Dual Competition!

Two chances to win with Rosewill Cottage & Rosewill's Charms!

Rosewill's Charms Competition

Santa is coming early for one lucky winner of the Rosewill's Charms competition. 

This competition is easy to enter, just take a peek at www.rosewills-charms.co.uk/shop and choose the piece of jewellery you'd like to win. Then go to www.facebook.com/RosewillsCharms and write on the wall:

Dear Santa,
I would love this gorgeous (insert charm name here!) for Christmas as I have been a good (girl/boy) this year!
(Your name!)

Please ensure you insert your information where the brackets are located on this statement as incorrect posts will not be counted in the draw.

Once you have done this you are entered into the competition draw which will close at 5pm on Wednesday 1 December 2010. The winner* will be notified via www.facebook.com/rosewillscharms

Rosewill Cottage Competition

The Rosewill Cottage Competition is for one £20 gift voucher for one lucky winner to spend with in the Rosewill Cottage, 188 Park View, Whitley Bay.

We have lots of hand-crafted goods and children's craft items which will make ideal Christmas presents. We also stock watches and jewellery! So this competition is designed to help you out a little this Christmas.

To enter this competition all you have to do is go to www.facebook.com/RosewillCottage and write on the wall:

Rosewill Cottage is a great place to shop because (your reason here).

Please ensure you insert your reason where the brackets are located on this statement as incorrect posts will not be counted in the draw.

Once you have done this you are entered into the competition draw which will close at 5pm on Wednesday 1 December 2010. The winner* will be notified via www.facebook.com/rosewillcottage

*The winner of each competition will drawn using http://www.random.org/ 

Good Luck and thank you for Liking Rosewill's Charms and Rosewill Cottage!

No purchase necessary! But it would be lovely if you thought of me when you next look for some bespoke jewellery and charms.


This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to the Rosewill's Charms Page or the Rosewill Cottage Page and not to Facebook. The information you provide will not be used for any purpose at all. Joining theses pages will keep you up to date with news, competitions and information about Rosewill's Charms or Rosewill Cottage.

A New Dawn for Whitley Bay

Beads hit the Bay!

Last week I was standing outside the newly acquired shop in Whitley Bay watching the sign being installed and all I could think of was “What the dickens am I doing?”

Apparently this is what crosses everyone’s mind when they’ve finished battling with the estate agents, landlords, solicitors and the bank. It’s that time where you take stock of the fact you’ve reached the end of that tunnel to find another one running off to the right and the light at the end of it is just a faint glow.

I feel physically sick. Not only do I have my own financial future at its limits but I’ve convinced two lovely ladies to join the joyride with me. Their faith is in me and I don’t want to let them down.

With the UK in the grips of a possible double-dip recession many people may be wondering why I would take the plunge on this venture when I have a fantastic career in Public Relations, two children, a fledgling website to promote and plenty of jewellery to make and stock it with?



Back in February my head was in a totally different place. I was booked in for carpal tunnel syndrome release surgery on my right-hand. Whilst it has an excellent success rate, the fear that it would be just my luck to be one of the few who had a glitch in the surgery or recovery was daunting to say the least!

So my mind wondered to my childhood dream of owning a sweet shop in the country and I began to think I could maybe transfer this nostalgic pipe dream to my passion for making jewellery.

 

There was a chance, all be it slim, that I may not have been able to realise my dream, if the surgery wasn’t a success as I rely on my dexterity to make my jewellery and charms. So keen not to give up on my ambition I decided that I could sell products needed to create jewellery such as beads, findings and charms plus homemade goods from fellow like minded ‘Mumpreneurs.’ If I couldn’t carry on my passion I would happily sell what other people needed to make their own jewellery and live my dreams through them.

So I had the surgery and it was a fantastic success. I then hit the stumbling block of negotiating the lease for the shop with the estate agent. Being a new business and with no accounts or previous retail history it was proving a real struggle and if I am honest I was close to throwing the towel in.

It was then I got my wake up call. A close relative informed me that they were being tested for ulcerative colitis and wanted to know the history of my father’s bowel cancer as they feared they may have the same condition. The floor gave way from under my feet as I realised that no one is safe from the ‘Big C’ as my Nana used to call it. What on earth would I have to show for my life if I died at the same age as my Dad (47) – that’s only 15 years away, so I decided I had to do something for me.

