Paul Wright

Visiting Fieldfares to Stratford-upon-Avon

2010-01-05T17:53:00.013Z

... view from our kitchen window at the start of 2010!

The Visiting Fieldfare

I snapped this shot of a visiting Fieldfare, perched on our frozen birdbath outside the kitchen window, just as the snow began to gently settle! An ornamental crabapple tree - the "Malus" - still laden at this time of year with over-ripe bunches of bright red crabapples, had attracted flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares to our garden in Stratford-upon-Avon. Neither variety of bird are native to Britain and the Fieldfare has certainly never been known to breed here. They are both visitors from countries in northern Europe and migrate here in the winter.

Flocks of Fieldfares can sometimes be seen flying overhead in loose formation and can usually be identified by their chattering call, "chack-chack". The Fieldfare is easily identified by its blue-grey head and rump, no doubt giving rise to one of its country names .. 'blue-back'. Over the last few days we have delighted in watching these birds from our kitchen window as they feasted untiringly on the fruit that our crabapple tree provided. At one time we counted about 15 Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, two Blackbirds and a large Wood-Pigeon all sharing our 'more than adequate' wild fruit tree and eventually devouring all but the very last of the red crabapples ... just out of reach on the flimsiest of its outstretched branches!

The hustle and bustle of our summer jewellery shows has given way to a quiet time of reflection and contemplation during the current winter months. Thought must be given to new jewellery designs and new opportunities that a new year will bring - a time of inspiration! So I take a moment to wish our friends and customers a very happy New Year and every success for 2010. Of course in order to achieve 'success' one needs to define the word. And so I offer you Ralph Waldo Emmerson’s definition, which was recently given to me by a good friend, and which I feel deserves our consideration:

To laugh often and much.
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children.
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends.
To appreciate beauty.
To find good in people.
To leave the world a better place,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition.
To know that one person breathed easier, because you lived.
This is to have succeeded!

Like the visiting Fieldfares in our garden, it is time to move on and seek new opportunities ... wherever we may find them. Happy New Year to all! We look forward to seeing you again soon and we wish you every success in 2010!

Christmas Gift Ideas

2009-12-05T16:36:00.013Z

... seen at the Winter Fair!

The Christmas Gift Hall at the Winter Fair 2009

The 20th Royal Welsh Winter Fair was officially opened by Elin Jones, Minister for Rural Affairs. The Fair, acclaimed the finest prime stock show in Europe, attracted record cattle entries this year with over 350 leading stockmen competing for the top prizes. There were also strong entries of sheep and pigs and horse and pony entries reached 730, the highest since 2004 and 71 more than in 2008.

A survey following last year's show indicated that shopping for new and exciting Christmas gift ideas was one of the main reasons for coming to this prestigious livestock and equestrian event. Every available space is put to good use with exhibition stands erected in the main buildings, marquees and even in much of the livestock shedding! Our own trade stand was located in the 'Gift Hall' - a euphemism for 'Goat Shed'! The only give-away was the word 'goats' still clearly visible under the temporary signage above the entrance - as shown in our feature photo above.

Despite the humble surroundings our handmade silver and gold jewellery attracted the attention of the farming community in Wales in no uncertain measure! Our unique silver daisy jewellery collection was a big hit, as was the launch of our new and original white sapphire ring designs. There is no doubt that both the silver and gold jewellery were considered to be amongst the most popular Christmas gift ideas at the show.

Have a look at some of the popular designs - you may just find the Christmas gift idea you hadn't yet thought of!

Jools Holland in Harrogate

2009-11-16T15:40:00.010Z

.. and the Yorkshire 'Crafts for Christmas' Show.

Jools Holland in Harrogate

Every year we look forward to visiting Harrogate in North Yorkshire where we attend one of the country's largest Christmas shopping events - the 'Yorkshire Crafts for Christmas' show held at the Showgrounds a few miles from the town centre. Our unique collection of silver and gold jewellery always seems to attract attention in the North and we look forward to exhibiting at this popular annual event.

This year proved to be even more interesting than usual. We discovered that Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra was performing for one night only at the Convention Centre in Harrogate. As luck would have it two seats were still available and Wendy and I jumped at the chance to 'boogie-woogie' the night away at this raucous, star studded blues concert.

Not only did we delight in the undoubted skills of Jools himself but we were entertained by some of the best instrumentalists in the business including saxophonist Derek Nash and the Badbone jazz-funk showman Dennis Rollins. Reggae enthusiasts would also have been thrilled with the trombonist Rico Rodriguez, a Jamaican legend responsible for the cult 80's album, 'That Man is Forward'. His solo contributions included a very different rendition of Frank Sinatra's 'I've got you under my skin' - it was a real treat to see him on a concert stage! Jools also received some impressive support from the talented vocalists Louise Marshall and the Rhythm & Blues specialist Ruby Turner who really turned up the heat with several of her powerful gospel flavoured songs.

Since learning to play fluently at the tender age of eight, Jools has gone on to become one of the UK's most proficient jazz and blues pianists. The performance in Harrogate was confirmation of his ability to entertain a large audience - by the end he had us all singing and dancing in the aisles as he led us in 'Enjoy Yourself' ... and we certainly did!

Detling Crafts for Christmas Show

2009-11-09T16:05:00.011Z

... and the most influential man in Kent!

The most influential man in Kent. Who is he?

Last week we attended the Crafts for Christmas show at Detling in Kent to exhibit our unique collection of handmade silver and gold jewellery including the popular silver daisy pendants, earrings and bracelets that have become associated with Paul Wright Jewellery throughout the UK and internationally.

Readers of our regular blog will know that we always endeavour to photograph some of the 'rich and famous' who are known to visit several of the important national events we attend during the course of the year. These have included celebrities, actors, singers and members of the Royal family. We have featured a broad spectrum of personalities from 'Jordan' and Dame Vera Lynn to Prince Charles and even Her Majesty the Queen!

These are very often people of great influence who make a difference. Who is the most influential person in the country? Gordon Brown is the most influential man in Britain while the Queen is the country's most influential woman, according to a poll of 1,000 business leaders. There are also those we may consider to be the most influential people in a given field or occupation. Last week, whilst in Kent, we met just such a person! A leader in the field of educational reform.

We ask: "Do you know the most influential man in Kent?" We offer the following clues and invite you to write in with your answers. Let's see if you can identify him:

A revolutionary 'thinker' and great educational reformist
A leading authority on the eleven plus examination
Inventor of the World's first online educational diagnostic and remedial programme
An accredited investor - not in stocks and shares but - 'in people'.
Married to a secret cordon bleu chef
Loves pork chops for breakfast

If you can identify this man write in with his name and you could win a pair of fab silver daisy earrings worth £25!

Who is the No.1 most influential man in Kent? Can you put a name to the face?

Dame Vera Lynn

2009-11-01T10:34:00.014Z

We'll Meet Again .....

Vera Lynn at the Crafts for Christmas Show, in October 2009

This year's Ardingly College 'Crafts for Christmas' show saw the visit of Dame Vera Lynn, the English singer whose career flourished during World War II. She was nicknamed "The Forces' Sweetheart" and some of the songs most fondly remembered and associated with her include "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover".

Dame Vera and her daughter spent some time admiring the jewellery that formed our display at this popular annual event. Having asked her permission she kindly allowed us to snap this photo of her before moving on to browse the other exhibits that were on show. At the age of 92 she remains just as attractive and charming as she was during the war years at which time the nostalgic lyrics .. "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day" .. became one of the emblematic songs of that period.

And now at the age of 92, she has done it again, hitting No 1 in the album charts with her offering 'We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn' and usurping Bob Dylan, 68, as the oldest artist to grace the top spot!

Her visit at the Ardingly Crafts for Christmas Show was the highlight of this year's event ... and, of course, we all hope to meet her again some sunny day!

Burghley Horse Trials to showcase

2009-08-01T12:39:00.029+01:00

... new equestrian jewellery designs!

