Got another call from Big Brother just before the eliminations on Friday. Apparently they’re planning a dress-to-the-nines event next week and they requested some statement pieces for Josie and Corin.

Josie’s going to be wearing a long, black dress, so one of the obvious choices just had to be the Crystal Aphrodisiac.  It’s big!  It’s bold! It’s wonderfully camera-friendly – a real Red Carpet number that grabs every available ray of light and dazzles for England!

Sadly, Corin didn’t make it to the final, so the Pink Paradiso is back in its drawer.

On a buying trip to Central London last week, I was struck by two opposite-end-of-the-pole fashion statements. Shorts cut so short that acres of prime multi-racial derrieres assaulted one’s visual apparatus, severely testing the laws of indecent exposure. Great for Kylie clones, but not quite so attractive on the majority of mortals who like it or lump it (!) appeared to be walking testaments to the fact that 9 out of 10 women have fallen foul of the cellulite pandemic! And at the other end of the fashion spectrum, pavement-skimming maxi dresses were looking cool-ish on most, fool-ish on the few who hadn’t quite worked out that the long, lean silhouette is infinitely preferable to the patterned tent look. But hey, either way, the good news for madaboutjewellery.com was that, long or short, they were all accessorised with big, bold jewellery.  Phat bangles.  Big necklaces.  Huge dangling earrings.  Which was fantastic, because all those items and more, were on my shopping list and are now on the website!

It’s always exciting when a film like Sex and the City 2 is released, as headlines about the doom and gloom of global finance and the general depressed state of the nation are temporarily suspended, whilst the media and the hoards of frenzied fashionistas turn their attention to spotting new trends in fashion and jewellery.

As far as the latter is concerned, one piece has so far emerged as THE must-have item of SATC2.  The Four Leaf Clover Pendant, sported by Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie, and designed by the show’s stylist, Patricia Field.

Whilst on a mission to source something similar that would tick all the boxes with our loyal and dedicated customers, I came across countless cheap versions that might well do it for our youth market, but would leave our slightly more discerning customers decidedly underwhelmed.  It was then that I came across something rather special. Something with a much longer lifespan than SATC2.  Something that not only looks divine, but carries all the luck of the genuine article, because it IS the genuine article!!!

A real live four leaf clover, hand-picked at dawn, checked for imperfections and preserved forever by a coating of a copper-based solution that not only protects the leaves, but allows them to be coated in very shiny 24c Gold or 925 Sterling Silver.

Add a Sterling Silver or Gold chain to each mini masterpiece and with a bit of luck, we’re in business and our customers are in line – and hopefully online – for some serious good luck!

PRESIDENT OBAMA LOVES EGG ROLLS
Egg rolling, which symbolised the rolling away of the tomb of Christ, was a popular custom throughout Europe and is still played today in many countries. The Washington Easter Egg Roll dates from at least 1872 and has become an annual event held in the grounds of the White House. The children and grandchildren of the American President traditionally take part.

THE MAGICAL POWER OF AN EGG
In pagan times the egg was believed to have special powers. It was buried under the foundations of buildings to ward off evil and brides stepped on an egg before crossing the threshold of their new home. To be given an egg was to wish many children upon the recipient.

A NON-CHRISTIAN  MEANING FOR THE HOT CROSS BUN
At the feast of Eostre, the Saxon fertility goddess -  which was an ox – was sacrificed. Its crossed horns, which were carved into the bread, became a symbol of the season. The word ‘bun’ derives from the Saxon word ‘boun’ meaning ‘sacred ox’.

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LILIES AT EASTER?
Because of its shape, the lily was associated with the reproductive organs and therefore with fertility.

WHY DO WE LIGHT CANDLES AT EASTER?
The pagans would light bonfires to welcome the rebirth of the sun God. Christians celebrate the Easter Vigil service, held on the Saturday evening between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, by lighting the Paschal candle.

I don’t know about your local supermarket, but at mine has been transformed into a choc fest, with discounted Easter Eggs creating a high and very precarious Guard of Honour on either side of the entrance. Yes. It’s that time of year again when there’s another brilliant excuse to move-on-up a dress size in just 24 hours, as you break into everything from Belgian and Thornton versions to Cadbury’s mini eggs.

So what’s the origin of Easter Egg?
Historians have traced the origin of the word “Easter” to the Scandinavian word ‘Ostra’ and the German ‘Ostern’ or ‘Eastre’.   Both are derived from the names of mythological goddesses of spring and fertility, who are celebrated at the Spring Equinox, when the length of day and night are equal.  Throughout history, many ancient cultures celebrated this as a time of birth and renewal, following the darkness of the long winter.
Which came first the Easter Bunny or the Easter Egg?
The earthly symbol for both Spring Goddesses was the rabbit, the symbol of new life and it is thought that the legend of the Easter Bunny originated in Germany and spread to the New World in the 17th century. Children believed the Easter Bunny would leave them coloured eggs if they were good and left out their Easter bonnets and caps for the gifts.

Egg Art
In England, Easter eggs have been coloured and decorated from earliest times. Indeed, in Edward I’s household accounts for 1307 there is an entry of:

“18 pence for 450 eggs to be boiled and dyed or covered with gold leaf and distributed to the Royal household”.

By the 18th century, it had become fashionable to hide small gifts in pasteboard or papier-maché eggs.  By the 19th century cardboard eggs covered with silk, lace or velvet and fastened with ribbon were fashionable. And in later years, craftsmen made artificial eggs of silver and gold, ivory or porcelain, often inlaid with jewels.
Of course, the ultimate Easter egg-shaped gifts have to be the fabulous be-jewelled creations by Carl Fabergé.  The first, featuring a small gold egg in an outside shell of platinum and enamel was made in 1883 as an Easter gift for Tsar Alexander to give to his wife, the Empress Marie of Russia.  Today, these superb creations are worth millions and are precious museum pieces.

