The Little Things in Life

How to wear a fascinator

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:16 GMT

It is a common misconception that fascinators are purely designed to be worn for weddings. Whilst they are hugely popular wedding hair accessories, particularly for guests in place of the traditional hat, they are also suitable for a wide range of occasions, from Christmas parties and the races to funerals.

Fascinators come in a wide variety of styles, colours and sizes and how to wear it depends very much on how it looks. Clipping an enormous Ostrich-feather piece to the side of your head will look a little strange, whereas it can look fantastic with a smaller, more subtle style of fascinator.

Fascinators come with a range of fixings to suit different hairstyles. Our fascinators are either clip-on, hairband style and hair comb styles.

Clip styles are the easiest fascinators to wear as they can be placed anywhere in the hair for the desired effect. Whilst they hold better in thicker hair, they are generally robust enough for even the thinnest of hair although may lose some of their grip and slide down the hair over the course of the event. Keep an eye on it so you can reattach it in the right place if this should happen.

Comb style fascinators require a little more ‘fixing’ to keep them in place. The easiest way to do this is to backcomb the hair slightly at the point that you wish to attach the comb. A spritz of hairspray will keep the backcomb intact and keep the fascinator in place for the entire event. For this reason, comb fixed fascinators are better for styles on the crown of the head in half up half down hairstyles, or as an attachment to a ponytail or up-do. Unlike clip fascinators, they are difficult to wear to the side unless you have particularly thick hair.

Hairband style fascinators can obviously be only worn one way, across the top of the head. Whilst the bands can be hidden under hair when worn down, more creativity is needed to hide it for up-dos and it will dictate your up-do style. They are very secure and tend not to slip, slide and change position throughout your occasion. They are also extremely comfortable and low maintenance and are easy to remove and replace if required. Hairbands are generally more suitable for heavy or larger fascinators, where clips and combs would not give them the support they need to stay in place for the long term.

So where on the head you wear you fascinator depends upon its fixing, size and your hairstyle. Plan in advance before purchasing your fascinator to ensure you don’t buy one that is unsuitable for either your outfit or with your hair style of choice.

Fascinators worn at funerals should be understated and typically black or navy in colour, a typical example of a fascinator suitable for a funeral would be our Julietta fascinator which is small and discrete.

Fascinators

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:15 GMT

Over the last few years more and more ladies have chosen to wear a fascinator rather than a hat when attending a wedding, a garden party or when attending a race meeting. Fascinators have been worn by Royalty as well as by the general public.

Yet now Royal Ascot have decreed that fascinators should not be worn in the Royal Enclosure. We wonder why. We ask the question: when does a fascinator become a hat and when does a hat become a fascinator. There are many fascinators which at first glance would appear to be a hat and some hats which are so skimpy they are smaller than some fascinators.

This season some fascinators would not look out of place on Audrey Hepburn when dressed up to go to the races in 'My Fair Lady'. They have flattering discs decorated with feathers or floral designs and sit at a slant on the head. They are attached to a headband and so they should not blow off in a gust of wind, which hats have been known to do. Countless are the times one sees ladies at weddings with one hand holding their hat down and trying to look elegant at the same time.

There are other smaller fascinators consisting of a small sinamay cap with feather decorations and set on a headband. These fascinators are very similar to some small hats which are attached to a piece of elastic so it stays on one's head and which one tries to wear in an elegant fashion. How much easier to put a headband on and step out in style.

The best in Wedding Hair Accessories

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:21 GMT

The finishing touch for your outfit on your Wedding Day may well be what to put in your hair. We can help with our selection of beautiful wedding hair accessories.

You will find a wide variety of bridal tiaras, some with flowers, some low, some high, but all of them stunning.

If this is not exactly what you want, we have some beautiful comb tiaras with flower and sparkling diamante designs. Alternatively you may wish for a smaller comb or two in your hair. The Little Things In Life offer a range of sparkling bridal hair accessories. Some ranges have three sizes, a large and medium bridal hair comb and a bridal hair pin. A few of our ranges have four items in the range, the fourth item being a bridal hair band. All of these items are beautifully made and look stunning.

These lovely wedding hair accessories, however, are not only suitable for the bride. They also make for great bridesmaids' jewellery as well, as would our smaller selection of sparkling hair accessories which include clips in the shape of butterflies, bows, heat-shaped and flower hair clips.

Many of our beautiful wedding hair accessories are made using Swarovski crystals which will add a real sparkle to your wedding jewellery and we are sure you will find something to tempt you in our wedding hair accessory range.

Wedding Jewellery of Great Quality

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:21 GMT

Your big day has been fixed and all the exciting preparations are about to start! One of your first decisions may well be your wedding dress, but once you have chosen this, then the wonderful process of choosing just the right wedding accessories to go with it will start.

Well, here at The Little Things In Life, we have a beautiful range of all sorts of bridal jewellery. You will find among other delights a selection of stunning bridal sets. These consist of matching tiara, necklace and earrings and some even have a matching bracelet as well. If there is not a bracelet in with the bridal set, you may well find one in our range of sparkling bracelets which will match beautifully. Whether you are looking for silver coloured or gold coloured, we have a good selection of both. Many of our bridal sets are made using Swarovski crystals to create a special stylish and elegant look for your special day.

If you cannot find what you want in our range of complete bridal sets, we have a wide range of wedding necklace and earring sets and separate wedding tiaras. You may be looking for something simple: in which case why not look at our range of pearl necklaces and earrings or maybe our sterling silver and enamel ranges. There are lovely sterling silver enamel agapanthus and lily necklaces and earrings which would look beautiful.

If you want a necklace to sparkle on your big day, we have plenty of beautiful and good quality sets which won’t cost the earth.

If you need that finishing touch for your hair, then take a look at our wedding hair accessories section. We have all types and sizes of bridal combs, bridal hair clips, comb-tiaras, and don't forget our wedding tiaras section.

Why not have a look through our impressive wedding jewellery range where you will find stunning crystal and pearl wedding jewellery, diamante and flower designs, crystal bow and flower necklaces and tiaras, crystal heart and flower styles, pearl and leaf bridal sets, elaborate flower design sets and much more.

Our lovely necklace sets would also be suitable for the rest of the bridal party, such as the mother of the bride and groom’s mother.

Wedding Jewellery and Fashion Ideas

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:21 GMT

There’s always a great deal to think about in the run-up to a wedding, with everything from the flowers to the place-settings requiring almost military organisation! Yet although there is clearly much to be done, and so many details to be taken care of, everyone knows that the biggest concern of the day is naturally the bride’s wedding dress. That being said, the perfect wedding dress is made that little bit more special with complementing wedding jewellery, ensuring that you really do look like a princess on the big day.

Wedding jewellery is generally fashioned out of crystals, pearls, diamante or a combination of the three, and is available in a vast array of styles and designs. As most brides wear dresses that involve either small or no straps, they choose to wear a bridal necklace, adding a little sparkle to their otherwise bare neck. The majority of bridal necklaces are white, ivory or cream in colour, and rather than consisting of a chain with a pendant are instead made up of delicate beaded designs. It is typical for bridal necklaces to be relatively short in length, and are often bought as part of a set that includes matching earrings and a bracelet.

