Wire

I am so enjoying wire work at the moment and the above piece "Artemis" was a real labour of love - one of those projects that seemed to click even though it wasn't exactly what I started out to achieve. I definitely had aching hands by the end but am so pleased with the final outcome I am hoping to attempt another at some point.

Gorgeous boro beads by Claire of Rowanberry Glass - amazing colours to pull out - my favourite type of beads - someone on Flickr (sorry if its you) said it looked "appley" and I think they're right - like apple blossom - maybe I should photograph the blossom on our apple tree for comparison?
Finally some earrings I created with beautiful apatite, Iolite , aquamarine and gorgeous smooth rock crystal .
And thank you Hannah (Of Kutuu) who checked up on me this morning - she was worried because I have been a bad, neglectful blogger recently!! May, I promise will be an improvement :)

Blood Red

I have a thing about rubys at the moment - I love them - the rich colour almost pinky tones - yum!! The above earrings are with oxidised silver, which to me shows off the ruby to perfection But I have got a couple briolettes left so if you fancy something with shiny silver ...

See I told you I love rubies ;)

Today I woke to a nudge from the lovely Catherine of La Perle - to tell me Sharon of Manamoon had written about me on her blog. She made me so happy - a sweet lovely write up that made me blush down to my toes :) On Etsy where I have a little shop we have chance to show off other peoples work that you like, inspires you or you just want to promote - I love making these its like making a poster up!! I also love showing off my friends work they are such fun!!

Fun day at the Chicago Bridal Trade Show!

Here is the tremendous threesome at the Chicago Trade Show. You know me, my perfect husband, and introducing the woman behind the madness...Ms. Nicole! She is the best office manager a designer can have! One of us decided on longer hair and one of us went shorter! Hair a la carte, www.hairalacarte.com, fortunately had a booth next to us, at the show. Nicole was able to be fit with some pretty fab hair extensions. Me, on the other hand, decided to change my hair, due to the "feel" of my creativity. I had just finished my new European fashion line called Eur*Girl! It is very chic and girly fashion line. I decided I wanted a Betty Paige look. Keep your eye open for the new Eur*Girl line! If I do say so myself...it is AMAZING! It'll be up on the website in about a month.

Gorgeous ladies at The Left Bank

These two beautiful ladies work at the chic-est store in Chicago, The Left Bank. This picture is at Susan (aka Mrs. Metropolis') wedding (she is the owner of this lovely french-inspired boutique). These two gorgeous ladies are Judy and Beth (who is wearing Hannah Kristen necklace). I am looking forward to my next trunk show at the Left Bank on May 2,3,4. Come and see us! www.leftbankjewelry.com

We appreciate the peacocks!

Mother Nature is the bomb! Look at these beautiful peacocks! These two peacocks are Teri and Mike Boardman's "kids". Every season they molt, and kindly donate their feathers to MEG Jewelry. If you have great taste, and wear a MEG Jewelry peacock feather hair jewelry, you have these two to thank!

Vowed in Elegance trunk show 4 years and running!

This is my fourth year hanging out with the fun and fantastic Vowed in Elegance boutique in Mankato, MN. www.vowedinelegance.com. The name says it all! Kristi Owner pictured) will not let you walk out the door feeling and looking like a million bucks! There was one BIG difference at this trunk show...a very cool little boy named Carter! Last year's trunk show Kristi was VERY pregnant...and now there was a cute little guy that I got to meet! I wish I would have gotten a picture. I was able to capture a picture of this beautiful and super fun bride, who we dected out in some beautiful jewels.

BlueGrass Bride

so, I have found my home away from home at BlueGrass Bride www.bluegrass-bride.com! Fell in love with every ounce of this great boutique, people, and town! I ADORE Calhoun and Megan who work at BlueGrass Bride! Did I happen to mention Laila....she is the pretty lady with four legs...she's a lover- adopted by Calhoun who saved her from a very abusive lifestyle. Now Laila lives in the lap of luxury as she is a constant wedding consultant at the boutique. This beautiful couture boutique will make you feel right at home, and like you are the only bride in the world. It is in Lexington, KY and it just opened in Nov. Can't wait till my next trunk show with them!

