Tiara King's Blog: Jewel Divas Style, page 80

BOOK STYLE: Carers Need Help and Support Too

Being a carer means I can’t run my business or blog 24/7 as some people do. Those who run their blogs as businesses seem to be online all day every day, posting links to various websites and pages, clothes or accessories, all as a part of their business to bring in followers and likers.

I can’t do that. Yes, there have been days where I’m online all day setting up blog posts, gotta love scheduling, getting a few weeks worth sorted, going through Facebook and other social media, catching up on what’s been posted by others that I follow, but I can’t spend all day everyday on just the one business because I run two businesses.

On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays I’m on my writing blog and sites. On Tuesday, Thursday and a few hours on Saturday afternoon, I’m here on my style site.

Once mum is settled I’m on until lunchtime around 1:30 or 2 pm. I’m generally done by then but some days I have housework so I thank God for scheduling as that allows me the mornings to do stuff. Appointments are next. Every two weeks I have the chiro, and every month mum has doctors so I either get my work done in the morning or the afternoon.

I don’t get time off, unless you include a few hours on some afternoons or evenings where I have nothing to do. I don’t get holidays, or days to go off shopping for myself. I do the normal food shopping on Saturdays and nothing else unless it’s the same day as appointments. 

I don’t get a cut off time, some nights I work late. I don’t get time out from caring but I have to take time out from social media. I’m not overly active on it and am finding it to be overwhelming. Since social media itself is not my business and just bi-products of my actual businesses, writing and jewellery designing, social media is no longer overly important. I don’t have the energy at the end of the day to understand the inner workings of FB, G+, Pinterest or how Instagram could work for me or spend all day on it conversing, sorry folks. I’m tired, and over it.

Having said all that, I did manage to write four non-fiction books and a new novel over the last year. Two under my real name of Tiara King, How To Be A Jewel Diva: Tips and Tricks to Buying, Wearing and Caring for your Costume Jewellery and Carers Need Help and Support Too! One Woman’s Personal Journey Through the Sacrifice of Caring. They both took months, at least six each, and now I’m proud to say that Carers Need Help and Support Too! is now in paperback.

Available through Amazon, it’s $9.95 for the paperback and $2.99 for the Kindle. It’s also available through Smashwords in all other e-book formats and they also distribute through to Itunes, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, Kobo and Flipkart to name a few. Other online bookshops will be coming in the future as each gets its distribution through Amazon for paperback.

MY STYLE: WHAT I WORE

OUTFIT
TOP: Millers for $18 on sale
PANTS: Millers $18 on sale
SHOES: Rivers
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Chantilly Lace bracelet stack (left hand), Lovisa earrings and ring (right hand), ebay everything else.

MY PERSONAL COLLECTION: New Yellow, Gold and Gold Multi jewellery

I continually keep getting fabulous bargains and while my shopping list for specific pieces is slowly getting smaller, every time I’m in a store I see goodies to buy.

Earrings: Lovisa $3.33 | Bangle: Lovisa $3.33 | Jewel Divas Gold Banana bracelet stack $3 made with Goldstone, Banana resin, gold stardust and spacer beads.

Multi bead necklace: Lovisa $3.33 | Mask necklace: eBay $6.95

TRAVEL STYLE: Intrinsic Travel sets

Need to go on holiday or travel the world for a year?

Then Intrinsic passport covers and bag tags are for you. In a variety of colours that you can mix and match to suit your own coloured world, they’re covered in gorgeous patterns and quotes.

Most are available at their store here, or you can buy in a variety of gift shops in Australia and around the world. Check their “where to buy” page for more details.

WANT IT WEDNESDAY: OUTLAW bracelet stack

I thought I’d start some new posts on Wednesday as not only a way to advertise what I have made over the years for sale, but what is currently on sale in my store. Each week will feature a piece and I’ll give some background on what it’s made of and the story behind it.

This week it’s the OUTLAW bracelet stack available here

Years ago when I did the Police Officer sets of earrings and bracelet I had many charms left over, just not enough beads to make extra sets.

Last year, after buying beads for other jewellery, I added up all the charms and made a huge chunky set, consisting of light and dark grey glass pearls, gunmetal silver crystals, yellow opaque beads, black glass beads, and big disco ball beads.

