Wedding and Gems

More gorgeous sparklies to feast your eyes upon from Kerrie......

When people ask me what I do, I'm a little shy in telling them that I make wedding jewellery. I'm not sure why that is, its not like its a new thing, I've been running Wedding And Gems for quite a few years.

Starting a business  wasn't intentional,  it was a by product of my own personal therapy.  It began when I was in a recovering from post natal depression (a chemical imbalance in the brain), I found that creating took my mind off things, it allowed me to get so focused on something that I forgot everything else.  It wasn't just immersing myself in something creative that aided my recovery but it was the ability to see that I could create something from nothing, something that I would be proud to show off as my own. 

The first tiara I created was supposed to be my own, I had gone to the local craft shop and bought Swarovski crystals, pearls, wire and an plain headband.  I cut the wire with the kitchen scissors and bent down the ends with my nails.  Both my finger nails and the kitchen scissors were destroyed by the end. 

My husband to be was a little surprised when I told him I wanted to see if I could sell it on Ebay.   It sold for £21, more than it cost to make and at the time I was really pleased.  I took those profits and bought enough raw materials to make another tiara and when that sold, I bought more raw materials.  I was very strict with the amount of money that I would use to fund this little hobby, only spending the profits on materials so I could make more.

I quickly got bored with paying Ebay's fees and decided to create my own website. That was a whole new ball game and there were a few scary moments when I had accidentally destroyed the entire site by deleting the wrong file.  Back ups, I didn't really know how to do them so there was no option but to start at the beginning again creating the site.  That's how the site got to how it is today.

I still find designing a very therapeutic process, after a stressful day with the kids (it's half term as I write this)  I enjoy relaxing with some wire and beads.  Sometimes I don't even have a clue what it is I'm about to make, but it grows from a little idea and changes along the way.

A lot of the time I try to be a bit more organised so sketch my ideas on paper before I start but I always find that they evolve as my mind comes up with new ideas so I need to draw it again so I know exactly how I made it.

Since like to be challenged constantly, it's a kick for me when a bride asks me to design something bespoke for her.  It's always a very involved process where the bride gives me a starting point, I flesh out her ideas, create a rough sketch and we go from there.  Sometimes it gives me a chance to get out of my comfort zone and use new materials or techniques, so it's an opportunity to teach myself something new.

Recently Wedding and Gems has grown to offer a drop shipping service, it's still in it's infancy but I'm hoping to expand it quickly, so if you're interest, just give me a shout.

I'm also on Pinterest and Tumblr where I collect lots of photos for wedding inspiration.

Please go and visit Kerrie's website to view her full portfolio, which is gorgeous! You can also follow her on Twitter, find her on Facebook and you can also buy her products through her Etsy Shop

Port Out Starboard Home (P-O-S-H)

Isn't it funny how a certain phrase, sight or smell can transport you back years? Port Out Starboard Home is one of those phrases for me. One of my fondest memories from my childhood is of sailing at the Arun Yacht Club in Littlehampton. I was paired with a very good sailor called Trevor and together we won countless dinghy sea races, although the local newspaper could never quite get my name right! The  banks of the river where we went in and out were very close to the river mouth and beaches, but rather than being nice and sandy were rather oily black mud - not exactly glamorous on any scale! Still, it was great fun, but I suspect I'm wearing rose coloured specs to view my rather hazy memories as I kind of recall chattering teeth as well as frozen fingers and feet in the cold weather, not to mention the rather hefty crack on the head I received from the boom as I didn't have a clue what "Jibe'O" meant - a phrase once hit with, never forgotten! Oh, and I never did manage to remember which was port and which was starboard so I would probably have roasted on an upmarket cruise ;-) 

I am now far from the grubby nailed teenager who loved boats and horses (still love horses but always regret helping my son out with his when I see the state of my hands afterwards!) - my nails are long and filed even if I forgo the nail polish because it marks paper and card. The company I am very pleased to introduce you to this week are as far from the less glam side of sailing and cruising as you can get! 

