Jewellery By Shalini

Really looking forward to the Oakham Craft Fair this Saturday! To seeing everyone's new creations and just meeting up with old friends. Most of us have done a lot of events together now and it will be good to catch up. And obviously looking forward to showing our beautiful creations to the people of Oakham and Rutland :-) Dave & I will be there (of Course!) http://www.roughrocks.co.uk/products-page/ http://www.jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/ Have a peek on the Stamford Artisans Guild Website to see who else will be there!

Just wanted to share a post by my good friend, supporter and all round nice guy Raja InsideOut: Why, despite everything, I'm supporting Anna Hazare!

The Rutland County Museum Christmas Craft Exhibition Opened Last night. There are some absolutely gorgeous hand-made crafts on display including my jewellery (of course!), Wood-turned pens plus textile crafts, weaving and jewellery by 4 other talented artisans from the area. The Exhibition will be on until 22 January 2011 at the Museum at Catmose Street, Oakham, LE15 6HW Work by the followings makers is on display: # Jewellery By Shalini (and Stamford Lapidary ) # Wisteria Woodcrafts (member of The Stamford Artisans Guild ) # Calla # Rhubarb # Wiggles # Jo Edwards Do come along and browse though the beautiful items on display and for sale. The wonderful staff at the museum are very helpful and a great group of people. Some photos from last night:

Watching  "Turn Back Time - The High Street" on BBC1 last night made me sad. There really isn't much hope for the High Street because independent small businesses are shutting down here there and everywhere. Small businesses simply cannot afford the rents and rates from landlords and the competition from big companies who sell everything at really low prices.  Just like the Butchers and the Bakers who left the High Street yesterday and the Blacksmith who left a week ago on the programme lots of small, independent business are leaving the High Street every day. I have lost count of the number of Mobile phone shops we have. And we have lots of cafes and of course the Charity Shops  and usual sprinkling of Costa Coffee, Subway and even a Tesco. Then we have this huge New Look and various other clothes shops. Not a lot that is unique to Stamford there :-(

Its Charity Tuesday on Twitter. There are Charities like and The British Red Cross, Help For Heroes, Dogs Trust and various others and they are great causes to support and help. Then there is being Charitable . In my opinion being charitable does not just mean donating money to a Charity. Being charitable is being kind, understanding, co-operative and showing respect and empathy towards others. They don't necessarily have to be less fortunate people than you... just people like you and me working hard at whatever it is that they do. I am increasingly finding that the charitable spirit is disappearing amongst a lot of people I come across. We are increasing becoming a society of " I want" but " I can't be bothered giving back unless there is something in it for me"  Selfish? Stressed? Too Busy? I don't know. But I just find it very sad.

Yes I know, we are all talking about THE SNOW! And so we should be! Because it is being a nuisance for artisans doing the craft fairs at the moment. It made a real hash of the week-end for a lot of my friends at craft fairs! Its only snow, comes every winter and we should be prepared for it. Yes that's fine! But when you have to travel across narrow country roads which no one remembers to grit and salt it does change your thinking a little. I am brave enough to venture out on proper roads to go into Stamford, Peterborough or Grantham and most people should. The roads are fine and if you use common sense and caution you should be safe on the road. However when it comes to going to a country house in the middle of nowhere I would think twice too! So where is all this leading to? I was at The British Red Cross Christmas Prelude in Tolethorpe yesterday. Its a beautiful place. Except that when the...

Or is it?... Its never Christmas until Slade is played and Noddy Holder's "It's Christmas" rings out over radio 2. I may have missed it but I have not heard it yet! So come on BBC where is my song? In every other way the Christmas madness is here. I should know! I have been at numerous craft fairs already with our jewellery and wire sculpture trees. I am sure most makers and designers are doing the same. Week-ends are not a time to relax any more, most evenings there are little Village hall and school fund-raising events happening and the bespoke gift orders are coming in too! It's all Go! Go! Go! and I am loving it :-) In the last couple of weeks I have had a lot of interest in my freshwater Pearl strings and other jewellery. Here are some examples which would (I hope!) bring a smile to a lucky girl's face on Christmas morning... Amethyst Tumble-stone Pendant with 14/20 Gold Filled Wire Turquoise and Tibetan Silver necklace on Hemp Cord Freshwater Pe...