Saddle Up Girlfriend

Sometimes it's easy to feel when you have to
start over and over again on the same goal,
that it's just not meant to be

But then I have to remind myself that
anyone who has done anything amazing or worthwhile,
has always had to get back up and start again
(sometimes many, many times)

I have to remind myself

those people made mistakes too, slipped up,

and got lazy and distracted 

You see, here's the thing. I have never believed in

the overnight success stories. Apart from

some rare exceptions, 

if you just dig a little deeper you will

find it was never over- night.

Sometimes successful people or

people you admire have been

plugging away for years in the background;

we just haven't seen them.

So gorgeous girl, if you find yourself

re-starting a project........ starting something

over for the umpteenth time

Congratulate yourself! Congratulate yourself

for having the courage it takes to move forward

after stumbling.........maybe even falling.

It really is an act of bravery to not throw in

the towel at the first or second or even twentieth

hurdle and  to recognise

what you did/didn't do..............

and to take the necessary action- however small and

after however many coffees ;-)

image from A Brit Greek via Pinterest

It will make a difference and you will

subsequently make a difference to someone

with the dreams and goals you have in mind.

Not only that, when you finally
reach the finishing line, success
will be all the more sweeter

Saddle up girlfriend. It's time to 

get back on that damn horse ;-)


As always would love to hear your thoughts
on my random ramblings ;-)

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com won our subscribers

October draw. Her "sparkly" gift is winging it's way to her.

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

p.s all images from Pinterest

Dark + Delicious Ghoulish Finds

In celebration of Halloween, here are some unusual

"dark and ghoulish" finds.

Lydia Courteille "Pumpkin Ring" with orange

sapphires, green garnets, diamonds + blackened gold

Devil Pendant by Theo Fennel made with

white gold, rubies and diamonds.

This is my fav!

LOVE these!
Bat Earrings (Lydia Courteille) with black diamonds
drouzy agate, rubies and blackened gold

Spider Ring by Lydia Courteille; with orange sapphires,green garnets,

diamonds and blackened gold

Skeleton earrings (Lydia Courteille)

Lydia Courteille Bat pendant

Theo Fennel Skull ring with white gold, black, 

grey and white diamonds

Less ghoulish, but equally as dark and delicious

Our Chantilly lace pendant (made by the same lace house in Northern France
that made the lace for Kate Middleton's wedding dress). Read the
story here:  http://bit.ly/ONJe3t

Our dark + delicious stacking ring; not just for
Halloween. Elegant enough all year round http://bit.ly/Rn7Ej4

Another Chantilly lace piece

http://bit.ly/MijC9b

Gorgeous multi-strand cuffs, The black would be perfect

for Halloween. Other variations on our site.

http://bit.ly/fDhGml

So which are your fav ghoulish finds?

Perhaps they are too over the top for you?

Would love to hear your views +
also what you are planning this Halloween, if anything
x xx

p.s don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into a monthly draw (first draw takes place at the end of this month!) for one of our 
pieces.

Are You Like Oprah?

"Some women have a weakness for shoes...............

I can go barefoot if necessary. I have a weakness for books" Oprah

I really LOVE this quote. If you ask my friends and family 

they are likely to say this quote best sums me up .

Altho' best don't ask my husband about the weakness for bags 

which he might add is also a medical condition. 

Needless to say I will do anything to get hold of a book 

I want to read.... and I mean anything!

How's this for a cosy nook to read in?

This would be my fav reading nook

...or perhaps this one 

And yes, I ALWAYS do the above.

I currently have 6 new books on my

bedside table all with the first chapter

read only!

Are books your weakness?

Where's your fav place to read?

What's the last book you bought?

What's the best read so far this year?

Are you a one book at a time girl?

Would love to hear your "bookish" recommendations

p.s don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into a monthly draw (first draw takes place at the end of this month!) for one of our 
pieces.

All images courtesy of Pinterest

Note to Self

Sometimes it might not look like it.........

it might not feel like it.......you may feel like giving up.

