Great news & I'm brimming with excitement.......
Finally I have been given the thumbs up to restock the very prestigious Celtic Manor Resort just in time for the Ryder Cup 2010 tournament here in Wales which is due to start on 1st October. I have been stocking the Celtic Manor with my jewellery & working alongside their Retail Manager for the past 3 years and I am so thrilled to be one of only 4 jewellery designers representing Wales during this period, which is apparently the 2nd largest sports event in the world, 2nd only to the Football World Cup! Wow, this really is a hot ticket.
Accordingly to sources, the hotel is completely locked down and no-one without a pass is allowed in or out of the hotel. I will be one of the lucky ones to catch a first glimpse of what's going on over there when I will be delivering my handmade jewellery including the new Best Selling Morocco Collection which features the beautiful Gold Vermeil finish and where my Caviar Collection will be unveiled.
Not, of course, before I publish it here first.

My shop front

There are loads of NEW designs and scent blends available on Not On The High Street, and still loads more to come, click the pic above to enter the site. Alternatively all of Melinda Mulcahy's NEW handmade jewellery and aromatherapy candles will shortly be available on my own website www.handmadedesignerjewellery.biz
Exciting times!!

There is absolutely no better feeling that starting your event with a knock-out accessory that offers that feel-good confidence factor and one that you know will raise comments. I believe I have achieved that with this NEW Morocco collection, my first collect predominately stars gold vermeil.
Coming very soon to my dedicated website of handmade designer jewellery and currently only available to purchase NOW on notonthehighstreet.com.
All jewellery is limited in edition, so be quick to snap up this lushious collection before it disappears.

Great News

My handmade jewellery & aromatherapy candles have just been accepted on the very well known, and might I add prestigious

I am so thrilled that I could just burst and very eager to get working on setting up shop. Watch this space for the launch.....

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

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

My Jewellery Buddy

Since meeting Jayne Wade (a fellow designer) 18months ago at a trade fair, we have kept in touch via emails ever since and recently met up at the IJL (International Jewellery London) to see what's happening in the industry and compare notes.

Like me, Jayne started her jewellery business around the same time as me, based in Chester, and has progressed to where she has approx 35 stockists and recently opened a shop. Although Jayne's jewellery is my competition, I always like to spread the word and help her too, because, like me, Jayne is offering a different choice for customers, for without designers like us, everyone would all be walking around in exactly the same accessories.

What has been interesting and at times, reassuring, is the paralells in which we are both travelling in the jewellery industry, both of us struggling just to keep our businesses going, the never ending battles of getting our jewellery known in the market, the stresses and strains of owning our own businesses, not to mention the lonliness of working from home.

There is no doubt most retailers are suffering as a result of the current economic climate and from walking around the trade fair, the manufacturers are too. It was amazing how many big names in the industry who tried to hit the market running with large marketing budgets, but who are not longer around. Reassuring for both Jayne and I who are building our businesses slowly and, although we don't exhibit, we both hope to be around a while yet.
There wasn't really much to report, from the trade fair from a design point of view either, but one thing was certain, diamond beaded necklaces, like mine, were being snapped up from Indian suppliers!

Jayne has her own label of beautiful and contemporary jewellery design collection available to purchase in her new shop (pictured above) and online at www.jaynewade.com and will soon be stocking some of my jewellery and new candle collection available in store from October.
If you are in the area, this is one shop you definitely wouldn't want to miss!

May I wish Jayne the very bestest of luck in her new and exciting venture.....

Jayne Wade's NEW shop address is: The Cross, High street, Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8QX
Tel: 01948 861219