This was shortly followed by the death of one of the most fantastic ladies I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing; again the ‘Big C’ had struck and took her away at the tender age of 33. That was it. I wasn’t going to waste my life dithering about whether or not I should do something I dreamed about for so long, so I tackled the estate agent with new vigour. One day later I had received an email asking me to instruct a solicitor. 

Shop Front being replaced :'(

 Now it hasn’t all been plain sailing. I’ve had arguments with the council over planning permission and was asked to conduct a tree survey for trees that don’t even exist! I’ve had my lovely but unsafe shop front replaced, insisted on new flooring and sent my husband to decorate and do the shop fitting after he’d finished work.

Despite the ups and downs on the whole it has been a great experience. I have even sold something before opening, with a customer buying an item from the shop window I was dressing.


Myself with Shop Managers
Sarah-Jane and Katie

So now I stand in front of my shop which is now open, with a dressed window and shelves glistening with stock. I have the knowledge that every packet of beads, findings and charms have been counted out, packed and adorned with a hand written label by me.

I have a smile on my face, a glint in my eyes and the hope that I’ve managed to stack the deck in my favour, but only time will tell.

This blog featured on http://www.persuasionpr.com/ last week as a guest blog spot. I'd like to thank them all for their support, well wishes and purchases!

Adam Rickitt wears Rosewill's Charms with Pride!

Rosewill's Charms is worn on stage at the Manchester Pride

Adam Rickitt performing at the
Manchester Pride 30 August 2010

Adam Rickitt obviously has a taste for the designs from Rosewill's Charms as he was seen sporting another bespoke piece. Adam wore this hematite cross necklace which was designed especially for him, at the Manchester Pride on Monday 30 August 2010.

His performance seemed to go down well with the crowd and he sang his new single 'Tonight' as well as 'Everything My Heart Desires' and 'I Breathe Again 2010'. It can be viewed here on this youtube link http://ow.ly/2A2va

Cross necklace Adam wore at the
Manchester Pride

When Scott approached me a last month I jumped at the chance to create some pieces for Adam but it was the most nerve wracking experience ever. Imagine sending photos of your designs to an internationally renowned Fashion Designer.

I must admit that I did find it a challenge because I don’t normally create jewellery for men, but it has been the most rewarding opportunity I have had to date.

Adam with a fan back stage at the
Manchester Pride

However viewing the necklace on Adam I realised that perhaps jewellery for men isn't all that scary afterall and I got this lovely quote from Scott too!

"Dawn creates the most exquisite and truly original pieces of mens jewellery that stand out from what else is on the market. Dawn also makes the most exquisite made to order pieces that are only limited by her own imagination....to which I see no limits!"
- Scott Henshall, Fashion Designer.

Last month Adam's performance at G-A-Y in London on Sunday 22 August 2010 was featured in the Daily Mail where he was seen wearing a Rosewill Charm accessory on his speedos.

If you would like to commission a piece of jewellery either traditional or quirky please feel free to contact me. My details can be found on my website http://www.rosewills-charms.co.uk/

I'd like to say a huge big thank you to Adam Rickitt for wearing Rosewill's Charms again. I'd also love to say and amazingly huge thank you to Scott Henshall for commissioning me to make this necklace and inviting me to the Middlesbrough Pride! Which I am very much looking forward to attending.

Rosewill's Charms the pants off Adam Rickitt!

Rosewill's Charms features in the Daily Mail

I was approached a week or so ago by Scott Henshall, fashion designer to create some jewellery pieces for his friend Adam Rickitt who is reviving his singing career. Of course I said yes!

The request was for some necklaces and a sash. Now I didn't know how I would make a sash after all my expertise is in jewellery and sewing is something I would normally ask my Mum to do, especially since my operation for carpal tunnel syndrome. But being the good

Michael Jackson inspired Sash
for Adam's performance
at G-A-Y at Heaven, London

sport I was I went out to the department stores in search for a strip of leather to act as the base. However, leather is a tricky material to use, it requires either a lot of force to drive a needle through (something I still don't have) or its flimsy and looks cheap. After a bit of mouching around I came across this lycra material that looked like it would fit the bill. I also found some cool buttons to use as focal points. Now my first thought was to try and make it look masculine like a soldier from the cavalry which quickly evolved into a Jack Sparrow sash. But when I started added the chains I got a flash of inspiration from Michael Jackson and ran with it.

