I got one

It's my birthday, and I'll boast if I want to!
Guess what I got? A Bracher Emden.
My hints really worked this time. Yeay

Shocked & horrified

My..... world..... is..... falling...... apart... I just found out that the dynamic duo of London that is Bracher Emden have split! Yes I know, it's a little late. But was rambling the marvellous new bag hall in Howells of Cardiff and stumbled across one, on sale!

I was introduced to these incredable bags by Jo-Emma Lavin and have been drawling ever since. Slurp, slurp. Next on my list of must have luxury purchases, the detail can only be described as unbelievably intricate and sparkly. At least now they are a reasonable price, you don't have to be Rhianna or Beyonce to afford one..... if you can find one that is.
My advice for this year's best buy, if you've got a spare £300-£400, invest in one of these babies, because if my prediction proves right, these are great investments. But then, I would suggest swinging it rather than hiding it in the deep dark depths of your wardrobe. Trust me, these are real spotlight wonders.

From Wales with Love

Arms that span an ocean

Resilience knows no bounds

A forest filled with love

Her strength endures all odds

Unforgotten raucous chatter

Seamless foreign matter

Compassion ever admired

Radiating like molten lava

A smile that brightens the greyest sky

Unaltered sacred honesty cries

Embracing beauty seeps this blossom

Droplets of friendship chiseled by time

Solid but gentle night star shine

You know who you are. Mxx

Handmade Contemporary Jewellery

I produce quality handmade contemporary jewellery and most importantly, precious! Fusing Sterling Silver with gemstones, pearls, Swarovski and Venetian, although I am extending my work to include Vermeil (24ct gold coated Sterling Silver) in my new Shangri-La collection which is listed in a previous post and is selling like mulled wine on an icy cold day.

Handmade in my South Wales studio with over 7 years experience
Contemporary and up to the minute, fashionable jewellery designs that will last forever
On Precious materials which should be treasured

Each piece of contemporary jewellery I produce is limited in quantity, ensuring you will not see your twin at any event! Like an artist only produces an "original" painting, I call my jewellery limited editions and once you've had an original, you will realise there is no substitute.
For instance, I only handmade 2 of these Milan "Celebration" necklaces £145 & Earrings £69 RRP in black although I have been requested to produce another colour which will be available very soon!

I forage and gather the world over in search of the best materials I can lay my hands on to produce quality handmade contemporary jewellery, creating each piece with passion by my very own hand using the best finishing techniques.

Remember, all of my handmade contemporary jewellery is beautifully presented in my complimentary branded gift packaging and delivery is FREE for orders over £50.

And if you have friends who love handmade contemporary jewellery and want to see more, please contact me to book your private viewing.

So, if you are looking for unique and reasonably priced handmade contemporary jewellery please contact me now to avoid disappointment during the busy Christmas period.

My Best Friend's Wedding

Wondering where I've been? I was Bridesmaid last weekend for my best friend's wedding on a beautiful sunny day at my home town beach in Cronulla, Sydney, Australia.

I was overjoyed to make all the jewellery for the bridal party, although I probably didn't give my friend, Leah, a choice!

The Scene: An outdoor park wedding with a stunning water view as the backdrop and luckily the gods shone brightly on Leah & Steve that day.

The Task: To compliment a rather technical colour scheme mixing light gold, cafe latte and tea-rose.

The Specification: Sparkling, subtle in colour, statement but not too extravegant! Not too modern, but not too traditional.

My Suggestion: Gemstones of course! Designed in clusters for muted opulance.

The Bride and I headed into Sydney's city centre to forage through the garden of colours, leaving with a handful of delicate faceted teardrops in a mix of three different golden coloured Quartz Crystal i.e Citrine, Cognac & Routilated (gold thread). I handwired each gem on fine Sterling Silver to form "Goddess" style long earrings (below) perfectly complimenting the Brides' soft golden glow. I truly hope Leah will take pleasure in many more wonderful memories with these heavenly gems in the future...

The three Bridesmaids sported subtle pink earrings (top picture) made with tendrils of gorgeous natural Tourmaline faceted teardrops wired to form a cluster drop from a large brushed sterling silver marquise link. Each pair has approx 33cts of "A" grade gemstones.

The Flower Girl, Cheyenne, wore earrings of pretty pink heart shaped Venetian Glass designed to be interchangable on sweet 10mm hoops and Mother-of-the-Bride, Chris received a surprise "speckled" necklace of tourmalines on a medium length/weight Sterling Silver chain to blend with the Bridal Party.

My very talented Mother made the gorgeous flowers.

Congrats to Leah, who pulled off a very technical colour scheme with great success and received many compliments as the most stylish Bridal Party ever. Phew!

