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Welcome to our blog started in December 2007.
Yes it was a crazy time to start a blog just at ' that ' time of year, but why not?
We aim to post our blog at least once a week and each of the jewellery mob here will give this writing lark a whirl. So there will be different styles, subjects and content. You'll find out!
blogs for April and May 2008 (includes an article by JW on buying jewellery in a recession)
blogs for February and March 2008
blogs for January 2008 and December 2007
23 June 2008
I’m still recovering from attending two days of Raqs Britannia 13th-15th June in Blackpool. This is one of the biggest bellydance festivals in Europe. Its not necessarily the best (many dancers in the know prefer less commercial festivals such as JOY in Yorkshire) but as it was close by and promised the opportunity of workshops with international teachers, off I went to enjoy myself.
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Despite feeling unwell, I managed to last through three, two-hour workshops and still enjoy myself shopping in the souk. There was more glitter and sparkle to be seen than in the entire designed for you stock cupboard – quite an achievement! I was persuaded to invest in a super mega hot pink costume, it even more pink than the necklace in this picture from our just one colour range (think of the hottest pink that you can imagine and then add some!). I think it’s lovely but am still not quite convinced by it. I have never ‘done’ pink and find it hard to visualise myself wearing it. Still, a straw poll of festival goers was very positive about the costume while I was modelling it. Perhaps I’ll become fully reconciled to the idea if I get some matching chandelier earrings!
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One of the highlights at Raqs Britannia was the raffling of a costume that was designed for and once worn by Dina, one of the most famous bellydancers in modern Cairo. The costume was the main prize in a fundraising raffle for bellydance charity Just Because. Dina is also known for her love of the outrageous and her unique ‘taste’ so we were all excited to get a glimpse of the costume at the Friday night show. It turned out to be an entirely see-through ruffled Melaya Lef dress in sliver (Melaya Lef is a tongue-in-cheek, flirtatious style of the dance usually done in a short dress and high heels) and then decorated all over with large vintage Christmas baubles (imagine some of our bauble earrings enlarged to mammoth size). True Dina ‘style’! The dress was clearly made for her when she was a very skinny lady indeed so the suggestion was that whoever won it could just hang it up for a bit of extra dazzle during the festive season!
JF
See through and Christmas baubles??? I can just see our designer getting ideas. Hope those baubles were placed...strategically...
GA
4 June 2008
After nearly a month of excitement, I am now finally getting used to the old routine again.
But only just...
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Well, it’s not that easy to get back to your Nine to Five after you first spent a few days in a cottage high up the Italian mountains with little electricity and an outside toilet. I fancy myself quite hardened to the rustic lifestyle, but after a (very short) while, I was longing for little Italian cafés and drinking good cappuchino. And of course, the opportunity to dress up and put on my designed for you jewellery (which I have to admit were in my bag)! However, the view was beautiful, the air fresh and healthy, and after a few days, my legs got used to the steep path to the cottage...yes, I nearly developed calves to die for!
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Then it was back to Germany for a few days of chilling out, and then I was on the train again going homewards. I am a big fan of the German ICE trains. They are very comfortable, the food is good, and they even have recycling facilities for your waste. This makes you feel even more virtuous about taking the train and not the plane...
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Returning to Belfast, I made up for the lack of glamour at an annual arts festival, and donned my new funky earrings to hit the town. I had a friend over, and we shopped and went out rather a lot, with only few ’rest’ days in between.
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We also went up to the Belfast Wheel, a new tourist attraction beside our City Hall, which was only supposed to stay for about four months, but due to its huge popularity, has now become a long-term fixture. It was scary being up so high, but luckily, I didn’t loose any of my jewellery...
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Ever since I returned to the office, the spring has really sprung, and so far, the weather has been very promising. I got so sunburnt (don’t do this at home!) that I couldn’t even think of wearing necklaces and only now are my neck and face recovering. The so-called ’Ulster Lobster’ look is not very fetching and rather painful. Definitely not a good idea. However, I am thinking if I select one of our wooden necklaces, I could wear them over a scarf if necessary. It might make me think I was at a music festival *sigh* while I am trotting to work every day (can’t you just hear the sad violins playing...)
So while I was running around with a face that looked like I’d been in Mallorca or Tunisia, our designer also had a mishap, and was out of action for a bit. That’s why the site has been slightly quieter. At least, the cats still got fed, and that’s the main thing! And lots of thinking work has gone on in the background. So, as usual, watch this space!
GA
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blogs for April and May 2008
blogs for February and March 2008
blogs for January 2008 and December 2007
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