But that  thing you are working on, that you

have put your heart and soul into for so long....

it really is happening

It may be going slower than you want.

It may not be taking shaping according to YOUR

timetable.

But stop constantly taking score

It IS unfolding.

Enjoy this part of the journey.

When you get to your destination will

you look back and wish you savored every step

because now you realise that every difficult step was

wrapped in fabulousness?

You really can't feel the good stuff unless you

know what the bad stuff feels like.

Keep going.

Don't you DARE give up.

You really are closer than you realize.

Just look around and appreciate how far you have come.

Happy journey lovelies.

Don't you dare give up.....

I'm watching you ;-)

How's your "journey" going gorgeous girl?

p.s don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and become party to special flash sales (for subscribers only) new designs (with special prices) before they are sold in our boutique and  be entered into a monthly draw for one of our pieces.

All images courtesy of Pinterest

Dare You Let Go?

One thing that the season of Autumn always forces me

to do is purge i.e let go.

It's a season when I look at letting go of perhaps

unwanted pounds that have crept on (those fat cells

are STILL living rent-free on my hips; time to evict)

letting go of  old habits that no longer serve me

such as worry (even when there's nothing to worry about),

such as always nurturing others before myself

such as checking e.mails first thing in the morning

(I read that people who delay checking e.mails

until the afternoon, are more productive)

It could even be letting go of friendships I know are toxic

(this is a really hard one for me, and one I am not good at)

Maybe it's letting go of  perfectionism

or

being the best multi-tasker you know

(is that really how you want to be

remembered?)

Maybe it's just letting go 

of a heavy blogging timetable

Or spending less time on social media

Usually our heart and soul knows exactly what it's time

to let go of.

Maybe it's letting go of the excuses for really not

pursing your dreams.

But it's sometimes our brains that give us reasons to 

not follow our hearts and clamp

our sweaty little fingers even tighter around the thing we 

should be letting go of.

However, sometimes when the seasons change, it's a good 

time to let go and make way for the new.

If we just get quiet, get brave and listen very carefully

our heart will tell us what we need to let go of

What do you really want to let go ? It doesn't have to be something

very deep or profound.

It would be just lovely to hear what new spaces you are making 

in your life this season

xx

p.s don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and become party to special flash sales (for subscribers only) new designs (with special prices) before they are sold in our boutique and  be entered into a monthly draw for one of our pieces.

Who Is Your 3am Friend?

Since being back in London I am trying desperately to catch-up

with both old and new friends.

Last week I spoke with one of my best friends; we've been

friends for more than 25 years.

After  happy tears and lots of girlie screams

she said to me "Van, you are definitely my 3am friend".

So this got us both debating what gives

someone the "honor" of being your 3am friend?

Who would you call first if you found out you were pregnant,

got the job you desperately wanted, if you won an award?

(after your respective partners and family of course.......

or maybe not ;-)

Who could write your obituary and clean

your computer if your died ;-)

(if like me you are a fan of Greys Anatomy, you will

"get" the above and how important a

3am friend is)

Who would you call first if your had front row

seats for the hottest tickets in town?

Who would drive there and back for you?

Who's seen you do the Ugly Cry?

Who could order for you at a restaurant?

Do you have  a 3am friend or do you think with family

they are not necessary?

One thing I discovered living in Spain was that

because families all live very close to each other,

people never nurtured friendships; they didn't "need"

friends, so they never invested time in friends.

I actually found that very sad. I think we all need

a 3am friend irrespective of how fantastic our 

family/husbands/partners are.

Maybe I'm wrong. 

I would love to hear your thoughts and

about your 3am friend if you have one.

p.s don't forget to see our previous post with details of our Flash sale which ends Tuesday 2 October.

Celebrating Autumn

Having lived in Spain for 12 years,

 I SO missed Autumn. You see there were only ever

two seasons in Spain; Summer and Winter.