New Stockist

I am delighted to announce a new stockist in London, Chiswick W4 1RP called GEZ London, address is 51 Turnham Green Terrace.

They will be stocking my new Shangri-La collection along with some newly introduced hoop earrings and my best sellers including Stars, Hearts & V07's

With so much grey engrained in this Winter's fashion, I decided to spice it up with this Red, White & Blue V07 BRITANNIA Bracelet £65

The biggest fashion trend that all the celebraties sport.....

Hoop Earrings with clusters (above) £48

Amethyst Hoops £45

NEW Christmas 2009 Collection

Introducing the Shangri-La Collection Winter 09.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present".

Inspired by the five Chinese elements combined with the serene feeling of choosing to live for the moment, almost like finding Shangri-La; A magical paradise in Chinese mythology. This design would make the ultimate gift for someone special this Christmas as it transforms from casual to evening attire with ease and can be worn individually or as a set.
Delicately wired with fine Vermeil oriental style beads, wired into clusters on fine Sterling Silver Chain (Vermeil beads are 24ct Gold Plated on solid Sterling Silver).
Currently available as long or short earrings, lariat, short or long necklace.

Holidays

I have been really fortunate this summer to have had the opportunity to travel for 4 weeks in our caravan with my two little cherubs, eager to escape the monsoonal Welsh summer we were swimming in.

Having booked three different caravan parks in the East of England & Cotswolds, I enjoyed a real sense of freedom, feeling like a gypsy, having no idea what each destination would offer and visiting places I would never normally have chosen. We learnt some history about East Sussex, like our visit to Battle and this beautiful town alone has renewed my interest to see more of England. We visited so many places, climbed many castle turrets, took a stream train, walked for miles, popped into some lovely art galleries, sampling many cream teas along our way (we love scones) and even managed a dip in the ocean at Rye, which was a real treat as I am a fair weather kinda gal.

Whilst I prefer to keep my family off this blog, I couldn't resist sharing this one which sums up the weather and tickled the passers-by as we danced on Brighton Pier.

Seeds of creation

I thought I should unveil my past influences that have shaped me into the creative lass I am today...

Throughout the years I have turned my hand (or at least tried) at anything that challenges and interests me such as brickwork, landscape gardening, silk and acrylic painting, cake decorating, sewing, furniture making etc, and in more recent years, writing poetry. Yet, here’s the real irony; if you asked me to draw a picture, expect to see an unrecognisable stick figure depicting something child-like and unsophisticated. Perhaps it's my lack of concentration. However, through some mysterious work of nature, imagination and my hands, I have connected!

I actually don't feel like it's art I produce, but just love producing things with my hands and being creative which is a far cry from selling advertising. In fact, this gift comes from a long line of creatives in my family which I have only recently tapped into. So I am dedicating this post to my family in Australia who inspired me to follow a wondrous path of self-discovery.
First and foremost, without a doubt my Mum showed me how to use my hands and imagination, whether it be through cooking, painting, sewing, sculpting, floristry and so much more but also instilled a keen eye for detail and quality of craftsmanship which is one of my driving forces. Whatever she turned her hand to, Mum did with dedication and love, but certainly not for monetary gain (very much like myself). She has and continues to produce some beautiful work.

Whilst my father may have been into avionics as a fulltime job, he could also turn his hand to most things around the house (fortunately like my husband) and built some great features like a swimming pool for starters. Not many people know, however, that his vast knowledge of the English language stretched to writing poetry and I am looking forward to the day when he may share his writings.

Many of my Aunties produce amazing treats of all kinds like my Aunty Kay, a fine artist and teacher who has exhibited in some illustrious museums in Australia and is someone I have always admired. Most of my Aunties are clever little knitters and/or sewers, one is an amazing Opera Singer, another is an incredible seamstress. In fact, all of my family are amazing in some way or another and all have one thing in common. They are fabulous cooks and well, actually, they also know how to have fun (for those who know me, this should all sound familiar).

It's any wonder why I produce so much and continue to evolve. With such incredible talents influencing my development, it would be a crime not too!

Thank you to my family for being so very clever. Mxx

Birthstones

Customers sometimes choose their jewellery based on Birthstones, and often there is conflicting information about which stone is associated with which month. I then wondered where it all started and so decided to research the subject and came up with the following information which has been collated from various associations including The Coloured Gemstone Association:

Most gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones arose from the Breastplate of Aaron: a ceremonial religious garment set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year.

Because ancient people did not always classify gemstones by mineral species like we do, there is some debate about which gemstones were set in the breastplate and why. Because of this, different cultures around the world have developed different birth stone lists. The modern day list that you know is only the most recent list: some older lists still exist. Some also argue that the proper way to assign gemstones is according to astrological sign and not month.

