Carabijoux

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

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)

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

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...

Hi there everyone!

I realise that I haven't posted for quite some time...and I'd like to apologise for the lack of any Carabijoux activity lately! I do have a good excuse though...I've been busy having a baby!

Sadly I was quite poorly with pre-eclampsia for some weeks at the end of my pregnancy, so I didn't have much chance to work on my jewellery. But our beautiful daughter, Poppy Rose, was born on Saturday 2nd July 2011, weighing 7lb 4oz, and was born by emergency c-section.



I'm just starting to recover from my surgery, and we are all settling in as a new family. But I promise I will be back very soon with some new jewellery designs!

Take care!

Cerries x

Hi everyone!

I was in the mood for creating a Treasury this morning! I have been feeling a little bit tired lately (I'm sure being 7 months pregnant has something to do with that) so I felt inspired to do a wake-me-up themed Treasury! There's nothing more invigorating than a splash of tangerine...so these orange segments should get you going!

Hey everyone!

As the title says...I love a good challenge! A friend of mine recently asked me to make a necklace for her - in the theme of 'Nail Technician'. My friend is a Nail Tech herself, and she really wanted a necklace in my style, that reflects her occupation (and love of her life!).

I spent quite a while researching different options - I found charms in the shape of nail varnish bottles, charms in the shape of hands and feet...even though they were cute, they didn't quite fit. Eventually, we came across a beautiful Sterling Silver nail file charm. It was perfect! I had it shipped in from the USA specially for Del, and paired it with a sparkling 8mm Swarovski Crystal Rivoli in AB...they look so beautiful together!

So here is the end result! I am able to make more of these Nail Tech necklaces on a custom basis - they cost £29.50, and have free International P&P. Or if anyone else has any interesting occupations I can try and design a necklace for that would be so exciting!