 

We were delighted to be asked to feature in Kim’s blog. As our Business is newly formed and we are relatively unknown, we hope you will enjoy finding out about us and how we came up with our name!  

We are Jill and Georgie: a mother and daughter team who appreciate the importance of having everything just right and of the highest quality. We handcraft glamorous and unique hair accessories for weddings and special occasions using components from a bygone era. The rhinestone, paste and pearls used in these pieces have an amazing lustre, sparkle and luxurious feel.  We offer a bespoke service and enjoy making to order, perhaps using an article with family sentimental value.  

We are constantly searching for special items we feel will make a beautiful and unique headband or comb. We often incorporate raw silk, brocade, satin, lace and feathers in our designs. We love all things vintage! We gain our inspiration from the pieces we find and from studying historical hair accessories, jewellery and fashion. We have family connections in France, Germany and Austria and like nothing more than searching in markets and shops for that extra special jewellery item when we are visiting.

We were inspired to launch Port Out Starboard Home (P-O-S-H) after Georgie’s wedding. We had an idea of the special hair accessories we wanted for that occasion, but found that the choice was very limited.  Georgie decided to design and make her own headband from items in granny’s jewellery box.

Georgie's Headband

 The headband was a huge success and the business idea was born! We started in a very small way as we both had full time jobs, but when Jill took early retirement in July 2011, it seemed an ideal opportunity to launch our business. P-O-S-H has blossomed from there and we have been busy making special items for weddings, balls, proms and other occasions since our official launch in September 2011. 

Life has been very hectic since September and we love every minute! We have met some amazing people and have had some interesting commissions. Our favourite moments have been, designing a bespoke headband for a film premiere, a wedding in Las Vegas and experiencing the thrill when one of our headbands was used in a TV show which will be aired in the spring (details top secret at the moment!). We are currently planning our spring/summer collection when we will be expanding our fabric head dress range, using 1940s and 1950s as inspiration for our designs.  

People often ask how we got our name! We thought long and hard about our name and wanted something unique to convey times gone by when well-to-do people would dress beautifully in hats and gloves and spend their time cruising on luxury liners and visiting ports of the world! We believe our unique and glamorous accessories are perfectly suited to this wonderful lifestyle and era.   

P-O-S-H (Port Out Starboard Home) was coined in the days before air-conditioning. On the outward voyage to India, the cabins on the Port side got the early morning sun and had the rest of the day to cool off. Conversely, the Starboard cabins were intensely hot in the afternoon and were like ovens at bed time. On the homeward journey the situation was reversed and it was the unfortunate passengers on the Port side who roasted.  VIPs travelling were given preference of the cooler side of the ship in each direction and were given cabins which were Port-Out-Starboard-Home. Their tickets and baggage were marked POSH! We felt this name conveyed the First Class VIP image we would like to portray with our collections! 

We hope you have enjoyed finding out a little about us. Please visit our website to view our collection. If you would like to chat about any of the pieces or discuss your ideas for a unique hair accessory, please contact us by telephone or email to arrange a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Contact Jill & Georgie on their email, via their website, support them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. You can also call them on 07703544345

Photos by Martin Wise Studio Wise Photography - http://www.studiowise.co.uk

Chez Bec 2012 Collection

I am delighted to be kick-starting this New Year with a post on the new collection from Chez Bec. So if you're feeling a little flat after the Christmas and New Year festivities, feast your eyes on just a few of the gorgeous items from the Chez Bec 2012 Collection, put a little sparkle in your day and start planning your wedding accessories!

December saw the eagerly-anticipated launch of Chez Bec's 2012 Collection. Ultra feminine, romantic pieces with a gentle vintage twist form the body of the latest collection.  A plethora of headbands, hair combs and hair pins, along with a delicious collection of jewellery, make up the 50-piece 2012 Collection from Chez Bec.

Eva Hair Flower £68.00

Martha Hair Comb £84.00
Florence Necklace £68.00
Florence Earrings £30.00

Beautiful bows, vintage-inspired lace and lashings of chiffon combined with divine appliqués and a delicate dusting of sparkle makes Chez Bec’s 2012 Collection their very best offering yet.  Featuring an abundance of shimmering freshwater pearls, sparkling Swarovski crystals and diamantes, Chez Bec’s 2012 Collection is a sure delight for even the most discerning bride.