The Burghley Horse Trials 2009 is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire, England. The first event was held at Burghley House in 1961 when the 6th Marquess of Exeter tried to replace a three day event at Harewood House that could no longer be held. Since then no other international horse trials site has staged as many Championships and the event has grown into the premier equestrian event of the year.

Shopping is an important part of the whole 'Burghley experience'. Paul Wright Jewellery has been exhibiting at the Burghley Horse Trials for over twelve years now and are located in the Rural Crafts shopping marquee next to the popular 'foodwalk' just off the main avenue. This year Paul Wright Jewellery will introduce a new and exciting range of silver equestrian jewellery based on the horse's snaffle bit. This is the piece that goes in the mouth of the horse as illustrated below:

Equestrian jewellery based on a horse's 'snaffle bit' is not a new idea - equestrian jewellers have come up with equestrian rings, bracelets and pendants since the 19th Century. However Paul Wright Jewellery has taken a different angle to the whole equestrian design concept. The snaffle bit in these new designs, has been used as the 'inspiration' or 'starting point' for a unique collection of designer jewellery - and not the usual 'snaffle bit copies' simply made into a pieces of jewellery. Hence the 'snaffle bit' has taken on a totally new form and concept! The illustrations below show how the brief has been developed from a simple sketch to the final scale drawings.

Snaffle bit jewellery
Design drawings to scale

Snaffle bit bracelet

Snaffle bit bangle

Snaffle bit ring

These illustrations form just a part of the exciting new equestrian jewellery collection available in both silver and gold. We are hopeful that all the new designs will be shown for the first time at the 2009 Burghley Horse Trials in Stamford. Don't miss it!

See our equestrian jewellery here!

The Royal Welsh Show 2009

2009-07-24T20:56:00.012+01:00

Paul & Wendy Wright exhibiting at The Royal Welsh Show

Wendy and I have just returned from exhibiting our unique range of silver and gold jewellery at The Royal Welsh Show. This year we were invited to exhibit in the South Glamorgan Hall which meant that, despite the inclement weather, we remained dry and mud free!

This is the biggest agricultural show in Europe! It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.

The first show was held in Aberystwyth in 1904, and its success led to the development of the permanent showground at Llanelwedd, first used in 1963.

The show lasts for four days and attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually, making it a major boon for tourism in Wales. Events include competitions of cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs and various other domestic animals, Sheep dog trials, Sheep shearing competitions, Horse riding competitions, Four-in-hand and Carriage Driving displays, Falconry, Games and sports such as the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery of the Royal Horse Artillery, Arts and crafts and live music.

Given its "Royal" status it is not unusual for a senior member of the British Royal family to attend at the Show. A familiar sight is the Prince of Wales who is generally acknowledged to be a keen supporter of the farming community. Indeed following his outspoken support during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, some farmers regard him as an influential figure. The royal interest in this year's show was provided by the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, and the Countess of Wessex. The couple spent several hours at Llanelwedd on Wednesday, having been greeted by the president, North Wales landowner and farmer Robin Price, of Rhiwlas, Bala, who then accompanied them on a tour of the showground. Unfortunately I was unable to find an opportunity to photograph the couple to add to my 'Royal photo' collection and so the 'blog photo feature' this time is one of Wendy and I on our trade stand!

Once again we stayed in our delightful rural B&B nestled in a beautiful valley a short distance from the showgrounds where the proprietor, Biddy Williams, provides not only the best Welsh breakfast 'fry up' in the world but an outstanding roast dinner with fresh vegatables grown in her own garden! Each evening all ten guests staying at this picturesque period cottage congregate in its' small dining room around an oak gateleg table and exchange diverse experiences of the days events at the show. This year's guests included a Vivien Westwood fashion designer (who was showing a pony in the competition of Welsh Cobs), two Irish cattle farmers from Donegal, the marketing director for Harper Adams Agricultural College, a country artist, a podiatrist and two market traders from London. It certainly made for varied and interesting conversation after the show each day!

NB. We acknowledge thanks to Wikipaedia for the factual information on the history of the Royal Welsh Show.

The Royal Highland Show 2009

2009-07-03T22:29:00.032+01:00

... judged by the company you keep!

HRH Queen Elizabeth II of The United Kingdom

Growing up, I heard my parents tell me to be careful how I chose my friends. “You are judged by the company you keep”, they told me.

In our business we are certainly privileged to 'keep very good company' by exhibiting our silver and gold jewellery at trade shows supported by various members of our British Royal Family. The 2009 Royal Highland Show, held in Edinburgh, was no exception. In fact this year we were delighted to meet with HRH Elizabeth II herself! She is the patron of the Show's organising body and this was her first visit to the Show in over twenty years. This presented the ultimate 'Royal photo' opportunity and I was pleased to snap the picture of her above - albeit from quite some distance away due to the tight security that surrounds her royal visits!

The Royal Highland Show saw a record attendance over the four days last week. In fact we discovered that the numbers had increased by over 15% with the highest ever visitor figure on the Saturday of 51,307. This was probably aided by the Royal visits which included not only HRH the Queen on the second day of the Show, but also Princess Ann who was in attendance on the Saturday.

Our customers at the Royal Highland show are largely from the farming community in Scotland. Many of them had no doubt as to which would be the champion cow this year. It was an impressive 'Holstein', bred near Annan, that was named as the interbreed champion at the 2009 Royal Highland Show. The judges were impressed with the size, power and sheer scale of her. She was well balanced and with a really good udder too. "A youthful cow with good legs and feet", one farmer told me!

Find out more about HRH Queen Elizabeth IIClick on any of the Amazon books featured above.

The Royal Cornwall Show 2009

2009-06-07T20:27:00.024+01:00

What do Princess Alexandra, Rick Stein and
Paul Wright Jewellery have in common?

... All three attracted the attention of visitors

to the Royal Cornwall Show last week!

HRH The Princess Alexandra at the Royal Cornwall Show 2009

The showground, located just 10 minutes drive from Padstow, bursts into life for three days every year during the annual Royal Cornwall Show. There are a number of dog, falconry and equine competitions at this popular agricultural event where visitors are free to explore the many trade stands and exhibitions at the showground.

This year saw the visit of HRH The Princess Alexandra. It was her fifth visit to the show and she was presented with her badge as a Vice-president of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association. Her Royal Highness requested a visit to the Rural Crafts Association marquee where she took a keen interest in the exhibits on display including the hand crafted silver and gold jewellery by Paul Wright Jewellery.

Princess Alexandra, 'The Honourable Lady Ogilvy', is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was married to the late Sir Angus Ogilvy. Prior to her marriage she was known as Princess Alexandra of Kent.

Princess Alexandra carries out royal duties on behalf of her cousin, The Queen. She is 33rd in the line of succession to the British throne; at the time of her birth in 1936, she was sixth.

Many of the exhibitors and visitors to the Show took advantage of dining out in Padstow where the popular television cuisine presenter, Rick Stein, has several renowned restaurants including his famous Seafood Restaurant.

Stein opened his first business in Padstow in 1974, and now specialises in fish cookery. His business operates four restaurants, a bistro, a cafe, a seafood delicatessen, patisserie shop, a gift shop and a cookery school. His impact on the local economy of Padstow is such that it has been nicknamed "Padstein" despite the phrase being openly disputed by Rick himself.

Paul and Wendy Wright took time out each day to dine in the restaurants of Rick Stein along with other visitors to Cornwall and the agricultural show. Sadly Princess Alexandra was unable to attend Rick Stein's restaurant on this occassion but we would like to thank her for visiting our stand during the show - a very charming and gracious lady!

We can't help those who missed Princess Alexandra and Rick Stein last week but if you also missed the 'Paul Wright Jewellery' trade stand in Cornwall you have an opportunity right now to see some of the new jewellery designs in the Summer Collection for 2009 by clicking here.

