This blog has moved!

Hi everyone!

I decided it was time for a little blog shake-up...time for a new look for the new year!

Do come over and visit me in my new home... http://carabijouxtheblog.blogspot.com/

I look forward to seeing you there!

Cerries x
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How to make these gorgeous over-sized hoop earrings in 8 EASY STEPS!

Hi everyone!

As promised, I have started to work on some free jewellery tutorials for you to have a go at! I absolutely love making jewellery - it is therapeutic (unless you have lots of urgent orders to dispatch!) and the results are fast...once you have learned a series of basic techniques, the sky really is your limit to what you can create!


As it's that festive time of year, where looking glamorous and sparkly is a must, I thought I'd start off the tutorials with some fabulous over-sized hoop earrings! These are super-easy to make (honest!) and will take only ten minutes to make. I hope you enjoy the tutorial, and if you get stuck or have any questions, feel free to email me at carabijoux@aol.com.

Step 1 - Gather the tools that you need to complete the earrings


To make these earrings, you will need two types of pliers - round nose pliers, and flat nose pliers. You could use only round nose pliers, however I recommend that you use both. Both types of pliers are relatively cheap to buy, and readily available on the internet or in hobbyist or beading shops.

Step 2 - Gather the materials you will need to complete the earrings


You will need the above materials to make the earrings. These include:

Fishhook earwires - I use Sterling Silver in all of my jewellery designs, however the wires come in many different materials and finishes - the most popular for beginners being Silver Plated.

Large open-hoop earring wires - These wires come in many different sizes. You need to ensure that the wires you buy are open at the top, ready for you to string on your own beads.

Selection of beads - This is the fun part! Choose an assortment of beads - get creative! Some of my most popular designs are made with 'bead soup' - a random mixture of beads that although totally different, seem to complement each other. Here I am using 8mm Swarovski Crystal Round Faceted Beads in a special effects coating, but you really can use any type of bead (so long as it has a hole running through the centre).

Again you can easily find all of these items online, or in your nearest hobby or craft shop.

Step 3 - Thread your beads on to the wires


Slide your chosen beads onto the wires. You can either totally fill the wires so the whole hoop is covered by beads, leave some of the wire showing, like the ones in my example.

Step 4 - Close the hoop wires together


Take the end of the wire hoop, and insert it into the slot at the top of the hoop. Don't worry if it's not secure - that's covered in the next step! To ensure the hoop wires don't come undone, you can put a little glue on the tip before inserting into the slot. I recommend a strong crafters glue, or a 2-part epoxy resin. E-6000 is a good 1-part epoxy resin, and you only need a very small amount. This is optional - you don't need to use glue if you don't want to!

Step 5 - Close the slots with your flat nose pliers


Take your flat nose pliers, and use them to squeeze the slot together around the wire. I also like to tighten up the other side too to ensure both slots are fully closed. The aim here is to ensure the wire does not pop out from the slot - although try not to press so hard that you dent the wire. A gentle but firm squeeze will be fine!

Step Six - Open the loop of the ear wires


Using your round nose pliers, gently open out the loop at the bottom of the ear wire. You only need to open them wide enough to insert the top of the wire loop.

Step Seven - Insert the wire loop into the ear wire


Insert the wire hoop into the ear wire.

Step Eight - Close the loop on the ear wire


Using your round nose pliers, close the loop of the ear wire so that it is fully closed and secure.

And that's it! You have yourself a gorgeous pair of sparkly earrings!

I really hope you enjoyed this first tutorial, and I am working on more projects to share with you! If anyone has a special request, or general jewellery-making question, please don't hesitate to email me!

Cerries x




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It's all in the tools.....

Hi everyone!

As a designer and maker of handmade jewellery, one of the pivotal parts of my business is the tools I use to create my designs. Like a painter with his prized paintbrush, and a chef who insists on only using the knife he bought at the start of his career that cost him a month's rent, my tools are the foundation of every piece of jewellery I make.

Over the last 20 years, I have experimented with all sorts of pliers, cutters, crimpers, nippers...the choice out there is overwhelming when it comes to choosing the tools of your trade! Gadgets that do ten things at once, round nosed pliers that double as nipper tools, magic crimping plier...the list is endless!

But you know what? One of my most trusted and favourite tools is a pair of pliers that I bought when I was 7 years old (well, I say 'I' bought them...my parents bought them for me with my pocket money!). I went on my first jewellery making course when I was 7 in my hometown of Chester, and I felt so incredibly grown-up coming home with my own set of beautiful, red-handled pliers. Fully spring-loaded, with a fine rounded tip, they were my pride and joy - and I made endless pieces of jewellery with them.

