The Sparkly team have been busy again working on a brand new website. This new venture is aimed at the wedding industry- bloggers, magazines and brides to be. Take a look at our press release below for the juicy details!
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Yes,it's nearly that time of year again, where card shops rub their hands together with glee, women hope that the next ring at the doorbell will be the florist with a beautiful bouquet of roses and men give up all hope of ever buying the perfect gift. But fear not men of Britain-this year will be a breeze with the sparklies guide to the perfect Valentines gift.
If you want to place blame for the stress that every February the 14th brings then it is the fault of Pope Gelasius 1 who first established the special day in 500 AD and named it after a Christian martyr called Valentine.
But more importantly what you want are some fabulous ideas for Valentines gifts and fear not-your wish is the sparklies command.

Jewellery is the perfect gift for Valentines day, you can find something to suit any budget, it looks like you have put thought into your purchase and it will last a lot longer than chocolates or flowers (not to say you can't buy those in addition!)
   A safe bet for a gift that will suit all tastes and budgets would be a pendant, go for a classic pearl or crystal pendant if you are in any doubt of the recipients colour preferences as this will go with anything.
    Earrings are another ideal present idea, to get it right do a bit of undercover work...look at the earrings your loved one wears, are they short studs or long dangly drops? This is a good place to start, although she may love something completely opposite to what she normally wears but just wouldn't buy it herself – sticking to the familiar will guarantee a well received gift. You also have a wide array of colours to choose from, you could choose a colour to match an outfit she likes to wear, her favourite colour or just to match her eyes!
   Bracelets and necklaces are thought to be an expensive option but do come in a range of prices to suit most budgets, the world is your oyster when it comes to styles, materials and colours, again a bit of detective work can pay off when it comes to the style she likes , delicate or chunky, classic or funky, there are styles available to suit any taste.
   Remember, if in doubt about anything to do with your jewellery purchase a reputable jewellery company will always be pleased to give advice on any aspect or even design you a one-off bespoke item of jewellery especially for your loved one.
   Have a great Valentines Day.

Tracey Phillips Bridal Designs Wedding Jewellery

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Us clever sparklies at Tiara Blog have been working very hard to bring you all new designs for 2011. Below you will find a selection of new designs from the Tiara Blog gang to feast your eyes on. With so many talented ladies designing and making new jewellery pieces and head wear we know you'll be spoilt for choice.
Isabella Flower Tiara from Kerry @ Kerry Blu. 
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The Isabella Flower Girl Headband features pretty flowers and swarovski crystals intersperced with diamante.  A stunning little headband for your flower girl or young bridesmaid. Handcrafted on a small headband suitable for flower girls or young bridesmaids (4 inches in diameter) but can be made on an adult size headband on request.
The gorgeous Wildheart collection from Tracey Phillips @ Bridal Designs.
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This beautiful bracelet features the brand new shape from Swarovski-the Wildheart. The heart charm itself measures 12mm in length, the bail is Sterling silver as are all the other findings. Pretty oval shaped Swarovski crystals and 4mm round Swarovski pearls complete the look. £45
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This beautiful necklace features the brand new pendant from Swarovski-the wildheart. The heart itself measures 27mm in length and has a stunning substantial 3d feel to it, the bail is Sterling silver as are all the other findings. Pretty oval shaped Swarovski crystals and 4mm round Swarovski pearls complete the look. £85
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These pretty drop earrings feature the brand new shape from Swarovski-the Wildheart. The hearts measures 12mm in length, the bails are Sterling silver as are all the other findings. Swarovski oval crystals and 4mm Swarovski pearls complete these gorgeous earrings which measure just under 2 inches in length.The earrings come with your choice of post and butterfly or hook ear fastenings £30
Two gorgeous Bridal Necklaces from April Browne @ Crystal Jewels. 
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Natasha Bridal Necklace. 
An elegant pearl and crystal necklace made with Swarovski pearls & the finest marquise Swarovski diamante. Finished with a silver clasp and ball extender chain. Perfect for brides looking for a wedding necklace to make a statement with added sparkle. 