Jewellery Making Books

2009-05-12T17:36:00.022+01:00

Jewellery Making: A Complete Course for Beginners

by Jinks McGrath (author)

Whilst exhibiting at a recent four day 'Craft and Design Fair' held at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, I became aware of just how much interest there is in jewellery making - from simple glass beaded jewellery to the more comprehensive skills required in making precious jewellery. Many of the visitors asked me to advise them on which jewellery making books I would suggest as being useful for an 'apprentice jewellery maker' or craft worker.

It is not easy to make a general recommendation because jewellery making is a vast subject and the skills required will depend on the type of jewellery the craft worker wishes to make! However I will start by recommending a fairly comprehensive jewellery making book that I feel benefits any would-be jewellery maker. In later blogs I will look at specific areas of study in the field of jewellery making and suggest suitable reading material for each.

"Jewellery Making: A Complete Course for Beginners" is very definitely a complete course in designing and jewellery making. Carefully structured tutorials guide you through every stage of the jewellery making process, revealing how to translate inspired ideas into workable, wearable jewellery designs, and you'll find professional advice on presenting and selling your work too.

Learn about tools, equipment and safe working practices; how to build an inspirations file; select suitable materials and transfer your jewellery designs; work with precious and semi-precious stones, metals, glass, plastic, resin and wood. Clear, step-by-step photographs demonstrate all the techniques you will need, at-a-glance panels explain the effect that different techniques have on a variety of metals, and practical exercises provide guidance in tricky skills - with ideas for trying these out on inexpensive substitutes before using your chosen materials.

This is not just a jewellery making book with an attractive cover! This book takes the jewellery maker through the whole process from start to finish. There are comprehensive chapters outlining not only many useful techniques and 'tricks of the trade' but how to set up and equip your own jewellery studio. The jewellery making projects are laid out in easy to follow steps with illustrative photographs to help make everything easy to understand. The book could be used to create step by step lessons in a structured jewellery making course. This practical book will be very useful to all jewellery makers.

It's great value for money too!

Have a look through some of the highlighted books we recommend below. Simply click on a book of interest for more information:

Gift for a girl called DAISY!

2009-04-30T08:22:00.017+01:00

'Daisy' is so much more than just a popular girls' name.

Silver Daisy Jewellery

by Paul Wright (Designer)

I recently received an email from one of our customers complimenting us on our popular range of silver daisy jewellery. Here's what she said:

"I want you to know how much I enjoy wearing my Daisy jewellery. The first 'daisy' in my collection was received as a gift. I have since added to the collection and now I have several daisy pieces in the range. As my name is 'Daisy' I am particularly thrilled to have jewellery with a 'Daisy' theme. I am always asked where I found them and I receive compliments whenever I wear them."

Daisy Kidd

Dorset

We receive a disproportionate number of orders from customers with the name Daisy or we are asked to post gift wrapped orders directly to recipients, with our daisy gifts, who are named 'Daisy'. Daisy is clearly a popular girl's name and I am reliably informed that many babies are being named Daisy these days. I am sure that can only help make our unusual silver and gold daisy jewellery that much more appealing as it is obviously a great gift for any girl called Daisy!

What do we know about the name Daisy? According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Daisy is "more commonly known as Despina, in Greek. It is also known as Marguerite in French, or Margarida in Portuguese. Daisy may refer to a flower of the family Asteraceae, especially the common daisy Bellis perennis".

Daisy has also been used as the names of towns. There are three I can find in the world and they are all in the United States. There is a town called Daisy in Arkansas, a Daisy in Georgia and a Daisy in Oklahoma.

Wikipedia also identifies several films that have been made with the name 'Daisy'. There was a Korean urban melodrama made in 2006 called 'Daisy'. In 1998 there was a Malaysian musical romance filmed called 'Daisy' and before that in 1966 a Czech film production company shot a movie called 'Daisies'. Daisy Bell was sung by HAL 9000 in the Kubrick 2001 film: A Space Odyssey and finally Daisy Wertham was the lead character in the film 'Driving Miss Daisy'.

If we extend the list to include television and cartoons the following may also be included:

A Walt Disney cartoon character called Daisy Duck

There is Daisy in 'Keeping Up Appearances'

A character on the TV series Californication is called Daisy

Daisy Adair - a character on the TV series 'Dead Like Me'

Daisy Duke - a character on the TV series 'The Dukes of Hazzard' and the movie

Daisy Mayhem - a character in the TV cartoon series 'Laff-A-Lympics'

Daisy - a character on the TV series 'Pokemon'

A meerkat on the TV series Meerkat Manor is called Daisy

An orangutan on the TV series Orangutan Island is called Daisy

A train in the TV series 'Thomas and Friends' is called Daisy

I also found that there are many examples where music has connections with the name Daisy too. For example the musician 'Daisy' was a member of 'Foxy Shazam'. There is a song called "Daisy Bell" which I'm sure you all remember. It starts with "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do ..." . Then there is "Daisy" - a single by 'Halfway to Hazard'.

Did you know that D.A.I.S.Y. is an acronym for "Da Inner Sound, Y'all", coined on the De LA Soul album 3 Feet High and Rising? There is also a song called "Daisy" written by Brotherhood of Man from the album Oh Boy!

Yes 'Daisy' is a popular girl's name but did you also know it is also the name of a cocktail drink? Then there is the fashion designer Rudolph Moshammer's pet dog called Daisy. There are the 'Daisy' Girl Scouts there is a digital talking book called 'Daisy' and the Apache computer software programme called 'Daisy'. There is a geyser in the Yellowstone National Park called the 'Daisy Geyser', a guitar manufacturer called 'Daisy Rock Guitars' and, apparently, even a sour cream called 'Daisy'!

We would like to acknowledge our thanks to Wikipedia for the information provided.

If you would like to purchase a daisy gift

for a baby called Daisy click here!

And finally if you are choosing a name for your baby remember the words of our famous Bard:

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose (or a daisy)

By any other name would smell as sweet."

William Shakespeare

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

2009-04-25T17:48:00.012+01:00

Paul Wright Jewellery joined other people, from all over the world, in marking the Bard’s birthday this weekend as Stratford-upon-Avon embarked on one of the largest festivals it has ever undertaken.

Sir Donald Sinden opens the Bancroft Gardens

The Shakespearian actor, Sir Donald Sinden (featured above), was invited to open the newly refurbished Bancroft Gardens by unveiling a commemorative plaque and tourist information point on the Theatre Promenade. Sir Donald is an English actor of stage and screen, who has remained enormously popular with audiences since his days as a film star in the 1950s. He was spoofed mercilessly on the TV show 'Spitting Image' for his stage-actorly delivery and fruity voice. I recall his 'spitting image' puppet, sitting in a restaurant, summoning a waiter and asking "Do you serve a ham salad?" the waiter replied, "Yes, we serve salad to anyone!"

Cllr Les Topham, leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: “I think the Bancroft has been reborn as a result of this work. It will be the perfect companion and complement for the theatre and other improvements that will be made to this area of the town over the next 12 months".

The weekend saw "all singing and all dancing” celebrations in Stratford-upon-Avon and the focus on Saturday was the customary carnival-style town procession from Shakespeare's birthplace to Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was buried. People from all over the world attended, many in national or period costume, to participate in the walk which symbolises Shakespeare's journey from cradle to grave.

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of
infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand
times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims atit. Here
hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now?
your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,that were wont to set the
table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen? Now
get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, lether paint an inch thick, to this
favour she must come; make her laugh at that."

Yin Yang

2009-04-22T14:50:00.029+01:00

... and the meaning of life!

Yin Yang Pendant

This year sees the introduction of a new collection of symbolic jewellery in the Paul Wright Jewellery collection. These new silver and gold pendants have been designed and created by Paul to convey special meanings and invoke the deeper mysteries of faith and belief. Symbolism has been a part of all cultures since the dawn of time. Wearing symbolic jewellery can balance both the physical and spiritual energy fields thereby enhancing our sense of well being. The first of our new and exciting range is the 'Yin Yang' pendant based on the Tai Chi symbol shown below.

