My (not so) lovely lady lumps

I have been meaning (after deciding to keep this a strictly business blog) to write a post about my latest feature in Devon Life magazine (read it here) and the exciting news of my first overseas stockist with a big order going out to Bahrain (C&B goes global baby) BUT I have more pressing things that I just need to get off (or, in my dreams on) my rather lacking chest.

I have been obsessing the last few weeks with finding the perfect bikini. What with holiday season fast approaching and the fact that I always struggle with swimwear, I started my search early. There are so many lovely ones around, but unfortunately for me you need some sort of 'lady lumps' to carry them off.

When I was in my early teens and beginning to grow my little bee stings my family called me sprout. Since breast feeding my two delightful (grrrr) children I am surprised that this nick name has not reared its ugly head. Suffice it to say that i am seriously lacking in this department.

We all have one area (at least) that we are not happy with and my little raisins are my problem area. When discussing this with my hairdresser the other day, she told me 'to go topless - its all about confidence'. OHMYGOD! I find it hard enough to get them out at home let alone to the whole world. Advice from my hairdresser should possible by avoided though - in the next breath she suggested I use 'ass-hole cream' on my mouth wrinkles. WTF!

One thing she mentioned though which did make me feel better was that the perfect breast should measure 21cm from the dip at the bottom of the neck to the middle of the nipple. Well, I measure 20cm so things could be worse. If I ever get round to having surgery they will be so high up I might look like Posh!

I think I have now found the best bikini shape for me. The bandeau - so it looks a little like a sports bandage but at least the cups don't stay inverted after being touched. And, before you ask, I shall not be posting any pictures of me in said bikini - haremgate was painful enough!

Now all we need is a little sunshine!

Happy Holidays ♥

All bikinis available here x

Summer Lovin'

Its here, isn't it?

Glorious sunshine all the last week, longer evenings, smells of sausages on the bbq and I even bought a pair of crocs today (not for me I assure you) so summer must have arrived.

My Love Knot Friendship Bracelets (nearly went for Posh Knot but Love Knot won out in the end) are then perfectly timed.

A flash of colour in the form of waxed cotton cord mixed with Chambers & Beau sterling silver personalised charms make for the perfect summer cocktail.

A pretty addition to any outfit. For real impact, choose a few colours from the array available and layer up.

Choose red for passion, olive for peace, pink for love, aqua for tranquility, purple for romance, navy for power, brown for stability, white for purity, green for luck, grey for balance and black for mystery.

Alternatively stack on the charms to make your statement.

Each piece comes with a spare waxed cotton cord and instructions on how to 'do it yourself' creating a friendship bracelet for life.

Prices start at only £35.00

I'm really pleased with how they turned out in the end after the headache they caused. Quite liking the loop closure.

Happy too, to have another item for the men in our lives. Mr C&B is not a jewellery man in any sense (just about keeps his wedding ring on) but even he has been sporting one of these ID versions as a wearer trial. I think he will be keeping it for good!

A good option for a Father's Day gift?

Available to order now from the eboutique for delivery beginning of May. Pre-order yours before 1st May using discount code 'welovesummer' and receive 10% off.

♥♥♥

Fame At Last?

Er not quite, but after 35 years (shhhh) I have finally made it into the local paper. Here I am heading up the business pages of The Western Morning News.

You go girlfriend!

Can't believe they took the shot from my bad side. Will remedy that for my next appearance......

Some coverage as well from Spain's El Mundo national paper. Not sure what it says exactly but am sure it is all good. The orders that have come in from Spain since have been slightly tricky - I seem to recall getting kicked out of Spanish classes in sixth form!

And, some more PR in the form of a regional glossy.

The only other topic featuring heavily in the C&B world at present is the dreaded friendship bracelet. How could something so simple create so much stress?

They have today however gone off to London for photography FOR THE SECOND TIME!!

(nothing to do with my photographers skills but my current inability to make a decision).

Hopefully they will be available in all their gorgeous colourful glory from the eboutique by this time next week.

Prices starting from £35 which will include a spare cord and instructions on how to do it yourself for when you fancy a new colour.

Watch this space

xxx

Sleepless Nights

(no, not over the Harem pants - see previous post)!