Either way, I believe all gemstones have mystical powers that capture the energy of it's owner/wearer, and it's much more fun to choose gemstones that speak to you from all possibilities, or just because you can!

January - Garnet (Dark Red)
February - Amethyst (Purple)
March - Aquamarine (light Aqua)
April - Diamond (Clear)
May -Emerald (Green)
June - Moonstone (Milky White with iridescent flecks)
July - Ruby (Red)
August - Peridot (Lime Green)
September - Sapphire (Royal Blue)
October - Opal or Tourmaline (Multicoloured)
November - Citrine or Topaz (Golden)
December - Turquoise, Blue Topaz or Tanzanite (blue)

It's also worth noting that most the Gemstones on the list don't just come in one colour. For instance Sapphire also comes in Yellow, Pink, Green, White as well as many shades of Blue which is why I added the colour next to the gemstone. Perhaps the forthcoming posts will be about gemstones themselves, which is a rather huge subject indeed.....

One of my favourite Artists:

"Lines of Communication; they get broken & mended, but they still work if love is true"
Angela Smyth...I love, love, love her work

Nature walk

Beyond billowing meadows
Etching memories clean
Beneath the rickety bridge
Flows a trickling stream
Unlocking inner peace
Whistles faint song of dreams

Subtle scents intoxicate
Sienna hues of dusk illuminate
Bless these trees of salvation
This perfect emerald of mine
Reeling in glorious nature
Each weightless breathe at a time

Mx

New Organic Soap

Now I know what you're all thinking, "how does she get the time?" I'm certainly anything but organised, but I am efficient. You should see my studio, it's like a bomb has hit it, there's shards of silver and paperwork everywhere. Which reminds me, I must clean it up.

Anyway... So it's the end of the school year and I was racking my brain about what to give the teachers as a little "Thank You" token gesture from my kids. Bearing in mind there are 7 teachers between the two classes + the invaluable receptionist, the gifts needed to be reasonably inexpensive. Also as it's predominately from the girls, it needed to be something they could help with, without causing me too much stress. So I investigated soap making and Voilà!
Made with love (plus some kiddy giggles and cuddles) using essential oils (of course) with a completely organic soap recipe, which gives a nice foamy lather, topped with some dried flower elements (great for exfoliating or just leaving bits in the bath). Before I could get them on this blog, my first batch (some 50 bars) had already sold out and at £1.85 for deliciously fragrant organic soap, it's any wonder!

Available in 3 different scents:
Rose Geranium
Lavender
Lemongrass & Lime

Email me to place your orders on sales@melindamulcahy.com

Gold Rush

I have been procrastinating and researching the introduction of a gold line for some time, especially as certain customers prefer and request it, but price, quality and availability, has always been a concern, until now..... Finally, I am taking a huge leap into finishing my jewellery in Yellow Gold, but not as you would know it.
There is a wonderfully exciting product on the market called Vermeil which is actually solid Sterling Silver coated with 24ct Yellow Gold and I have been trying to source a quality supplier for about a year now as this product is hard to come by and has not been sold at the usual jewellery industry trade fairs.

I recently found a great supplier that beautifully handcrafts each Sterling Silver component, then, using a special technique (which meets FTC Standards of 100 millionths of an inch) of layering fine 24ct Yellow Gold over the Silver making this product the finest and most durable I have seen on the market to date. The price difference is only a 10% (approx) increase of the basic precious metal cost + whatever gemstones, pearls etc I use, so it's a reasonably affordable increase to swallow.

As my jewellery is precious I decided to go down this route not only to set my jewellery apart from the many designers out there now who make similar jewellery, but because it's become very in vogue again (after over 15 years of silver taking the lime light). The use of plated gold base metals mixed with gemstones and other quality materials, would be sacrilege in my opinion! On the other hand, of course, solid gold, even 9ct would be too expensive for me to sell and it is really difficult to obtain the variety of beads and findings I require to make my jewellery. Vermeil flawlessly bridges the gap between the latest fashion trend of Yellow Gold without compromising on quality (which is something I never compromise) and without the massive price hike. Bonus!

Over the next season I will be introducing some designs in Vermeil, so keep a watchful eye here, if you prefer a gold finish.

Moroccan Rose

T'is the wedding season! British Summertime in total bloom and at it's best this year....
Several brides this season have requested I conjure a new candle scent to absolutely drench their wedding celebrations and fill their memories of new beginings shared.

What better way to celebrate a magical day when 2 souls become 1 with the world's most romantic scent of a Rose. And not just any rose would do. The sublime Moroccan rose was my ultimate choice and is one of the most traditionally used scents in the "old school" perfumuries of France, when simulation "frangrance oils" were yet to be invented.