As well as the wedding-specific versions of typical jewellery, the majority of brides also choose to wear jewelled accessories in their hair. Bridal tiaras and headpieces are particularly popular as they look beautiful when placed in hair that is pinned up, and can also be incorporated into an attractive attachment for a bride’s veil. These are also particularly good for brides with short hair, as they do not need long hair to be attached to, as some other accessories do. For brides who wear their hair either completely down or only partly tied up, hair pins and combs are very popular. Hair combs are the same as normal combs but have ornate embellishments running across the top of them, which often match other bridal jewellery. They are used to both add a subtle strip of decoration whilst also holding back the hair. Even more subtle are hair pins, which are often placed within the hair once it has been fixed in an ‘up do’. They are usually topped with either crystals, pearls or diamante to match the rest of the bridal jewellery, though small flower hair pins are also very pretty.

When choosing wedding jewellery there are two important factors which should be considered: your dress and your hair. If you are wearing a dress that is simple and elegant with little in the way of embroidery or embellishment, for example, you might want to think about wearing a necklace that incorporates a detailed design. Additionally it is important to ensure that you select bridal hair accessories that complement both your dress, the rest of your jewellery, and the way in which you are wearing your hair on the big day. Most importantly, however, is just to make sure you love the jewellery you have chosen and that you enjoy wearing it, as you’re likely to be seeing yourself in a lot of photographs with them.

For more information on Fashion visit - http://www.secretsales.com

Wedding Table Decorations

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:20 GMT

Every bride and groom wants their wedding reception to be something special that people will remember for a long time and an event which they themselves can treasure for ever.

One way to make the reception special is to put extra care and attention into the table decorations and one way of doing this is to give a theme to each of the tables. Each table, for example, could have a separate colour scheme and you could have such names as 'The Blue Lagoon'; 'The Golden Sands'; 'The Red Sunset' and so on and then each table could be decorated with items in these colours. Alternatively you could keep the same colour scheme throughout, but have different items on different tables.

There are many ways to decorate a table for a special event and the items on offer include such things as scatter crystals which are available in so many different colours and several different sizes and they create a charming effect.

There are also ribbon bows in a variety of sizes and colours and these too can be used for a soft and attractive effect. Choices on offer include dual colour bows which can echo your special colour scheme. For example if your colour scheme is pink and ivory, you can choose to have an ivory bow with a pink ribbon decoration.

Silk or other material rose petals in different colours scattered over the tablecloth make for a pretty finishing touch and are an alternative way to dress tables for special events.

A novel way to dress your tables is to use artificial flower heads and one particularly effective flower which is also very colourful are artificial gerbera heads which can add a splash of colour and style to the tables. You wouldn't need many of these per table to create a special effect and they can be interspersed with scatter crystals as a suggestion.

There are so many ways to decorate tables not only for weddings but also for special parties and corporate events where a special look is required.

Wedding Favours

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:17 GMT

Many couples getting married these days like to give a little gift to their friends and family who join them for their special day, nothing too grand or over the top, but just a little gift which can be left on the table at their place setting at the wedding reception.

This tradition goes back a long way but the giving of favours (or bonbonnieres as they were called) was then restricted to the wealthy, as they were the only ones who could afford them. While originally wedding favours consisted of sugar confections, which was very expensive in the Middle Ages. In time the tradition was to give sugared almonds, but today they can include chocolates, small candles or scented soaps as well as the traditional sugared almonds. If they want to be a bit more extravagant a small photo frame with a picture of the bride and groom could be the gift to all the guests.

For those wishing to present just a small token such as sweets or candles there is a wide variety of favour boxes in which these can be attractively presented. In the early days of favour giving, the presentation box was often made of porcelain or crystal and highly embellished. They are usually made of card sometimes with a cut out design, such as a butterfly, in the lid and often they are decorated with an attractive ribbon and bow. Favour boxes are available in shapes such as a treasure chest, pillow, handbag, box and many others, so the bride and groom have a great choice. They could have one style for the men and one for the ladies to add a bit of variety to the tables.

If the favour box is big enough a small piece of tissue paper could be put inside and then the favour placed inside this to make an attractive presentation.

Christmas gifts for her Part 1

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:07 GMT

We’re approaching this week’s blog, which is all about what to buy the lady in your life for Christmas, assuming that you are a man and you’re looking for inspiration for the perfect gift. Now some men are hopeless romantics and always seem to be able to choose the perfect gift but we know that most are not. Speaking as a woman, I have had everything from Digital TV boxes to Amazon book vouchers for Christmas from my husband and I wish he would take the time to look up a blog such as this for a helping hand. Instead, after years of ‘useful’ gifts, I now tell him what I want.

So there is lesson number one, gentleman. I can’t speak for all women everywhere, but on the whole, we are not overly impressed with ‘useful’ gifts. We can buy useful ourselves. We want something non-essential to the daily grind, something we wouldn’t buy ourselves too often – a treat that is feminine and romantic.

Of course, as this is a jewellery blog, we’ll be looking at the ideal jewellery and accessories to buy as a Christmas gift for your wife or partner but in general, the perfect gift is useless, thoughtful, beautiful and ideally romantic. Jewellery ticks all of those boxes and lasts longer than flowers, perfume and clothes.

Saying that, and I’m backtracking a bit here, one of our best-seller Christmas gifts happens to be all of the above and useful. Come Christmas time our jewellery stands (jewellery mannequins) fly off the shelves and whilst gorgeous and thoughtful, they are by nature useful. Women and girls love them and they are ideal Christmas gifts not just for wives and girlfriends, they are great for nieces, daughters, mothers and any other women in your life.

Here at The Little Things in Life we have one of the largest jewellery stand collections on the web. They are of a better quality than you will find amongst the limited collection available on the high street and cheaper too. Most come gift boxed ready to give as Christmas gifts and come with free delivery too – easing some of the pressure on your Christmas shopping budget and time. We offer a huge and varied range so there is something to suit all women, from our Red Carpet jewellery stand collection for the glamour-puss to our ornate nature themed jewellery trees in chrome which look stunning on dressing tables.

See part two for some of our less ‘useful’ Christmas gift ideas.

Christmas Gifts for Her Part 2

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:07 GMT

Following on from part 1, we suggested that when searching for a gift for your wife or partner (or other girls in your life) that you veer away from the ‘useful’ Christmas present. If your wife has been hinting that she needs a new vacuum cleaner or hub caps for her car, trust me, she does not mean for her Christmas gift this year.

Our last blog looked at jewellery stands because, whilst they are technically useful, they are also stunning and thoughtful gifts. This blog looks at jewellery gifts for her - perfect, thoughtful and romantic gifts that last a lifetime and will be treasured and loved.

Something unusual and unique can prove to be an excellent gift idea. You may not have heard of Millefiore jewellery but it could be just what you are looking for. It is a style of sterling silver handmade jewellery complimented with Murano glass and always features floral patterns within the glass (Millefiore = ‘one thousand flowers’). As each piece is individually handcrafted, any piece you choose will be a one-off, completely unique and chosen by you for your loved one. What a fantastic gift.

Whilst Millefiore is beautiful, it is also colourful and therefore not to every ladies’ taste. If your recipient tends toward more conservative styles, whether in dress or jewellery, then we recommend more understated and subtle jewellery. Our sterling silver collection has some stunning and refined designs that make stunning gifts for all tastes and styles. Simple designs, such as our sterling silver White Lily necklace and drop earrings or our silver teardrop necklace are the kinds of pieces that everyone likes and can be worn whatever the occasion.