Alexandria Hair Comb £68.00
Florence Necklace £68.00

Beau Headband £65.00
Harriet Earrings £36.00

In November, Chez Bec pulled together a team of wedding industry professionals for a fabulous collaborative shoot at Gosfield Hall to showcase their latest collection.

Photographer: Claudine Hartzel has been working with Chez Bec on various shoots for the last couple of years and with a great knowledge of the venue, Claudine was the most perfect photographer for the job. Claudine is a wedding photographer with a fine art background and over 20 years' experience. 

Claudine is always influenced by the light when she works and for this shoot we were blessed was a crisp bright November day, so Claudine took the opportunity to shoot outside as much as possible. This helped create a wonderful vintage look which fitted perfectly with the Chez Bec Jewellery and beautiful IsabellaGrace dresses. The back-lit images really do give you a dream-like feel, but Claudine also decided to shoot with the light face on as this allows you to build a more dramatic effect.

Lily Hair Comb £64.00
Bella Pendant £38.00
Bella Earrings £32.00

Harriet Earrings £36.00

Venue: We wanted to do a very feminine, vintage shoot and we needed a venue to reflect this. Having worked at the stunning Gosfield Hall together in the past on shoots, this seemed the most natural choice. And what a venue Gosfield Hall is. Winner of Wedding Ideas Magazine ‘Best Wedding Venue’ 2011, Gosfield Hall is a stunning Georgian manor house offering exclusive-use weddings. Formerly a Royal residence, the Queen Charlotte's Oak panelled gallery with a 120 ft long aisle is perfect for wedding ceremonies and the newly licensed carriageway is the perfect location for outdoor ceremonies on sunny days. 

Sienna II Headband £122.00

Daniella Headband £128.00

Model: The utterly stunning professional model and actress, AliceChristian, has been the face of Chez Bec since the year dot and there is no one else who can model the brand as well as she can. We just had to have Alice! 

Hair:  When it came to hair for the shoot, we were lucky enough to have the super duper Jo Irving at Lovehair  on board. Since Lovehair was established in 2003 by Jo, they have worked with over 1,000 brides. Lovehair’s stylists are some of the best in the business. Working as full time freelance stylists means they spend their weeks styling celebrities, models and lovely brides for photo shoots, television, film and music videos. This means that you can benefit from professional reliable and experienced hairdressers with the ability to make you look like a star on your wedding day.

Make Up: I was so thrilled when the delightful LaraCrudgington approached me and suggested we work together. Lara works with brides, celebrities and private clients all over London and the Home Counties. For this bridal shoot we wanted two different looks: the first a very natural glowing look for the day and the second a little more dramatic and sultry for the evening.

Sienna I Headband £72.00
Katie Hair Flower £68.00

Sienna I Headband £72.00
Katie Hair Flower £68.00

Dresses: With my very own bridal boutique in Tunbridge Wells, IsabellaGrace, it was only natural to take a selection of our stunning Paloma Blanca dresses along for the shoot. It would have been rude not to. 

The Shoot: The day was fantastic from start to finish. The day and night before has been torrential rain but on the morning of the shoot I awoke to the clearest of blue skies. We took full advantage of the fabulously low autumnal sunshine and natural daylight which flooded the rooms at Gosfield Hall so beautifully. Everyone in the team worked incredibly hard and, the results speak volumes for themselves. I am absolutely over the moon. Claudine is not only a great photographer but she has also become a very good friend of mine. So much so that she now photographs all family occasions for us, from family weddings to christenings and special birthday shoots.  

VideoLink: 

The wonderful and highly-talented Adrian from The Dreamcatchers came along to film us all in action on the day of the shoot. With our team much preferring to be behind the camera than in front of it, we were all a little nervous, but the results are great, even if we do say so ourselves. And luckily for you, there's not too much of me on the film!