Matching earrings are also available. 
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Ciara Fresh Water Pearl Necklace.
An elegant and classic bridal necklace made with small swarovski clear crystals, ivory fresh water pearls and small swarovsk ivory pearls. With a large flower feature which is worn slightly to one side.
Fresh Water Pearl Necklace From Jane Carter @ Beady Eyes Design
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An exquisite bridal necklace with baroque and round freshwater pearls, Swarovski clear crystals and rock crystals, finished in sterling silver. The clustered effect runs for about 7 inches and Swarovski plain clear crystals complete the remainder of the length around the back for extra sparkle. The necklace is 16 inches long plus a 1 inch central drop and a 2 inch extension chain.
April Browne @ www.crystal-jewels.co.uk
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When it comes to flower girls and younger bridesmaids there are a whole host of hair accessories to choose from including pretty floral headbands, cute hairslides, crystal combs, slides, pins and grips. You can find some beautiful flower girl hair accessories on the high street from places like Accessorize who have some gorgeous diamante slides and clips as well as fabric flowers and jewelled headbands.

Swarovski have a huge array of beautiful crystal colours to choose from that will complement even the most daring colour scheme and made to order items on most bridal jewellery websites can be tailored to your requirements to fit in with your chosen theme. Here I will give you a few ideas of what your flower girls and younger bridesmaids can wear in their hair on your Big Day.
A lot of brides I speak to tell me that their younger bridesmaids and flower girls desperately want to wear a tiara! Although I will always try and accommodate, The one thing I dislike slightly more than seeing flower girls in high heels is flower girls and young bridesmaids wearing the traditional peaked style tiara. I don't think you should go overboard with the accessories for your young ladies, my advice would be leave the tiara to the bride and dress down your bridesmaids with more simple but just as beautiful details.  Alice bands are popular for flower girls and younger bridesmaids as they sit well in the hair and complement most hairstyles. You can buy alice bands in all manner of designs ranging from contemporary crystal studded headbands to satin alice bands or something with a butterfly or floral detail. To fit in with the current trend for all things vintage I have recently designed a flower girl headband with a petite side feature of Swarovski pearls and pretty flowers that is made on a smaller headband to fit flower girls and younger bridesmaids. This is called The Lucia Headband.  These gorgeous little tea rose headbands from Tantrums and Tiaras are also perfect for your little flower girls and can be made in a whole host of colours.
As an alternative, cute flower hair pins can look lovely dotted in a bun or up-do, I love these beaded flower hair pins by Crystal Jewels and these rose pins from Rose Garden Accessories. The gorgeous flower girl in the picture below is wearing one of my crystal hair pins in the side of her hair - such a cutie!
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What your flower girls carry down in their hands is also something to consider. What I did when I got married was opted for a miniature replica of my bouquet for my two eleven year old bridesmaids to carry (see the picture below) and that worked really well. You can also have a small bouquet made of crystals like this crystal posy from Starstruck Tiara. For very young flower girls a beautifully decorated basket filled with rose petals or a crystal studded flower girl wand is also an option.
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Crystal posy from Starstruck DEsigns.
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Two young bridesmaids with flower and organza posies and butterfly headbands.
Finding thank you gifts for your flower girls has never been easier, from cute crystal pendants to personalised bracelets and keepsakes. Here are a few ideas for your flower girl gifts.
Kerry Brearley
http://www.kerryblu.co.uk
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Feathers are the marmite of the bridal industry, something you either love or hate to wear and if you talk to anybody that makes bridal headpieces, they’ll tell you that is the same when it comes to making them!  You may wonder why that is.  Well put very simply, feathers don’t always behave the way you would like to and can be rather unpredictable which doesn’t make them an accessory designer’s friend!  And of course, too many feathers in a headpiece can also make you look like you’ve popped your favourite duster in your hair.  So what are the options with feathers and why are they more popular?

 Let’s start with the 1920s.  A lot of people think that feathers in the 1920s were stuck up from your forehead and kept on with some forehead band; however they couldn’t be more wrong.  The 1920s decadent look with feathers had more jewels and fantastic wavy and light ostrich feathers, very much like these pieces shown below in some real life weddings.  The piece on the left was a very special bespoke creation by Tantrums and Tiaras.
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The other bridal trend involving feathers is the smooth hackle feathers mounted together to give a look that wouldn’t be out of place on a Swan Lake production.  The white feathers appear as if they are moulded to the head and if you couple this type of feathers with some 1920-30s inspired sparkles, the bridal look is complete.  Or why not team them up with some bird cage veiling for that 1940s vintage feel.
But of course, we’re seeing this look in general fashion on the high street.  These headbands use lovely vibrant or sophisticated headpieces and are available at a fraction of the price you’d pay for bridal versions of this type of headpiece. Below headpiece is from Dorothy Perkins.
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You may wonder why the bridal headpieces aren’t more in line with those on the High Street.  The reason for that is that on the whole, bridal headpieces are made to order especially for you.  If you’re seeing bridal headpieces at High Street prices, you need to question the quality and where the item was made.