 Cross necklace designed for Adam
using black nickel findings, silver plated 
hexagon links and a
hematite cross

So I went to Hartlepool a few days before my deadline to meet Scott and show him the pile of goodies I had for him which included a variety of necklaces and the sash he requested. He loved them!

Scott also kindly invited me and a friend to London to see Adam performed his 'I breathe again' single in G-A-Y in Heaven, London in the early hours of Sunday morning (22nd August). Adam was fantastic!! Here is a youtube clip of him performing on stage so you can see how great the performance went. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA0gbbFNxY0

Now you'll be aware of the fact that at the beginning he isn't wearing the sash but this is because it was worn earlier that day. The top part of the sash was used as an accessory for Adam's speedos which he changes into during the performance, which looks pretty cool and catches the eye.

Imagine my surprise today when I saw Rosewill's Charms on Daily Mail - online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1305339/Adam-Rickitt-returns-G-A-Y-10-years-I-Breathe-Again-gay-icon.html 

If you would like to commission a piece of jewellery either traditional or quirky please feel free to contact me. My details can be found on my website http://www.rosewills-charms.co.uk/

I'd like to say a huge big thank you to Adam Rickitt for wearing Rosewill's Charms, Scott Henshall for commissioning me to make them and inviting me to London and Sarah Bull of the Daily Mail for a nice article and noticing that Adam's 'underwear had an attached chain, livening it up'. Although I think Ben Kingston from Surrey summed it up better 'The trunks look fantastic surely destined for a big hit!' - Here's hoping!

Food Glorious Food!!

Mum knows best.... or does she?

I've just read an article in the Daily Mail about the amount of rubbish children eat and drink in the year. To be bluntly honest with you I wouldn't have looked twice at the article but something in the photograph caught my eye.....

Can you see it? Yup the huge stack of milk that is essential for healthy teeth and bones all stacked down the right hand side. Now I'm sitting here wondering what on earth is this is all about?! 

On close inspection of the 'rubbish pile' there are some other items that aren't necessarily healthy that you would be forgiven for mistaken they were. Such as fruit juices and fish fingers which are rich in Omega 3 and all that Jazz. Turning my attention to the also deemed to be healthy for the heart cereals like Bran Flakes, Fruit n Fibre, Country Crisp, All Bran and Shredded Wheat, I'm left bewildered.

Now what on earth is a working Mum to do on a school morning? Cereal is totally out of the question along with the milk you pour on top. Not to mention the fruit juice! My dentist informed me that too much fruit could be bad for the kids' teeth, so that's another thing scuppered. I think the only thing for it is plain bread and water.

It would seem that the only thing left to do is buy a farm and live the "Good Old Life" of self-sufficiency. Then I remember my Mum's advice on food "moderation is the best policy because too much of anything can be bad for you". Either way as a working Mum of two kiddies I'm struggling to know what to do for the best for my childrens' health, they eat very little sweets, crisps, cakes, biscuits, processed food or drink much fizzy pop as it is.

Perhaps I should have ignored the article but then I wouldn't have been privvy to such useful insights from other people who saw this article for what its really worth. Read them and weep!

Ooo, shock, horror.
has anyone tried dividing all that by 365? It's really not that shocking at all...
- Captain Sensible, UK, 12/7/2010 15:21

Pile up all the vegetables you eat in a year too, it will probably look just as scary.
Half of that isn't even junk anyway. Shreddies have one of the lowest cereal sugar counts. Is that fruit juice I see? Oh, and what's average? My child hasn't eaten anything in that pile apart from a few low-sugar biscuits and fishfingers. Hardly a one way ticket to an early grave.
- deia, uk, 12/7/2010 15:21

Why is this "rubbish" ???? Fish fingers, apple juice, milk .... ??
What are they expected to eat then Claire ??? ... Quorn and alfalfa shoots washed down with soya milk ???? I think Claire Cohen needs to get out from Archway and see what is happening in the real world ... !
- badger, rough bottoms, 12/7/2010 15:20

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1293824/Junk-food-mountain-The-astonishing-rubbish-child-eats-year.html

Twitter puts a Vimto Smile on my face!

