The first event of the year for Floralbank Jewellery realised a most enjoyable dipping of one's toe in the water, and we are now filled with enthusiasm for future events this coming year.

As part of Joie de Vivre Events, Floralbank will be joining our partner in hosting a series of craft fairs throughout 2012.    Our venue is the Castle Green Leisure Centre, Broughty Ferry, near Dundee.   Situated within Castle Green play park, and in the grounds of Broughty Castle, there is much to do in the area, not to mention the beautiful sandy beaches and of course the quaint unique style of Broughty Ferry town centre.  Broughty Ferry is one of the few remaining towns which has not been transformed intoa mirror image of every other town with lots of shops but nothing to buy.   Broughty Ferry still hosts many small privately owned and unique shops, though you will still find a wonderful Marks and Spncer (Food), a Tesco Metro, and coffee shops such as Costa Coffee and Cafe Nero.   There are still an abundance of alternative shops giving a wide choice to visitors and locals alike.

With an excellent bus service and local trains stopping in the heart of Broughty Ferry, the town sees many visitors each year.   There are restaurants of every kind, pubs, clubs, everything you could want.

We hope that you will visit soon and if you are in the area, please pop along to Castle Green Leisure Centre and say hello.  We shall be in residence at the centre Saturday 2 June, Saturday 14 July, and thereafter the 1st Saturday of each month August through to and including December 2012. 

Admission is FREE and there is disabled access.

Hope to see you soon!

Carol x

Floralbank Design of Carnoustie will be exhibiting some of our latest hand made jewellery designs.   We have many new designs being trialled at this event at ridiculously low prices, lets celebrate spring with some intricate necklaces featuring shell, ceramics and hematite.

Pop in for a look around at the various stalls then take the weight off your feet and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and some home baking.

See you there!

Carol x

Our new charges are £3.00 for European destinations  (was £7.50) and £5.00 for Worldwide (was £15.00).

While we can't quite afford to make all shipping free as in UK Mainland orders, we hope this goes a long way to make orders more agreeable for our customers elsewhere.

We strive to continally review our business policies in keeping with current affairs.

Best Wishes

Carol  x

Amber [Golden]
Calming, and clearing. It helps cleanse negative energy.

Amber [Red]
Highly recommended for grounding. Stimulates physical energy.

Amethyst
Increases vivid dreams, enhances peace, and love, fosters one's intuitive capacity, and higher spiritual aspirations.
The purple/violet color is very cleansing and healing.

Carnelian
Grounding. Good for physical energy, verbal skills, and clarity of thought.

Coral
Calms and stabilizes the emotions. Promotes well being and harmony.

Jade
There are many different color jades with different properties ranging from Increased clarity of dreams, development of wisdom, prosperity, humility, generosity and healing.

Lapis Lazuli [Rare]
A powerful stone used for purifying emotions and mental negativity. Tibetan Buddhists use Lapis Lazuli malas for Medicine Buddha Healing rituals. It increases wisdom, intuition, clarity and awareness.

Malachite
Powerful stone helps release negative emotions, and strengthen ones aura.

Onyx
Promotes personal energy, self control, clarity of thinking, decision making. Highly recommended for mental functions.

Pearl
Purity, faith, integrity, fertility, sincerity and wisdom.

Rose Quartz
Very powerful for increasing love and compassion, healing emotional wounds, forgiveness, and happiness.
The rose/pinkish color corresponds to the heart chakra.

Tigers Eye
Helps business, practical matters, intelligence, clarity of mind, financial stability, strengthens will, courage and confidence.
Excellent for mental faculties.

Topaz
Success in activity. Promotes self expression, communication in relationships, health and personal growth.

Turquoise
A Master Healing Stone. Fosters healthy relationships, attracts good fortune, prosperity, happiness, releases shame and guilt. Protects and cleanses the body from environmental pollutants. Strengthens the body against illness. Helps align the subtle body.