Starstruck designs.
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Moving away from clustered flowers now and on to the other types of feather used in headpieces, let’s have a look at other feather materials.  The most common feather used is the hackle.  It’s very versatile and has a bit of fluff without being too much.  However, if fluff is your thing, you need to be looking for marabou feathers.  If I’m honest, these are the ones that drive me mad the most.  They manage to tickle my nose right at a crucial stage of creation and provide Socks (my cat) with the most entertainment!! 

The biot feather is affectionately known as the ‘stick feather’ due to its spiky appearance in our house, however if you bend or twist that feather, the quill separates and a lovely pattern is formed.  There are so many feather types this blog post hasn’t mentioned but don't worry, I’m saving them for next year.  In the meantime, if you have a question relating to bridal headpieces involving feathers or not, just use the ‘Ask the experts’ tab on our web page and we’ll post an answer for you.

Until next time,
Kelly

www.tantrumsandtiaras.org
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Sterling silver is a beautiful precious metal that will last for generations with proper care. Sterling silver tarnishes when exposed to air, so it is a good idea to keep your jewellery in its original box when not being worn, this will help to slow the tarnishing process. Silver can also react with the natural acids in your skin, some people will find that their jewellery stays clean after a number of wears whilst others will need to clean it after each wear, this is completely normal and is also the reason why the same perfume can smell totally different on two people, we all have differing amounts of these natural chemicals.
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If your jewellery does tarnish the easiest way to clean it is with a silver polishing cloth, these soft cloths are impregnated with a gentle cleaning agent, just rub the cloth over your jewellery to restore the shine. It is a good idea to put a piece of this cloth in the box with your jewellery if it is being stored for a long time before your wedding day.
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If your jewellery has been neglected and needs a more thorough clean then a liquid cleaner will clean the silver more thoroughly. Make sure you read the instructions carefully, the cleaners vary in strength and if you leave your jewellery in some of them for too long or don't rinse the jewellery carefully after you can cause damage. Be extra careful if your jewellery has stones or pearls, Swarovski crystals and pearls are fine in these liquid cleaners but real pearls, opals and similar stones can be porous so should not be immersed in liquid.
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Always put on your jewellery after spraying hairspray or perfume, this prevents the mist settling on the crystals and dulling their shine and also prevents the chemicals tarnishing your silver.

Always remove your jewellery before using any product that contains bleach,ammonia, alcohol, or nail polish removers that contain acetone.

Follow these guidelines and your wedding jewellery  will look stunning for years to come just ready to be worn again for that special occasion or lent to your daughter on her wedding day!
Tracey Phillips
www.bridaldesignsweddingjewellery.co.uk
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Winter Weddings 29/11/2010
 
Chilly days for the winter bride, sorted! We just love these velvet cloaks and fluffy marabou shrugs from Wonderful Wraps They're sure to keep out the chill for a winter wedding and look so beautiful
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White kid gloves and wintery flowers, a dash of mistletoe for Christmas brides and the icy sparkle of a crystal bouquet, all pretty as a picture. Below is a gorgeous sparkling crystal bouquet, just one of many offered by Starstruck Designs
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OK, so rain is also on the cards for much of the year in Britain so be prepared with a couple of these huge wedding umbrellas so you can tell the weather to do it's worst and yet look fabulous at the same time. These umbrellas are available from Pure Treats
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This starry bridal headband from Crystal Jewels with it's snowy white pearls would be a fab choice for a winter bride
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For a snow queen look check out this stunning half crown tiara from Rose Garden Accessories, sparkling with crystals and diamantes and white with pearls
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Tantrums and Tiaras describe this comb as a crisp looking piece which reminds me of Good King Wenceslas and
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
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Bridesmaids and flower girls will love a seasonal keepsake gift like a snowflake or star charm from Bridal Designs which can be clipped anywhere - on a bracelet, necklace chain, dolly bag or in amongst their flowers.
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Complete the romantic wintery look "behind the scenes" with a garter like this Victorian style one from the Bridal Jewellery Boutique!
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And not forgetting the blokes, our suggestion at Beady Eyes Designs is for these white freshwater pearl cufflinks
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Happy Winter Wedding Planning!
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Jane
Beady Eyes Designs
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Today we're stepping away from the usual subject of jewellery and hair accessories, and instead, are looking at another way of introducing sparkle into your Wedding Day.

Crystal bouquets are a fabulous alternative to fresh flowers if you want something completely different.  They last forever, so no wilting on the day, and they can be passed on through generations as an heirloom piece.  There's no pollen, so brides with allergies, asthma and hayfever need not worry.  But ultimately (for me anyway!) they sparkle.....Oh HOW they sparkle!!