Nothing more yummy than Vimto Bonbons?!

Earlier today a tweet from a friend who was partaking in a yummy Vimto Ice-Lolly turned into a huge Thursday Vimto obsession.

I have been known to add Vimto to a whole host of alcoholic spirits in an effort to make them more interesting than the boring standard mixers of cola, orange, lemonade. Even Irn Bru has been stolen by Wkd and other brands thus becoming equally boring to the taste buds.

The invention of the Vimto Bonbons has to be classed as a master stroke of genius and www.aquarterof.co.uk actually sell these luscious sweeties! So grab them quick!

So it would seem that I have gained a new groupie of followers on Twitter who also share a passion for all things Vimto and craving for new Vimto flavoured items. I draw the line at asking Walkers if they'd do Vinto flavoured crisps though (this had me giggling hysterically for ages) but I like to find out how you would make Vimto flavour jelly perhaps Rowntrees could get in on the act? Other suggestions have been:

• Vimto Slush,
• Vimto Smoothies,
• Cupcakes with Vimto icing 
• Vimto Ice-Cream and
• Vimto split ice-Lollies yummy!!

Perhaps a Purple Party with Vimto inspired goodies would be a great idea. Wonder if the Big Brother producers have thought of such things?....

I'd be interested to hear if you have any additions and even better recipes for us to try!!

Come on England!

England versus Slovenia - World Cup

It would seem that football comes above education these days.... Apparently children from the local primary school can leave at 2:30pm if parents want to pick them up early so that they can get back home in time to watch the match. I could understand this if England where in a semi final or the final, but to finish school early for a group match is just silly.

So it is with hearts in our mouths that the Nation will await the result of the England game today. I suppose to be fair we have more chance of winning the World Cup than we ever would of winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

Either way I'm very proud to be English, I love my country and I will join the masses in hoping that England beat Slovenia and win a place in the next stage of the tournament. Although I won't be watching it myself.... I have children to pick up from the child minder!!

Show your love of England by sporting this lovely 'Big Love' Rosewill Charm Bangle. Only one hand-crafted and only available at www.rosewills-charms.co.uk/shop

Friday: The Most Coveted Day of the Week

The Friday Feeling?...

Isn't it funny how everyone wants today to be Friday when it's a working day? Why is it not "Thank Crunchie its's Saturday"? 

Running with the Friday theme here is a photo of my coveted Crunchie Caramel Hearts Beaded Charm Bracelet available at www.rosewills-charms.co.uk/shop 

These beaded charm bracelets are best sellers at events. This is a limited edition beaded charm bracelet, from my debut website collection and add a touch of something unusual and different to any outfit.

I have fun packed action with the children organised for this weekend, which involves a "Cup Cake Festival" in town. The only thing better than chocolate for me is.....CAKE!!

Clashing Frequencies

The trouble with wireless internet...

So after about two hours clearing my laptop of old images and unnecessary files it would seem that my inability to connect to our wireless server is that we are on the same frequency as our next door neighbour. This will explain why I can crest his network on my iPhone. Whoops. I won't tell him if you don't ;)

Anyways the lovely chap at Sky Broadband Services talked me through how to change this and my laptop seems to have taking steriods. It's not been this fast since we moved house......ohhhhh!

So I suppose the moral of todays story is to ask! After all shy bairns get no sweets!

A very happy lady!!

Many new beginnings!!

Tonight may be the beginning of the end for Big Brother, but it also is the start of the charm shop on my website http://www.rosewills-charms.co.uk/ I'm so excited today that I could squeal! I love Big Brother and will be sad to see it go but this summer is going to be fantastic viewing....hopefully!

Big Brother seems to have a heavenly theme which is great since I have a 'Heavenly Angel Wings' Rosewill Charm Bangle in my new Charm Shop. This Bangle is a 'one of a kind'.Its designed around a standard 7cm silver tone fixed bangle with an assortment of heavenly blue beads and silver tone angel wings and cloud bubble hearts.

I've just seen what the Tree O' Temptation is, how immense is that? What a fantastic story on how it turned into a chest of drawers. Right off to see which crackers are entering the Big Brother House.