New beginnings for Laura Baillie Designs

I have just moved house from our lovely tenement flat to our very own house!

Amongst other things I am working on organising my new studio space and getting the shop ready for the holiday season. I'll take a snap of the chaos tomorrow and hope to have everything properly set up nest week. If all goes to plan it will be a delightful transformation, (fingers crossed!)

During the move and the time when all my jewels were packed away I have been working on new designs and started working on them this week. I am so excited about the simplicity and natural elements of the designs but mostly the personal meaning of each piece. I have mentioned before that most semi precious gem stones have healing properties. I love the idea that I can wear a stone close to me as a reminder of health, strength and spiritual wisdom.

I am also working towards a festive party, Gifts for Girls. If you are in the area and would like to head along please get in touch and I'll give you directions. Tell your friends and bring them along too!

So now that I am getting settled I'll be posting my creative pursuits more regularly.

xoxox

colour crush

shades of grey...

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1. grey via pinterest 2.party dress 3. miss print 

4. 1bp 5. Alexandra Grablewski 6. Be Side Store

:: fashion mix :: nautical ::

Sail away my little sail ! by Trissh featuring Marni shoes

Gold Nautical necklace by me! $18/ £12.15

Linen-blend striped tank, $90
Cotton-twill blazer, $209
Emma twill pleated shorts, $158
Fashion Shoes - Designer shoe store, $248
Christian Louboutin Mini Loubi python clutch NET-A-PORTER.COM, 695 EUR
Stephen Webster Scale Bracelet With Mother Of Pearl Inlay, $2,418
Alexander McQueen - 215556AB80Y (Grey) - Accessories, $194
Vogue UK January Catherine McNeil by Patrick Demarchelier Fashion...
Rectangle Frame Made My Zerin Sara <3
Bone Background Paper - $24, $39.14, $72 Photography Seamless...

:: 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.

:: work in progress ::

sew lovely - silver charm necklace

now available in my Etsy shop

I want to say a cheesey hello to all my new blog followers and visitors. It is always so exciting to see new people finding my blog, I often wonder who people find me.

Things have taken a giant leap forward on my re visit to my etsy experiment . I have drawn up a mind map doodle (on the back of some wall paper!), and pinned it above my desk. The centre of my map is my goal for this year. And all the legs coming off are ways I'm going to acheive my aim.

Having read this post by Dave Navarrow on how to get More Time Now ebook, I decided to narrow my goals list down. The huge list was beginning to get me down and kind of pulling me off track. Choosing 1 goal for the year, 5 for the month and 3 each week I am able to stay focused. And all of theses are tasks to get me to my years aim.

Making jewellery is part of my aim, to have 5 new items to list a week. But this is such a small part of the bigger picture. I have to get my necklaces ect out the world and that is where I'm concentrating my efforts at the moment. I have sent out a new press release to 5 magazines from my collected list. And it has begun to pay off already! One of my necklaces has been featured on Bliss.co.uk

Let me know if you would like to read more about writing a press release and I can maybe do a DIY post.

:: work in progress ::

I have been awol since last week, busy getting jewels ready to go to a new shop (more to come soon) and working on new designs. I got some beautiful new charms and have been watching lots of 'Gothic Noir' films so have a new collection making it's way slowly into the shop, piece by piece.

This is one of my favourites of the moment Gothic Layered Necklace available in my Etsy shop. I have combined a string of wire wrapped vintage pearls with a crystal cut glass beads and gunmetal chain. The charm is a heavy weight skull and cross bones which I love!

I am working on making new designs to get to list something new every day along with revisiting all the things I learned from my Etsy Experiment. I am always finding new things that work and of couse lots that don't, but all to often I move onto another project and forget what helps sell my jewellery. So the time has come to go over what worked and find some more tips and strategies.

I am on the hunt for some gripping night time reading, but not fiction. I am looking for interesting and inspiring business books that can help my small indie business. Any reccomendations?

List Love

Lists on my desk this week

Home

1. Clear out walk in cupboard which hold pots, dishes, laundry centre and miscillanious items. At the moment things are being strateigically placed so they don't fall on the floor instead of being neatly away. I have to get this sorted this week before I break something!

2. Get all my pictures up on the living room wall in a cluster type collection. I think I have about 15 pieces to go up and I am fed up looking at the canvas thingy I did years ago and looks unfinished.

3. Write some letters. I have 4 people in my life I want to send a lovely letter too this week.

Jewellery Shop

4. Work on some new brooch designs, in metal and fabric. I have so many ideas floating about and don't really know where to start, so I know I just have to start making and see where I go.

5. Make up some Christmas Gift sets. I would like to offer a package with earrings, a bracelet and a card. I plan to have at least 2 listed by next Monday.

Papier Delights

6. List the new ACEOs I made this weekend. Looking at my photographs of these is making me think I should re take some of my other ones and keep the feel the same. I plan to list a new ACEO a day over the next few weeks and if the sun breaks through the clouds tomorrow I'll re take some snaps.

7. Do more doodle embroidery. Instead of watching TV at night I have been stitching away. They can maybe end up as cards but for the moment I'm just trying to sew for an hour a day.

What are on your lists for this week?

Let me tell you a story.....

Only 1 day to go untill my new range "Let me tell you a story" is available from the shop! I have been combining gold and aged brass frames with crystal, jet and mother of pearl stones. And I am so excitied about sharing them with you. It feels like this range has been such a long time coming together.