Old habits dye hard!
If you think all this dyeing and painting is a thing of the past, think again.  In Europe today the old art of decorating the real egg is still very much alive, with many eggs dyed red to symbolise Christ’s blood.

The chocolate Easter egg is born
The modern chocolate Easter egg owes its existence to the two greatest developments in the history of chocolate. One. The invention by the Dutch inventor, Van Houten in 1828 of a press for separating cocoa butter from the cocoa bean.  And two, the introduction of pure cocoa by Cadbury Brothers in 1866.  The earliest Cadbury chocolate eggs were made of ‘dark’ chocolate with a plain smooth surface and were filled with dragees. The earliest ‘decorated eggs’ were plain shells enhanced by chocolate piping and marzipan flowers.

By 1893, with decorative skills vastly improved, there were no less than 19 different lines on the Cadbury Brothers UK Easter list, with many of Richard Cadbury’s designs based on French, Dutch and German originals adapted to Victorian tastes. The  “crocodile” finish, which breaks up the smooth surface, came from Germany and was instantly adopted by chocolate manufacturers, as by breaking up the smooth surface, it disguises minor imperfections

The launch in 1905 of the famous Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate made a major contribution to the Easter egg market, converting most consumers to milk chocolate  and turning Easter eggs into seasonal best sellers.

Now you’ve got the facts, you can enjoy your choc fest all the more.
Alternatively, for a less fattening Easter Egg, take a hollow chocolate egg and add any one of our 2,000 pieces of jewellery.  Or, for a non-fattening Easter Egg, place the jewellery in a decorative cardboard or plastic egg.

It must be Spring, because surprise! surprise! the fashion industry is presenting a flurry of clothes in pastels – or past-elles – as the new pronounciation goes!  For those who’ve just beamed down from Planet Zog and anyone not familiar with the annual coming of Spring, it is always heralded by a glut of clothes in pastelles and beige. However, this year boring beige and pastelles have been upstaged by something slightly different.

New season nudes.  Or to be more precise, a whole host of soft and stylish hues from Palest Pink to delicate Shell Pink. These new nudes herald a long-awaited return to understated, feminine luxe. Fabric is key to the sex appeal factor of this barely-there trend, with manufacturers producing fabulous collections in lace, fluid silks and butter soft leather.  To get a grip on this trend, think underwear as outerwear.

From a jewellery point of view, the world’s your oyster as you get to choose whether to go big, bold and OTT, with large diamante and jet necklaces, big bracelets and long dangling earrings helping you to dress to thrill.  Or demure and understated, in a small cross or pearl pendant kinda way

Happily, the new nudes are to die-for when mixed with the new season’s fave rave denim, partnered with more denim.  Nudes also look brilliant teamed with black and white, which is just peachey since rumour has it that the new colour for Summer – no-Heavens-to-Betsy-surely-not – is white!

So it’s rude not to get into the nude mood.

There are certain things in life that are better bigger.  Houses.  Diamonds. And salaries, to name but three.

And right now, fashion dictates that jewellery also falls into this category.

Ever mindful of what’s en vogue, MAJ brings you bold bangles, ravishing rings and rhinestone necklaces, drop-dead dazzling earrings and  big, bold, beautiful brooches that take you right back to the Court of Queen Elizabeth I where the ladies of the day were decidedly  “living it large” jewellery-wise before the phrase was even invented!

Sadly, our big beauties don’t contain diamonds, rubies, sapphires and the like but hey, look on the bright side, you can wear them with jackets, jeans, crops and tops.  You don’t have to squeeze into a crinoline!

It’s that time of year again when, as buyer, I’m looking for stocking fillers and novelty products.  It’s not normally a problem because I usually restrict myself to jewellery items.  But this year, I’ve stepped outside the box and it’s caused shock and dissension in the ranks.  The purists feel I should stick to what we do best – jewellery.  But I’ve taken a bit of a shine to some rather cute money boxes, mugs and oil burners – incense not paraffin, I hasten to add!  So I’m out on the proverbial limb!

Having examined my motives for going against the grain, I think my attraction to the money boxes was down to the fact that throughout the year, there’s been a relentless barrage of talk about recession. Since the banks and bankers are largely to blame for the crisis and since Gordon’s adamant that we all need to be doing a little more saving and a lot less spending next year, the idea of giving a gift that encouraged both, seemed a no-brainer!

So for richer or poorer, the website now has a Novelty section with three Love Pigs, three Cash Cows, Lady Marmalade and Spot the Dog money boxes.

It also has four fab VW Camper Van Mugs and a Psychedelic Flower Power version.  There was no deep or meaningful reason behind this choice, I just loved them and thought the public would, too!

As for the Angel Oil Burners, of which there are three designs, each with three angels standing around a T-light, supporting the glass dish containing the oil, I just couldn’t stop thinking that “Hark The Herald Angels Sing”, rhymed rather well with, “Love the perfume on this Ring”.   Probably too sacrilegious for public consumption, but hey, it made the purists smile and they OK’d the novelty budget!

We already had traditional tiaras, whole sections of combs and slides, but nothing resembling “a bit on the side”! Time to source a few products, set up a brand new section. Seize the moment, so to speak.
I wasn’t the only one to spot a potential trend. By mid-morning on Monday, several mags and countless customers had called in to see if we had anything similar, at a price to suit the ordinary Geordie in the street and not just their celebrity songbird.. Working against the clock (and postal workers!) we managed to create a range of products – which we’ve called “Sideshows” – phototograph them, write about them and send out a missive to the database.

Of course, whether they catch on – or not – is in the lap of the Gods! The Greek Gods! Yassus Zeus!