On strict orders

My lovely Dad has been complaining that I'm not updating my blog enough so here I am as promised (well I promised my Mum ;0) ) The above pic is from Pentewen , a beach not far from us - the weather was quite rough as you can see - there was even surfers in the water - which you don't see much on the south coast - the waves are usually too small to be any good - but obviously the wind was in the right direction!

I've also been making lots of pendants too - this one is lapis lazuli and the blue is beautiful with oxidised silver on chain. I love the simplicity of pendants.

I promise to be back tomorrow with more...

Rolling In Gemstones!

Today I had a meeting with a lady from a gemstone suppliers - a lovely lady - who fell in love with my cat! She had so many gemstones I was in heaven. I even held in my hands a strand of th most beautiful diamonds which cost nearly as much as my lampwork collection :) Keishi pearls with an incredible luster, rubies - oh I could go on but I would get all you gem lovers drooling over your keyboards!!! Sadly I'm too busy pooling all my money into silver at the moment for my party on Friday!

I've also being doing some mor wire wrapping - I love this one with the ethereal blue of the Chalcedonywith ros quartz, pearls , crystal quartz and more Chalcedony all oxidised. It was a lot of work but well worth it - well I think :)

Thanks Anna Be

I truelly enjoy my time at Anne Be bridal and design studio in Denver, CO. www.anne-be.com. The cool chics that own and work at Anne Be are like cool sisters! Love working/hanging out with them. See Jordan the manager hanging with soul sista Meg. Did I mention that the boutique is as chic as they come? And the dresses? mmmm... Good stuff all around. Here is a bride-to-be who agrees with me. I had lots of fun with this couple! I love when Husbands-to-be take an active role in the wedding planning. This couple has it go'n on! And now she has gorgeous jewelry!

Hip Hip Hurray- Soiree!

Such a cool Boutique...the name says it all...Soiree! www.soireeabridalboutique.com. I am so proud to have such a lovely boutique in my hometown of Dubuque,IA! Not only do they have gorgeous dresses (www.essenceofaustralia.com), a very chic boutique with an actual runway...how cool is that! But the staff are too cool for words! I tell you, I love the kindness of midwest folk!

A night out in L.A.

Are you asking "who are these two gorgeous woman?". On the left is the one and only Mrs. Stephanie Kennedy! That is correct! Fabulous designer for Stephanie James Couture! www.stephaniejamescouture.com. And the lovely Troy from Amaya Dylan Bridal Gallery in L.A. After our trunk show at The Loft Bridal and Design, we jetsetted to L.A. for a trunk show at Amaya Dylan Bridal Gallery. Our good friend Stephanie came out to meet us for dinner and laughs. She then flew off to Peru the next morning. Make sure you check out her dresses and fun blog!

I love The Loft Bridal and Design!

GREAT trunk show! The lovely ladies at The Loft Bridal and Design (www.theloftbridal.com). In Lakeville, MN (outside Minneapolis) Hosted a dual MEG Jewelry and Garnette Avenue trunk show. We worked with many lovely brides-to-be. Leo worked on the hair make-up, Alberto helped the brides to be pick out the perfect dress, and I worked on accessorizing. Check out this beautiful bride in her Garnette Avenue dress and MEG Jewelry, for her summer beach wedding....Gorgeous! P.S. do you see how perfect The Loft boutique is? The downstairs is their design studio for flowers and event decor. Upstairs is the "boudoir" feel of personal attention and pampering. Way to go Sara and Trish for creating the perfect Bridal experience!!! I felt extra blessed to meet Joe Dickie of Generation Photography. He was AWESOME!!! www.generationphotography.com. If you are looking for a photographer who takes brilliant pictures, and is an incredibly kind, gracious and evolved person...look no futher.

We also had two lovely dinners with Trish and Sara and their husbands. Thanks for the great times ladies! We love you! P.S.S. Next time you are in Minneapolis, try my new favorite restaurant Namaste!