All beads and charms (guns, hand cuffs, police officers and cars, jails and badges) were bought from eBay, all bracelets were made here in Australia, so yes, it is definitely Australian made. 

It’s called OUTLAW because not only do the sets have names, such as Freeze, Gun Shy and Blue Bloods, it made me realise that while I had officer sets, there were no criminals, hence, OUTLAW.

It fits a 6-7 inch wrist because I always make my bracelets to fit my own wrist which is a medium balance and will fit most other people. I use 1mm strong jelly or bead elastic with multiple knots for security.

I find the best way to put elastic bead bracelets on is to simply roll them on so it doesn’t stretch the elastic and they last a lot longer.

I love making things that I can’t buy, and making them big and chunky. The jewellery I make for sale ranges from petite and dainty to huge and chunky, trying to cover all sizes and shapes for girls and women of all sizes and shapes.

I personally prefer lots of bracelets, regardless of size I pile them on. Stacks and bangles, all up my arms. I love jewellery and that’s the way I wear them, as many as possible.

 

STYLE NOTES: Intrinsic journals and notebooks

With only $30 worth of recycled cardboard and a handful of collected quotes, Adèle and Jamie Basheer began crafting inspiring greeting cards at their kitchen table.

The South Australian based couple shared a simple vision to make a positive difference in the world – to touch people’s hearts, inspire and create joy.

And that is how Intrinsic came to be. Gorgeous goodies in all colours and all styles. Notebooks and journals to write you inner most secret thoughts in or to simply keep because they’re so pretty. And they ship internationally!

Visit their store here, their website here, their Facebook page here. 

MY STYLE: WHAT I WORE

OUTFIT
TOP: Kmart many years ago
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Butterfly set (earrings, bead bracelet stack necklace, ring) Ebay green ring and butterfly bangle, op shop green necklace, Lovisa pearl bracelet, Equip aqua green bracelet. Swatch Watch.

MY PERSONAL COLLECTION: Repurposing old jewellery into something new

Months ago I bought this blue necklace from Colette, but, as usual, I haven’t worn it. I knew I wanted a better gold pink and blue set than the one I made about ten years ago out of gorgeous crackle beads so I set about looking for something that would go with the blue necklace.

I found this necklace, yes, I had already pulled it apart before realising I hadn’t taken a picture, for $10 from Lovisa.

I pulled it all apart, remade the bead bracelets with some gold spacers and added a gold bracelet I bought from Lovisa months ago, added a pink ring I bought years ago that very surprisingly goes with the pink necklace and voila, I have a new gold pink and blue set. Although I’m not exactly happy with the earrings so I’m not sure how long they’ll last as is.

That’s the good thing about knowing how to make jewellery, whenever you’re not happy with something you can change it!

BOOK STYLE: Crowns & Tiaras

I thought I’d raid my local library for books about Tiaras. Figured I’d have a look to see whether they’re worth buying considering my name is Tiara and crowns are part of the jewellery ensemble.

Crowns & Tiaras by Kerri Judd and Danyel Montecinos is all about making your own crowns and tiaras from products you’d have around the house, especially if you already make jewellery, or are into arts and crafts. I’ve shown my favourite ones below but especially love the Crown Royale.

MY STYLE: WHAT I WORE

For those who wonder why these Monday style posts are most times only filled with one pic, it’s because I am a 24/7 carer for my mother and am generally home during the week, hence the one outfit post from Saturdays, the one day I get to go out. It’s hard work being a carer, it means you don’t get to have a life, go anywhere, do anything, so, no reason to wear an outfit everyday and chew through clothes just for the sake of these posts. And I’m not into trying on clothes just to take pics either. Some weeks I’m out on Wednesday for my chiro appointment but I usually wear tshirts so no need as you’ve seen them. Or there was the odd dentist for me or doctor appointment for mum, again, few and far between. So, just the one outfit again this week.

TOP: Crossroads for $15
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Aztec Set (earrings Lovisa, necklace re-purposed from Lovisa and ebay necklaces, Jewel Divas bracelet stack right hand), chain store bracelet stack (left hand), and rings.