracelet, Black and White Zebra Jasper Bracelet, Lucky Sixpence Coin Cufflinks.

 



 All the above and much more, are available to purchase from my website at www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com

Happy Christmas Shopping.  x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Diagonal Stitch Bracelet

In February of this year I tried a couple of jewellery projects that involved using seed beads. I made a cross weave bracelet and a pair of bead woven earrings.

Pearl Cross Weave Bracelet 

 

 

Bead Weave Earrings

 

Both of these creations were first attempts and I really enjoyed the time I spent making them. To be honest when I use to come across projects like these, I use to think 'yikes', there is now way I can make something soo complicated, involving thread, needles and tiny beads that look pretty, but are a nightmare to pick up if you drop them on the floor and I'm speaking from experience!

 

Last weekend I made another bracelet, this one was a diagonal stitch bracelet, using red crystals, white pearls and light grey seed beads.

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Once I completed the bracelet, I felt such a sense of achievement that now I want to try some more new projects involving seed beads. At the moment I'm making some new jewellery for the Christmas season, so I think I'll wait till the new year before I try another bead weaving project.

 

Bye for now.

 

Michelle x

 

 

 

 

 

Jewellery of the Day!

 

 

 

I don't normally do two blog posts in one week, but I thought what is the best way in getting a message across,  I then had a light bulb moment and thought why don't I just put it on my blog!

 

I have decided to create a daily promotion called 'Jewellery of the Day' on my website. Each day will be picking an item of jewellery or accessory from my website, which I will be offering at a discount of upto 50% off,  for that day only!

 

Here is todays special offer, http://www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com/michelleshandcraftedjewellery/prod_1951474-Black-and-Gold-Bracelet-Jewellery-of-the-Day-50-Off.html

 

Don't forget to check out my website daily, to see which jewellery or accessory is on offer that day. I'll also mention it daily on my Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram pages. I'll pop my links down below.

 

www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com

www.twitter.com/bettyboo2u2

www.facebook.com/michelleshandcraftedjewellery

www.pinterest.com/michelleshand

www.instagram.com/michelleshandcraftedjewellery

 
 

Bye for now

Michelle  x

 

 

 

 

Autumn Jewellery



Which is your favourite season? I always look forward to the spring, because the evenings start to get lighter and I know that summer is not far behind. Last year our summer was a complete wash out, it literally did not stop raining the whole summer. This year we had a glorious summer, I hope we have the same next year.

Now that were easing out of summer and heading for the cool autumn/winter months, not only will we will be changing the type of clothes we will be wearing,  I like to wear big chunky jumpers, I always feel the cold, lol, some of us will switch to a different colour palette for our jewellery, like warm browns, reds, oranges and greens. To compliment the autumn colours,  I have created some new jewellery pieces and also incorporated some of my existing creations into a new section on my website called 'Autumn Inspired Jewellery'. You only have to look outside your window to see the changing colour of the leaves on the trees and on the ground, which signal that autumn is on it's way.

 

 

 

Autumn Jewellery





 

If you would like to see some more of my autumn jewellery, then please click the link below to my website.  

http://www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com/michelleshandcraftedjewellery/cat_779715-Autumn-Inspired-Jewellery-Collection.html

 

Before I forget, there is 50% off clearance sale on all the ankle bracelets on my website. If you would like to see the various designs and purchase one for next summer, please click here on this link.

http://www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com/michelleshandcraftedjewellery/cat_604023-Clearance-sale-50-off-all-ankle-bracelets.html

 

Bye for now.

 

Michelle. x

Wrapped up and loving it!

Back in October 2012, I posted a blog about my first attempt at wire wrapping. I wire wrapped a necklace, my efforts were very amateurish to say the least, but I still tried it and I enjoyed the freedom of using the wire.
Fast forward to August 2013, I decided to try wire wrapping again, this time I wanted to make a ring. I'd seen some beautiful wire wrapped rings on Pinterest and I wanted to see if I could make a ring myself. I love Pinterest, I can be over there for hours and hours, if you would like to see what I've been pinning, my Pinterest details are www.pinterest.com/michelleshand  

So I bought a ring mandrel and a reel of 20 gauge silver plated craft wire.  After several attempts, I came up with this ring.  

 



 



  As you can see here, I have not stopped making rings, using different designs and coloured beads.

  

 

 

I made these rings for myself,  but will be creating and adding similar designs to my website very soon, I'll most probably do another blog, letting you all have a sneek peak at them.

 

If you would like to see my handmade jewellery and accessories, head over to www.michelleshandcraftedjewellery.com

 

Bye for now.

x

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