Since starting his career as a wedding videographer in 2003, Adrian has filmed over 400 weddings and special events. A gorgeous film, a ravishing set and a magnificent cast. Allow The Dreamcatchers to capture the dream that is your wedding day, in all its exquisite passion and intimacy.

As well as contacting Chez Bec via their website  you can find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Jewellery Workshop

Last week I joined in a linky/blog hop from Kate on Thin Ice on mums getting their groove back, which is a wonderful way to share stories, tips and general encouragement. I am not a young mum by any stretch of the imagination as my boys are now 18 and 15 but they live at home much of the time and sometimes even now the pressures of running a home and family at the same time as running my own business can seem daunting. I'm no longer chasing toddlers around and changing nappies but chasing up teenagers to help me around the house, keep their rooms clean and tidy, and in the case of the youngest to do his homework. Oh, and struggling to keep 2 out of 3 of the LGs from escaping the garden and disappearing for up to 24 hours at a time! Just yesterday I happened to pop my head out of the back door to see Bingo squeeze through a hole in the fence with Betsie egging him on and impatiently waiting her turn to join him! At my yell she came slinking back to the house looking incredibly guilty but Bingo with one bound was free and bounced happily across the fields away from the house. Dashing out to the front of the house I jumped into my car and belted across the fields from the other direction to cut him off before he managed to get too far - as he sees the 4x4 as the ultimate pack leader this is far more effective than running after him & he happily followed me home so got a bit of exercise whilst being retrieved (which is more than can be said for me!).

Last week I mentioned that I'd signed up for a jewellery making course and Tuesday this week was my first class. It's not always easy to meet new people so I was a little apprehensive as I drove there, but I needn't have been. I'm most definitely the novice and the other ladies have been going for some while but they made me feel very welcome and I never once felt I was asking a stupid question. I came home feeling very positive and excited by a new challenge - and I fear it will be challenging, possibly more for Katherine, our teacher, than me, as I have yet to get the hang of using the saw to cut copper sheet into workable pieces without breaking the incredibly fine blades! She assured me that she doesn't charge for blades used, although I think she may be rethinking that policy by next Tuesday! I came home armed with a couple of trade catalogues and a little bit more knowledge than before and have just received a parcel of bits and pieces (including my own saw and blades).

So this week I have started a new course, tidied most of the house, sorted out all the laundry and prevented an escape party - not bad going. Just one small blip - Mr LG comes home from Malta for the weekend today and I turned up 12 hours early to collect him from the airport, still, looking on the bright side, I did the weekend shopping on the way to Gatwick so at least that's out of the way!

If anyone has any suggestions for jewellery projects please feel free to let me know - I have one in mind for my mother's birthday in December but other than that I'm open to suggestion.

Getting Your Groove Back

As regular readers will know, I am a big fan of Twitter. I have been rather snowed under with work recently so have been very quiet there lately but yesterday and today I have my Tweetdeck open so can occasionally catch the odd thread of an interesting conversation or topic whilst tying gorgeous red ribbon on some Orders of Service for Kate and David's wedding this coming Saturday. I have been sent a link by a friend on Twitter to a new blog hop/linky (which is completely new to me) concerned with helping mums to have a personal revival and getting their groove back.

I'm extremely lucky to be able to do what I love and get paid for it - for me it's not about how much money I can earn, it's more about helping others to have beautiful stationery and enabling me to have the lifestyle I want, which is to work from home, being a wife and mother and looking after my mad, sometimes naughty but always loveable LilGuys. Sometimes even my enthusiasm needs a little boost, I need to find my mojo, to get my creative juices flowing again. This can come in various ways, sometimes a walk over the fields with the LGs on a sunny day is enough to boost spirits (a walk on a sunny day and returning home with ALL the LGs in one go sends the spirits soaring into orbit!), sometimes it takes a bit more.

In her blog Kate asks two questions this week:

1. What song would it be best to play a lot while attempting to get your groove  back?

A. For me it's not so much one song in particular, but to make sure the radio's on, LOUD, and to sing along to everything and to dance in a stupid way for the LGs and make myself laugh!