Tai Chi symbol

The meaning of Yin Yang can be best found in the symbolic imagery of its very nature. It is a circle made up of two different tadpole shapes, one in black (known as the Yin side) and the other in white (known as the Yang side). You will see that in Yang, represented by the white tadpole, lies the seed of Yin represented by the black dot and vice-versa. The Yin Yang pendant and earrings design similarly conveys these interacting opposites but using the complimentary silver and gold colours instead of black and white. The white cubic zirconia has been set into the gold side and the yellow cubic zirconia has been set into the silver side illustrating the interdependance of each on the other.

Yin Yang Earrings

It can clearly be seen that Yin and Yang are complimentary opposites within a greater whole. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, which constantly interact, never existing in absolute stasis. In Chinese philosophy and religion, two principles, one negative, dark, and feminine (yin) and one positive, bright, and masculine (yang), from whose interaction all things are produced and all things are dissolved.

As a concept the two polar elements referred originally to the shady and sunny sides of a valley or a hill but it developed into the relationship of any contrasting pair: those specified above (female-male, etc.) as well as cold-hot, wet-dry, weak-strong, etc. It is not a distinct system of thought by itself but permeates Chinese life and thought. A balance of yin and yang is essential to health. A deficiency of either principle can manifest as disease. (Encyclopedia Americana).

If you would like to have the new Yin Yang jewellery designs simply use the link below to make your purchase:

New Designs by Paul Wright Jewellery

including the Yin Yang Pendant and Earrings

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

2008-12-14T11:13:00.004Z

Images from our year of shows...

Play our multi-media presentation above to see some of the memorable events that took place over the course of 2008 - from the Badminton Horse Trials in the South to Edinburgh's Royal Highland Show in the North!

The Winter Fair in Wales

2008-12-09T20:48:00.010Z

Jewellery for Christmas

Paul Wright Jewellery - 6 Metre Trade Stand!

Livestock prices reached new highs at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair last week with the sale of the champion pair of lambs for £3,400 each, the highest price ever paid for sheep at this event. The lambs were entered by breeders Michael and Heulwen Owens of Pontsian who claimed the supreme championship for the third time running. The winning lambs were purchased by Welsh Country Foods on behalf of Asda for one of their stores in the West Midlands.

The supreme champion beast, Tommy, a limousine steer was exhibited by Glyn Owens of Llanrhaeadr who officially opened the Winter Fair. It sold for £6,500 to the judge Tom Hughes, of Hughes Butchers, Anglesey.

Despite the desperately cold weather, which saw temperatures dropping to minus 7 degrees centigrade, mid afternoon attendance at the Winter Fair totalled 24,397, just 63 less than the full day figure last year.

Paul Wright Jewellery had prime position at the entrance to the new gift hall opposite the food festival. Sadly the doors to that entrance were left open for the duration of the show and the winter temperatures almost left both Paul and Wendy, who were in attendance both days, with hypothermia (a rapid, progressive mental and physical collapse that accompanies the lowering of body temperature!)

Never-the-less an enthusiastic crowd of hardy Welsh farmers certainly seemed to 'warm' to the extensive display of appealing silver and gold jewellery displayed on the new six metre jewellery stand that formed the most popular attraction featured in the new Gift Hall.

Jewellery for Christmas

2008-11-17T14:49:00.039Z

Harrogate's Premier Christmas Gift Show

The 'Casablanca Steps' Entertain Shoppers

Billed as the best musical comedy foursome in the world, the 'Casablanca Steps' entertained thousands of Christmas shoppers who attended this weekends 'Crafts For Christmas' show held in Harrogate. A brilliant blend of song and laughter, their cabaret show has been featured in over twenty five television shows in the UK and Europe. It was certainly a big hit amongst the crowds who came looking for unusual handmade Christmas gifts at this popular event held annually at the Yorkshire Agricultural Showground.

The Crafts for Christmas Show, organised by the Rural Crafts Association, is one of the largest gift fairs held in the country and, in addition to the live entertainment and fashion shows, it featured a vast array of handcrafted gifts, clothing, fashion accessories, fine jewellery and other popular arts and crafts.

Trevor Sears models this year's latest fashion wear for men.

A popular draw was undoubtedly the handmade silver and gold jewellery designs by Paul Wright. At times it was difficult to find room to look into the brightly lit jewellery cabinets that were featured on this impressive jewellery trade stand! Defying the so called 'credit crunch', eager shoppers crowded round hoping to take home at least one of the many original silver and gold jewellery designs that were on offer at prices that many felt outstripped the 'High Street' in terms of originality, quality and value. Truly great jewellery for Christmas this year.

Silver & Gold Designer Jewellery for Christmas

Jewellery for Christmas on the 'Paul Wright Jewellery' stand

There is no doubt that this is Harrogate's premier Christmas gift event. One of the many visitors accurately summed up the general sentiment:

"What a great day out! My husband and I not only thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment, but we went home with virtually all our Christmas shopping done!"

Visit our website to view our fabulous range of

jewellery for Christmas including:

White Sapphire Jewellery

Bargain Diamond Rings

Have you read:

Perpignan Garnets - Gemstone of southern France!

Prince Charles at The Royal Show 2008

The latest jewellery news from REUTERS here!

The Ghost of Abingdon Abbey!

2008-10-31T22:58:00.013Z

"Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Silver and Gold Jewellery

for Christmas at the Abingdon Craft and Design Show"

The Abingdon Craft and Design Show is held in the small town of Abingdon which is located on the rivers Thames, Ock and Stert, just to the south of Oxford. The venue is within the ancient remains of a famous Abbey.

There are many legends about how and when 'Abingdon Abbey' was first established. The most popular claims that a hermit called St. Abban initiated things shortly after the Romans left Britain. This story was probably made up so that the Abbey could claim it was the oldest monastery in the country.

Precisely how much of the Abbey's early history is true and how much is legend is unknown, but it is clear that by 675 there was a monastery in what is now the town of Abingdon. It was probably built by a local Saxon Prince called Hean. His sister set up a nunnery at St. Helen's Church at the same time. Sadly, nothing of this first Abbey remains, after it was destroyed by marauding Danes from nearby Reading.

The Abbey church was rebuilt in Medieval times and was completed in 1239. It is reputed to have looked like Wells Cathedral.

The Abbey was attacked in 1327 by a mob of very angry townspeople. They didn't like the Abbot having control of their market so they smashed up the church and chased the monks into the River Thames where some of them drowned!

During the War of the Roses, the support of the Abbot was sought by both sides. Queen Margaret and Edward IV both visited. As late as 1489, Abbot John Sant was still plotting to overthrow King Henry VII.

King Henry VIII 'dissolved' the Abbey in 1539. The church was pulled down, but the outer gateway, 'hospitium', long gallery and the exchequer building have survived. It was in these famous old and drafty buildings that Wendy and I spent two weeks exhibiting our special 'Christmas range' of silver and gold jewellery! The Abingdon Craft and Design Show has become a popular venue over the past 25 years and the event was well attended.

The town crier of Abingdon, featured above, visited our craft show each day - having walked the streets of Abingdon loudly announcing our presence in an effort to drum up business in these times of recession and 'credit crunch'. He warned us of the female ghost that inhabits the 'long room' of Abingdon Abbey - the very place in which we had erected our trade stand! Strange things happened during those two weeks in Abingdon, strange things we don't understand nor dare to question. Could the ghost have been the sister of Prince Hean?

Perhaps we will never know ....!

Have you seen our:

Silver Daisy Jewellery Collection

White Sapphires
Diamond Wedding Rings

Perpignan Garnets - Gemstone of southern France!

