Summer is coming...

Loch Maree

At last, some blue skies and sunshine. At the end of April, the northern Highlands were experiencing all four seasons in one day, but it appears that perhaps the better weather might be here to stay for a while. I love it. Not only do I find that I naturally rise earlier (it is usually daylight by about 5 this time of year), but the sunshine, green trees, and blooming flowers give me a new-found energy. So, let the fun begin!

My fine jewellery has occupied most of my waking hours over the last month, so I'm afraid I've nothing new to show you. Hopefully, I will be able to return to my bronze and copper jewellery making this month. I have so many designs and sketches that I've prepared over the winter. But commissions and getting jewellery ready for stockists and my new displays have taken over my time. I love my new displays for both the lines of jewellery. I will take some new photos of the tables this Tuesday at the market so I can share them. Instead of one large table, I now have two half tables, and I position myself between them. So each now has its own identity. Given the vast difference in the two lines of jewellery, I think this is the ideal solution. 

Over the next month, I will be adding rings to the Selkie's Haunt collection. At first I did debate whether or not people would buy copper (and bronze) rings, given that people are always questioning whether or not the copper will turn their skin green (shouldn't, unless it reacts with their distinct chemistry in that way). But I have so many lovely design ideas that will work best with the base metals. So, hopefully you will begin to see those appear on the website before the end of May.

As always, thank you so much for your continued support for The Selkie's Haunt. It means more than I can say.

Sneak peak (of sorts) ...

I have been very busy with commissions, and it has kept me from increasing my stock. A recent wholesale order has drastically reduced the stock of bracelets, so they will be next on the list of makes for The Selkie's Haunt. In addition to the stone designs I have done in the past, I will be creating some wonderful bangles for your perusal. And, amongst the new designs, you are likely to find a lovely set gemstone cabochon.

Cabochons from my rapidly growing collection.

I love cabochons and some of the stones shown here in this photo - labradorite, amethyst, lapis, bloodstone, peridot, amongst others - complement the tones of both bronze and copper. I am looking forward to creating more pieces using cabochons. My supplier in Hatton Garden has a huge choice of high quality gemstone cabochons from which I can choose. My collection is quite large already - I can only imagine how many more I will add over time. I must admit that I have little resistance to beautiful, colourful stones. And it always amazes me how much they add to a piece of jewellery. While I love the uncomplicated look of simple bronze or copper jewellery, there really is something so special about that little flash of colour.

I have come to realise how very much my artistic pursuits mean to me. As I find myself edging closer and closer to retirement age, I wonder what I would do if I now longer was able to make jewellery. Truth is, I couldn't do without it. It makes me look forward to getting into the studio and creating little treasures. Unfortunately, I have not had as much energy to give to my work lately.

If you follow my fine jewellery website or Facebook page, you will note that I recently closed my commission book due to health concerns. I've never believed in beating around the bush, so I will let you know now that I am currently undergoing investigations for cancer. My next appointment is at Raigmore Hospital on April 4 and I am hoping that we will know more after this appointment. And what will be, will be. But I will not allow ill health to keep me from the joy that creating jewellery gives. It may simple mean, for the time being, that I have to cut back on the amount of time I dedicate to my work. I am just so very, very tired. But, hopefully, we will discover the cause and take care of it and I can get back to having the energy levels I had before. So, if you could send your most positive wishes my way, I would be most grateful.

I hope to be sharing new designs with you over the weeks to come. One commission is in the final stages, the next will take no more than a couple of weeks, and two pairs of earrings commissioned at the first market of the season will take a day to complete. Then it's time for me to have some fun designing for myself and for my stockists!

Better get busy!

I have been so busy with my fine jewellery that I haven't created one new piece of bronze OR copper jewellery. Obviously, this is something that needs to be addressed. My new season of markets begins on March 28, and one of my stockists (my best stockist) opens for the season on March 12! I have some work to do. My other stockists are waiting, too, and soon I need to be sure to have the pieces ready for them to display and sell. I'm also collaborating with a felt-work designer to provide her with some small brooches to display and sell with her scarves. I'm very much looking forward to that, as well.