2. What can you do to make your body feel better this week?

A. Even a very short walk of 10-15 minutes will get your blood pumping and even if you only manage to do it once this week it will be better than not at all.

Last week I signed up for a silver jewellery making course. Over the course of the last couple of years I have noticed that there are very few suppliers of embellishments for making stationery, with the result that we all tend to use the same things, albeit in different ways. I have sourced and imported some different sparkly embellishments myself that are not available through the normal suppliers, but I'd like to be able to go even further and create my own designs. So, the course will hopefully give me new technical skills which I'll be able to use to this end, and in the process I'll be making some birthday and Christmas presents. I was quite surprised at how excited I was and how positive I felt after signing up for this course - perhaps I just prevented my mojo from disappearing for a while, I certainly hadn't realised that my groove was in need of recouping! Whatever, I have had a new spring in my step since then and can't wait to complete my current orders so that I can get on with some more designing - especially as I discovered a local supplier of sparkly beads etc., and indulged myself a tiny bit with some lovely new bits and pieces!

High Society from Tantrums & Tiaras

In July Kelly from Tantrums and Tiaras gave us some valuable words of advice which would apply to anyone in any line of work, not just the lovely sparkly world of weddings. This morning at LG HQ it's drizzly and very definitely Autumn, so in need of something gorgeous and sparkly to cheer the day up I'm very pleased to be able to share with you Kelly's new collection.

Tantrums and Tiaras are delighted to announce the launch of their new collection ‘High Society’ which is perfect to add that grand final touch to your special day’s ensemble. As ever with our pieces the new collection are designed and entirely handmade by Designer/Director Kelly Scully.

Speaking at the recent photo shoot that took place at the beautiful 5 star country setting of ‘The Vineyard’ at Stockcross, Kelly said “following the huge success of our ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ collection creating the ‘High Society’ collection has been amazing.  It is tailored to send brides down the aisle with a touch of Hollywood glamour and class”

‘High Society’ made its premiere recently at ‘The Essential Collection’ but had been flying out of the door even before the launch. Kelly explained ‘No sooner had I created new pieces for the new collection than brides would fall in love with them having seen them during our consultations, I just couldn’t say no. Jaynee and Ellie in particular have been unbelievably popular so far.”

Having started as a hobby following illness in 2005 we have grown into an award winning business, trading online, one to one studio consultations and selling to the trade, stocking a range of retail outlets, including award winning boutiques such as Ellie Sanderson and Creatiques Bridal Couture and many more both nationally and internationally.  

For more beautifully created jewellery for any special occasion, not just weddings, visit Kelly's website, her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter.

Tantrums and Tiaras

As you all know I have a guest blogger each Wednesday and as and when I can I post extra blogs. Normally our guest blog posts are about the company and product(s) they offer, which I hope are useful to you either for inspiration for your big event or as just the contact you were needing and hadn't quite found. Our guest blogger today, Kelly from Tantrums and Tiaras, gives an insight into the emotional side of working in the wedding industry which I think will help and inspire others in the business but will also be of value to anyone in any business and from any walk of life.

When asked to write a blog post it’s always hard to know what to say.  Do you tell the readers about yourself and why you do what you do and how marvellous you are or do you tell everyone about your numerous award nominations this year or your products and how fab and sparkly they are?  I could do either however this time around I thought I’d blog in more general terms about some of the highs and lows of the business.

I still work full time whilst running Tantrums and Tiaras and I make every single piece myself by hand.  My day job inspires but challenges me on a regular basis.   The stakes are high and the games played even higher, there are politics, things to say, things not to say and it’s not hard to imagine how this all fits into the big rat race that is life.  That said, on a good day, and there are plenty of them – it is the best job in the world.  It is an organisation that focuses very heavily on people and in fact without them there would be no job to do at all.  So, why tell you all of this? Well the wedding industry is pretty much the same.  It’s an amazing industry to work in but it’s not without its downfalls.  I’m particularly lucky as I get to make some pretty lovely pieces and of course, I’m never stuck for something to accessorise an outfit and if I am, I can whip myself something up! 

