Inspired: Scilly

Getting there... on the tiny 8-seater Islander... We were at the front of the plane this time - it was such a clear day we could see the islands shortly after take-off. Drinks at Dibbles... A walk round Peninnis Head... ...and the Garrison.  Cream Tea at Carn Vean and wine tasting at Holy Vale Vineyard (and very nice it was too!)   Beautiful aeonims...

Just three weeks to go and I'll be in Scilly again. I can't wait! In the meantime, I'm keeping busy with an exhibition at RHS Harlow Carr which is right up my street... It's called 'Harlow By The Sea' and yes, you guessed it - it's dedicated to all things coastal. I'll be working there on Friday so will hopefully update the blog with some photos very soon! The exhibition is on until 2nd August so there is still plenty of time to pop along and see everyone's wonderful work. In the meantime, here's a few of the pieces that have been on display. Our wavy crochet bracelets with crystals and freshwater pearls lend a touch of elegance. Our starfish jewellery is simple, yet stunning! Mesh wire brooches take some time to make but are so worth it, especially in these beautiful seaside shades. This sparkling shell pendant caught someone's eye! I think the crab likes it too..!

So excited to be off to the Isles of Scilly again this week. I'm taking some pieces down to the islands to show a few craft shops, including these gorgeous starfish pendants/earrings which have proved popular among Facebook fans and make a great accessory to remind you of your holidays.  While I'm there, I'll also be gathering more inspiration for the new Autumn/Winter season. The Etsy shop willl be closed while I'm away but feel free to contact me at inspiredscilly@hotmail.co.uk and I will respond when I return in a couple of weeks time.  

LizzyHewitt ... artist: An arty holiday on the Isles of Scilly Here are some direct links to artist's pages. Lots to suit every taste! Bold and vibrant landscapes at  http://www.joprobert.co.uk Lifelike landscapes and wildlife at  http://www.stevesherris.com/ Moody landscapes and eco art projects at  http://www.imogen-bone.co.uk

A lovely gift idea for Mother's Day - these hand-knitted mesh wire brooches are adorned with seed beads and Swarovski Crystal and come presented in a white gift box. You can even commission your own colour-way and have it sent in time for Mother's Day! Available to purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/inspiredscilly (under the knit wire brooch section)  

There have been several good articles about Scilly recently, in particular the second largest of the islands, the lovely Tresco. Click on the links for a selection to peruse over with your afternoon cuppa. Conde Nast Traveller Article - with a bit of fashion thrown in! Also, a travel article in The Independent. Lastly, A BBC report on former Prime Minister Harold Wilson's love of the islands. Plus, Ray Mears goes exploring the islands in tomorrow's 'Wild Britain' at 8pm on ITV.  

With spikes of green emerging from the waterlogged soil in the garden comes the promise of Spring. Get glammed up with green with this stunning new crochet wire bracelet with around 50 green glass pearls (with a few splashes of clear, white and charteuse)... It's sure to cheer you up after the winter blues!   Click here to take a closer look!

One of my favourite colours and a fabulous shade of blue for Winter. This pretty Swarovski Crystal and freshwater pearl bracelet was featured in a gorgeous treasury. Click here to view more!

So it's well and truly Autumn now but I've left Summer behind with a sense of contentment. This season is a great excuse to work with all those gorgeous Autumn colours that I love so much. Burgundy, amber, royal purple, rich browns and copper. So watch this space for some lovely autumn and winter designs coming soon and, dare I say it... Christmas... range of Swarovski Crystal Christmas Tree earrings. We have new colourways available this year so they should be even more popular! In the meantime, I have been making some stunning sterling silver wire and freshwater pearl stud earrings for a bridal customer in the US. I enjoyed making these so much that I plan to add the gorgeous pearl nest earrings to my sophisticated sterling silver range. Particularly popular with brides, they are also a great gift for Christmas or for dazzling your friends in the party season! The ones below are made with ivory freshwater pearls but other colours will be available. I quite fancy burgundy p...