This exquisite bouquet is captured with my secret blend and is so special and expensive, I am savouring it for customers who really appreciate it's pure indulgent magic. Which is why it can only be ordered via email:
sales@melindamulcahy.com

A Perfect Day

Here is Justine, one of many Brides who commission me for something special. I created the India Bracelet just for her wedding day, although I believe she flashed it on her honeymoon as well.
This design is available on my website in other colours, including grey and black.

Photography care of Josephine Carter of Exquisit Days, Specialist Wedding Co-ordinator.

For Rhiannon..........

Little ritual

Beep beep, it's 6.30am
Here we go again
He's working out the gym
Would kill for a lie in!
Long gone without sleep
Last night barely a peep
Never mind
Oops, is that the time?
Awaken under steamy shower
Little voices growing louder
Mummy, Mummmmeeeeeee
Greetings with a loving kiss
Drop the wet towel
Add a puff of powder
One leg hops into jeans
Wonder if they're clean?
Coffee on switch
Stretch from table to fridge
Toast pops out
Baby shouts
Another morning rush
Milky teeth brushed
Must wake up earlier
Forget earrings and mascara
Quick glimpse at the mirror
No end to my black-eyed horror
Replaced youthful vanity
with mind-numbing insanity
Hairs a blink'in mess
No time for my breakfast
Dressed for the days weather
Swamped in rain armour
Fight the usual traffic hell
Damn, we missed the school bell?
A brief chat with the ladies
Arrange kids over for play days
Then back to the house
Where workloads mount
Steal myself a moment
Today's chore list opens
Ahhhh, coffee at long last
Oh how these days pass so fast

Defining my destiny

Following only 2 glasses of wine and a re-run of Desperate Housewives, I lay in bed last night trying to calculate my own existential existance and came up with this formula:

Sum = Envisage people actually saying:
"She is a designer" &
"She makes beautiful jewellery"

So actually, whilst I think about what people think about me and my work, this diverts my attention away from negativity and focuses towards believing they view me in the most positive light that I have created. We are, after all, inexplicably connected!

Existentialism.

Simple, yet effective!

Am i falling behind?

Age thirty something, I am starting to feel like I'm being left behind within the electronic ether.
I have been checking out loads of different blogs today (in between having to entertain kids during school holidays) and I can't seem to work out the need for all these bloomin networks?
So Flickr is an online database for photos and negates the potential for a huge hardrive - I get that, it's very useful and allows me to make my portfolios more interesting with a slideshow effect.
And Facebook hooked me up with some old friends from school which was great given that I moved to the other side of the earth. But do I really need another account for my jewellery?
Then I'm obviously here blogg'en on blogspot, which I thoroughly enjoy (but sometimes need to step away)
But Twitter? Hmmm, do I really need to spend more time on the keyboard?
Believe it or not, I do actually have a life where real people live and grow outside of this matrix! And I need to keep an element of anonymity.
But if I don't do it, am I missing business opportunities?

Credit - Oh how I love The

This month, I decided to list what's making me smile like a cheshire cat!

1). First on the scene for the biggest ever Jon Ian Sale, bought in total 3 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of wedges (inc Lulu Guiness), 1 pair mushroom suede/snake peep-toes (perfect wedding material) + 1 pair of black leather summer comfies, 1 pair of bright red sparkly leather pumps (shopping shoes) + 1 never-ending black suede bag on the cc (credit card).

2). Spruced up summer wardrobe with M&S colourful basics on cc (again) + Miss Sixty Jeans from Littlewoods, hhhhmmmmm

3). Second hand caravan bought on a whim and a hangover, inc motor mover and all kitted out with summer melamine dinner wear. Every trip is now an adventure - perfect inspiration for some paintings

4). BarryM eye powder in 3 new bright-alicious colours & a trip to my favourite hair dresser

5). Cling-ons no longer requiring I wipe their little bots & i'm lovin their ages right now.

6). Lost weight and feeling great

7). Booked trip back to Oz to see family, be bridesmaid at best friend's wedding, and catch up with old schoolies for reunion

8). Agreed gal-pals long weekend on the razz in Spain

9). Had secret something done

10). The warmth of the Sun - PRICELESS :)

The universe...

You may have noticed that I have little quotations from various philosophers, mostly "Buddha" dotted around this blog. As a Sagittarius, we are known to be vivacious and frivolous, which works great at parties. But as an artist working alone, being on an emotional rollercoaster has fuelled my artistic juices and has moulded me into a deep thinker (no drugs involved). Otherwise, it could just be that time of life (of the crisis kind)! For instance, I have started to write poems?!?