Or why not buy your wife or girlfriend something irresistibly sparkly – something she can wear on evenings out or for special occasions like weddings. We have some amazing pieces, set with pearls, Swarovski crystals and diamantes, in our wedding jewellery section. That doesn’t mean they are just for weddings – they are a vast collection of stunning, sparkling necklaces, earrings and bracelets specially chosen for occasion wear. That means parties, weddings, nights out, weddings and other special occasions but probably not the office or lazy afternoons!

Hopefully, this blog has given you some ideas about what to buy your wife or partner as a Christmas gift. As long as you buy for the intended occasion and take into account how she normally dresses and what jewellery she normally wears, then you can’t go far wrong. And if you’re still not sure what she would love then do opt for the jewellery mannequin and she can choose her own jewellery to display on it.

Christmas gift ideas for him

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:07 GMT

What should you buy the man in your life for Christmas? Whether that man is your husband, boyfriend or dad, the answer very much depends upon his taste and of course, what hobbies he has at that particular moment in time!

Men don’t generally do keepsakes well. Whilst women love to have items to treasure and store away, men on the whole (and of course I don’t speak for all men), tend towards gifts that are useful and needed rather than something to be kept in a box and loved for years to come.

In keeping with this theme, we look at a range of gifts for men that serve two purposes. They are functional and useful but also something to love and treasure, thoughtful gifts that suit him but aren’t transitory, unlike the latest power tool or trendy PS3 game.

Cufflinks – Cufflinks are a superb gift idea for men, particularly if they regularly wear shirts in their profession. Cufflinks are a decorative item used as a fastener for the cuffs of shirts. Many shirts, especially in the more expensive ‘French cuff ranges’, are designed without buttons but with button holes and it is these designs of shirts that cufflinks are designed for.

Cufflinks have been a popular gift for men since the 1800’s and it is one tradition that continues to today. Use of cufflinks did dwindle steadily after the Sixties but in recent years they have become very fashionable again. There has been a significant revival and sales of cufflinks, particularly as gifts, have boomed.

Thanks to modern manufacturing methods, you can buy cufflinks to suit any taste and style. Classic silver cufflinks for business and formal wear, novelty cufflinks for a range of tastes including football lovers and enamel cufflinks in a variety of designs.

Men’s Jewellery – Whilst men are never big jewellery wearers (Mr T excepted, of course) you can rarely go wrong with a men’s bracelet. The classic Soprano style is a sure fire winner and if he likes neck chains too, you could go for the matching Soprano neck chain. Of course, that wouldn’t be functional, purely aesthetic, so consider a magnetic bracelet – rumoured to have significant health benefits and pain relieving properties as well as making great looking men’s jewellery.

Tie Slides – Practical and a wonderful gift for him, tie slides make great Christmas gifts (or perhaps a token when starting a new job). Even better if it comes with a tie! We have some lovely tie slide and ties which come gift boxed as a set – a fantastic gift ready to give.

What to buy for a wedding gift

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:07 GMT

Buying wedding gifts for a soon-to-be married couple is virtually obligatory. Unless they specifically state that they do not want gifts (and few people listen anyway), then chances are gifts are expected. Few people turn up empty handed, although opinions on what is an appropriate gift vary from person to person and, like fashion, from era to era.

Changes in habits amongst couples mean they are living together more and more before marriage. This means they usually have an established household and already have the essential household items that in the past would have been ideal gifts for newly-weds. Of course – this is not always the case so check before you go – it could be that those newly-weds are just setting up house together for the first time and need kettles, plates and ironing boards as wedding presents!

Some couples still opt for a wedding gift list, usually held with a department store, which states specifically what they would like or do need and guests can choose a wedding gift that sits within their budget. Once an item has been purchased, it disappears form the list so that duplication is avoided. It is not unheard of, however, for guests to check what’s on the list and seek it out cheaper, leaving it on the gift list for someone to duplicate.

These days, especially in light of the above, many couples are asking for money. With weddings costing as much as you can throw at them (often tens of thousands of pounds), it is not unusual for the bride and groom to ask for cash as a wedding gift. This is generally used for honeymoons, house deposits or just to buy household items that they like rather than dealing with multiple kettles, pans and lamps that they don’t really want or like.

Unfortunately, lots of people don’t like giving cash wedding gifts, especially if they do not know the couple intimately. It also presents the difficult question – how much do we spend? The dilemma if you do not want to hand over a lot of cash is that the couple will know how much you gave. Giving anonymously may also lead the couple to believe you didn’t get them anything at all. Either way, apart from close family, giving cash as a wedding gift often doesn’t sit comfortably and giving is about pleasure, right?

Traditional wedding gifts are an ideal way to get around all of these headaches and are loved by everyone. Wedding albums are a fantastic wedding gift and yet few people think of buying something like this. When I got married, we had to buy our own wedding album after the event as no-one thought to buy us one for a wedding present. Only my brother bought us a keepsake, something to remember our day by, in the form of a pair of lovely Mr and Mrs cups. It’s the one gift we still have and will have forever, unlike the cash, which went on a house. The odd cheeseboards and ‘too small’ duvet – I honestly could not vouch for their whereabouts now. Keepsake wedding gifts are treasures – they will be kept and loved for generations.

Great ideas for wedding anniversary Gifts

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:07 GMT

Choosing an anniversary gift that the special couple will love and treasure is quite a task. Unless you know the couple very well, such as close family or friends, the art is in finding something meaningful that they will love and treasure whilst not being overly familiar or having to spend too much.

One way to narrow down a suitable anniversary gift is to find out exactly which anniversary is being celebrated. Whilst anniversaries are based upon number of years married, they each have an individual material associated with them that can give you a good hint as to what kind of gift you can choose.

It is fair to say that anniversaries have become increasingly commercialised. Until just before the mid-21st Century, only the very special anniversaries had a material associated with them. Now, someone has endeavoured to think up a material for each and every year of marriage. In this blog, we are only concerned with the important milestones because, whilst the celebrating couple will treasure each and every year, family and friends tend only to mark the major years.

The major anniversary milestones are:

1st Anniversary Paper

25th Anniversary Silver

40th Anniversary Ruby

50th Anniversary Gold

60th Anniversary Diamond

Whilst for 25 years and upwards there is an obvious clue as to what you could buy the happy couple, we can’t always afford precious stones for presents and we might not know the couple intimately enough to even dream of buying gems.

Whichever anniversary you are buying a gift for, you can’t go wrong with traditional, keepsake items. Photograph albums are always a winner no matter which anniversary it is and you should choose one which represents the occasion you are buying for.

Hand crafted, paper covered albums are perfect anniversary gifts for the first wedding anniversary (paper). Other paper gift ideas include calendars, scrolls and dated newspapers.

Photograph frames are also brilliant keepsake anniversary gifts and in fact, some couples keep a framed picture taken at each anniversary milestone to mark the years past and the memories to come.

Silver plated frames are ideal for the 25th anniversary (silver) but of course can be given at any anniversary you want.

Twin sets of mugs and glasses are also popular and can be used or kept as keepsakes (or both) and won’t break the bank. Perfect for the anniversary of a couple you don’t know well or as a supplement to a present for close friends or family members.

The Little Things In Life | Jewellery Gift and Wedding Articles

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 07:45 GMT

This is The Little Things In Life articles page. Find out here about our latest ranges, news articles on established ranges and explanations about what it all means...

