It's the end of the year, so pretty much anyone with instagram is sharing their best nine of 2018 - that's their nine images with the most likes. So these aren't really their best things, just their popular things. Yay for social media popularity...?

If you want to order something in time for Christmas, make sure you're aware of my recommended dates!

Read on for the ideas in full!
(and to find out what makers I've snook into this picture)

I know it's November, but December will soon be here, and supporting independent traders means a little extra planning goes a long way - I don't have access to a huge team of elves and a distribution center!

Orders placed after these dates might still arrive for Christmas... but it's always better to be safe than sorry!

Dates are based on my order times, plus Royal Mail's recommended latest posting dates for First Class and International Standard - I can post using faster services on request, for an additional postage fee, please just ask.
 
International orders are always potentially subject to delays due to customs in the country of delivery, although I provide all the details I can in your package to speed up this process. Of course, there can also be delays out of my control and the postal services,  with bad weather or strike action.

The weather has turned chilly, the evenings grow dark, so how about some giveaways to brighten October up a bit?! You could also cheer up a friend if you win!

I’m a fan of Halloween (and also of being subtly creepy all year round) so in the run up to this year, I’m holding three different giveaways on a Halloween theme, with skulls and black cats. Each giveaway is for two pieces of jewellery, so you can keep them yourself, or share and  become Halloween buddies with a familiar.

So no-one is left out, I’ll do one giveaway each on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, meaning that wherever you follow me you’ll get a chance to enter – Or find and follow me on multiple channels to join in each giveaway.

 If you haven't heard of Inktober, it's a simple idea - Every day in October, complete one ink drawing, and show it to someone. Doesn't matter how good you are or aren't at drawing, doesn't matter if you use an ink pen, ink brush or digital ink, just ink something and share something each day! The idea is to draw more, and try to improve, or just enjoy the process more.

Now, it sounds simple, but the past few years, I've seen #Inktober images shared on social media, and been a little scared. Although the creator of Inktober, artist Jake Parker, says that you can do as much or as little as you like, I know that I'd feel disappointed with myself if I didn't manage all 31 days.

So I've had a plan - and created a single sheet of paper, where I can do just a little doodle each day!
There are two PDFs at the bottom if you want to download and use one yourself.

As you're all such a supportive bunch, and it's alliterative, EVERY order placed in September will go out with a little surprise in it! You'll get an extra something jewellery-ish, plus perhaps something else (or elses) nice packed in with your expected items. 

It's also an apology for me being so all over the place at the start of September that I'll have to change my processing and shipping times. Come and be nosy on my instagram, twitter and Facebook, as you might see me mucking around Hereford and in gorgeous costume at a live role play event.

In short, in September you can still order, but it might be delayed, but it will have something extra in it!

Way back in February I had a request for a wedding due in OCTOBER!
Does that seem too far out? Well, if you can, planning ahead helps, and this tale helps show that.

I get a lot of requests for skull pins as wedding accessories for gents, as they are a perfect alternative (or addition) to the usual cufflinks, and a great way to add a little personality to the men's outfits (usually the ladies get all of the accessory options!)

This canny couple were planning in advance to not only spread the cost, but so they could also get spot on what they wanted. They were smart enough to know that even once you have found your dream wedding jewellery, gifts, decor etc, it can take a good maker time to discuss your personal tweaks and get it just right for you.

​So how did we get on?