I have always been a spiritual soul allowing me the wonderful ability to give back to the universe, unconditionally. More recently, however, I have drawn inspiration from Jean who posts enlightenment videos which I use regularly to keep me focused and positive and I thoroughly recommend them to anyone "searching" for more.

Check out the "Wellness Experience" on YouTube for spiritual well being, go to the bottom of this blogsite to view a video of "Colour" or go for a walk in a park or by the sea and take in nature and all it's glories.

Anyway, Jean, Thank you. I really am not worthy!!!

Technology, who needs it?

Whilst I have received a little bit of help from fellow blogger, artist and now friend Jean Dayton, who is way ahead of me in terms of technology (she is on everything from YouTube to Flickr) just so every one knows, I'm proud to say that I built this blog all by my lonesome. I only hope viewers are enjoying my blog as much as I am enjoying making it?

Hopefully you will be seeing the use of multimedia, now that I have finally come to grips with flickr, I can now make the pictures into videos (whaaaoooooo). I have so many pictures of jewellery now, I (well my husband) has had to set up a mega-gazzillion hard drive (whatever that means). And I am astonished at the amount of jewellery artists on flickr. It's certainly become a great resource and in fact, if you want to see some beautiful pictures, you really don't have to look far.

I am also amazed at what one can achieve without paying for it! For instance, I recently made a video short using some pictures of a weekend break and added it to YouTube. Of course, it's certainly not worth viewing, as I was only playing, but I can see it's potential (not my potential as a moviemaker you understand). And as my computer died for almost a week, not so long ago, I didn't know what to do with myself. How else would I keep up with what my friends are doing on facebook? I realise now, I can't live without it.

Technology, I so need it!

My Creations

When designing and making jewellery, I have always considered the valued opinions of both stockists and private customers. Unfortunately, we have become fast consumers opting for quick and cheap fashion fixes rather than considering quality, originality and purity of materials.

Have we forgotten about quality and what it stands for? The question is, can we really put a price on limited precious materials, integral design and quality workmanship? Does a piece of plastic provide the same feel good factor as a real precious stone? I do know that those who appreciate “luxury” products can tell the difference, and it's not just snobbery!

Perhaps it’s down to education before things will change. Of course knowledge is power, which is why I right these notes. Without compromising my genuine beliefs, I have set out the creative processes of crafting my little treasures…

And, imagine if you will that, without designers like myself, who would the mass-producing companies copy from?

Perhaps one might consider these notes before buying throw-away jewellery in future…

Concepts – Since tuning into my creative talent, designs have constantly flooded my mind, often causing sleepless nights and a handbag filled with scribbles on whatever writing material I could find, often napkins or the back of sales receipts. I am now far more organised and carry a note book!

The source of all my ideas remain locked in my mind until I find the right key (material), which I then turn into a piece of jewellery. I never make a piece I would not wear myself; the jewellery must be feminine, tasteful, stylish, colourful, original and wearable so that each creation enhances the wearer.

Time – The thought process focused on each concept is priceless as it’s the most important part and will define a great design. Unfortunately it’s also the least appreciated of any of the processes. Whilst I only buy materials that inspire me, a design may not come easily, often taking days, weeks and sometimes I will sit on materials for months until I get the idea completed in my mind before even starting to play with production. I very rarely have to draw it out, as this often suggests the piece is too complicated, whereas I prefer simplicity.

Materials – Choosing Gemstones, Pearls, Shells etc is a personal experience and one that requires an eye for quality and detail, ears to the ground for the latest market releases, and actually not constantly following the norm, but is always based on intuition. Even if I’ve exceeded my budget, there is usually something I just can’t say no to and I’m always thankful for those last minute decisions.

Some believe gemstones have magical powers and others believe when worn they capture your life-force. I believe they evoke memories and certainly have a mesmerising quality, when you view them carefully to see what’s inside, as there is more to them than meets the eye. Perhaps it’s just because they are natural, yet strangely so perfect, even if they have flaws or inclusions that I choose to incorporate them in practically all my designs.

The Pearls I use are all cultured, meaning they are cultivated in fresh water with a helping hand from the experts and every year we see something new like petal shapes this year. Ultimately I look for good lustre, size and shape, but bright new colours play are part too. Pairing pearls for earrings is extremely laborious and can sometimes take up to ½ an hour for one set, any longer and I tend to put them away for another day.

Production – Through pain, sweat, stress and sometimes tears, I handwire each piece into memoirs of my experiences, emotions and travels, hence I name them. Once a design concept is firmly thought through, I intimately set out the materials, checking sizes, colours, shades, quality of materials, carefully cherry picking each gemstone or pearl as if it were a diamond for a solitaire ring. I see such depths in each material and finally frame them into Sterling Silver to display each piece to my exact specification, sometimes dancing with various other precious metals like yellow gold when necessary.

