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Blogs for April and May 2008.
Lots of spring frolics by the designed for you crowd, and an article by JW on buying jewellery in a recession.
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blogs for February and March 2008
blogs for January 2008 and December 2007
8 May 2008
Why buy jewellery in a recession?
I address this question purely because of the doom, gloom and fear expressed within the media, the business world, among my UK acquaintances and fellow on-line retailers.
No way should retailers and customers alike be daunted by the ‘credit time bomb’. Sure, many folks have been living beyond their income, and when times get tight the little luxuries take the place of the larger ones.
We compensate for not feeling able to move to a new house by redecorating our present one, or buying some new plants for the garden. We compensate by not buying as much ready made food, but buying the ingredients and making something tasty. Likewise we compensate for not buying a complete new outfit by just buying a jacket or dressing up our better outfits with new accessories. We look on eBay or Charity shops for second hand clothes and then scour the web or shops for distinctive jewellery.
Using colour, outline and form (to enhance, to distract from, or to subtly change our image), we often get as much satisfaction, using our creativity to construct our new look - fashionable, classic, retro or vintage- from these modest purchases, as we would “shopping ‘til we drop”.
Classic unusual jewellery is an investment to be used with different outfits, and in different contexts for a range of occasions. Designer pieces, chosen with care, can last a lifetime and beyond. The cheap fashion items are fun for the moment, but are tomorrow’s throw-aways. Even these sales survive in the recession.
There are those untouched by recession or credit squeeze, but who feel the cold wind of financial gloom. When they get the ‘feel good’ factor the will to buy will readily spring alive again. At present they will buy necessities, but baulk at more impulsive purchases.
Jewellery is a luxury, but funnily enough, it is often felt to be a necessity. This may seem crazy logic, but without that ‘finishing touch’ we feel incomplete, like wearing full make up but no lipstick; or putting up a door and missing out screws from one of the hinges.
Since time immemorial man has worn jewellery: - teeth, bones, stones, leaves, shells and wood, and man is still wearing jewellery.
Jewellery is an expression of our confidence and feelings. It is a view about ourselves, our tastes and opinions. It is a reflection of our sense of our selfhood.
That is why we wear jewellery, why we buy jewellery, and why we won’t stop!
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JW
21 April 2008
We’ve been experiencing a lot of deja vu at designed for you. Now that spring is supposedly with us, the designer has instituted a bit of ‘spring cleaning’ with a big organisation of the stock. Its good fun sorting through all the necklaces and earrings but unfortunately the sort out has revealed a whole collection of jewellery that we thought was on site but, it turns out, wasn’t online at all – oooops!
After some further rummaging it was revealed that the designer had photographed all of these designs, ready for sale but that was as far as they had got. We’ve had a merry time matching up pictures with products, but we’ve finally caught up with ourselves. Keep an eye on our New Products section to see them going up for sale over the next few weeks. You’ll also find quite a few additions to our long necklaces range.
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Another thing to look out for on the designed for you website is our new social bookmarking facility – check out the bottom of the homepage and you’ll find our new ‘bookmark’ button. Social bookmarking lets you automatically save a link to a website like designed for you on internet facilities such as MySpace and Facebook. It’s a great way to recommend and discuss websites with your friends, so get bookmarking!
My dance hoop earrings were a success at my local hafla. They are super light and comfortable to wear with just enough party sparkle. They co-ordinated brilliantly with my bright orange troupe outfit - we were supposed to be dressed in sunshine colours for a piece of Spanish-inspired fusion.
JF
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Now that designed for you had its spring cleaning, why don’t you all come over to my place and continue? My living room is in dire need of some serious tidying...
GA
10 April 2008
In transit...
Travelling on trains, you always experience something new.
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The good:
A complimentary First Class ticket on the train which included free breakfast. This meant legroom, a free newspaper, lots of coffee and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Bliss!
The familiar pastry shop that sells ‘The Oggy’. Yes, you know who you are.
The wonderful paper shop at Euston Station, plus the nuts and seeds stall there! I can never resist going to both before continuing my journey.
The ’Meet me at St Pancras’ sculpture at St Pancras Station, London.
People-watching. Yes, there are so many different worlds out there – it reminds me how small my own really is…
And even better: having interesting conversations with fellow travellers! Conversations on trains – you gotta love them!
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The bad:
Running around between stations with heavy luggage and no lift.
My rucksack suddenly opening and spilling its contents on the road. My little bead container opening, spilling its contents – silver seed beads – all over the floor at St Pancras.
People who have loud conversations on their mobile when you want to have a nap. No, I don’t want to hear about your awful business meeting. No, I don’t want to hear about your Granny’s diseases. And do I really want to listen to your argument with your partner? No, thank you very much!
People who still haven’t managed to use public toilets properly. ‘Nuff said…
The weird:
Reading about the latest Japanese craze: an electronic toy that simulates popping bubble wrap. This article really kept me amused for a long time. Actually, I would have liked such a toy on my long journey…
GA
6 April 2008
Packing...and packing again. I seem to put the suitcase away only to pull it out from behind the ladder once more and start filling it again with my clothes and knitting projects. After a few days staying with the designed-for-you cats - oh, and the designer - in Lancashire over Easter, I am now heading off to Germany and Italy. Since hopefully Spring is finally staying, I am packing more light clothing than thick sweaters...and of course, my favourite designed for you jewellery.
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Those 'Night Moon and Stars' earrings have been going everywhere with me, and they surely will go to Italy, too! If these earrings could talk...! Recently, they were matched with a pink jacket and dragged into a job interview. While I droned on about web editing, they must have been watching the panel, or silently been snoozing. However, they never lost their sparkle, unless their owner, who lost her thread half-way through the last question. Oh well, another 'Dear GA' will come my way...which reminds me, I should really finish my book I was writing two years' ago, which is dealing with exactly that: beating your way through the jungle of job interviews and rejections. If there is any kind publisher out there...I am here!
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Another birthday has also passed, and I certainly want to party in Italy, since I was so disorganised that I never organised my own shindig on the day! And I have something to celebrate: Me! Well, here I am, another year older, most likely not wiser although I certainly believe that I am, and I've made it from a screaming bundle of joy to a...still sometimes screaming, or rather yelling, human being. Not bad! Of course, I've treated myself to a piece of designed for you jewellery – a beautiful black and white necklace – snatched it away before it reached the website. However, there are still plenty where it came from, and the designer has just finished some fabulous long necklaces. Take a peek, and if you can't decide, have both!
GA
The 'Dear GA' arrived, but somehow I wonder if maybe this wasn't a blessing in disguise...
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