2008-10-15T21:29:00.058+01:00

Perpignan

Our quest for rare and unusual gemstones has taken us to many interesting places around the world. So when our friends Nigel & Karen kindly offered us the use of their villa in the south of France for a welcome break after our summer shows, we were naturally only too delighted to accept! You see some of the finest garnets in the world have been extracted from the eastern Pyrenees in southern France and used in Roussillon jewellery since the 18th century - they are known as "The garnets of Perpignan" ... and the city of Perpignan is located not twenty minutes drive from our friends' holiday villa in St. Cyprien-Plage - what an opportunity to find these rare gems while exploring southern France!

Banyuls-Sur-Mer

As luck would have it our day trip to the most southern seaside village in France, close to the border with Spain, coincided with the Fête des vendanges à Banyuls-sur-Mer. This is a popular wine festival celebrating the later-than-usual wine harvest from which a unique wine is made in this region of France. The entire town congregates on the beaches with barbecued food washed down with plenty of wine and musicians abound with various colourfully dressed Jazz bands playing triumphantly at full blast. The ’barques catalanes’ finally sail into full view symbolically carrying with them the grapes that originate from vineyards that cover the slopes of the Alberes and the Baillaury Valley at the foot of the Pyranees. These late grape harvests are vinified according to the traditional methods developed by the Knights Templar and the resulting wine is like no other found in France.

Arrival of the ’barques catalanes’ in the bay of Banyuls-Sur-Mer

Carcassonne

A visit to the south of France would not be complete without exploring the fortified and double walled city of Carcassonne. Once the capital of the county for over 400 years Carcassonne was the main communication route between the Mediterranean and Toulouise.

Entering this amazing fortified town, on the banks of the River Aude, is like being transported back to the middle ages. It is the largest fortress in Europe, with the outer ramparts containing fourteen impressive towers. It has been on UNESCO's world heritage list since 1997 and is really well worth visiting.

We marvelled at the medieval streets and building which have remained intact to this day. Finally, having worked up an appetite sufficient to 'eat a horse', we stumbled across L'écurie located on Boulevard Barbes. These magnificent old stables have been converted into a luxurious restaurant where each of the original horse stalls forms a private dining area. Many of the original brass fittings and stable features have been cleverly retained adding to the charm and character of the popular establishment. The food of course was out of this world and the local speciality is a Cassoulet containing pork, duck and lamb stewed in a rich sauce with white haricot beans. Delicious!

Collioure

This charming fishing village on the Cote Vermeille is picturesquely set against the backdrop of the Alberes foothills. The two most notable features, a fortified church and a spectacular Castle, seperate two lovely little fishing ports with brightly coloured Catalan boats. The narrow cobbled streets, with boutique shops and colourful floral balconies, all add to the beauty of Collioure. Painters through the ages have been attracted by its charm, character and colourful beauty - the most famous of which include artists such as Matisse, Picasso and Foujita.

A local sculptor has created outdoor bronze 'picture frames' mounted on stands around the town oriented in such a way to quite literally 'frame' the most beautiful views of this seaside resort!

Paul & Wendy in Collioure

... And as for our quest to find 'Perpignan Garnets' I can now confirm - first hand - that the colour of these special gemstones is truly unique. They have a rich hue that varies from a fine French claret to a soft pink Rosé wine. Finding a direct source for these beautiful gems will certainly prove to be a valuable addition to our unique silver and gold jewellery designs!

********

Finally dont forget to have a look at our fantastic Silver Daisy Jewellery collection and the great new Diamond Wedding Rings we have to offer!

Katie Price at Burghley Horse Trials

2008-09-08T12:05:00.022+01:00

Katie Price, better known as 'Jordan' in the glamorous world of fashion, attended this year's Burghley Horse Trials to promote her new range of riding equipment - available in any colour you want providing it's PINK!

Having set up our own trade stand, not 50 metres away from Katie's, I tried to obtain a good shot of her for this year's blog. However I was physically forced aside by one of her 7 foot bodyguards and so we can thank 'would-be-paparazzi' Nigel Crook for this feature photo of 'Jordan'. (Nigel had managed to conceal himself in Katie's trendy, pink horse blankets - thus escaping the attention of both Peter André and her security officials - and later emerged to snap this shot of the popular model icon).

"I've worked with a top team of high-street fashion designers and we've applied quality fashion design to some classic equestrian pieces, and given a horsey twist to a few general leisure items," Katie says. "It's fashionable and stylish but at the same time functional and wearable."

The disappointing weather conditions at Burghley this year failed to dent the enthusiasm of the huge crowds that attended this top international equestrian event. The prolonged rainfall eventually turned the grounds into thick mud making the going more than 'heavy' both for the public and the participating horses. Never-the-less William Fox-Pitt managed to score his fifth Burghley Horse Trials win when he clinched victory with his proven horse 'Tamarillo'. To cap a brilliant weekend, he also finished second with Ballincoola.

Many, of course, failed to see a single horse - the outside shopping avenues being the focus of attention for those determined to beat the credit crunch!

Burghley Horse Trials Results:

1. Tamarillo (William Fox-Pitt, GB) 47.8

2. Ballincoola (William Fox-Pitt, GB) 55

3. Imperial Cavalier (Mary King, GB) 58.7

4. Apache Sauce (Mary King, GB) 60.7

5. Opposition Buzz (Nicola Wilson, GB) 61

6. Lead The Way (Clea Phillipps, GB) 61.6

Burghley's Top Selling Jewellery Designs:

1. Silver Daisy Jewellery

2. Cultured Pearl Jewellery

3. Gold and Gemstone Rings

4. Gold and Diamond Earrings

KATIE PRICE - PINK SAPPHIRE RING

Rumours that our latest pink sapphire ring design featured at the Burghley Horse Trials will be named the "Katie Price Pink Sapphire Ring" are wholly untrue. Although many commented it was the ideal accessory for Jordan's range of pink equestrian fashion gear, Katie wasn't able to try it on during her busy schedule at Burghley and it is also untrue that Peter André offered to buy it for her!

Have a look at last year's blog about Burghley - Burghley Horse Trials 2007.

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Wedding Jewellery and Traditions

2008-08-25T15:39:00.016+01:00

I am often asked about some of the traditionally held wedding beliefs and traditions connected to a western marriage. Wedding rings and diamond engagement rings are obviously important but there are many other wedding traditions worth bearing in mind. Here are just a few of the wedding beliefs and traditions still practiced today with explanations of their origins. Click on the images for examples of the wedding jewellery we are able to offer you.

Diamond Engagement Rings

The Engagement Ring

Originally an engagement ring served as a 'partial payment' for the right to court a bride! It was originally placed on the fourth finger of the girl's right hand. On the wedding day it was transferred to the fourth finger of her left hand by the bridegroom. The same ring, therefore, served for betrothal and wedding. However the Marriage Act of 1754 ended the binding nature of betrothals and the engagements that replaced them were a less serious affair. As if to symbolise the difference, a plain gold band gave way to a more elaborate ring containing precious or semi-precious stones.

The Wedding Ring
A ring has always been part of a wedding, even if it was only loaned for the ceremony itself! The ring represented the original 'wed', or pledge placed on the fourth finger of the bride's left hand in the presence of a priest and congregation. The fourth finger of the left hand was thought to be the most suitable for a plain gold circle of 'unending love' because they believed a vein - the vena amoris - ran from it straight to the heart!

Diamond Wedding Rings

The Wedding Veil
The veil often represents the 'something borrowed' of the modern bride. An old veil is thought to be luckier than a new one especially if it was worn by a happily married close relative. Royal brides do not arrive veiled at church. Some say this tradition derives from a time when precautions had to be taken against any last minute substitution!

The Bride's Garter
Hundreds of years ago, it was common practice for the guests to follow the wedding couple to their bed. As the years past, the tradition started getting out of hand with some of the guests trying to disrobe the bride. To ward off the guests, the groom would throw the garter.

The Wedding Dress
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress gained popularity in the Victorian Age. Queen Victoria wore a beautiful white dress to marry her beloved Alfred, and it started a world-wide trend. Prior to that most women wore their best dress--even if that dress was black. Whatever the colour, numerous superstitions attach to the wedding dress. It is unlucky to try it on in its entirety before it is donned for the wedding. For this reason a few stitches are often left to be added at the last minute. Above all the bride must not look at herself in the mirror in full dress until shortly before she leaves for the church.