Tools – My weapons of choice are my hands, for without them, I am unable to achieve such intricate details especially when wiring 0.3mm wires! Along with a simple combination of pliers, precision cutters, a good imagination and willingness to produce quality, not to mention years practicing each technique, is all that is required.

Courage, Spirit, Passion, Hard work and Sheer Determination –It has taken many years of dedication to the art of jewellery making to earn a prestigious title such as an Artist. As a Designers/Maker I pour my heart and soul into my work, contemplating and scrutinising each twist of wire and I never compromise.

Yet it’s not just about the work I produce, changing from a hobbyist into a commercial business has taken virtually all my energy, and it’s certainly not without sacrifice. I am now constantly evolving and steering the business, like a chameleon searching for the multitude of skills inside myself, so that I can improve each day.

Finally, it’s the delightful thank you’s from satisfied customers that keeps my dedication on track. Little notes that ping through emails, or hand penned notes pinned around my studio walls; I refer to from time to time. Not that I need enthusiasm, as I have plenty of that, it’s just a little reminder that I’m heading in the right direction, for one needs to consider what they have already achieved in order to move forward. After all, I am only as good as my last design.

I am, to this day, in search of that illusive perfect design.

New Season, New Reasons...

So the doom and gloom on the markets may be making us think more about how to gain the most from our money, but we still all need a bit of "feel good factor" to get us out of bed. And in a world of rules for rule sack, in my world of styling, there are no rules for classics, and classics are always key in any wardrobe, so you can guarantee the one piece you buy, will stand the test of time.

Thinking about how to keep the business flowing in the right direction in our current economic climate has allowed me to consider the reasons why we choose the jewellery we wear. I recall my Nana discussing how her family survived the Great Depression in Australia, she was from a wealthy family but had to sell some of the family jewellery to feed themselves. This old-fashioned ideal could never be more significant today and is why I have decided to move slightly away from fashion-led jewellery, for this season, as we have become such fast consumers, and rather edging backwards in time, to a more glamorous era when quality really mattered...

I have gathered all the best gemstones and natural pearls available to revisit my routes of cluster designs, similar to "vintage" revival, where elegance, extravagance and fashion collide. Bracelets and necklaces dripping with hundreds of individual components all fighting for the right to sparkle in the light, finished with ornate and fanciful detail makes these classicl pieces, ideal collectibles for the future.

Each piece is a labour of love, the time taken to handcraft these luxurious creations is more like full days (not hours) making them more precious, as gemstones and silver are commodities in their own right, and a good investment. For pure indulgence thus named the DELUXE Collection.

When you polish your style with unique jewellery pieces you get a real rush of freedom and vitality, like taking the top off your sports car when you've just set your hair, sitting on wet grass with white linen trousers, burning a beautiful candle rather than keeping it just for decoration, eating desert before dinner, to live and love, because we can. These are not just for special occasions, because everyday is special and we must cherish the moments we have.

All of these unique pieces have been designed for private customers, both here and abroad. Should you like what you see, please contact me directly via email or go to my etsy shop.

New Candle Recipe

Those of you who have enjoyed burning my aromatherapy candles, should by now know the benefits and amazing powers of pure Essential Oils.
After only a short, but successful time on the market, I am thrilled to introduce another of my very own scent blends called REFRESH... Made with Rosemary, Lime & Lavender.
The concept behind this blend was to create the ideal dinner party accompaniment. We love to cook and entertain in our home where many friends and family have sat around our dinner table and enjoyed the scents of my candles. This led me towards developing a specific scent for such occasions and I believe this new addition blends well when serving food. The trick was not to overpower subtle food smells, rather to compliment, perfect for welcoming guests, entertaining and may even stimulate intellectual conversation. But there are other benefits to this particular blend too.....
This wonderful mix of citrus and wood offers a clean feeling, so is perfect for detoxing, for self indulgent beauty days at home, or for enjoying that "spring clean" feeling without picking up a mop or cleaning cloth. Also, this combination of Rosemary is great for concentration and clear thinking, the Lime revives whilst the Lavender works to calm the nerves and so may aid study or brainstorming in the office.
All candles come in recyclable, eco-friendly packaging. This new scent will be available online soon and at specialty stockists.

Latest Press

The Western Mail featured my kitchen in their "Favourite Room" article by editor Charlotte Hayden, which you can view here.

