Daily Routines

Still mulling over the subject of organisation, I've been thinking about changing my working routines lately - specifically renting a studio and going out to work in it, rather than working at home. There are pros and cons, but I'm ready for a change and I want to disentangle my home and work lives.

I'm quite fascinated by how creative people manage the work/life balance. I came upon this the Daily Routines blog through Lateral Action. Just like it says on the tin, it details famous people's routines. Flaubert had the right idea - 'A man of nocturnal habits, [he] usually awoke at 10 a.m. and announced the event with his bell cord. Only then did people dare speak above a whisper.'

Oh I need to get organised! I really do. I would love to be calm and serene with no last-minute panics and late-night working. I'm thinking this Little Otsu journal might help. It's dateless, so if I forget to write in it for a while I'm not wasting paper either (how's that for giving up before you start).

And it's pretty too.

New website goodies

Hi all! I sent out the newsletter but nearly forgot to tell my (slightly neglected) blog.

I've updated my website (and it feels good!). So good that I'm offeringI'm offering FREE POSTAGE until the end of August 2009. That includes international customers. You'll need to enter the code 'Freepost' when you check out.

See the new jewellery here.

Burgh House Art Fair on Monday

I'll be selling my jewellery at Burgh House Art Fair, Hampstead, this coming Mayday Bank Holiday Monday.

It would be lovely to see you there! As an added incentive, tell me you saw it here and get 15% off your jewellery purchase.

A little cinematic break from the jewellery show and tell...I borrowed the DVD of Ruokala Lokki (or Seagull Diner) from a friend thinking the description sounded not too promising - a Japanese woman opens a cafe in Finland...I thought it sounded scenic maybe but that's about it. Well, watch it is all I can say! It's life-affirming in a totally un-cheesy way, and very 'zen' - a real celebration of the simple things in life - food, friendship, living mindfully. On top of that it's great eye-candy (the cafe itself is a study in Scandinavian design and look out for all the Marimekko if you're a fan. In fact Marimekko, Iittala and Arabia are among the film's sponsor's). The food depicted in the film is all beyond tempting - if you can watch it without wanting to eat cinnamon buns and onigiri then you don't know what's good for you.

Spring Greens

A couple more pictures for you today....the uploading to the website will start this weekend...these are Tsavorite garnet with oxidised silver.

A necklace...


And a glamorous pair of earrings...one of my favourite pieces. These look intriguing peeking out from under your hair or can go full-on old-school glamour with an up-do.


Hope you're enjoying this lovely spring day (on this side of the equator at least). I was beading away on the balcony earlier this afternoon. It's a total sun-trap, I might have even got slightly sunburnt. Off to bake some bread now and do a spot of yoga (in a rare fit of virtuousness).

Nearly forgot to add, photos are by Ellie Laycock.

Sneaky peek

I've just had some new photos done for the website, so here's a little peek of what's going to be in store for the coming season...this one's made from sea bamboo and gold-plated silver. Sea bamboo is a type of kelp with a bamboo like structure. It looks very much like coral and is a more environmentally friendly alternative.