"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

Perhaps the best known of all wedding rhymes and faithfully observed by most brides today. It is relatively new having originated in early Victorian days. It symbolises the bride's old life and the new one on which she is now embarking. An antique piece of jewellery is an excellent idea for the something 'old'.

'Something borrowed' symbolises the community aspect of marriage. Blue is the colour of true religion and constancy. It may also account for the popularity of jewellery set with sapphires, blue topaz and aquamarines.

Wedding Theme - Silver Daisy Jewellery

The Bouquet Toss
Whoever catches the bouquet is the next one to wed! (Wedding etiquette and tradition still believed by many to this day!)

The Wedding Rice
A long held symbol of fertility.

The Honeymoon
It has been claimed that in medieval times, the bride and groom were given mead - a honeywine - in the evening after the wedding. It was said that the couple would drink of it and then make love. If, as a result, the bride gave birth nine months after the wedding it was a great honour to the brewer of the mead! It would increase his business and reputation, and often the baby would be named after him.

The Top-tier of the Wedding Cake
In the days of old, the top-tier of the wedding cake was to be placed under the couple's bed so that the bride would be fertile and bear strong children. After a year, the bride and groom would consume what was left of the cake for luck or health. Needless to say, the tradition has changed somewhat in recent years, but you still find the newlyweds putting cake in their freezer till the first anniversary.

Wedding Jewellery - Pearl Stud Earrings

Over the Threshold
The tradition of carrying the bride over the doorpost comes from as far back as the ancient Romans. It was tradition for the family to anoint the doorpost with fine oil and herbs. For this reason the groom would lift the bride over the threshold so she would not slip

"Marriage is popular because it combines the maximum of temptation with the maximum of opportunity"

- George Bernard Shaw

Lowther Horse Driving Trials - 2008

2008-08-10T18:16:00.012+01:00

Wendy and I attended the Lowther Horse Driving Trials last week and, once again, exhibited our silver and gold jewellery designs at this prestigious event in the picturesque surroundings of the Lowther estate in the Lake Districts of Cumbria.

The most exciting feature of this three day event is undoubtedly the cross country obstacle course held on the Saturday. This draws huge crowds who come to see the thrills and spills of the adrenalin pumping competition where carriages, pulled by up to four horses, are driven at speed around a course with challenging natural hazards.

Another amazing spectacle to be seen this year was the main ring performance by Jean Francois Pignon who charmed the crowds with his magical sequence involving unharnessed horses. The horsemanship and his unique bond with these animals really is something to behold.

This year's event was marred to some extent by the poor weather which had resulted in heavilly churned mud around the trade exhibition areas. Whilst the climatic conditions provided even more excitement than usual at the cross country event, by Sunday it had simply become too dangerous and the event was finally called off. Much to the regret of everyone we all had to go home. No easy task for those of us with trade stands as vehicle movement had become totally impossible. The only way on or off the showground was by tractor!

History of the Horse Driving Trials

Although horses have been driven and used as a form of transport for centuries, the ‘Horse Driving Trials‘ competition only came into existence as a sport in 1968 under the leadership of HRH Prince Philip. Similar to the horse riding triathlons known as 'eventing' and held at international events such as Burghley and Badminton each year, 'Horse Driving Trials' consist of three phases to test the overall versatility of the animal in a harness.

The dressage phase is the first to be completed and this essentially demonstrates the ‘schooling’ and obedience of the horses in which a sequence of movements is carried out.
Perhaps the most exciting phase is the cross country marathon carried out on the second day. The carriages are driven at speed and the horses must be directed through challenging obstacles with tight turns requiring skill and judgement on the part of the driver. The steep banks and water features can make this a potentially dangerous circuit particularly in poor weather.

The Cone Driving competition is carried out on the third day and this roughly equates to the show jumping phase of a horse riding event. The driver must negotiate his horse and carriage through narrowly spaced pairs of cones. It requires great driving skills and a well trained, obedient horse.

The driver is sometimes known as the ‘whip’ and his sole purpose is to control and direct the horses from the driving position in the carriage. The horse must be totally obedient to the instruction of the driver who uses his reigns, his voice and occasionally his whip. Each driver is also assisted by a ‘groom’ or navigator who is there for emergencies and to help with balancing the carriage in tight turns on the cross country obstacle course. By shifting his weight at the back of the carriage he helps the driver to negotiate tighter turns or uneven ground at greater speed. One groom is used for singles and pairs of horses and two grooms for carriages with 'four-in-hand'. The groom may not speak or signal to the driver.

Jean Francois Pignon

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Did you attend the Lowther Horses Driving Trials?
Give us your impressions of the show in the 'comment' box below.

Have you read:

Welsh Cobs and The Royal Welsh Show

Last Year at The Lowther Horse Driving Trials - 2007

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Diamond Wedding Rings Diamond Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings and Diamond Wedding Rings. You choose the diamond quality and size and we'll make a diamond wedding ring or diamond engagement ring to be proud of.

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Handmade Silver Jewellery Handmade silver earrings, handmade silver necklaces and handmade silver bracelets and silver bangles. Our handmade silver jewellery is the best available with great new silver jewellery designs.

Pearl Stud Earrings Specialising in cultured pearl stud earrings, pearl necklaces and cultured pearl jewellery of every description. We have Akoya pearl stud earrings, Fresh Water pearl stud earrings and Tahitian pearl stud earrings too.

Handmade Gold Jewellery Handmade gold earrings, handmade gold necklaces and handmade gold bracelets and gold bangles. Our handmade gold jewellery is the best available with great new gold jewellery designs.

The Diamond Engagement Ring

2008-08-06T13:52:00.016+01:00

This was the moment that he had been waiting for!

Jasmine had just finished her crème brulée and, putting down her spoon, she gently brushed her long, silky, blonde hair away from her face. Mike was filled with awe. God, she was beautiful, he thought as he carefully observed her through the flickering candlelight.

Looking up at Mike she said, "Oh that was simply delicious, darling."

There was genuine pleasure on her face. Mike was pleased. It really had been a wonderful meal in the splendid surroundings of 'Le Ciel de Paris', the highest restaurant in Europe, situated on the 56th floor of the Montparnesse Tower in central Paris. Jasmine looked out at the incredible view which embraced a significant part of city including the Eiffel Tower in all its splendour. She marvelled at some of the monuments that she and Mike had visited by foot earlier that day. They were all so clearly visible from the restaurant and, as she looked out at them, she realised that she and Mike must have covered some considerable distance - it was no wonder her feet ached so much now!

Jasmine hadn't expected the last minute suggestion of a weekend in Paris. It seemed to come completely out of the blue. Of course she was delighted. After all it was so unlike Mike, who was usually entirely predictable, and this invitation was contrary to his methodical, premeditated approach to almost everything he did. At times it drove her crazy. Mike had a 'five year plan' for everything and having trained in the army after leaving school, he had become painfully neat and precise in his daily routine too. His clothes were always carefully pressed and stacked in his wardrobe and he clearly would not tolerate clothing being thrown on the floor. He had even told Jasmine off once for casually leaving a cardigan hanging over the back of a dining chair before a dinner party they held at his flat in Putney. "God ... what would he be like to live with!" Jasmine had thought.

Mike felt a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. All of a sudden the room seemed a little too warm and he yearned to open the window of this famous Bistro 200 metres above the streets of Paris. For once in his life he actually felt less than certain. Was this really the right moment? He certainly didn't want to break the spell of the magical evening he was having with Jasmine. But there was this gnawing fear in the back of his mind: "What if she said no?"