Coloured Diamonds

Black Diamonds are the latest "craze" in the London jewellery scene at the moment, although I have been working with these for the last 3 years!
Unfortunately, as they are still fairly unknown, there seems to be some confusion regarding the Diamond Collection that I am showing on my website. Apparently, customers believe they are not real?
For the record, if they are called Diamonds on my website, and in accordance with Trade Descriptions, that is exactly what they are!
Most customers may not have seen Diamonds in this form before, but I can assure you, they are real Diamonds, just not cut like what you would see in traditional jewellery. They are weighed the same, in Carats, the difference is that these are beads i.e with a hole in the middle for threading, and obviously far less expensive.

Black Diamond 2 drop pendant Black Pearls on Sterling Silver, approx 5 Carats.

How? Traditional "cut" diamonds use only the best types of raw diamond leaving the rest for dust, literally (on diamond drills for instance). With the onslaught of colours to hit the market, and the ever expanding bead market's zest for new stones and cuts, the suppliers/cutters (mostly in India) decided to experiment with diamond beads, and has been the biggest product to hit the bead market since Precious Clay was introduced. At the last International Jewellery London Trade Fair in September, retailers were queing to purchase ready made necklaces (crafted in India) for the Christmas season.

2 drop Black Diamond and Labradorite earrings, on oxidised Sterling Silver.

Being a Diamond, the hardest substance known to mankind, they sparkle beautifully like a diamond should, but because they are mostly solid in colour, although they have inclusions and some transperancy, they don't have the "fire" of a traditional cut white diamond, i.e allows more refraction of light. Each bead is "roughly" faceted, to keep the price competitive and they are usually found in 2mm button shapes.

Yellow, Green & Brown Diamond necklet with short single gold pearl drop, approx 3.5 Carats in weight.

I handcraft unique pieces for each individual customer, in keeping with my signature and have several colours available including Black, Grey, Yellow, Green, Brown, exclusively cut into 1mm cubes. As the holes are so tiny, I thread 0.3mm wire, either Sterling Silver or Yellow Gold and each necklace takes a minimum of 3 hours to make, as all diamonds are individually wired to make a chain. I can also oxidise the Silver for a blackened finish, again very en vogue this year. Alternatively, I indispurse the individually wired diamonds with diamond cut chain, thereby reducing the overall price of the finished piece.

Layered Black Diamonds for sparkling "Harry Winston" Red Carpet moments!

Coloured Diamonds look amazing multi-layered, as a tight necklet or with drops of pearls, whichever you prefer and to your exact requirements. Please feel free to email me regarding these gorgeous and most precious gems only available from my online boutique, e:melinda@melindamulcahy.com. Prices start from as little as £45 for 30point earrings with drop pearls, so your not exactly breaking the budget.

The Gift

In this cold commodity culture
Where you lay your money down
It's hard to even notice
That all this earth is hallowed ground...
The gift keeps moving
Never know where it's going to land
You must stand back and let it
Keep on changing hands. --Bruce Cockburn

This week's inspiration, when all we are hearing is doom and gloom!

And always remember, "It's not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing it"

Here come the girls....

For some strange reason I am one of these girls who manages to spot new and interesting things before everyone else. Of course, I always share my news with friends. It's my sixth sense for high fashion.
For some, keeping up to date with fashion fads can be a rather daunting task, so I am happy to offer my services by letting you know my predictions and best picks for each season. Here are my top fashion finds for the imminent party season.....
Most exciting find so far is Barry M cosmetics, which I found in Superdrug, very well priced at around £4-5 and will glitterize you for perfect party power. I love the glitter gel eye liner in red, green, turquoise, silver and anything else you can think of. Not to mention their glitter nail polish, I had to have the red. Go to www.barrym.com for the most fun you'll have since the eighties!

The best place I have seen so far for, in my opinion, festive frocks is Monsoon, they have by far excelled themselves with the most colourful line they have ever done. Divine teals, greens, reds and not much grey or black in sight - YIPPEE! I picked up a satin Emerald Green dress for £85 which will be my top frock for the season.
The must have but ridiculously priced Lara Bohinc black and gold Suede Tatiana clutch - £595.00 is a good investment piece and will stand the test of time.
I great pair of ankle boots in bright purple suede, although I am currently lusting over the Chloe electric blue cut-out angle boots at £455. If you like the colour but not the price, go to Preen at Topshop's Boutique collection, which is about time as I am so sick of "Wafe Moss". And whilst you're there, new find Ashish do colourful sequin outfits to match the boots.
For everyday coats, go for long and black like the Moncler padded at £645, although I bought a fab long zip front from Karen Millen, which does the trick for windy and rainy school runs at half the price..
For the ultimate lip plumping lipgloss rather than cosmetic surgery, during my recent trip through Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, I found a new product called LipFusion XL which is a little pricey, at about £36, but I have to say works! Available via www.musthave.co.uk
Oh and don't forget to accessorise with a fab piece of jewellery like my long Constellations necklace and earrings from £30 available via my online boutique and at selected stockists!