October Hot Picks

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:30 GMT

Disregarding the remaining midday sunshine, we are quickly approaching October and the early morning and evening chill in the air indicates that Autumn is most definitely on its way. Whilst most of us are probably grinning and bearing the slight drop in temperature in the short term, it’s almost time, whether we like it or not, to start unpacking our winter coats and snow boots. If the recent rumours about October snow in the weather world are anything to go by, those boots will definitely be a must soon.

So that means it’s time to show off some our October hottest picks – a selection of essential Autumn items as featured on our home page.

Autumn is all about beautiful scarves – whether vibrant and colourful to counteract that dull sky or rich Autumnal colours to get us in the mood for falling leaves and dark nights. Our featured new arrival for this month is the luxuriously soft and warm Torino jersey-feel scarf in teal, finished with a stunning sparkling silver coloured pendant. It is warm and cosy enough to be worn with your winter coat as your main scarf but dressy enough to accessorise an outfit and be worn indoors (providing the central heating isn’t on overdrive!).

We are also featuring its sister scarf in autumnal olive colour, this time with a silver coloured leaf pendant as a finishing touch.

Accessorise your plain work suit or simple jumper for indoor wear, a look that is bang on trend again this, or wear as your main scarf with black, grey and olive winter coats. For parties and nights out this autumn we are featuring the Verona ruched sparkling scarf in teal (but we have other colours too). Dressy and warm, it dresses up a wide variety of going out outfits or adds sparkle to your work or every day wear.

And don’t forget to take advantage of our September special offer while it lasts – a knockout bargain on one of our most stunning jewellery stands – the Jewel Garden jewellery mannequin in pink, reduced from £24 to £14. Don’t let this bargain get away. It would make a fantastic Christmas present for a wife, girlfriend, niece or daughter so buy now while it’s on offer.

Swarovski is a girl’s best friend

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:24 GMT

I know, I know, that’s not how the saying goes. But we’re not all Elizabeth Taylor with a rather wealthy Richard Burton to shower us with diamonds. Whilst traditionally, Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, when it comes to occasions we need something which exudes the glamour and dazzle of diamonds without the price tag.

Around since 1895, Swarovski Crystal (precisely-cut crystal glass) has become hugely popular and collectible. Swarovski is a brand, rather than a ‘type’ of crystal and is increasingly used in jewellery and jewellery accessories.

The great thing about Swarovski crystal jewellery is that it is not considered to a be a ‘faux’ diamond, unlike, for example, Cubic Zirconia, and is therefore considered to be more acceptable in jewellery pieces. Let’s face it, no-one is going to believe you if you claim your wedding tiara is inset with 15 1 Carat diamonds. In short, Swarovski crystal is a beautiful and unique jewellery material in its own right and it is unfair to try and compare it with diamond and simulants.

The best thing about Swarovski is that that you can get instant, affordable glamour for a wedding or occasion without breaking the bank. Think of Kate Middleton’s (now Duchess of Cambridge’s) wedding tiara – who could justify splashing out on one of those for their wedding, no matter how memorable you wish the occasion to be. Swarovski crystal tiaras afford the same stunning effect at a real fraction of the price.

Jewellery too, especially vintage jewellery, looks stunning set with Swarovski crystal. The more elaborate and regal the design, the more suited to crystal it is. And just like diamond jewellery, crystal jewellery is timeless and elegant, no matter the fashion of the day. Well looked after, it will also last a lifetime and be a stunning heirloom that can pass through the generations, gathering history as it goes.

Our Guide to Caring for Silver Jewellery

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:23 GMT

As our range includes a wide range of sterling silver jewellery items, we thought it would be a good idea to include a blog about how best to care for your silver jewellery.

Silver is a stunning metal with the highest electrical conductivity of any other metal in the periodic table. It is a common misconception, however, that sterling silver jewellery is made from pure silver. Silver is incredibly soft in its natural form and not strong or durable enough to be used in jewellery making, so it is made into an alloy with other metals, usually copper. Whilst silver in its natural form is almost completely inert, reacting with the atmosphere extremely slowly over a long period of time, alloyed with copper it becomes more susceptible to chemical reactions with a wide variety of substances, including oxygen.

It is the fact that it is a mixed metal that causes that tarnished look over time. You are presented with a new, dazzling, white shiny ring that starts to dull and turn a greenish colour after a period of long usage. For this reason, producers of sterling silver are always testing and experimenting with different alloys in order to produce a silver that doesn’t tarnish. Thus far, nothing has successfully replaced copper.

The good news is that tarnishing is not a permanent effect and your lovely silver jewellery can be restored to its original lustre with a little care, attention and cleaning. The following steps show you how to care for and clean your silver jewellery to both reduce tarnishing occurring and restoring it once it does occur.

- Never leave your silver jewellery lying around on surfaces, such as the sink edge or around the house. This increases its chances of coming into contact with substances that can accelerate tarnishing.

- Wash regularly with ordinary soap and water and dry with a soft cloth. The cloth supplied in the jewellery cleaner cloth care kit that we supply is perfect for regular cleaning, polishing and gently drying cleansed jewellery.

- Avoid cleaning your silver jewellery with any household cleaners or chemicals unless specifically intended for silver jewellery such as our silver jewellery dip cleaner – an intensive clean-up for restoring already tarnished silver jewellery. Silver dip is one of the fastest and most effective ways to clean heavily tarnished silver jewellery and will leave it looking like new if done well.

- Many people turn to ultrasonic jewellery cleaners to clean up their jewellery – and are disappointed with the results. This is because ultrasonic cleaners remove particles of dirt – they do not have much of an effect on tarnishing, which is a chemical reaction on the metal itself rather than an accumulation of substances. Ultrasonic cleaning is perfect for jewellery inset with gems as it cleans behind them and restores their lustre. For restoring tarnished metal, however, it is almost completely ineffective.

Preparing for the Party – planning ahead for party season jewellery

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:16 GMT

Is it too early to say the dreaded ‘C’ word? I know it’s only September but around now is the time I start to think about what gifts I am going to buy family and friends for Christmas, which set of parents we will visit on Christmas day and which set on Boxing Day, what I need to stock up on in time for Christmas. All of this because Christmas is so expensive and by planning in advance, we spread the cost and families know where they stand!

I always forget about the parties though. With so much else going on, it escapes my attention that I need outfits, shoes, jewellery and other bits and pieces to have a smooth party season. Instead, I usually find myself huffing and puffing through the Christmas crowds in town on the afternoon of an important Christmas party, realising I’m just not ready or prepared and dashing at the last minute to find a matching this or matching that. More often than not, it’s the accessories that haven’t been planned for. And of course, there are never any bargains to be had before Christmas, when they would be most useful.

For this reason, I think that September is more than acceptable to be mentioning the ‘C’ word – especially if early party preparation saves me from those crowds. This year I am planning well in advance and I am looking at simple sets that can be worn with a wide variety of outfits – mix and match jewellery if you like.

For general Christmas parties, meals and gatherings I’m looking at silver and pearl jewellery – classic pieces that I can wear with anything without clashing. I absolutely love the Violetta Freshwater pearl set, a necklace with a heart design inset with pearl and a bit of sparkle too with the matching earrings available separately. The great thing is that if you prefer a more subtle earring you can buy the necklace and really choose any earrings in silver, pearl and diamante to match. I also love the Belle Bijoux Pearl Butterfly set, which comes with lovely drop earrings. It comes as a whole set and is gorgeous. What’s more, both parts of the set match nearly all of my outfits.

For New Year, I think something more glitzy is in order. My absolute favourite is Diana Diamante necklace set. I think it’s absolutely stunning and I can wear it throughout the year for special occasions.

