After a little flurry of new followers I thought I'd show my face and say hello.
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I'm Nic, and I have a never ending compulsion to make tiny shiny things, from which I'm eternally grateful to earn my living. I love my job so much, and I'm blessed with some truly wonderful customers. The light, colours and textures of jewellery making blow my mind, and I will never, ever be bored of this 🥰
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I live with a man, a small person, and a tiny person, in a little village, in the most Southern corner of Cornwall, near the truly glorious Helford river. I work hard, with a fire in my belly (next to the coffee) and I'm striving to grow my business to create flexible jobs for other local Mums.
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Favourite things include fancy dress (any excuse!), history, my baby grand, and finding a feather on an egg. 1795 was the best year for fashion, and there's no such thing as too many books. I'm proudly dyslexic, have a theatrical background, sewed professionally for twelve years, and I bloody love Christmas.
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That's me. Tell me about you! What little pleasures and treasures make you happiest?
X
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(P.s hijacking my own post months later, for #marchmeetthemaker2023 #marchmeetthemaker
Day 2: 'All About Me'. All of the above still pretty well sums me up!)
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#cornwall #cornishlife #cornwalllife #falmouth #helston #helford #constantine #makerscornwall #madeincornwall #cornwallshopslocal #etsycornwall #etsyuk #flowercrown #festivalheaddress #cornwallliving #lovecornwall #cornishbusiness #smallbizclub #growthhub #cornwallchamberofcommerce #whatsoncornwall #workingmum #workingaroundthebaby #doingitforthekids #motherpukka #helfordriver #earnyourluck
When I met this man life's chrysalis became a butterfly. Twelve years today since our first date... You handsome devil.
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(Today also marks four years since I braved putting my first handful of earrings on @etsy , and there's another relationship I'm thankful for every day! Did you know @drewbarrymore is their gift ambassador now? Big fan over here 🥰).
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What will the next few years bring?... I've given up guessing, but I do know I'm grateful for each day.
X
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#happyanniversary #cornwall #cornishwedding #poldark #georgian #helford #guinevere #cornish #lovecornwall
Spring Giveaway! This collection of beauties is a tribute to Flora Day, the jubilant celebration of Spring in the ancient market town of Helston. A place very close to my heart!
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Flora Day is synonymous with lily of the valley (the Royal Wedding of William and Catherine was awash with lily of the valley... From Helston!). It's Flora eve tonight, and tomorrow we sing, dance, and make merry!
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The giveaway prizes are a pair of our beautiful 'Hellys' lily of the valley earrings (Hellys is the old name for Helston), a signed copy of @liz_fenwick 's stunning new novel 'Flora's Day' from @thebookshopinhelston and a lily of the valley 'Helston Flora Day' natural wax candle (which smells DIVINE) from @dontforgetthehamper for all your Cornish goodies, straight to your door.
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To enter, follow me, @thebookshopinhelston , and @dontforgetthehamper and tag three friends who would love this. Share this post to your stories for an extra entry! The winner will be drawn in two weeks time.
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I'll be sharing more about these wonderful businesses and prizes in the fortnight ahead. Until then, happy Flora Day!
X
'Aphrodite don't forget me, Romeo and Juliet me!' As the song goes.
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Our Titans collection, each named after a different Grecian deity, is welcoming two new beings from the ancient pantheon. The first is Aphrodite, famously the Goddess of love and all that blossoms between hearts.
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The coral pink translucent quartz felt just right for her, after quite a search for a pink that felt just right. We hope you love them!
X
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(The shop link is to the spotted Jasper 'Atlas' colourway, but if you wend your way to my Etsy shop via the link in my bio you'll find them there. I also have a studio sale running over on stories, if you fancy a peek!)
The first finished pair of 'Artemis' in sterling silver. Finished whilst waiting for the ArtemisII to land safely. These feel special. Thank you @falmouthartgallery for being my first stockist of my sterling silver pieces. This means so much to me. X
(Available from the gallery)
#artemisii
Is this new 'Newlyn' colour way of Karenza studs my new favourite? Yes. Yes it is. Newlyn is world famous for the Newlyn school of artists and craftspeople, famed for their copper repousse, and the warmth of the rust and shell pink of these stud shorties is a loving tribute. X
Spring is springing quite gloriously now! I have a raft of new pieces waiting to be photographed out and about, in one of my favourite Cornish garden corners, and it feels like an age since I last managed to take some snaps! These 'Arbor' necklaces were a treat to photograph at @trebahgardencornwall . Fingers crossed for good weather next week and some happy snapping for me!
Xx
The Autumn to Winter shift seems to have happened all of a sudden this past week, and as I love both seasons observing the shift from one to the other is always a pleasure. The children's birthdays mark our shift into the Winter festivities, and it's the time of the year when they can see the night sky, wonder at the moon, and spot a planet or two. Magic, all of it.
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This week we sent work out to two new stockists and one existing one, thank you @meandeast@thesetwohandsuk and @frankiesforestreet , sent out your beautiful, and much appreciated, orders, and got excited over the first festive moments on Classic FM. Lovely. X
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#moonearrings #selene #moongoddess #beatenbrass #cornishlife
Hello folks! Haven't shown my face for a while, so here I am, looking delighted, on a tractor.
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There's lots of conversation around about maternity leave, but far too little about what happens afterwards. The reintroduction to your professional self. The reacquaintance with ambition, academic interest, and deeper creative exploration.
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I'd intended on the usual nine months, but it's been two years and I'm only just emerging. The littlest has taken a while to settle into any sort of childcare. And that's ok. Things have been ticking along, and don't get me wrong, I've been giving it my all.... But in truth, my All has been the bit left over; the bit not needed for the next breastfeed, EHCP review, or round of snacks and nappies. There just hasn't been much left.
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Would I change it? No. Am I also excited about what comes next? Yes! 🧡
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I've had to respectfully divorce myself from most business advice, with phrases like 'showing up consistently,' and aggressive language like 'killing it'. Such advice seems to be written by men (usually), who (usually) have the luxury of someone else at home... doing Everything else. Which is fine. But it's not for me.
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When you are both a business and the Someone Else at home, you are all too aware that showing up consistently has to have the caveat 'in whichever area of life is most in need of you'. You can't be in eight places at the same time. That way madness lies.
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And as for killing it, I know the phrase is supposed to be positive, but give me nurturing it any day. I prefer the language of textiles. The language of women. I like to weave and form, follow threads, nourish and support. I like to think of bringing others joy. That's the aim, always.
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Emerging back into a business space feels tough and wonderful all at once. There are women shining very brightly out there, in business, working around their families, and they bring me such a feeling of hope. Of something beautiful to aim for. Thank you to them all. @hollytucker@styled.by.susie@sophierobinsoninteriors@penelopechilvers@eppiet and many others. You give me strength!
X
(Also, I launched some necklaces over on my Etsy. Lots of love to all)