:: work in progress ::

I would like to say a huge thank you to one of my customers who insired this necklace.
(You know who you are!).
Over the last couple of weeks I have been toying with the idea of having a couple of charms on a chain. I tried different ways of combining them but each time I felt they just all clumped together. I don't know why but I just didn't think to layer the chains as well!

So here is one of my latest designs, available in my Etsy shop, "Lucky Charm Necklace".

I love the idea and symbolism of lucky charms. When I was small I would carry a little pebble or stone in my pocket for luck. There is something very comforting about the physical reminder that luck or love is on my side.

For this necklace I have chosen a star, a key and a closed circle. The star charm has great meaning to me because of the words sung by Jimminy Cricket "when you wish upon a star..." and also one of my favourite childern's books "Laura's Star".

The key is a symbol of everlasting love, and for me that powerful feeling gives me the strength to give things a try.

The closed circle is a symbol of karma and love. Remebering how my actions affect others on the solid, closed circle of love remind me of my family. I feel their support when I hold this charm.

Do you have a lucky charm? Do you have little trinkets that hold meaning to you? I would love to hear about the little symbols you have, if only to not feel like a looney for carrying stones in my pocket!

:: inspiration ::

This is a sneaky peak at what I'm working on at the moment. It's a little project involving all of my loves, jewellery, embroidery, collage and now movie making. Things are still in the early stages but I'll keep you posted on how things come along.

I have had a lovey week, spending time with family and friends, planting and nurturing little seedlings in my garden and eating wonderful fresh food in the garden. I have been working on some new jewellery for my Etsy shop as well.

Maybe it is the sunshine or the smell of summer in the air, but I am being drawn to simple designs, shapes and colour combinations. I think of Indian summers looking at this necklace, the rich heat of the red semi precious Carnelian.

I have hit a wall with my bed time reading lately, do you have any recomendations? I like a bit of everything, so let me know what is gripping you at the moment. Have a lovely week x

:: day of diy :: button necklace tutorial

Thanks to all you voters out there who cast your votes, it was great to see so much interest!
So here, after much snipping and tweeking is my firts ever video tutorial. Please let me know what you think, any tips, suggestions ect.....

:: work in progress ::

Gold Pearl Necklace

Layered Chain Necklace

I am keeping things simple and sweet with my new collections. Letting the materials, colour combinations and textures speak for them selves. I love how the layered chain necklace sits perfectly sometimes, but as you move around the layers begin to twist like rope.

I am working on ::my story:: a way for me to send a little note with each piece of my jewellery, so that I can share the inspiration, and meaning behind each jewel. And have it in a way that the new owner can keep it too.

Both necklaces available in my Etsy shop Laura Baillie Designs

:: work in progress ::

Simple Elegance :1:

I have been working away on a new range Simple Elegance over the last few days. With boxes of beautiful gemstones on my desk I often feel that it is each stones characteristics that should be focused on and not lost amongst other details. So I decided to keep these necklaces simple and let the rich or light colours and textures of each stone speak for itself.

The necklace above has a string of Carnelian gemstones atached to a gold chain. The stones are 6mm, so small and sweet.

Carnelian is said to bring peace & harmony, give strength to your voice and give courage.What a lovely idea, to have little gemstones of strength laying on your neck.

I'll be listing this necklace and more gold and silver Simply Elegant pieces this evening in

my Etsy shop.

Pearls of Wisdom - Friendship

Friendship, what does it mean to you?

friendship

noun [C,U]

when two people are friends

a close friendship

definition from Cambridge Dictionary

For me friendship is having someone to turn to when I need advice, a wake up call, laughter and companionship. And to celebrate this I have created these two "Pearls of Wisdom" sets.

Each set contains two separtately gift wrapped gold and silver fresh water pearl necklaces. One for you and one for your best friend. It could be your sister, Mum, close by or far away.