It is believed that turquoise brings prosperity, good fortune, strength and helps overcome illness. Native Americans have praised the qualities of turquoise since the time of the Aztecs. The Navajos believed it could help appease the “Wind Spirits” and the Tibetans use turquoise in their ritual religious objects as well as jewelry, also to temper the “Winds” ie.prana.

Turquoise was esteemed by Tibetan Shamans for both its spiritual and physical healing and protective qualities. Ancient manuscripts from India, Afghanistan and the Middle East also refer to the healing effects of wearing turquoise.

What was to become of this bold intruder?   Squishing against the wall was the order of the day, however when I felt a tickle on my bare forearm, nerves got the better of me, I leapt from my balancing act, one foot on the table, the other on the top of the wall mounted radiator, onto the floor in sheer terror.  

My blood runs positively cold at the mere sight of creepy crawlies such as spiders, daddy long legs, and generally anything with more than 4 legs.   Charlie Bear westie pup is generally pretty good at protector, but it was a tall order to expect him to scale the walls on this occasion.

If we can muster the confidence to face our fears tomorrow, perhaps production can continue, but I'm not promissing anything!

Ihatespiders.com

So busy and committed over the recent week, it's not surprising I am ow suffering an incredibly sore neck, which is literally making a better grinding noise than my coffee machine!   The mere suggestion at bending forward or leaning over is enough to make once flinch, which does not bode well for Charlie Bear westie pups training class this evening.   I wonder if he'd object to an inflated rubber glove on the end of a long stick?   Perhaps with a treat stuck to the end?   I could have one glove with a soft touch, to be used for praising Charlie Bear, and another to encourage good behaviour with a dog biscuit attached.

The next big exercise which must be undertaken very soon is of course the photography.   Everything which has been made recently now has to be photographed for the website, before any of the goods diseappear to local shops or out in the field at craft events.   Photography is not our forte at Floralbank HQ, this despite investing in a super camera, a tripod, various spotlights etc.  

Time for a soothing cup of tea and a chance to rest my head on a soft plump cushion (or an obstinate little westie who refuses to give up his place on the sofa).   I have taught him well!

Carol x

Today we've created several designs destined for Treat Urself, High Street, Carnoustie, but these will also be available on our website until they are sold.  

We are exhibiting at Broughty Ferry New Kirk Spring Sale on Saturday 12 May from 10am until approx 12.30 where we hope to bring the usual buzz and excitement with our latest range.   Of course we have acquired a bit of a following at such local events, and therefore we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure we have a full and varied selection on the day.

If you are in the area on 12 May we are located on Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, nr Dundee.  

Hope to see you there!

Carol x

With summer very much in mind at Floralbank HQ we are designing some beautiful easy to wear jewellery for the coming months.   Typically the summer months means we tend to wear less clothes, show more skin and of course that means we like to adorn ourselves with accessories.  

We have  a vast range of hand made jewellery which is suitable for the garden, the beach, lightweight designs which we all want when travelling, particularly if we're taking flights and every pound and ounce counts.   Take a look at some of our fabulous acrylic stretch bracelets, these are easy to wear and very light weight.   We also have some beautiful long chain designs which sparkle in the sunlight.

We also have our designer range which features many varying colours and styles of semi precious gems.   Most of our designs are one-off since these gemstones are so unique, with individual markings.

Happy Monday!

Carol x

This bracelet is from just this collection.  Strung on elastic cord it will fit most adult wrists from 15cm to 18cm approx.

This bracelet costs £12 inc P&P which is always free in Mainland UK and matches our Amethyst necklace.   Why not treat yourself to a matching set.

Carol x

We're constantly adding our collection so keep popping by our website to see what's new.   Choose from a wide range of styles and prices, there's something for everyone, whether your passion is earrings, necklaces, pendants, chokers or bracelets.  Adults and childrens jewellery available (aged 3yrs and up).

Carol x