He hadn't mentioned the weekend break to Jasmine for weeks as he plucked up courage to actually go ahead with his plan. Indeed he had given careful thought to this for several months. Without a little 'forethought' it would have been impossible to get a restaurant booking at 'Le Ciel de Paris' at short notice. He had made the phonecall a fortnight ago. In his fluent French he had requested 'a discreet table for two' ensuring that the table he booked was by the window to the right of the entrance and not too far from the pianist. Having been once before, several years ago, he knew this spot had the best view and was well away from the kitchen door to the far side. Everything had to be perfect and he had planned this weekend break with military precision. Naturally he told none of this to Jasmine. He had kept the secret without any difficulty for over a month. He had only suggested it two days before they left! Of course he tried to sound spontaneous. But it felt awkward and he wondered if Jasmine was convinced by his clumsy attempt. She seemed surprised enough, he thought, and her eyes had lit up with an almost bewildered disbelief.

"Paris? For the weekend! ... Do you mean this weekend, Darling?" she asked.

"Yes of course," he said. "I just thought it would be nice to get away ... and so I booked the flights this morning .... A spur of the moment thing ... you know," he lied.

That conversation seemed a long time ago now as they sat here high above the lively streets of Paris enjoying this very special, memorable evening; this life changing moment! Mike fumbled nervously in his pocket, feeling out that small black box that held a symbolic gift that was so importantly attached to the question he was about to ask Jasmine. Christ! He had been amazed at how much he had actually needed to spend on the ring. He hadn't really given much thought to the value of a diamond. The man in the shop had given him some guidance and he had readily accepted the advice. He hadn't wanted to seem mean and, it was true, the rings with more affordable diamonds just didn't seem to sparkle as much as this one. No ... not nearly as much as the one that was now secretly hidden in his right hand pocket! The moment he was shown this ring he knew she would just love it. It was beautiful. How could she not? Shit! He would spend the next twelve months trying to pay it off but there was no doubt in his mind. She was worth it. He couldn't wait to give it to her....

...... He just didn't know exactly when!

Paul Wright has been designing and making diamond engagement rings and wedding rings since his jewellery business was incorporated in 1995. He has met hundreds of young couples who originally sought advice from him on the best engagement ring to buy. His romantic ‘vignettes’ and short stories are all actually based on real life experiences. The names and places have been changed, of course, to protect the identities of the innocent!

Visit our website to view our fabulous range of handmade

Diamond Wedding Rings

Diamond Engagement Rings

How does this story end?

Give us your brief version in the comment box below.

Or ... if you have a romantic 'diamond engagement ring' story of your own, then submit it here:

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Paul Wright's Blog has an RSS chicklet!

2008-08-02T23:59:00.012+01:00

So what .... and why should I care?

Good questions. First, here's why you should care. Unlike getting website updates or ezines by email, RSS feeds give you absolute, 100% complete control over the situation. You don't have to reveal your email address. If you want to stop receiving content, you don't have to request to be taken off the list. One click, and 'poof' the subscription is gone.

Plus, since there's no email address involved, there's no way a publisher can sell, rent or give away the means to contact you. That's right - no more spam, viruses, phishing, or identity theft! And best of all, no reason to put yourself at the mercy of the publisher's intentions. You won't need to suffer through the legalese in the privacy policy (if there is one) looking for loopholes that will send you deeper into inbox hell. No more setting up dummy Hotmail accounts "just in case.

Again, if you don't like the content, you can make it disappear as fast as you can change a TV channel. With just one click. Pretty cool, right??

That is cool! Umm .. But what the hell is RSS?

Alright! Now we're ready to get to that part. RSS is simply an Internet technology standard that allows busy people to receive updates to web-based content of interest. You might have worked that much out by now. But basically, that's the essence of an RSS feed you subscribe and then receive new content automatically in your feed reader.

If you actually want to know how RSS works, click here.

What the hell is a feed reader?

You may already be using a form of feed reader, and not even realize it. If you use personalized home page services like My Yahoo or My MSN, you've got RSS capabilities built in. That's how syndicated content like news, weather and stock quotes appears on your personal page. You can also add content from any blog or other site that uses RSS to provide updates.

Other web-based tools are primarily dedicated to feed reading only. One of the most popular web-based feed readers at this point is Bloglines, and it's also free and easy to get started with. If you use the Firefox browser, you can also receive RSS feeds from your tool bar by using the Live Bookmarks function. The next version of Internet Explorer will add this feature as well.

Finally, there are desktop-based feed readers. These function somewhat like an email program for feeds. Examples include Newsgator and Feed Demon.

If it sounds complicated, it's really not. And things will get even easier when the next version of Outlook integrates feed-reading capabilities. So, you'll have the same convenience that email subscriptions offered in the old days, without any of the terrible consequences of giving out your email address to potentially unscrupulous characters.

Sounds good. So how do I subscribe to a Feed?

First of all, look for the subscription or feed options (some bloggers make this difficult for some odd reason). You might see a variety of buttons (amusingly called chicklets). If the site you want to subscribe to uses FeedBurner to aid in the subscription process (like Copyblogger and many other popular sites), you'll likely see the standard RSS icon, which takes you to a page that will give you an array of the most popular feed readers so you can select yours, and you'll go from there. This is the new standard RSS icon:

Sometimes there will be a chicklet for your particular reader right on the blog that will take you to the appropriate subscription page. You may see these (among others):

Finally, you may also see little orange buttons that say XML or RSS. Often these chicklets will take you to a page that looks like code gibberish. In this case, you simply cut and paste the page URL from your browser window and manually paste it into your feed reader subscription function. Hopefully this last method will soon disappear, never to be seen again.

In summary: RSS solves BIG problems.

So there you have it. RSS is being adopted at a phenomenal rate, because it's a good thing for everyone. The benefit to readers is obvious. And it's good for publishers too, because we want to make sure that people feel comfortable subscribing, and that our message is not nuked by an overzealous spam filter.

PS. Thanks to Copyblogger for a helping hand with this tutorial! And if you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed right here!

Or by clicking on our chicklet below:

It really is that simple!

Did you see our last blog about The Royal Welsh Show?

Did you see our 'movie' blog featuring Prince Charles?

Next week we leave for the Lowther Driving Trials. This should be a great event to cover.

Have a look at last year's blog - Lowther Driving Trials 2007. It gives an idea of just what a great event this is!

And finally dont forget to have a look at our fantastic Silver Daisy Jewellery collection and the great new Diamond Wedding Rings we have to offer!

Welsh Cobs & The Royal Welsh Show 2008

2008-07-25T13:23:00.068+01:00

“Frankfurt approach this is Aer Lingus Three .. Two .. Nine at Flight level Three .. Five .. Zero..”

Carolin was already aware of the incoming Boeing 747 which had appeared moments before on her radar screen at Frankfurt airport. Responding politely, in perfect English, she said:

“Good morning Aer Lingus Three .. Two .. Nine.”

She monitored the Irish airliner as it continued along its approved flight path - along with five other approaching aircraft - and then spoke with authority into her VHF radio:

“Aer Lingus 329 descend to altitude 2500 feet, QNH .. One ..Zero .. One .. Five.”

What, you may ask, has this conversation between an air traffic controller in Frankfurt and a Boeing 747 pilot got to do with the Royal Welsh Show?

Allow me to explain.

Last week Wendy and I were attending Europe’s largest agricultural show with more than 230,000 visitors. The Royal Welsh Show is held in Builth Wells and we, alongside other trade exhibitors, were showing our new silver and gold jewellery designs for the 2008 season - including the popular silver and gold daisy jewellery collection!

Our Guest House accommodation in Wales is something quite extra-ordinary. Each morning, at the crack of dawn, we are treated to one of Biddy William's famous full 'Welsh' breakfasts. In the evening there is always a delicious roast dinner served once we return from the Show at 8.30pm sharp! We all sit around a large 18th Century oak dining table and share experiences with the other guests who have come to attend the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd. This year two German air traffic controllers, Carolin and Stefan Klose, had flown to Wales from Frankfurt and booked into the same Guest House - a small Grade II listed cottage in a picturesque valley not far from the Showgrounds. We all immediately became firm friends and Carolin, also a semi-professional photographer, kindly agreed to provide the pictures for this our ‘Royal Welsh’ blog.