It's a rainy morning here at basecamp. Although we are promised sunshine later in the day, waking up this morning to rain and middling temperatures felt ever so slightly autumnal... Still, Autumn has it's own charms, including the return of rich, autumnal shades that echo the tones of fallen leaves. We love this Etsy treasury of burgundy jewels, featuring Inspired: Scilly's burgundy pearl knit wire bracelet. Click here to view it and be inspired to update your Autumn wardrobe! Without doubt, one of my favourite colours.

At last, some sunshine! Not sure how long it will last but I am defintely making the most of it, even if that means knitting with wire at the garden table! With a couple of craft fairs in late August and September, there's plenty to do, especially as I've had a short time out with moving house and various other commitments! Obviously 2012 is quite a big year for the UK and to celebrate Inspired: Scilly would like to offer 20% discount to all our loyal followers, fans and customers. Use the code SCILLY2012 at the checkout on our Etsy Shop to claim your discount. The offer will run until 31st December 2012 so you have plenty of time! As it is still very much the wedding season, here's a lovely picture of an Inspired: Scilly bridal hair vine using Swarovski crystals and handmade freshwater pearl flowers in a stunning hairstyle courtesy of Blonde Hair and Beauty in the Isles of Scilly.

The lavender in my new garden is just coming out and, along with the roses, is making everything smell gorgeous, despite the terrible weather! Take a look at this lovely Lavender treasury on Etsy, featuring the bracelet pictured below.

Have you seen the latest knit wire bracelet from Inspired: Scilly? With a new wire colour for the summer season, this gorgeous aquamarine knit wire cuff is a surefire way to bring the beach to you. It is inspired by the crystal clear waters surrounding the Isles of Scilly and is encrusted with petrol blue pearls and sparkling Swarovski crystal bicones in sea-washed shades of pacific opal, sand opal, black diamond and light azore, reflecting the organic colours of rock, sand, sea and sky...

Browsing on Etsy, I found another treasury for you to feast your eyes upon and in one of my favourite colours, gorgeous Petrol Blue . The treasury features my lovely petrol blue knit wire bracelet. Here is some more bluesy inspiration:

Next week is Art Scilly, a week of arts and crafts classes and exhibitions on the beautiful Isles of Scilly. Although the classes I attended were outside of this dedicated week, last year I had the pleasure of attending both the precious metal clay and sterling silver classes with Paula Smith. Paula was a fantastic teacher, patient and friendly and not at all intimidating, despite her obvious talent for creating the most beautiful silver jewellery. She really put me at ease as I had never used precious metal clay or sterling silver before and I thoroughly enjoyed both classes. Class sizes are kept small so you can be sure of getting the help and guidance that you need. I came away with a gorgeous sterling silver ring, a pair of PMC earrings and a PMC pendant, all of which I designed and made myself and now wear with great pride! If you get the chance to visit Scilly, I heartily recommend taking part in these and other courses, some of which run at other times during the year. For more ...

For anyone intrigued by Scilly and wanting to know a bit more, check out this article from National Geographic: Isles of Scilly: The land that time forgot

Nope, I'm not dying my hair (been there, done that...) I just wanted to introduce you to Inspired: Scilly's fabulous friend, Blonde Hair and Beauty Salon . Based in Hugh Town in the Isles of Scilly, this friendly and experienced salon is the perfect place for a pamper when you visit the islands! We are now gearing up to the bridal season, so to check out some of Inspired: Scilly's hairpieces shown in beautiful bridal hair on the salon's Facebook page, please click here . Shell, Freshwater Pearl and Swarovski crystal barette clip and hair vine Swarovski crystal hair comb Don't forget Mother's Day is fast approaching... The perfect time for a spot of pampering for Mum! Be sure to check out my new knit wire brooches , a gorgeous and inexpensive gift, or splash out on a stunning, sterling silver cuff at Inspired: Scilly's shop !