 

But there is another side and something that those of us that have been around for a while will know and understand.   We of course will kind of forget about whilst things are well and busy.  The problem is that it is during this time that it can manifest itself and you have no control.  I’m one of those people that strive for quality and works really hard to make sure I deliver that.  I also offer excellent customer service and my 10 returns in 4 years in fact is testament to that. So what is it that pops up and causes unrest in a normally sparkly world?  It’s hard to say exactly and some will be convinced that it’s the high levels of competition or because of the mutterings of others elsewhere and there’s a good chance that this is somewhat true however I think it’s more than that. 

If you are in the bridal industry because you love the business and you care about what you do, it makes every knock personal however slight.  There are some of course that will never encounter this problem as the end game for them is only ever about making money and having a successful business and as a result are not sighted on how some can be affected.  This perceived lack of passion and obvious strive for similar goals is what in my view causes the internal conflict.  That said, anyone who says that they’re not in the business to make money would be fibbing.  It’s what we all ultimately want but like I’ve already alluded to, it’s not what drives the passion inside.  This is why so many of the creative types in the industry can sometimes feel flat and disheartened and it’s a hard storm to weather.  Of course, not all people make it. 

I guess the point of this blog post is to say if you sometimes feel this way, don’t panic!  You’re normal and it’s probably because you genuinely care about what you do.  If you do not have knocks in your confidence you do not have the opportunity to use this energy to improve and come back bigger and stronger than ever.  My advice on how to deal with this is to focus only on what you do.  Do not look at what others do or how well others are doing and certainly do not read more into what people are or are not saying.  And if that sounds too much just remember to keep calm and sparkle!  

 

Many thanks to Kelly for a lovely and inspiring post. I have taken some images from Kelly's website so that you can all see some of her beautiful work, and I recommend that you visit the website to view more work from this very talented lady! You can also find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter .

Life and the people we come into contact with will|  throw us the occasional curveball and sometimes we all have 'blue' or 'down' days that can sap our energy or knock our confidence. It is largely how we deal with these events that help to shape us and help us to understand ourselves and others. Being successful in life doesn't always mean earning the most money. To me it is being able to live the life I want and being able to help others. 

When I took voluntary redundancy last September there was a small part of me inside which felt a little miffed that I was no longer required, even though it was my choice. This is I think a fairly normal and typical reaction as we all want to feel that we're indispensable! I had already decided that rather than fret and worry that I was going to use this opportunity to concentrate full time on my business and really make a go of it. I have been fortunate enough to have come into contact with some lovely people who have given advice and words of encouragement that have helped enormously. There is a huge amount of competition out there but I think that this is a healthy thing, it helps to keep you on your toes and sometimes you may get or give referrals. 

Zebedeez Jewellery

Favours and gifts are always hot topics when planning a wedding, budgets and ideas vary widely. Today we welcome Zoe from Zebedeez Jewellery  who makes a plethora of ranges from tiaras to favours for your wedding!

There are so many different things now available for wedding favours….. Anything goes, classic, quirky, sweet  and fun it is completely your choice.  With the costs of weddings rising there are things to suit every budget, and this is what I try to provide with all my items. I create ready produced items, or bespoke items for the bride and when doing a consultation always get an idea of budget so that we can stick within it, or as near to… as much as possible.

The most recent wedding favours that are seeming popular from brides are the wine glass charms, however I have created clip on Swarovski pendants to suit the brides colour scheme, fabric hearts, and have more recently gone into individual bags of sweets/homemade fudge for your guests.. These come beautifully packaged in either organza bags or cellophane bags with tags and can be personalised with the guests name if required.

I have lots of ideas coming up for the future including lavender bags, fancy pegs,  key rings and lots more… so keep your eyes out!

You can visit Zoe's various outlets: Folksy; Etsy; Zebedeez Weddings ; Zebedeez Jewellery 

You can also follow her on her Facebook Jewellery Page, her Facebook Gifts and Crafts Page and on Twitter!