Princess Anne opens The Royal Welsh Show 2008

Carolin owns a Welsh Cob stallion called “Old Radnor” and she and Stefan had come to see the famous Welsh Cob Pony competitions held every year at this world renowned event. One of the most stunning spectacles at the show is undoubtedly the running of the Section D Welsh Cob Stallions on the Wednesday afternoon. This attracts huge numbers and the noise from the crowds is matched only by the most excited football fans at a top international game! This is partly down to their enthusiasm for these very special horses and partly as an attempt to actually influence the judge who must make the difficult decision of declaring a very highly prized winner!

This year’s event was judged by the Synod stud breeder Doreen Jones of Gellihen Farm who, along with her husband Cerdin, was also staying at our Guest House ... making our Tuesday evening roast dinner all the more interesting! This appointment is a once in a lifetime honour and one that Doreen was taking very seriously indeed. The winning Stallion can instantly become a

priceless asset as far as future stud fees are concerned! The judge must make a completely impartial and 'objective' decision based on the criteria laid down by the British Show Horse Association. We enjoyed discussing the enormity of the task that lay ahead of Doreen the following day!

Apparently all sections of the Welsh pony and Welsh cob competitions demand horses that are sure-footed with sound feet, dense bone, and that display very hardy characteristics. The ponies should also have a well-laid back shoulder, deep chest, short back, well-sprung rib cage and strong hindquarters. Their legs should be “clean" with good bone, short cannons and correct hocks. Indeed they must exhibit the substance, stamina and soundness of their ancestral bloodstock!

DROGEDA ‘Stormy Tempest‘, a beautiful chestnut displaying lively action and striking beauty in equal measure, was finally named the Stallion Champion Cob by our recent acquaintance, Doreen. It took more than an hour of careful studying of nearly fifty fabulous entries, and a whittling down to an impressive shortlist, before she could be sure. And the George Prince of Wales Perpetual Cup went to junior mare, Trevallion Racheal’s Miracle, a glossy-coated and spirited bay, with quite unusual markings.

DROGEDA ‘Stormy Tempest' - Champion Cob 2008

I am pleased to say that our display of silver and gold jewellery attracted almost as much attention as the famous Welsh Cobs! We were happy to see our regular customers, who have been enthusiastically faithful to us over the past twelve years, at this event. We were delighted to have assisted with two romantic engagements at our stand too and we will be making very special diamond engagement rings for these happy couples!

I must, of course, thank Carolyn Klose for her photographic contributions which have made this blog a really special one. She and Steffan are now on their way back to Frankfurt and I leave them with the rest of my fictitious recording taken from Frankfurt radar control to the approaching Irish 747 jet:

"Aer Lingus Three .. Two .. Nine, you have traffic, a Fokker at one o'clock, two miles, Eastbound," Carolin warned the incoming jet.

The Aer Lingus pilot quickly responded:

"Frankfurt approach .... I've always wanted to say this... I've got the little Fokker in sight!"

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Photos by Carolin Klose for
Paul Wright Jewellery

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Kent County Show 2008

2008-07-14T10:40:00.019+01:00

The Kent County Show is the largest outdoor event held in the County and this year saw a fantastic extravaganza of competitions and performances that attracted literally thousands of visitors. One of the main attractions was undoubtedly The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers who gave us splendid performances in the main arena over the three days ... many of us remember seeing them at last year’s first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium.

Also new this year was the larger Countryside Area that featured Fly-fishing, Ferret Racing, Birds of Prey, Otters, Hounds and other countryside pursuits such as working Gun Dogs. This year saw a greater number of entries in livestock featuring Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, Llamas, Alpacas, Rabbits ... and the welcome return of the Donkey classes on the Sunday!

Titan the Robot returned and once again drew huge crowds wherever he went around the Showground. At an imposing 8 feet tall, he amazed everyone with his singing abilities and flattering comments ... However I think he may have also turned one or two little ones to tears.

The traditional mix of shopping trade-stands seemed to have increased this year. It always amazes me that one can buy almost anything at this show whether it be a porche, a tractor, a holiday, fashionable jewellery or clothing or even extra tuition in mathematics for a struggling ten year old!

Paul Wright Jewellery was once again a popular attraction within the Rural Crafts shopping marquee and the good folk of county Kent were certainly impressed with the new silver daisy jewellery collection not to mention the new range range of diamond wedding rings. Many of the visitors to our stand enthusiastically entered our free prize draw in the hope of winning £50 of designer jewellery on 15 September. If you missed the chance simply log onto the website and send us your name and email address through the contact page and you'll automatically be entered.

The Extra Tuition Centre

This year I met an inspirational educationalist at the Kent Show who was promoting the 'Extra Tuition Centre' based in Gravesend with centres located throughout the county and employing over 100 committed teachers. His name is Shaun Drury. He made me think about the basic skills and abilities we all need to lead successful lives in our chosen professions. A child's education is paramount and weaknesses in any area of their learning can be detrimental in later life.

Let me put this in context. As a jewellery designer I naturally have a talent for art and design which is undoubtedly required to conceptualise and create aesthetically pleasing silver and gold jewellery. However it is also necessary to have mathematical abilities in order to accurately measure and calculate each detailed design in order to ultimately created the original concept. Costing and pricing the jewellery involves a whole range of basic skills and abilities that need to be understood and mastered. Then there is the necessity to be able to use language effectively in order to sell the product and to handle customer enquiries both verbal and written. Yes there is no doubt in order to be a successful jeweller one needs to be more than simply 'good at art and design'.

No matter how good we are at something we will never achieve overall success if we lag behind in other important basic skills. These weaknesses need to be addressed and corrected early on so that, while a child may shine in one particular subject, he or she is still basically competent in all the other necessary skill sets.

I was amazed to learn from Shaun Drury that these weaknesses in a child's education can actually be clearly identified through a series of carefully designed tests and activities that will reveal not only the difficulty but very often the potential cause of that weakness. With this knowledge the Extra Tuition Centre can more fully understand the nature of a child's difficulties and then formulate a series of tailor-made lessons that will correct the fault, possibly over a period as short as just six weeks!

What really impressed me about The Extra Tuition Centre was their progressive approach to education. A very substantial and ongoing investment has been made in modern educational techniques and the use of computer technology that is quite simply years ahead of its time. There is no doubt that many hundreds of children in Kent have already made advances in their education through the help of the 'Extra Tuition Centre' and I look forward to seeing this highly effective approach being rolled out through the United Kingdom in the coming years.

My impression is that no one will stop Shaun Drury's courageous mission - he is a teacher to be reckoned with!

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Diamond Wedding Rings
Diamond Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings and Diamond Wedding Rings. You choose the diamond quality and size and we'll make a diamond wedding ring or diamond engagement ring to be proud of.
Diamond Stud Earrings
A wide range of Diamond Stud Earrings set in yellow or white gold, platinum or silver. Our Diamond Stud Earrings have the very best diamonds. Take a look at our range of Diamond Stud Earrings set in gold, platinum or silver.
Silver Daisy Jewellery
A unique range of handmade silver daisy jewellery to include daisy necklaces, daisy pendants, daisy earrings, daisy bracelets and daisy bangles too!
Handmade Silver Jewellery
Handmade silver earrings, handmade silver necklaces and handmade silver bracelets and silver bangles. Our handmade silver jewellery is the best available with great new silver jewellery designs.
Pearl Stud Earrings
Specialising in cultured pearl stud earrings, pearl necklaces and cultured pearl jewellery of every description. We have Akoya pearl stud earrings, Fresh Water pearl stud earrings and Tahitian pearl stud earrings too.
Handmade Gold Jewellery
Handmade gold earrings, handmade gold necklaces and handmade gold bracelets and gold bangles. Our handmade gold jewellery is the best available with great new gold jewellery designs.