So it pays to look early for your party season jewellery and consider in advance what types of outfits you will be wearing. Unless you’re extremely wealthy it’s unlikely you can buy something new for every single occasions so try and choose pieces that you can wear again and again, not just for Christmas and New Year but for occasions throughout the year too.

Wedding Lace Parasols

Mon, 03 May 2010 07:10 GMT

Close your eyes and imagine a perfect summer’s day with the sun shining in a blue sky, a wedding party gathered outside, the bride dressed in beautiful white or ivory. It is a beautiful scene, but something may be missing! To protect the bride from the strong sunlight what better than a beautiful wedding lace parasol which she can either carry herself or have a bridesmaid take charge of it.

These lovely wedding accessories don’t even have to have a useful purpose, they can be carried for decorative effect and look great for some of the wedding photos, adding a pretty romantic look.

These wedding lace parasols come in so many different designs and patterns, but they are all perfect for the occasion. They are made of cotton lace in white or ecru with silver metal spokes and attractive pale wooden handle.

Some of these parasols, to be found at The Little Things In Life, are a mixture of plain and lace design and others are completely covered in intricate and stunning lace work.

Once the wedding is over, it’s a little something which is always there to remind you of your perfect day and may even come in useful at a later date.

So come and visit www.the-little-things-in-life.co.uk where we have just launched our new range of stylish and elegant wedding lace parasols.

Colourful and Stylish Hair Fascinators

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:52 GMT

Many people may wonder what a hair fascinator is – it sounds rather fascinating! It is in fact a decoration which is worn on the head, usually at special events such as weddings, a day at the races or any formal occasion where a lady wishes to appear beautifully dressed and does not wish to wear a hat. These frivolous concoctions are usually attached to a comb which slides into the hair to keep it in place, although some are fixed to hair bands.

Fascinators are often made of cinamay, which is a mesh woven material used in millinery and which is quite stiff, and they are made in many different styles: flower shaped, in the form of a bow, in fact you can have them in almost any style you want; many are decorated with feathers although some have beads and gauze as decoration. Some fascinators are quite discreet, but others can be very large and extravagant – if you wish to get noticed! There are so many colours available so there should be a fascinator to match your outfit for the special day ahead. The Little Things In Life offer a selection of colourful fascinators in a range of attractive colours and styles, so we hope you can find just the one you need to match your outfit.

Dragonfly Brooches

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:51 GMT

The dragonfly is an insect which has two pairs of large transparent wings with a long thin body. They are often confused with damselflies, but the latter close their wings back to the body when at rest, unlike the dragonfly which leaves theirs spread out.

Dragonfly jewellery is very popular in this country, especially dragonfly brooches. To many of us the dragonfly epitomises the typical English summer of our imagination. Sultry summer days, sitting by a lake or garden pond, and dragonflies darting here and there, unwilling to settle so we often cannot appreciate the beauty of their gossamer wings and the fabulous colours of green, blue, orange, or whatever it may be.

The Little Things In Life have a small selection of dragonfly brooches which would look eye-catching on the lapel of any jacket. These brooches come in shades of brown and gold and green/blue and silver and show the beautiful insect with its four wings outspread and its long thin body tapering to the bottom and its two large eyes represented at the top.

Sterling Silver Snake Chains

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:51 GMT

Silver snake chains are very attractive chains with a smooth feel to them and they can be worn either on their own as a silver necklace chain or with a pendant of your choice. These chains come in various lengths with a lobster style clasp for a secure fastening.

The Little Things In Life provide many sterling silver snake chains in different lengths to give our customers a good variety for their different jewellery needs. The little things in life offer lengths of 40cm (16”), 46cm (18”), 51cm (20”), 61cm (24”) and 76cm (30”).

Snake chains are probably one of the most popular chains on which to hang pendants as they give a classic stylish look to your jewellery.

Butterfly Jewellery

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:38 GMT

Many of us look forward to seeing the butterflies appear in the summer because it usually means that there is warm weather around the corner. There is of course the exception – the gardener hates the cabbage white, whose caterpillars can decimate a crop of prize vegetables.

There is a huge variety of species with spectacular colours and patterns and it is pleasant to watch them weave their way across a garden in search of pollen.

Butterfly jewellery is very popular and a butterfly motif often appears on many different jewellery items. The Little Things In Life have a range of items on which a butterfly appears.

Hair accessories with butterflies, belly ring with three blue butterflies, jewellery mannequins with butterfly wings and others with a butterfly design on their dresses. There are drop necklace and earrings made of butterfly shapes, an anklet with butterflies on the chain, sterling silver filigree butterfly earrings, sparkling hair clips in the shape of a butterfly, brightly coloured Millefiori butterfly pendants, a navy brooch with the butterfly viewed from side on, even a blue wedding garter with a little butterfly motif on it. If you love butterflies, there’s plenty to choose from on our website.

Venetian masks masquerading as Jewellery Mannequins

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:25 GMT

Venice has a long tradition of mask wearing, dating back to the Middle Ages and over the centuries which followed, people wore masks at many different times of the year. Some people wore them to disguise themselves either for illegal purposes or for romantic or other encounters. Many people would wear masks when they went gambling so that people to whom they owed money would not recognise them; this led to the introduction of a law in the early 18^th century banning the wearing of masks in casinos.

However, today most people associate the wearing of elaborate masks with the Venice Carnival, which usually starts two weeks before Ash Wednesday (the start of Lent) and finishes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Because some people abused the wearing of masks for purposes of their own, at various times in Venice’s history strict rules were laid down as to when masks could and could not be worn, for example one was not allowed to wear masks on religious occasions or in a religious establishment. However, in the 18^th century women were forbidden to go to the theatre without a mask to protect their reputation!

For many years the wearing of masks fell into disuse, and more especially as Carnival was banned in the 1930s by Italy’s fascist government, until late in the 20^th century, since when it has become an important part of the Venice Carnival celebrations. There are many different types of Venetian masks, some being quite simple and others very elaborate.

In the early theatre, the actors wore masks to represent the different set characters in the play and many of the masks worn today represent characters from the traditional Commedia dell’Arte, but others are purely decorative. If you wander around Venice you will not go far before you notice what a large number of shops there are which sell Venetian masks and you may even see some being made. Some shops also display the elaborate costumes which many revellers wear during Carnival with the masks. There are some masks which are simply amazing creations and beautiful works of art. Some of these decorative masks cover the whole face while others cover only the eyes and nose and are usually tied behind the head with ribbons.

During the heyday of mask making those who made them held privileged positions in society and were able to have their own guild with their own laws.

The Little Things In Life will shortly be stocking a wide variety of exciting new jewellery mannequins and jewellery stands with the Venetian mask flavour. You will find full face mask stands as well as the half mask and all are useful for storing your rings, necklaces and bracelets or indeed many trinkets. In addition to their utility function, they will decorate any room beautifully.

The new Leonardo range is based on the Venetian mask theme. It is an attractive and decorative range which is very colourful and glamorous and certainly brings the true spirit of the Venetian mask to your home.