I still use the very same pliers today...the spring is slightly squeaky, but they are just as reliable as they were 20 years ago. I have in excess of fifteen different pliers and cutters, but every time I use these pliers they remind me of my journey as a maker, and that inspires me to carry on my lifelong ambition of being a jewellery designer...

And here they are...the star of the show!


What tools do you use in your trade that you particularly love to use? If you're a writer, you may have a favourite fountain pen that you have used since high school, or if you are a nail technician you may have a beloved brush that just works with your hand perfectly...

I'd love to hear about your treasured tools!

C xxx
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Display Dilemmas...

Well, here's the first general rambling post that I promised you all! ;0)

Something I have always found challenging about running a handmade jewellery business is displaying my jewellery at fairs and home jewellery parties. In the past, I made much larger, chunkier jewellery, which was difficult to fit into boxes. This presented problems when coming to display them on a table - making them look attractively laid out was really difficult.

I had my first home jewellery party last night since designing my new range, and I am so pleased at how it all looked together! I have spent over a year designing the pieces that are now in my range, and although I've had them displayed next to each other at home, it was really great to see them all together. The packaging in particular looked amazing - really sumptuous and just oozes quality. Sadly my camera decided to die on me last night, but I did manage to get a cheeky photo from one of the guests of the table laid out:


So apologies for the poor photo...but you get the idea! I was trying to dig out some photos of jewellery parties from yesteryear, to see how far I have come...


My range has come such a long way, and I'm so proud of what I have achieved. I think my display looks so much more professional now...I've finally got it just how I want it!!

Much love..

Cerries x
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I think I need a new approach to blogging...

Well faithful followers, I think I need to re-think my blogging strategy.

It may appear on the surface that I have been shirking my blogging responsibilities. However it's more a case of 'bloggers block' (if there is such a thing..). You would not believe the amount of times I start a blog post, then my mind goes blank, despite having a huge amount to say. I often lie awake at night with ideas and post subjects racing through my mind..but when I sit down to type, it's like someone opened the trap door and they fell through...

I think I've been taking this whole blogging thing too seriously. Don't get me wrong...I take my blog very seriously, but this seriousness has started to verge on procrastination. Wow that's a big word for someone so tired and weary! By nature, I'm a bit of a perfectionist (well, in some things anyway!), and if something is even remotely unsatisfactory, I discard it, feeling guilty for just having spent half an hour typing only to hit the delete button prematurely.

So...from now on, I'm not going to think too much about it. I'm just going to type what I feel, and quit the procrastination. Life's too short, and I have lots I want to share with you!

I just hope you find what I have to share interesting ;0)
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Having a baby = not enough hours in the day!

Well hello there!

Once again, I do feel the need to apologise for my lack of posts...I promise I haven't forgotten about you all! They say babies are hard work..well, that's definitely true lol! Poppy is now 16 weeks old, and we're finally settling in to some sort of routine...which includes sessions of giggling, interspersed with hysterical crying ;0)...



Being a mummy is more than I could ever have expected it to be...exciting, scary, overwhelming, wonderful...she is my world, and nothing could ever compare to seeing the big grin on her face when she sees me first thing in the morning...

Well, enough of the soppy stuff...! Although I haven't been posting much on my blog, I have been full steam ahead where Carabijoux is concerned. Despite the challenges of caring for a newborn, I have somehow managed to increase my line of designs, and learned new techniques and found inspiring new ideas to share with you...

It was always my intention to build on the amount of designs I have in my shop...but as with all small businesses, adding inventory does take time. So I decided to really listen to the feedback my Facebook fans and customers have been giving me on what they would like more of, and one thing that really stood out was a need for small, simple earrings. So I researched..then researched some more...and researched some more again...until I finally found the materials I needed to make some fabulous Swarovski stud earrings. Now this probably sounds quite easy - I have to admit I didn't think finding the right materials for these would be so difficult! But it took me a long time (and a LOT of trial and error!) to get these earrings just right.


Swarovski Crystal Sterling Silver Stud Earrings (http://www.etsy.com/listing/84238354/swarovski-stud-earrings-crystal-ab)
 I am currently making these earrings in different colours, as they're just so versatile...watch this space!

Anyway..I'd better go get to work! We are moving house in just over a week, so lots to do! I will update later, and I promise to post much, much for often!

Cerries xxx
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I'm back! And to celebrate...I've created a Treasury!

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for being so patient while I settled in with our new addition to the family! Poppy is doing so well..I can't believe she's 13 weeks old already!

I have got so many exciting things to tell you about the new pieces I have been working on! (no mean feat with a young baby, I might add lol!). But for now, I wanted to share a Treasury I created with you: All Bagged Up! A collection of my favourite bags on Etsy! Enjoy...

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