I am still working on my fine jewellery commissions, with one to complete and three waiting in the wings. The piece I am finishing now is one that is very complex and has given me the opportunity to learn and practice new skills. I am currently awaiting the arrival of some hard solder so I can move forward with the job. Once completed, I will be moving on to my next commission - a beautiful sterling silver pendant for a special anniversary. After that, a bridal necklace. After that, a lovely ring to celebrate a change in life.

But, I must get back to the bronze and copper as well. My work has given me so many new skills that I am anxious to try with the bronze and copper jewellery. I remember bezel setting stones last year and thinking it was so difficult - it is now something I can do in my sleep. I have learned to rivet jewellery, and that look is going to be perfect with bronze and copper. I'm really looking forward to doing more.

And, in addition to all this, we are happily awaiting the arrival of our new granddaughter in July. Another little girl who, I hope, will be enchanted by my work. Hopefully, like her big sister, she will love playing with my beautiful beads and will grow up loving the creative process. After all, I need someone to pass my work onto when I am no longer able to do it myself!

Happy Spring to you all and thank you for your continued interest in The Selkie's Haunt.

So much to do and so little time!

I shouldn't complain. Finding myself answering the phone and someone requesting a fine jewellery commission on the other end is amazing. There are times I have to laugh and think, well, it's only taken me eight years to get to this point! But I am so grateful. As I've changed my fine jewellery business to a more exclusive business (no transactional website and an emphasis on commissions in my advertising), I've been pleased to have the commissions. And they have kept me busy. In fact, they have kept me so busy, I haven't had time to make any new jewellery for The Selkie's Haunt. But I promise I will! I need to get some new pieces for my stockists and some new pieces for the website. But first, I need to make these gorgeous commissions!

Time management in running my own business has always been a bit of a challenge. I always meet deadlines, but sometimes it is a bit of a sprint at the end rather than a leisurely stroll to bring to the end of an assignment. In the Autumn and run up to Christmas, I had three commissions; since the New Year, I've had three more, plus two that are now waiting in the wings for me to open the schedule up again. And somewhere in there I will find the time to make new pieces for stockists, get the new display pieces for those same stockists, and somehow put together a presentation to take to potential stockists. Phew!

The end of March and the beginning of the market season will be here before the wink of an eye, and I must get ready for that, too. All in all, I'm going to be a very busy lady for the next three months or so. Long may it last!

I thank you for your interest in my jewellery designs and I hope to soon present you with more choice on the website. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Happy New Year!

The new year has come. And now we just have to sit back and see what it will bring. I am looking forward to this year - my business is going well and I have wonderful plans to expand both the designs and the reach of the business in the new year. But, more importantly, in 2017, I shall be a Nana again. We are all so excited about a new baby. Just 27 weeks to wait! It is going to be a glorious July!

This past year was a good one for The Selkie's Haunt and Ailleas Designs. I am so pleased with how things have progressed. And I am looking very much forward to creating more beautiful jewellery in the year to come.

Not long ago, I had the occasion to look back over photographs from the beginning of this journey. My goodness, how my designs and skills have evolved during the years. I get so much joy from what I do, and I look forward to doing it as long as I am physically capable of doing so.

I am currently busy with two fine jewellery commissions, so my time in the studio is being used to finish up a stunning sterling silver and chrome diopside bracelet and will soon be starting on a sterling silver, 18 carat gold, and 14 precious/semi-precious gemstones ring for a couple from Sweden. It's going to be a very demanding piece, but I can't wait to get started. The bracelet is nearly finished and I anticipate it will be completed by the end of the week. Once I have both of those done and I've made some more fine jewellery, I will be returning to the bronze and copper to see what creations will emerge from my workbench!