Unusually styled woolly jumpers and knitted dresses are huge this winter. Oversized, or majorly textured with different patterns and cuts like Jil Sanders knitted dresses, and I love the Antonia Berardi bell sleeved kimono style cardi if you want to blow the budget. Otherwise go to Topshop for chunky shawls and cardigans. If all else fails, just get yourself an oversized cowl from Etsy which will do the trick.
If you just want to spruce up that tired LBD, get yourself some gorgeous Gothic Lace Leggins from Topshop for £22.
Bows, bows, bows are everywhere, oh and get yourself a hat, like the Nougat soft and cutchy Mohair knitted Beret with bow detail, in Mink (available at Ginger Lily, Malpas) £69.
And, I am not ashamed to admit that it really is worth checking littlewoods these days for good quality brands. They have certainly upped their game since their catalogue days.

one door closes, another opens

It's disheartening at times, bordering on slitting my wrists down right frustrating when, customers, usually stockists , decide not to restock my jewellery, as they have chosen a more lucrative path of "mass produced" brands like Pilgrim found on every High Street (ggrrrr) leaving no room for us little crafty "independents". Sometimes it feels like my coat tails are still trapped in the door just slammed in my face.
Strangely, similar to karma, another door always seems to open for me, like meeting Jayne or becoming email buddies with Jean, or finding another place to sell my jewellery like Etsy, or being invited to showcase at Celtic Manor events.
Someone explained early in my sales career the "when one door shuts, another opens" theory, which has held me in good stead remembering this and is my most valuable tool when working alone. The old saying "Your only as good as your last sale" I adapt to many areas of business including my designs. Perhaps this might explain why I am so prolific at producing new designs and why I choose not to have a signature style preferring to be a chameleon.
With the power of positive thought, I always seem to recover with a little bit of effort, survival mode and intuition kick in and I am able to see the new horizons everywhere. And actually, when I think about it, this happens in relationships too!
I don't like to say I never look back, as that suggests ignorance. Learning from a situation is always wise in business, but looking forward for new opportunities is far more exciting.....

Ginger Lily Opens

Last week saw the inaugural opening of my fellow jewellery designer/come entrepreneur and friend Jayne Wade's new shop called "Ginger Lily". Little surprise, according to locals on the night, Jayne's gorgeous shop has already made a real splash into the sweet little town.
Located on the main street of Malpas, Cheshire, after talking with the locals who joined in the celebrations, it's exactly what they wanted.

Jayne (right) with friend Alison and a local customer

As an independent shop, Jayne not only offers something different from the High Street, but also prides herself on supporting local talent, like myself for instance, along with her own jewellery brand "Jayne Wade", Dower & Hall, Nougat smellies and accessories, gifts, prints from local artists and much more.

Jayne's business Partner (right) with a customer

Of course, apart from Jayne and her partners, no-one was more excited to see the opening than me as Jayne bravely trusted me to produce the natural therapy candles I had been raving about, and was the first stockist to feature them. I was delighted to see how well received they were, literately walking out the door, with fabulous comments in tow.

Jayne's Sister with local Graphic Designer

I love supporting independent traders who support British designers, which are few and far between these days, but even more so with Ginger Lily, as I have seen first hand the hard work and courage it has already taken and I am so thrilled for her.
On the border of Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales, it's a great place and idealic country town, so don't forget to drop by and take a look inside. It will be well worth it.

Not the best pic of me, with Jayne (left), but it had taken 5 1/2 hours to get there, leaving no time for fluffing myself up!

Ginger Lily can be found at: The Cross, High Street, Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8QX

Handmade

I have found the most fabulous website for all things handmade.

It's called Etsy and I have recently signed up to start selling my products on it.

Sellers all admire one another's work and it's more than a selling site, it's an international community of artisans.

You will find thousands of amazing items for sale and all handmade by the sellers themselves, like myself, so you are supporting individuals, rather than corporations!

So rather than worry yourselves over Christmas shopping this season, I suggest you take a good look. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Genius.

Candles NOW available online

Thanks to my brilliant web-girl, my new Aromatherapy Candles are now available to purchase on my website!

Believe me, they smell even more divine than the pictures portray.

These candles have been made with much love by myself, not to mention a great deal of time testing and researching to perfect the scents so that they fill a room.
At £13.50, you can't even say you're spoiling yourself, so try both scents and let me know which is the best!
Even more exciting, take advantage of FREE DELIVERY for purchases over £50.