Zoo

My nephew came to visit last weekend and on Saturday we went to Chester Zoo. He has been before and really enjoys looking at all the animals. His favourites were the Chimps and they were real characters eating lumps of ice they had broken off their pond outside!

The giraffes reminded me of a piece of jewellery I made quite a few years ago. It was a picture of a giraffe which I turned into a silver pendant on a leather thong. I hunted through my photos and managed to find a picture of this which I thought I would share with you...really cute!

I hope my nephew comes up with some Chimp drawings soon as I think they would look fantastic hanging from a silver chain :-)

Youngest Valentine's designer?!

It is the season of Love as Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

I make jewellery from the drawings, squiggles and handprints of children from just a few weeks to a few decades. But the prize for the youngest Valentine's art must go to a little girl who was just under 2 years old when she did this squiggle. The random strokes made a very artistic heart that really brough a smile to my face.

Her mum has since commissioned me to turn it into silver earrings, a pendant and matching brooch for her (I am sure very proud) Grandmother!

Secret Service!

I think if I am ever looking for a change of career I might have plenty of experience for the secret service.

I am forever thinking on my feet to ensure a special jewellery gift remains a secret from the recipient. For example:

• pretending I have the wrong number when a husband (who is not supposed to know I am making his cufflinks) happens to be off work sick and unexpectedly answers the phone before his wife can get to it
• sending jewellery in unmarked envelopes with vague return addresses to avoid arousing suspicion
• sending an email with design ideas only after I have received a text to say that the "coast is clear"

It is all lots of fun really and well worth it to ensure the surprise on their face when they finally open the jewellery.

So if you ever hear my voice on the end of the phone pretending I actually meant to ring the Chinese takeaway and am terribly sorry to have disturbed you then watch out for a brown envelope winging it's way to your house :-)