Jewellery Cleaning

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:12 GMT

You have bought or have been given a lovely piece of jewellery and of course you wish to keep it looking great. Unfortunately when jewellery (especially silver) is exposed to the air in the course of time it will tarnish. Constant handling can also cause tarnishing as the acids in our skin can cause discolouration. It is therefore recommended that you store your jewellery away from the harmful influence of the atmosphere. It is best to store it in individual boxes or in separate compartments of trinket/jewellery boxes. If you wish to keep several items together, it is advisable to wrap each one in some acid free tissue paper so they don’t scratch each other. You also need to be careful not to spray perfume near your silver jewellery or this too could damage it, so too will contact with deodorant and hairspray.

Jewellery cleaning is often something which we do not do as regularly as we should. If you want to keep your jewellery looking like new, jewellery cleaning is very important.

The most often asked question is “how to clean silver jewellery”. There are various methods which can be used for cleaning your silver jewellery. First of all there are silver cleaning cloths, which are used to buff up your silver jewellery. This can be done each time after wearing, to prolong the shiny appearance of the item before tarnishing sets in. These silver polishing cloths are a fairly simple way of cleaning silver.

You can also use a silver dip, but jewellery items should only be put into this for a very short time and then thoroughly rinsed in fresh water. This is very effective for heavily tarnished items. When the item is dry, buff it up with a soft cloth. If you use this method for cleaning jewellery which has a tarnish guard or shield, such as filigree, you must be very careful, as if residues are left on the item of jewellery, this can in time spoil the appearance of your lovely filigree jewellery. This type of jewellery cleaner is usually very effective, but you must be careful to treat it with respect and make sure you don’t let it come into contact with your skin.

Ultrasonic cleaning is another method of how to clean silver jewellery. Normally water or a special cleaning solution is put into the compartment of the sonic cleaner and the item of jewellery is left in it for a short while before regaining its old shine.

There are other types of jewellery cleaner, not just silver cleaner that can be applied using a cloth and then rubbed off to bring back the shine. Some of these cleaners are specialised for polishing gold jewellery, or pearls, or crystal jewellery in general.

For storing items of costume jewellery which do not tarnish so easily, these can either be stored as for silver jewellery above, or you can hang necklaces and bracelets up, for example on a jewellery stand, so that there is less risk of them scratching other pieces and they can stay looking lovely for longer.

Don’t be put off silver jewellery just because it tarnishes, there are many ways to help keep it in pristine condition. The important thing to remember is to clean your jewellery often; the longer an item is left the more difficult it will be to clean the item.

Wedding Jewellery in Bath

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:27 GMT

For a wonderful choice of wedding jewellery in and around the Bath area, come and visit our family run internet company, The Little Things In Life. Here you will find stunning wedding jewellery sets which comprise a necklace, earrings and a tiara; some of the sets also have a matching bracelet. Much of our beautiful wedding jewellery is made using lovely sparkling Swarovski crystals and also many use freshwater pearls. If a wedding tiara is not for you, we have a lovely selection of comb tiaras and also other wedding hair accessories. The Little Things In Life offer a variety of bridal hair combs in various sizes, from large and medium hair combs, to bridal hair pins and hair bands. These lovely wedding accessories are suitable not only for the bride, but also for the other members of the bridal party, such as the bridesmaids. We also supply a small, but tasteful selection of wedding garters, including that ‘something blue’ which many brides search for to complete their wedding attire. We also have a range of colourful fascinators in various styles for the ladies attending the big day.

Bath is a beautiful town in the county of Avon in the west of England. It has elegant Georgian crescents, a magnificent abbey and the famous pump room where over the centuries people have gone to ‘take the waters’ to improve their health.

It is very easy for the tourist to explore Bath, as it is very compact and there are many interesting places within a short walk of each other. From Roman times the waters of Bath were regarded as having healing properties and magnificent baths were built. The Roman baths fell into ruin, but remains were discovered in the 18th century and then towards the end of the 19th century the Great Bath was discovered.

An abbey was built in the 10th century and it was here that King Edgar was crowned king of all England. However it was in medieval times that the abbey we see today was built, although much damage was sustained during Henry VIII’s purge on monasteries.

In Georgian times Bath became fashionable thanks to Beau Nash, and it became a town of high fashion and also a favoured watering place for the older generation and sedate entertainments were held in the Assembly Rooms. It was during this period that much of the rebuilding of Bath took place with its elegant stone buildings which you find the The Circus and The Royal Crescent particularly. Unfortunately many medieval buildings were demolished during this period, although a few to remain, including the Sally Lunn house where you can still eat her famous buns.

Bath offers the visitor many interesting museums, such as the Carriage museum where many vehicles dating back to those elegant days of the past can be seen. There is also a large costume museum which is located in the Assembly Rooms and in other museums visitors can see collections of art and crafts from various centuries.

Wedding Jewellery in Cardiff

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:26 GMT

The Little Things In Life is a family run company supplying a range of wonderful wedding jewellery and accessories in and around the Cardiff area. Visit our website if you are looking for stunning wedding jewellery sets, for we have a lovely array of these, which comprise a necklace and earrings and also a tiara. Some of the sets also come with a matching bracelet. Alternatively, you can select from our wedding hair accessories, which are suitable for the bride or the bridesmaids, and in this range you will find some beautiful matching bridal hair combs in various sizes, including hair pin and hair band. We also have a small selection of comb tiaras to make you feel like a princess! Many brides like to wear a wedding garter, and we have a small selection of tasteful wedding garters, including one with that ‘something blue’. Much of our wedding jewellery is made using beautiful Swarovski crystals for an added sparkle and some have lovely freshwater pearls in them. We offer a fast efficient service and delivery within the UK is free.

Cardiff is the capital of Wales lying in the estuary of the River Taff. The origins of Cardiff’s prosperity were based on coal mining starting at the beginning of the 19th century and from this it grew to one of the biggest ports shipping coal in the world. Now Cardiff is no longer reliant on coal for its economy, but has a thriving university and also a large commercial centre.

However, one of the earliest settlements at Cardiff was set up by the Romans in the first century to keep the Welsh in check and when the Normans invaded, King William set his knights to do the same. For many years Cardiff was a haven for pirates who carried out attacks in the Bristol Channel, but after it was captured by the Parliamentary forces in the Civil War, it became a peaceful town.

Cardiff castle which can be seen today was built in the late 19th century on the site of previous castles built by the Romans and later the Normans. It is now a major tourist attraction in the city and boasts an elaborate clock tower as well as grandiose fireplaces in many of the rooms; the 3rd Marquis of Bute, who was responsible for the rebuilding created the appearance of a medieval gothic castle.

Cardiff offers some grand shopping centres including the Morgan Arcade with its high glass roofs and elegant shops, as well as the Victorian Castle Arcade built on three stories and also with a high glass roof.

In recent years Cardiff has become the home of the impressive Millennium Stadium, an impressive arena which hosts a multitude of events, including sporting and music. Wales is famed for its prowess in rugby and now hundreds more fans can watch their national team play in this wonderful arena than in the past.

Wedding Jewellery in Oxford

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:22 GMT

The Little Things In Life is an on-line supplier of wedding jewellery in the Oxford area, where you can find everything you need to complete your outfit for your big day. We offer a wide range of beautiful wedding bridal sets, which include necklace, earrings and a tiara and a few also have a bracelet to match. We also have a range of stunning hair accessories, including wedding tiaras, bridal hair combs of various sizes, such as a hair pin, hair band and large and medium hair combs. These lovely wedding hair accessories would also be ideal for bridesmaids or other ladies in the bridal party. We also have a small, but tasteful, selection of wedding garters, which include that ‘something blue’ which many brides look for to complete their outfit. Much of our wedding jewellery is made using lovely sparkling Swarovski crystals and many also contain lovely freshwater pearls to make a truly delightful piece of wedding jewellery. The Little Things In Life also has a range of fascinators for ladies attending the wedding and these come in many colours and a selection of styles. We offer a fast and efficient service for the bride to be and hope you will find just what you are looking for on our website.