When it comes to design, the sky really is the limit.  Have a good look around and see what styles are out there, but you certainly don't need to feel restricted by what you can find.  Designers are forever creating new pieces, and love to take inspiration from brides.  Starstruck Designs produces a range of different styles.  Below you can see the Crystal Posy, the Teardrop Bouquet and the Lotus Bouquet:
Now, from my point of you, you simply can't have "too much" sparkle.  But I can appreciate that not everyone has the same taste as me, and perhaps you'd like to tone things down just a little bit!  So how about these bouquets, all of them sparkle, but also use different materials alongside the crystals. 
The first, by Folksy seller "Handmade Wedding" features sinamay roses and seashells, the second by Emplume is a mass of feathers, and the third by Tantrums and Tiaras incorporates lucite flowers with crystals.

Another huge advantage to using crystals over fresh flowers is the colour range.  Especially with the current trend of teals and aquas as bridal colour schemes - these can often be very hard to work into fresh flower bouquets!
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So whether you go for a full crystal bouquet, a combination of crystals and feathers, or just add some single crystal stems amongst your fresh flowers, don't just wear your sparkles...carry them too!

Kerri Miller
www.starstruck-designs.co.uk
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Great!  I get to write a blog post about my favourite hairstyle and how to accessorise it –
the half-up half-down style.

Romantic, sexy, versatile, glamorous - and just asking to be "dressed up"!
I have had very long hair for a good few years, and I love having long hair.  But as anyone with long hair knows, if the bottom half of your hair looks great, the top half can tend to look a little flat.  And likewise sometimes you get the top half looking good, but despair of the wispy strands that you end up twiddling and fiddling with absent-mindedly at times of stress or boredom.

The first thing to do when planning your hair for your big day is to hot-foot it down to the hairdressers for a regular trim – I know it’s a worry getting anything cut off your flowing locks, but even though that half a centimetre seems like 6 inches at the time, your hair will thank you for it.  But I’ll leave the hair care aspect for the experts.

Half-up half-down styles are the perfect style for a bride who usually wears their hair long, and doesn’t want to look too different on their wedding day.  The look is softer and more relaxed than a structured updo.  Of course the wedding dress is an important consideration, you don’t want your hair to detract from the dress.

Whether you like your hair curly or straight, either works very well half up.  Curly and wavy styles look fabulously romantic and there are many styles of accessory that compliment and enhance this fairytale do.  Flowers are soft and romantic scattered through the loose bun of a curly updo, and small pearl or crystal pins give just the right amount of sparkle at the back, (and gives your guests something pretty to look at!), while a sparkly hairband pulls the hairstyle together at the front.
Straight hair can also work wonderfully in a half-up half down hairdo, it is very elegant and tends to look more formal.  The bottom half of the hair is smooth and shiny whilst the upper half is swept into a sleek bun or tight ponytail.  This style can hold a bigger hair accessory, either a crystal haircomb to the side or a traditional tiara tucked into the front of up the updo.
The half up half down style is so versatile, no wonder it’s a firm celebrity favourite – this style is frequently sported by Angelina Jolie and Kate Winslet to name a couple – and at the other end of the scale there’s always the ‘Amy Winehouse’…

So get your ends trimmed, buy some bling, and enjoy the best of both worlds!

Diana Evans
Rose Garden Accessories

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Party Jewellery 08/11/2010
 
So you have a special party to attend. Maybe it's your office Christmas Party. You have your gorgeous party dress all chosen and those killer heels sitting in the box patiently waiting to go out and strut their stuff. You have your hairstyle and make up all worked out but your still missing something! What could it be?? Yep that's right .... you NEED to accessorize your gorgeous outfit with some party jewellery. A pearl bracelet, a crystal necklace, a shoulder grazing pair of earrings or how about going the whole hog and getting a stunning matching jewellery set? 


Us sparklies don't just cater for brides looking for wedding jewellery. Oh no, we're here to help you look even more stunning for any special occasion. With many of us offering a bespoke design service your hand made jewellery can not only be totally unique but it can match your party dress perfectly. 
With stunning bespoke jewellery available and a lot of gorgeous designs that can be adapted to your requirements from several of the sparkly and secrets team, you will be spoilt for choice. So whether you have a special birthday party to attend, a Christmas party to shine at or maybe you have your very own engagement party to wow your guests you can be sure you will find the perfect party jewellery for your needs. 
April Browne - www.crystal-jewels.co.uk 
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