I have had so much fun working on these new designs and it has inspired me to add some new creations to Papier Delights too. (I'll be listing these over the next few days.) I'll away for just now and get everything ready. But I'll hopefully see you tomorrow.

Mad Tea Part 2009

Anyone for Tea?

I sent out my invitations mentioning tea and cake,

just look and see who joined me,

for fun and lots of sweet things,

oh for goodness sake!

sequins,

jewels,

and brouges and wedges no less!

And who can have a Mad Hatter's Tea Party, without some sort of hat?

Any one for tea?

This is just like the tea set I had as a child, sipping away today I remembered the hours spent chatting with my teddys and running my own cafe!

DRINK ME.....

Now what is this? A bottle with a label layered with lace and gold. Should I, shouldn't I ?

Masked revelers, with sparkles and swirls.

Jewels for the occassion, of course! Is that a white rabbit with a pocket watch hiding in the glass?

Something sweet!

Lemon and strawberry and chocolate cupcakes, clear and crisp and soft and sweet, and very moreish I must say.

Childhood favourites, sour cola bottles, so tart they draw your cheeks together. A large jelly foot or guitar perhaps? Maybe you miss a dolly mixture, layers of gritty, creamy sweetness?

And no party of mineis every really a party with out a French Fancy, the sensation of breaking through the pink swirley icing, hitting the fondant centre and then the sponge. Are you pink, yellow or brown. I'll fight you for the strawberry!

and now for Something savory to cleanse the pallet.

Oh yes, we nibbled on cucmber sandwiched you know! The fresh crispness is just what you need after all that sugery goodness, and it's a tradition, along with hats at afternoon tea.

Drink Me!!!!!Well, yes, someone did. In fact I think almost everyone had a sip, or a glug or even a glass. Now only time will tell what that potion was or its effects. All I do know is a wonderful afternoon/ evening was had by all.

What would your perfect tea party treat be?

xoxox

[a huge thank you to all my guests and Missy H from the Knitwitts clan, she was my photographic stylist and set designer x]

While I've Been Away

Sorry I've not been about much last week, it was my birthday so I had lots of visitors, treats, food and lovely cards! These are one of the beautiful bunch of flowers I was given. The rose petals look like velvet!

Don't you just love it - the inside of a card from knittwits jr. She has drawn me walking Pablo with my wellieboots on!

On the shop front laurabailliedesigns I am still working away on something new and a little bit special. As promised a little look at my work in progress.

I am really enjoying combining the elements of my 2 loves and shops. I am still working on these jewellery pieces and hunting down semi precious gemstones which will compliment each one. What do you think so far?

I'm having a $10 sale in the shop to make room for some of my new designs.

Another time filler or loser?

"Vaila" bracelet in the shop

This morning has flown by, and I haven't got nearly enough done! And I'll tell you, simply as a warning - Stumbleupon - is dangerous! I stupidly hit the button and lost a whole hour, finding some amazing new sites, artists and designers- like this. All great for inspiration, but distracting me from my experiment. Saying that I have some ideas for some new designs which I should get listed this evening.

On the experiment front, my shop went from 57 hits on Monday to 641 yesterday! I just need to keep up this marketing/ promotional push to convert more of the views to sales. I'm going to allow my self 30 mins to stop by all your blogs then it's back to work.

Any more salad suggestions?

Experiment Update

"Sail away with me"

I am loving my little experiment, it is keeping me so orginized and I have lots and lots of lists on the go! I am working out the best times for me to list, counting daily views, twittering, stumbling, listing, relisting and making new goodies. And the most important thing, my new full on approach is translating into sales!

I am now on day 3 with out bread and it is getting a bit better, I would say that it is about 11 o'clock each morning that I think I would fancy some normal toast. One of the plus sides of having to be creative about lunch is all the amazing salads I am having. This one is this weeks favourite inspired by a suggestion by Lorna ,my neighbour:

-thinly cut cabbage,

-grated carrot,

-cubes of cucumber

-cubes oftomatoe

-cubes of gerkin

- celery

-mixed bean salad

-2 tbsp sunflower seeds

-2 tbsp vinigar

- small dollop of mayo (optional!)

This seems to be filling the gap and distracting me from heading straight for the cupboard to make a ham and salad sarnie, it's hard to break the habit of a life time. I'm keeping a note of my moods too, what a laugh, lots of "angry- want to steal Mr LB's breakfast"!

What summery salads would you recommend for me for next week?

Two sides

I have just finished making up another wholesale order and took some time this weekend to do some more mixed media pieces. After waiting and really looking forward to it I was kind of stumped at first by what to do, then after all day Saturday doodling and layering papers I had a break through on Sunday. "Call me" I don't know where I'm going with these maybe more phones, old radios, clocks? But I'm having fun doing them anyway.

"Eilidh Rose Necklace"

Today I have been making up some new designs for the shop and loving using some of the new beads I got through the other day. My favourites at the moment are the tear drop Amazonite stones. I love the colour and who they shimmer.

I have a huge list this week of things to so that I can have a work free weekend. It is Pablo's birthday, our 2nd wedding anniversary and Valentines day all in one weekend. I got my bo this fantastic print from EyaWeissbein's etsy shop. It is called "House down the street".

What's on your list for this week?