Here in the UK it appears that this bank holiday weekend is going to be amazing, with the most glorious weather for four whole days! Quite a rarity it would seem, judging by the number of people flooding into the Cotswolds or rushing down the motorway towards the coast.
Wherever you are spending your Easter weekend I hope you have a very Happy one …just don’t eat too much chocolate 😉 x
I’m very lucky to love what I do, and I particularly enjoying making Wedding Jewellery. There’s something really special about being asked to make something for such an important occasion.
Recently (it must be that time of year!) I’ve had lots of orders for bridal jewellery. Sometimes it’s been a beautiful necklace for the bride herself or a set of jewellery for the Mother of the Bride, but more often than not it’s for a selection of bridesmaids gifts. I love to see how many bridesmaids each bride has chosen and often wonder how hard that choice must be. Do you just choose your very best friend or sister, or do you have a group of friends, which must be such fun if sightly more costly!
Either way it must feel lovely to be chosen and to receive a little something as a thank you.
How many bridesmaids would you choose?…
With Mothering Sunday just around the corner, the high street shops are full of Mother’s Day cards and gifts.
Instead of chocolates (think of the calories!) or flowers …perhaps consider a piece of Biba & Rose jewellery? Prices start from as little as £10 for a single floating pearl .
Until midnight on Friday 22nd March there’s 15% off the entire collection. Simply enter code MOTHERSDAY at the checkout
On February 14th 2007 I made my very first piece of jewellery. I remember the piece so well. It was a necklace with different shaped glass beads in shades of purple. I used to call it my lucky necklace! My designs have certainly changed over the years, but here I am 12 years later still doing what I love.
There have definitely been ups and downs. Running your own business is not easy but it’s been worth it. Biba & Rose jewellery is not just my creation, as I’m lucky enough to have a very supportive team who help behind the scenes and I couldn’t do without them.
I appreciate every one of my customers and seeing my designs worn and loved by so many people makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Thank you all! x
As well as being available online Biba & Rose jewellery can also be found at various events throughout the year, including Country Fairs and Charity Events. These events mean that you can view a much larger range of the jewellery, try it on and meet the maker!
We also have a pop-up shop each week in The Corn Hall, which is a covered market in the beautiful Cotswold town of Cirencester. The success of these pop-up shops is that they reach such a large audience and it is always lovely to meet so many visitors who have travelled from all corners of the world! The Cotswolds definitely appears to be high on the list of ‘must-see’ places to visit in the UK.
Using pop-up shops means that without the overheads of a high street shop we are able to maintain a price point that is both affordable and competitive, without compromising on the quality of the jewellery. It is hard work, but worth it!
It was certainly a very busy period in the lead up to Christmas. Some customers even arrived to collect orders only a couple of days before the big day.
But now is the time I dread! Being a small business January is a month filled with paperwork. It’s the month when I start applying for many of the events that I attend throughout the year. In fact, I have applied for a couple of 2019 Christmas Fairs already!
It is also the month for the dreaded ‘tax return’. Every year I promise myself that I will be better organised and do it earlier next time, but sadly that never seems to happen. It’s a job I put off and every time there’s a new piece of jewellery to make instead, I obviously get side-tracked.
That being said, I love what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way.
I also wouldn’t be here without my customers, so would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy, healthy and Prosperous 2019 x
I am always delighted to get a message from a happy customer who has just received their order and wants to let me know how pleased they are with it. The fact that they have gone to the trouble to write to me, really means a lot.
If they also leave a review on my website that is even better! I know many online customers who haven’t met me or seen my designs before find the reviews very useful, so if you can spare a few minutes to leave one, please do!
You can review any of my designs by clicking on the review tab halfway down the product page, and then leave a comment. Alternatively you can leave a review on Facebook, Google or Freeindex – none of these methods require you to register your details, but your comments can be seen by everyone.
Thank you so much …I really do appreciate it x
To many the sight of Christmas decorations, cards and gift wrap in the shops in September is just too much! To others the excitement of Christmas can’t come soon enough!
I’m always very impressed by those customers who start shopping for Christmas presents as early as possible. If they see the ideal gift for someone they just buy it, no matter how many weeks or months are still to go.
It certainly must help to spread the cost of Christmas, as long as they don’t forget where they’ve hidden their purchases!
That being said I decided to put my Christmas earrings on the website this year, rather than just selling them at events, and I am amazed by how many pairs have already been sold. I make them using Swarovski Crystals and sterling silver, so they will last for many Christmases to come. They can be found here – https://www.bibaandrose.co.uk/shop/swarovski-crystal-christmas-earrings/ …for a limited time! 🙂
This summer I have probably sold more earrings than anything else, and they are by far one of the most asked for pieces of jewellery.
I think the fact that once you’ve had your ears pierced you are committed to wear earrings does mean that many people feel ‘undressed’ without them. Often I am asked to make just one earring to match an existing one because half of the pair has been sadly lost or mislaid. I think perhaps a ‘pair and a spare’ might be a good idea for some customers 🙂
When it comes to making pearl earrings the hardest part is matching the pearls. By their very nature, pearls are a natural product and no two are absolutely identical. I spend hours getting the best possible match, using those pearls that are the closest in both colour and shape.
For some customers Swarovski pearl earrings are the much better option, as they are perfectly round and a perfect match. They are also extremely good value!
For others the feel of a freshwater pearl and the fact that they are real is more important, together with their slightly irregular shape and natural look.
Biba & Rose pearl drop earrings are available on sterling silver and gold vermeil wires, and the majority of them come with a choice of fittings.
https://www.bibaandrose.co.uk/earrings
If you cant find exactly what you’re looking for, do get in touch as a bespoke pair can be made especially for you…