Autumn has always been one of my favorite seasons

(along with Spring), so now I am back in the UK

I am really indulging :-)

In celebration of Autumn, take a look at these gorgeous

autumnal pieces

This gorgeous pendant in Silver has been cast

 from real branches taken from the ancient forests 

of the Sussex South Downs (UK). 

I am so excited about :-

*cosy walks all wrapped up

*wearing boots and scarves in September 

(and not flip-flops and shorts)

*comfort food

*gorgeous colors that just stop you in your tracks.

*snuggling up in front of the fire with a good

book or English drama 

(just getting into Downton Abbey;

I know I am one year late to the party ;-)

A stunning ring in Sterling Silver and 18ct gold which 

really encapsulates the form of twigs and berries that are inter-twined 

to form a gorgeous Winter garland. Imagine wearing this 

gorgeous ring this season ;-)

These gorgeous hoops in Sterling silver are cast from real branches 

taken from the ancient forests of the Sussex South Downs (UK). 

They are so original and gorgeous, and will easily take you from day to night.

( Gold version also available).

These stunning earrings in Gold or Silver again have been cast 

from real branches taken from the ancient forests 

of the Sussex South Downs (UK). 

They are simple but stunning glistening drops of buds 

on hand-forged hooks. Length 5.5cm

This is a gorgeous ring (Chocolate Freedom)
for Fall/Autumn with smokey quartz 

that depicts some of the colors of this season; 

it's a clean, ergonomic shape with stunning chocolate 
color stones on one side.  

It is made in Silver and rhodium plating.

I live right on the edge of Epping Forest, 

and I never appreciated just how beautiful 

the scenery could be (or

maybe appreciation of nature is something

that just comes with age!)

This set comprises of 2x 24k gold-plated Silver jewelled hand-hammered 

stackable rings and 1x 24k gold-plated plain stacking ring. 

The colors of these stones remind me of Autuumn/Fall. I think

they would jazz up any outfit.

What do you love most about Autumn/Fall?
Are you mourning the end of Summer
or throwing yourself into the 
new season?

In celebration of my love of Autumn/Fall

I am offering 20% discount off any

of the above items + FREE shipping.

This flash sale is for  1 week only 
(ends TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER)
Just drop me an e.mail and 
I will arrange your discount.

If you want to use a discount on
an item not showcased here, just
drop me an e.mail or a tweet ;-)

Finally. subscribe to our newsletter (box on the top right)

as we will now be doing a MONTHLY draw; one 

subscriber will win a piece from our boutique

EVERY month.

All Autumn images via Pinterest.

All jewellery images via www.luxuria-jewellery.com

Overwhelmed

As most of you know, I left Spain to move back to the UK

this summer.

I principally came back to look after my sick and elderly Dad

who was more sick than I could have ever imagined.

I am not an only child, I have a sister who lives 10 minutes 

away from my Dad. But that's a story for another day.

I'm loving being back in London.

But something else is overwhelming me. 

I've realised my life has been "hijacked".

I can't make plans as there is always

an urgent medical appointment that needs to

be squeezed in.

My life no longer has a timetable. Those of

you who know me, know how my life is scheduled

with military precision.

Suddenly the only timetables are

those surrounding my Dad.

It's dawning on me what a huge undertaking 

I am now part of.

Please don't get me wrong, I am so

pleased I came back when I did.

But being surrounded by someone old and very sick

has started to fill me with dread and fear about my own

old-age.

I've lost my mojo, my creativity, my optimism

for life.

I've lost my freedom, my passion ,

my vision for my business, 

my spontaneity, my sparkle

Nobody told me it would be like this.

Everybody just told me I was doing the right thing.

I'm trying to focus everyday on all that I DO have

........ the most wonderful husband,

friends and faith that are all keeping me on the

right side of the Vodka bottle ;-)

Please don't think I have been ignoring you all

(this is the longest I've been AWOL from

blogland).

I just need more time than I thought to

adapt to my new responsibilities.

OK........now where's that Vodka bottle?