This week I have been trawling the internet for suppliers of rattail (lets call it satin cord - sounds so much nicer doesn't it).

I finally found a good quality supplier who sell on a wholesale basis and samples arrived the next day.

Such lovely vibrant colours - perfect for the summer months no?

Then I started working on the little friendship bracelets that i will hopefully add to the shop in a couple of weeks time.

.

An ID bar to be personalised Chambers & Beau stylie, one of my heart charms and the C&B logo tag.

Do I add a coloured stone too or is this overkill?

Who would have known that I could lose sleep over slipknots (the little feckers (slip knots) have been driving me insane, but I have finally got the hang of it).

So, what do you think of them - a cute colourful addition to the range?

If satin cord bracelets are good enough for Cartier they are certainly good enough for Chambers & Beau.

A final thought - what to call them. Friendship bracelet is a bit naff isn't it?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated x

Huge apologies for the terrible, terrible photography. Blame Iphone. You may have noticed that I have been cameraless for a good 6 months. My writing is not the best (no seriously), I am all about the pictures so blogging has been a bit tricky. It will eventually come back from Olympus and i will have to come up with another excuse for my poor blogging habits!

TGIF (nearly) - Happy weekend peeps ♥

Can't touch this!

Yesterday I had a lovely few hours to myself to hit the shops. I was full of it when I came home with my new purchases. Mr C&B was not quite so pleased.

When I showed him my new beige, but lets call them mink, harem trousers, aka MC Hammer pants or elephants arse trousers (as he has now renamed them) he told me had never seen me wear anything so vile.

They are the most comfortable thing ever and there I was thinking they looked pretty sweet.

Tell me, have I lost my way in the style stakes or should I wear them and be proud?

Will the elephants arse trousers go back to Topshop?

You decide!

Marisa - you do not need to comment - I can hear you laughing already!

Happy Mother's Day......

....... to me!

Bloody hard work being a mum right?

What a surprise that turned out to be.

Have had the perfect day with the whole family and now wondering if I can finish it off in perfect style by gifting myself one of these swatch watches.

Who would have thought that swatch would become so cool again.

I can't decide between the black and brown....

..... oh, and I do already have the gold.

Like I said, it is hard work.

Surely I deserve it?

Hope you all had lovely days ♥

Highs & Lows

At the start of this week I was unceremoniously dumped by one of my stockists. All because I refused to go into one of their shops. This refusal was due to the fact that I already sell in a far superior jewellery gallery in the same town but also because this shop sells modern, bought off the shelf Thai style jewellery (they call it designer) that does not sit so well with my 'handcrafted with love' Chambers & Beau.

They were very nasty to me and although I had been desperate to stop selling with them for some time, it still left a horrible taste in my mouth (I am not so good with confrontation)! She told me (despite the day previous desperately trying to convince me to sell in their other store) that 'they had decided to drop Chambers & Beau as the quality was not up to scratch and not good enough for their designer stores'.

Hmmmmm!

Then last night I was having a little look at the website of the company I designed for, for nearly a decade. I occasionally have a little look just to see if they are producing anything as good since I left (but of course not) and to check that they are not doing anything similar to me.

Well, surprise, surprise. They have just launched a collection of engravable jewellery, personalised by you. Hearts and discs and little charms which are laser etched with words of your choice.

Now, I am well aware that I didn't come up with this concept and that lots of people are doing similar stuff but surely this is a little blatant.

I am feeling somewhat cross and wondering how small businesses can ever survive when the biggies come along with their £100,000 advertising campaigns and jump on the bandwagon.

Fortunately their collection is SHITE (she shouts at the top of her voice). I am desperately fighting the overwhelming urge to disclose these nasties but that would not be nice and nice is something I do rather well....

B A S T A R D S

(sorry mum for my language)

and

B R E A T H E

Happily this bad news has been followed by a small flurry of press and lovely testimonials.

My cufflinks for city slickers in Square Mile magazine.

Acceptance by the fash pack (maybe) in Grazia.

Cufflinks in Wedding Venues magazine.
(I also designed the ones below for someone else - cosmic)


There is no honour in this game, but I am hopeful that the personal service as well as the product will help me to stand out in the crowd. x