Caroline Cowen Jewellery

Breakfast time...

2011-02-08T02:45:00.000-08:00

I had cake for brekkie today, I made this yummy pineapple upside down cake for pudding last night and despite the indigestion somehow managed to force some more down this morning.

I remember having this a lot when I was a child, my grandmother used to make it when we went round for sunday lunch. I only remembered after I'd finished cooking it but I think she used to cook it on a gas hob for a while before putting it in the oven to make the sugar on the bottom caramelise more.

I got this recipe from bbc good food, but I doubled the quantity for the cake bit, and for the bottom I tripled the quantity for extra sugary niceness and then cooked it for about 45 minutes, I'm not sure exactly how long, took it out when I stuck a knife in the middle and it came out without and gooey cake mix on.

It's a great recipe, and it's actually very cheap to make because you can use tinned pineapples and there aren't any special ingredients, mostly just normal cupboard stuff. It's also great because it gives me an excuse to finish the eating the pot of glace cherries...

Social networking..

2011-02-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

For a while now I've been wondering about the possibilities of social networking for promoting my jewellery, the big attraction is that it's free, the downside is I'm not entirely sure how to do it. Should I admit that? Probably not! Anyway I have opened a twitter account, you can follow me here.. http://twitter.com/caroline_cowen

I have also been trying to improve my blog, you may notice there's a little etsy shop preview on the right hand side. Have been getting some good tips from this website here... http://www.craftbloguk.blogspot.com/

And on a totally unrelated subject, there are currently plans afoot in the government to sell off forests to private companies, there's a petition here to try to stop this from happening. If you are interested it's well worth a look (and a signature) http://www.38degrees.org.uk/

A very belated happy new year!

2011-01-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

It seems a little silly saying happy new year on the 28th of January..! I have been a bit bad and neglected the blog this month.

Christmas was lovely, lots of nice food, drink, family and sledging! I loved the snow, so much fun! Working from home it didn't really affect me too much, and fortunately all of my Christmas orders made it to their recipients on time.

Now really sure what I've been doing since Christmas. Working on some new designs and getting ready to move house mostly, oh and eating a disgusting amount of Maltester bunnies. They are SO good, this happened last year too, think it's probably a good thing they are only around for a few months before easter!

Here's a sneaky peak at some of the new pieces, I'll be sorting out my online shop soon and putting the new stock on.

Really wish I had a better camera though, have my eye on a digital SLR, even if I did buy one I wouldn't have a clue how to use it!

Oooh and I've also been doing some more stone setting and ring making, will post some more pics of that too. Hope you have a good weekend!

Craft Fair and Christmas Presents

2010-12-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

Had a busy few weeks with Christmas orders and finding a new house, moving to a gorgeous little cottage in Tring in the new year. It's a lovely little town and the house is brilliant, it has a log burner which was a massive selling point as it's been so cold and miserable lately!

I tested out my new display stand at a craft fair in St Albans on Sunday...

The little tree earring stands looked great but were a little bit too low down to see properly so will be having a little re-think about the layout.

I have just been treated to an amazing early Christmas pressie, I have wanted one of these for such a long time.

If you know me then you'll know how much I love both making and eating cake, so this is the perfect present, can't wait for it to arrive! It does all sorts of stuff, makes bread, mixes up cake, you can use it to make pasta, stuff sausages.. and mostly importantly its really pretty, green and shiny.

24 days, 3 hours, 41 minutes and 42 seconds

2010-11-30T12:17:00.000-08:00

Until Christmas!

I've had a really busy week with lots of lovely Christmas orders from all over the world - thank you!

Also sent some work to the Arcadia Gallery in Cambridge, here's a little preview of what I sent..

I'm currently slightly desperately awaiting the arrival of an early Christmas present to myself. I bought myself a rolling mill. For those who don't make jewellery, a rolling mill is used to imprint pattern and texture onto metals and lots of other things. They are absolutely brilliant, but on the downside they are horribly expensive, so everyone else will be getting homemade Christmas pressies this year..! It was due to arrive today, but due to 'adverse weather' it's been sent back to the depot, so disappointed, we had less than an inch of snow and it was gone by lunchtime.

On the plus side my lovely new business cards arrived today, and I have been working on treasures for a Christmas Market I'm taking part in on the 12th of December. It's in St Albans town hall just in case you fancy popping in to say hello.

Online Shop is now open...

2010-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely people,

after lots of hard work my online shop is now open. I will be updating with new work each week, but if you can't find what you're looking for please don't hesitate to get in touch as I am always happy to customise work and take commissions.

Here are a few pieces I have been working on this week... (all of which are available from my online shop)

Last guaranteed order date for UK Christmas postage is 15th of December, it may still be possible to get your order to you in time if you order after this date, but please contact me first. Please allow extra time if you live in Scotland, Highlands or Ireland. For details of postage outside of UK please email me for quotes and timing.

Busy Busy..

2010-11-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

My work will soon be available to purchase from the lovely Arcadia gallery in Cambridge - yay!

I have also been making a display stand for a Christmas Crafts Fair I am taking part in in December.. at St Albans Town Hall on Sunday the 12th of December from 12-4, please come along and say hello, it's free to get in and there will be lots of other things for sale too, and Saturday is market day which means there will be the usual array of amazing cakes for sale.

It's quite a long way off being finished, but these are some trees I made at the weekend, I'm going to hang the jewellery from them. Photo's a bit blurry but you get the idea..

Treasure..

2010-11-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

I am currently busying away working on my new online shop which will be open very shortly, with an introductory discount for Christmas.

I have also found the time to do a little internet window shopping, look what I found. I love them! If anyone's wondering what to get me for Christmas...

Leafy cable ties, how good is that! They are made by Lufdesign.

Time to do some real work now...

Welcome to my blog!

2010-11-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

I've been meaning to get this up and running for ages now.. this blog is for me to update you on my latest news, design, inspirations and any other little treasures I have found.

I've been really busy the last few weeks making stock for Christmas exhibitions. Just sent off a batch to the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford, I was SO excited when they got in touch because their Chrsitmas exhibition is running alongside an exhibition for the very talented Rob Ryan whose work I am a massive fan of.

Here is a little sneak preview of some of the work I made for the exhbition.... (you can also order these items directly from me)