Oxford, known famously as the city of dreaming spires, is an attractive city which is also a very well known seat of learning around the world. Students come from all over the world to attend the historic university and to live in one of the beautiful colleges, many of which are centuries old. The university was founded by King Henry II in the 12th century, although it later closed following disagreements with the locals less than 50 years later. However, it reopened several years later, but the university system as it is known today did not get introduced until several hundred years later.

Oxford has a wealth of historically beautiful buildings which contrast with the modern bustling city that Oxford is. Seen from the air the centre of Oxford looks like a haven of peace with its beautiful quadrangles and chapel spires. In addition Oxford boasts the Ashmolean museum, which is among the oldest of Britain’s museums open to the public and which contains a wonderful collection of fine art and antiquities and the Bodleian Library in Oxford receives a copy of every book published in Britain.

Oxford has a wealth of shops, but if you want to shop in the comfort of your own home, just take a look at The Little Things In Life website where we hope you will find the stunning wedding jewellery and accessories which you are looking for.

Wedding Jewellery in Canterbury

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:20 GMT

The Little Things In Life is a family run company which is internet based and supplies a stunning array of wedding jewellery. We have jewellery and accessories for brides, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and guests. We supply complete three (and sometimes four) piece wedding bridal sets which include bridal tiara, necklace and earrings, with occasionally a bracelet. Our gorgeous range is very varied and we offer gold coloured and silver coloured jewellery and much of this is made using beautiful Swarovski crystals. Some of our items also contain lovely freshwater pearls. As well as tiaras, we offer other wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in various sizes, as well as bridal hair pins and hair bands. We also have a small selection of fabulous comb tiaras. Should you be looking for a bridal garter, we have a small, but lovely selection, including the ‘something blue’ which most brides look for!

Many schoolchildren first’s knowledge of Canterbury was probably when they had to read Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ when they were at school, but probably they had no idea where in the country it was. Canterbury is a lovely cathedral city in the county of Kent and very close to the sea.

Canterbury is known as the birthplace of Christianity in England as it was St Augustine who spread the word from his base here in the 7th century. It was for centuries a hugely popular place for pilgrimages starting from the time Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral in the 12th century. Unfortunately the saint’s shrine was destroyed centuries later on the orders of King Henry VIII.

However, the city’s origins go far beyond medieval England as evidence of an Iron Age settlement has been found, although it became an important place during the Roman era when it became an important trading centre. It is believed that St Martin’s dates from this period and many believe it to be the oldest church in the country.

The grand cathedral was built initially in the early 11th century by the Normans, and the crypt survives from this period. However, most of what we see today was constructed over several centuries; The choir and eastern end of the cathedral were built as a shrine to Saint Thomas Becket. It wasn’t until the 15th century that the nave was finished and the central tower took another fifty years to complete. The final addition was in the mid 19th century with the addition of the north-west tower. The cathedral boasts some stunning stained glass, much of it medieval.

Many weavers from France settled in Canterbury during the 16th and 17th centuries and one of their attractive houses remains on the banks of the river Stour, with a little jetty from where their materials used to be unloaded.

Canterbury boasts a couple of museums, including one based in a 14th century building, the Poor Priest’s Hospital.

Many of Canterbury’s old buildings were destroyed during bombing raids by the Germans during the Second World War, but luckily the cathedral escaped, resulting in much post-war building in the city. The university of Canterbury was opened in 1965 and is now a popular place of study.

Wedding Jewellery in Leeds

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:20 GMT

A girl’s wedding day is one of the happiest days of her life and of course she wants to look great. Once the dress has been chosen, then comes the exciting job of selecting the wedding jewellery and accessories. At The Little Things In Life we have a superb range of beautiful wedding jewellery for the bride to choose from in the Leeds area. We offer complete three piece (or sometimes four piece) wedding bridal sets, which include a wedding tiara, necklace and earrings and occasionally a bracelet. Much of our wedding jewellery is made using lovely Swarovski crystals and many also have freshwater pearls in them. You will also find a great range of wedding hair accessories suitable for brides and bridesmaids. There are bridal hair combs in various sizes, including hair pins and bridal hair bands and also some gorgeous bridal comb tiaras. We are an internet based company and offer first class service to our customers.

The Yorkshire city of Leeds has been a wool centre since the Middle Ages, with its many sheep grazing on the lovely pastures in the beautiful county of Yorkshire, but it was in the industrial revolution in the 19th century when the town really expanded. Machines were used to manufacture clothing in bulk and by the 1920s Leeds contained the largest clothing factory in the world.

The downside of this increase in work in the city was that many of the workers lived in dreadful conditions and it was only in the first half of the 20th century that many of the slums were pulled down and after the Second World War much of Leeds has been redeveloped.

Leeds boasts several shopping arcades dating from the late 19th century and a couple of them are very grand, such as the County Arcade. At the end of Thornton’s Arcade is a clock which moving figures taken from the novel ‘Ivanhoe’ by Sir Walter Scott, such as Robin Hood and Friar Tuck. The designer of the mechanism for this interesting clock was the same who designed that for Big Ben: Sir Edmund Beckett. Leeds has many fine buildings, including the Corn Exchange with its huge glass roof and the Mechanics Institute. The latter was built as a training establishment for mechanics, as the name would suggest, but it now houses a theatre.

There are two main waterways in Leeds: the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Aire & Calder Navigation. The former crosses the Pennines and connects with the Navigation at Leeds and then heads towards Goole, a port over 30 miles away.

Leeds is famous as a centre for cricket and the Leeds team plays at Headingley which is also the home of Yorkshire cricket. Leeds also has a football team which plays at Elland Road.

Leeds offers many forms of entertainment to the locals, including a good selection of cinemas, libraries, museums and much more.

Wedding Jewellery in Chester

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:16 GMT

The Little Things In Life is a web based company with a stunning array of wedding jewellery. For your very special day you will find beautiful wedding tiaras with sparkling diamante crystals, gorgeous necklace sets and beautiful wedding hair accessorsies: bridal hair combs, hair pins and comb tiaras. We sell complete wedding bridal sets which include the necklace, earrings and tiara and occasionally a bracelet to match. Earrings are for pierced ears and there is a variety of styles: studs, drop and chandelier to name but a few. Many of our bridal jewellery is made using sparkling Swarovski crystals and some have lovely freshwater pearls in them. If you are looking for a wedding garter, or something blue, have a look at our range of pretty elasticated garters. Many of the items in our wedding jewellery range are also suitable for bridesmaids of all ages and also the other members of the wedding party. Our family run company will offer you free delivery to anywhere in the UK.

The beautiful city of Chester is the best-preserved walled city in the whole of England. It is lucky to retain so much of its medieval architecture with galleried streets and timbered buildings. The name Chester derives from the Latin word for fortified camp ‘castra’, and situated on the River Dee, it was the Romans who first built a settlement here. They built a huge amphitheatre which is believed to be one of the largest built in Britain. The Romans held sway in the city for many years, but in 1069 William the Conqueror’s troops devastated the city and it was given to Hugh of Avranches who became the first Earl of Chester. This title is now held by Prince Charles, as heir to the throne.