Happy Belated Birthday!

The Boys (www.garnetteavenue.com) arrived safely from Italy on Valentines day! Rod made an Italian cake just for Leo for his (belated) birthday. Ofcourse we enjoyed Italian wine! Next off to our trunk show at The Loft ( www.theloftbridal.com ).

Good friends!

Amazing food with amazing people! during my travels, I was able to stop at a delicious new restaurant in Dubuque, IA. L.May Eatery. I have been blessed to know the owner (Lea Droessler -center) for many years. She finally opened up her own restaurant! I love fabulous independant woman. Next to Lea is Marah, owner of Marah's Elegant Bridal Boutique. Marah and her husband drove from Mt. Horeb (outside Madison) WI. to have dinner with Rod and me. Do you see the big bump in Marah's belly?! She will be having the baby this week. Stay tuned to find out if it is a boy or girl!

Fabulous family

Yes, truely the most wonderful, talented, and adorable family! Nora, Jill (mom), Soulon, and Tom (Dad). I am sure you recognize the names...People ask me how I name the jewelry...it is the people that inspire me! And the lovely people in this picture inspire me! Tom is my stylist. Not only is he wonderful to create the best hair, he is also the mastermind behind the MEG Jewelry photo shoots and advertisements. I was fortunate to meet his wife Jill. She is one of the kindest and most talented women ever! She inspires me! She is the graphic artist behind it all! Thanks for everything Jill and Tom! I appreciate you more than words! And of course, I want to eat up Nora and Soulon because they are sooooo cute and kind!

Weekend Posting

Elli had her first sleepover last night - they were chatting a lot - until gone 10 and E went and told them to calm down - then just before 6 am they woke again! Urghhh I know tonight Elli will be struggling , normally at the weekend she lies in until 8 (so do we!!) and she needs her sleep (so do we!) and getting up at the crack of dawn all week means the weekend lie ins are sacred !
I'm down to 38 sets of artisan glass beads but I have succumbed twice - I know a moment of weakness - sadly the beads are beautiful and je ne regrette rien ;) (Or I regret nothing for those of you who can't read french - or remember the song by Edith Piaf ( although I wasn't even a twinkle in my Daddy's eye when the song came out!)
The top bracelet is still available but the second - after being spotted on Flickr is off to the US to her new home. I'm now preparing for a party next Friday - lots to make and create - so back to it!!

New look

Slowly over the next few days my website and other places are having a spring clean - look out for it - hope you like it :)

Numb fingers

MY fingers are numb and my s isn't working properly because I have been playing with wire - a lot!! There is little pieces of wire under the s on my keyboard so I have to press really hard - so if anything doesn't make sense - add an s ;)

The earrings I love I made myself some a few weeks ago and haven't yet changed back to my other which is a good sign - with little teeny weeny seed pearls - let me know what you think won't you ? The necklace is with 'Autralian Opal' which is actually IMpression Jasper - its a beautiful oft bluey/green so with added aquamarine and fw pearls in bronze and ivory I thought she looked very ocean like.

and finally some more earrings with rose quartz on a twisted ring - I love these and plan on more in the near future!! Now before you nag I am still making with my lampwork beads so to finish some lampwork earrings - fun and beach themed

OK I know

where have my blog posts been - well I did warn you - blog posting with a six year old is hard you get to the middle of a post and get called away - then you come back and forget where you are - I have quite a few unfinished ones in draft this week. I also would like to apologises to my blogging friends for neglect ;)

Part of me is looking forward to normality when Elli goes back to school but she is such good company too I will miss her loads! Yesterday we went shopping - I love shopping but I don't do enough of it (contrary to what my E says!) She is such good fun and loves looking at clothes as much as I do - especially if they come in her size - yes I have a real girly girl :)

I'm down to 40 sets I think (although bad girl that I am I've recieved another 2 sets in the post - do I have to count them lol) I'm working on getting down to 20 arghhh but its hard!