But you can both wear your necklace as a reminder that when days are rainy or full of sun, you have a friend to turn to for "Pearls of Wisdom"

Both sets are available from Laura Baillie Designs & my Etsy shop.

Fantastical Friday

I have had a lovely quiet day today, it started a bit rough with a sore throat and runny nose but things got better after an afternoon snooze then a visit to my Mum to fix her kitchen lights and MrLB's Mums' to set up her wireless router. (MrLB is a good man!)

But on to the important stuff, I know it is a bit last minute but tomorrow I'm having a

FANTASTIC FRIDAY in the shop

12am-12pm GMT

All necklaces will be reduced to $17 / £10.50 for Friday only. And a little bonus for all my friends in blogland I'm offering you FREE SHIPPING. Just leave the code "FF01" in the message to seller box and I'll refund you the shipping costs! Spread the word and the code if you like!

I'll go now and make up some new necklace designs so there will be a couple of new delights for you to chose from.

x0x0x

Another Little Peek

I have been making some new necklaces instead of cards over the last week. I am finding it really hard to come up with Christmasy designs with my birds, so decided to gve my self a break and get making jewels!

I ordered some lovely new bits and they arrived the other day, so I have been working on what goes best with what. In the mean time here is a little peek at some other pieces that will be appearing in the shop over the next few days. I have a beautiful modle coming by this afternoon to let me photo them in real life. I did try my bo, but he just wasn't wearing them right!

This one below is going to be the first item in my Wedding section in the shop! And I am thinking sets too.

I haven't decided on the names for these creations yet, I am going to stick with girl's names so suggestions are welcome!

Things over at laurabailliedesigns2 are still in the planning, between making papery things for shops, girls nights and birthdays, I am not getting the time to photograph things and get them uploaded. But I am going to get there eventually! Sticking to the paper theme, I was given a little borrow of some beautiful books by Lorna, which I will photo tomorrow to share. They have really inspired my to get back to the drawing and painting, but I know maybe now is not the time. I love being recommended books by other people, especially art books. "Arthur Rackham" by James Hamilton has given me so many ideas, so thanks L! Head over to her shop, she is having her first sale)

What is the best book you have been recommended lately?

oh so quiet, sh sh

I am sorry for my absence here in blogland but while the seasons have been changing I have been busy making, drinking hot chocolate and eating cinnamon biscuits! I am working on my Christmas card collections in the evenings and book keeping during the day. I know it has to be done and I set aside time to do it, but it is just not fun at all!

But some news that has really lifted my spirits is that some of my work has been accepted by a beautiful new online boutique Merulapie! They even have a fun blog where they are hosting their very own pay it forward, and you still have a chance to have a lovely goodie posted your way.

Other news, I have decided to start teaching a card making class. I have booked a hall in my home town, ordered lots of papery things, and we will be starting in 2 weeks! I'll keep you posted on how we get on.

Some new creations and a little gift for you!

Here are some necklaces I have been working on last week, and I love how they have turned out! The cabochons I am working with have encouraged me to work with stronger colours in my designs. I have a whole new section in the shop for necklaces and in a couple of weeks there will be some sets there too. As a little thank you to all my friends in blog land I am offereing you, my lovely blogbuddies, exclusively a 10% DISCOUNT on everything in my shop.

So heres what to do if you see something you like:

just add the code (BLOGPAL) in notes for seller and I will refund you the 10% discount through paypal when you have completed the sale!

I'm coming to visit you all now to see what has been keeping you busy this week x

Oh, what's this?

I have had another busy week making up some new goodies for my jewellery shop with all these beautiful new bits and pieces I got through the post on Monday.

This week has been a combination of making and planning so next week is make, make, making all the way! And some list list listing too, (loving 3's at the moment!). So I have had a lovely weekend, meeting friends and chillin and have come through to my den to get sorted for all my new schemes and plans and complete a couple of commissions so that I am on a roll next week.

What are you doing today to prepare for the week ahead?