Peacock Inspired Mood Board

Peacocks are spectacular show-offs and to see one with its tail feathers fully fanned out and the iridescent blues and greens glinting in the sunlight is breathtaking. I'm a lover of strong colours and couldn't resist putting together this mood board after seeing the simply gorgeous Peacock wedding dress on Archibald Photography's blog back in March.

Peacock Wedding Dress by Lindsay Fleming Couture Photography by Archibald Photography

Hat by Esemee Fascinators  Photography by John Farrar

Bedroom at Peacock Pavilions (where else?!)

Invitation by Lil'Guy Stationery

Bouquet by Sarah's Flowers

Cupcake Tower by Blue Door Bakery

Shoes by Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaid Dress by My Evening Dress

Jewellery by Julieann Beads

Julieann Beads

,There are so many different styles of jewellery to choose from for your wedding - every time I see gorgeous new and beautiful items Mr LilGuys runs and hides the credit cards.  The new Verity Fleur bridal jewellery range from Julieann Beads are incredibly pretty and deserve to be worn many times, not just for your wedding day!

The vintage inspired Verity wedding collection from Julieann Beads remains extremely popular. Brides seeking nostalgic and romantic wedding jewellery just love Julieann Beads designs hand created from the finest Swarovski sparkling clear crystals and glittering diamante.

For 2011 Julieann beads are introducing a new Verity Fleur bridal jewellery and wedding hair accessories range; right on trend for vintage inspired chic with a huge retro feel. Hand created from gorgeous Swarovski diamante encrusted filigree in a stunning flower design featuring sparkling clear crystals and dainty silver lined glass beads. A gorgeous Verity Fleur bridal pendant necklace, deluxe wedding grips and pretty combs for this season’s latest hair style trends all link in with Julieann Beads best selling Verity bridal collection

Verity Fleur Pendant £35.00

Verity Fleur Comb £10.00 

Verity Fleur Comb £35.00

  

The amazing array of beautiful designs, sizes and colour options means that there is something for everyone; exquisite bridal style at highly affordable prices; Julieann Beads at their best.

“Vintage inspiration is still one of the hottest bridal design trends this season with brides loving our Verity wedding jewellery. Feedback already suggests that our new Verity Fleur range is set to become a bestseller” says Julieann Bird owner and designer at Julieann Beads. The Julieann Beads new Verity Fleur bridal jewellery collection was officially be launched on Friday 4^th March 2011 at the NEC, National Wedding Show.

You can view all of Julieann's collections on her website, find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.  Now, where did Mr LG stash the credit cards ...........?  

Energise Weddings

As you probably all know by now, Mrs LilGuys is something of a magpie and loves a bit of sparkle!  There are many talented people in the wedding industry making many different styles.  This week Mrs LG would like to introduce Energise Weddings, who produce lovely jewellery for your wedding day, your prom or for attending a wedding.

Energise are Sarah Sutcliffe and Sue Corke.  Our business started out as an alternative health business, with both of us training in various therapies and also selling a range of products both online and at fairs. In particular we worked with the health benefits of crystals, designing sterling silver and gemstone jewellery.

In 2008 Sarah's now sister in law was struggling to find jewellery for her bridesmaids. They were wearing chocolate brown dresses (2 different styles) and had burnt orange gerbera flowers.  She asked us to make something for them and we came up with two designs, using the same beads to tie the two dresses and the colours together.

Since our first taste of the wedding market we have not looked back and now design jewellery, headwear, button holes, bouquets and table decorations using Swarovski crystals and pearls and glass beads.

 

Our main passion is our bespoke service.  There is nothing more satisfying than working with a bride to design the perfect pieces for her big day. 

We also have a range of ready to wear collections – well we don’t want to waste the fabulous designs that our brides don’t pick! These can be ordered in any colour combination to suite any wedding.

Where brides are local we will meet up with them to discuss ideas and if possible try them on with the dress (any excuse to try on the dress again!) but our service can be provided by phone and e-mail. For a no obligation consultation please contact us via our website or by ringing 07925 057555.

You can also join the girls on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.