I've cut back on the number of excursions I make and will be limiting my market participation to just the Poolewe Tuesday Market this year. I do hope I will be able to take part in more exhibitions/shows as I did this past year in Dornoch. And, of course, I am always on the lookout for more stockists. (If you know of any stockists who might like to stock either my bronze and copper jewellery or my fine jewellery, please do let me know. I am planning some day trips for March during which I will visit potential stockists.) It's all about expanding my reach this year.

I do hope you have a lovely holiday season. And I wish you - and all of us - a new year of peace, love, and joy. 

Holly Jolly December!

Wow! December 1st already. That came around quickly. I love December. And when I say I love December, I say it in the voice of child. I turn into a kid again in December. I love Christmas and I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. My granddaughter (and her folks, of course) will be and there is nothing more exciting than celebrating Christmas with an excited little kid. 

I have never had such a busy Autumn. I've had commissions and new stockists and new makes and have, on top of all of that, been working on the re-branding of Ailleas Designs. It is has been invigorating and exhausting. But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

If you check out the website, you will see some additional brooches have been added. This weekend, I am planning on spending some time photographing new items for the site. I have one more event for the year (having had to cancel my Exclusively Highlands' events). I am very much looking forward to Fayre in the Square in Gairloch just before Christmas. It is a great opportunity for sharing new designs with the community and let them have a peek at what I'm doing now.

I will shortly be composing my newsletter. I am going to have a generous offer for this month, good until December 18th, as December 19th will be my last day for mailing out packages. A gift of jewellery is always such a good idea for the holidays. And what better than one-of-a-kind designs in warm copper or bronze?

I hope you all have a lovely holiday, whichever of the myriad winter holidays is the one you celebrate in your home. Regardless of the holiday celebrated, it is time for love, family, and laughter. What more could we possibly want?

All the best to all of you and thank you for your continuing interest in The Selkie's Haunt.

Stockist Changes and More Brooches

Brooches are proving very popular and I'm thrilled at the response I've had. In fact, the wonderful Ceard in Ullapool likes them so much that they will now be stocking them. And, best of all, they will be displaying them with woolen/fabric work. They look so wonderful "in situ" and I know that the pairing will complement both. 

So, I have been busy with brooches. I have created seven new brooches for Ceard, and I had the best time doing it. I went a little off traditional design, too, creating some that incorporate embellishments and one that is not round at all. 

I love the look of the polished piece when they are complete. Polished bronze is, I think, far more beautiful than gold. The softness of the colour is less stark than gold, but still has a shine to it that is rich and deep. And, of course, when you combine the shine of the metal with the incredible colours and textures of yarn and felt, it simply makes the metal look even more beautiful. Scarves and shawls are popular here in the Highlands, as I suspect they are everywhere else. As we approach the cold winter months, more and more people will be donning their thick woolens, and what better to decorate those woolens, than handmade brooches. I look forward to seeing how the brooches sell.

Unfortunately, I came to realisation that I needed to withdraw my work from another stockist. Sales were not going well there, despite record-breaking months for my own sales. So, it was with a good deal of sadness that I have left that stockist. But, I have my sights set on stockists farther afield in the new year. I am hoping that, after spending the first quarter of 2017 hard at work in the studio, I will have many beautiful pieces to share with potential stockists throughout Scotland and perhaps into England as well. 

Over the winter months, I will be adding pendants, rings, and bangles to my current offerings for The Selkie's Haunt. I am looking forward to creating these pieces. Many will feature beautiful and colourful stone cabochons and many will feature multi-layered designs. I can't wait to see what happens!

Remember, handmade jewellery is a perfect gift for someone special this holiday season. I have more events planned before Christmas and will be mailing (UK) packages up to the 16th of December. While commissioned work may be more difficult to complete during that time, the sooner you contact me the better if you wish to have something custom made. 

I look forward to writing to you again next month. Thank you, as always for your interest in The Selkie's Haunt.