During medieval times Chester became an important trading centre and port and the city’s walls were fortified even more with the addition of several towers. A lot of building took place during this time, including The Rows where shops now open on to walkways with balustrades. There are a number of half-timbered houses rich in carvings: Bishop Lloyd’s House, Old Leche House and God’s Providence House.

The castle at Chester was built in the mid 11th century as a timber building, but was later added to in stone. Unfortunately, not much of the original building remains. The magnificent cathedral, however, does remain. Most of the current building dates from the 14th century and it was an abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries. It was given cathedral status in 1541.

Mystery plays were performed in medieval times until they were banned during the reign of the Tudors. However, they were resurrected during the 20th century and are now performed within the city walls in different locations every five years.

Chester suffered during the English Civil War as they supported Charles I, and after the defeat of Rowton Moor, Chester was under siege for almost half a year until starvation forced them to surrender.

Chester became very wealthy during the Georgian period following the building of the Chester Canal in 1770, which contributed to the increase in trade to and from the city. You can still see some lovely buildings which were erected during this period of prosperity.

Wedding Jewellery in Southampton

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:15 GMT

The Little Things In Life is a family run company which supplies gorgeous wedding jewellery in the Southampton area, from beautiful bridal tiaras, to stunning necklace sets and a range of gorgeous wedding hair accessories such as hair combs and comb tiaras. We have a superb range of wedding bridal sets which include the wedding tiara, necklace and earrings and occasionally a bracelet. The bridal hair combs come in three or four sizes and include bridal hair pins and hair bands. There is plenty for the bride-to-be to choose from to complete her outfit for her very special day, even a pretty wedding garter. A large proportion of our wedding jewellery is made using beautiful Swarovski crystals and some also contain freshwater pearls for a truly romantic look. Some of our necklace sets and hair combs and pins would also be ideal for bridesmaids and some for the mother of the bride. We offer free delivery on all our goods in the UK.

Southampton is synonymous with shipbuilding. Think of all the famous ships which have sailed from this important port: the ill fated Titanic which was sunk by an iceberg four days after leaving Southampton on her maiden voyage to America in 1912, The Mayflower which sailed to North America with the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. It is one of the UK’s most important ports and there has been a port here from early Roman times. William the Conqueror, invading Britain in 1066, landed his ships here from France and it was from here that many of the crusades set forth in medieval times.

Also in medieval times a large amount of wool was exported from Southampton and the Wool House built in the 1300s still stands today, but now serves as the city’s maritime museum. Here the visitor can see, carved on the chestnut roof, names of French prisoners of war who were kept imprisoned here during the 18th century.

The Normans built the original city walls, but very little remains of them today. However, the towers are still in evidence: Polymond, Catchcold, Wind Whistle and God’s House Tower.

Southampton became a spa town in the 1800s and remained so until Brighton took over as the favoured spa town after half a century because of the Prince Regent’s love of Brighton.

During the First World War millions of troops left England for the front line and the city was heavily bombed during the Second World War. Some of the city’s old buildings survive, including several inns, which once would have been coaching inns. There is the 15th century Dolphin rebuilt in the 18th century, the Star which is a Georgian building and the Red Lion, the oldest inn in the city, dates back to the 1100s.

Southampton is a city, a status granted to it in 1964, but it has no cathedral. It’s main church, St Mary’s was heavily bombed during the last war, but Southampton boasts a much older church in St Michael’s which has a Saxon tower and a 12th century font which came from France.

The city has several museums and galleries, exhibiting works of art by well-known British and foreign artists, archaeological finds dating back to the Stone Age. There is also a museum to R J Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, the first of which was built in Southampton.

Wedding Jewellery in Manchester

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:13 GMT

At The Little Things In Life we hope you will find your ideal wedding jewellery. We are an internet based family-run company which supplies a stunning range of wedding jewellery to the Manchester area. We sell gorgeous wedding bridal sets with tiaras, necklace and earrings, and occasionally a bracelet to match. We also sell sparkling and beautiful wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in three or four sizes, including pretty hair bands, hair pins and comb tiaras. A large selection of our wedding jewellery is made using Swarovski crystals to provide an extra sparkle for your wedding day. Some of our lovely wedding jewellery items are made using freshwater pearls. We offer a fast and efficient online service and are available to answer any questions you may have regarding our range. All of our items are delivered free of charge within the UK.

Manchester’s prosperity really began in the 18^th century with the making of textiles and the advent of the Industrial Revolution, although it was during the reign of Edward III in the 14^th century that Flemish weavers came to Manchester and set in motion the important textile trade. It was turned into a port with the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in the late 19^th century. This eased trade to and from the city.

As well as the Manchester Ship Canal Manchester had another important means of transport in the 1800s. The Manchester to Liverpool railway was the first line in the world to be a commercial success. It was George Stephenson, who designed the famous ‘Rocket’ who built it.

Some of the centre of Manchester was destroyed in the second world war bombing raids, but much of the Victorian city does remain. There are even a few traces of medieval Manchester. The cathedral building dates from the 1400s but was added too several centuries later. It became a cathedral in the mid nineteenth century.

The bloodiest part of Manchester’s history was in 1819 with the Peterloo massacre. The residents had no representative in Parliament and poor working conditions, high unemployment and abject poverty led the locals to rebellion. Up to fifty thousand people gathered in St Peter’s Field to ask for reform. The demonstration was crushed by troops on horseback carrying sabres. Apart from hundreds of injuries, eleven people died that day.

Manchester is the home of the Hallé orchestra which was founded by Sir Charles Hallé in the mid 19^th century and its home was the Free Trade Hall, which had originally been used by the Anti Corn Law League in the early 19^th century until the Corn Laws were repealed. This building in Peter Street was later used by the Athenaeum Society the first chairman of which was Charles Dickens.

The Royal Exchange, now used as a theatre, has a floor area of around one acre and is surmounted by three glass domes on marble columns – a truly impressive sight.

Manchester has a wealth of museums and galleries, exhibiting paintings, ceramics, costumes and items detailing the history of the textile industry.

Manchester is famous world-wide, of course, for its football teams, so people from as far afield as Japan and China have heard of Manchester! It is also the place for one of England’s popular universities which started life as Owens College in the early 19^th century and became a university in 1903. Manchester’s university library, which was opened in 1900, is the home to many ancient manuscripts: books printed by William Caxton as well as manuscripts dating back to 3000BC. The city’s public library is one of the largest libraries in the country.

Men's Jewellery

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:14 GMT

The men in our lives often get forgotten when it comes to jewellery items. However, there are many of them who like to wear a necklace and we can offer a selection of silver or gold coloured Soprano chain necklaces. Some of these are plated with 24k gold, with white gold and silver oxide (which gives it a steel appearance). To match these necklaces we offer a range of bracelets.

For something different there are some chunky chains made of sterling silver and these would make a wonderful gift for the man in your life.

The Little Things In Life offers a small selection of magnetic bracelets in gold coloured or silver coloured steel. The magnetic therapy bracelet is said to provide relief from ailments and the bracelet has magnets on each link inside the bracelet. So practical as well as decorative!

If necklaces and bracelets are not what you are looking for, we have an interesting range of cufflinks, from the trendy to the executive, from silver coloured to those containing precious stones. Cufflinks don’t have to be boring – just have a look at our range of cufflinks which are very competitively priced.

Wedding Jewellery In Cambridge

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:44 GMT

The Little Things In Life offer a wonderful range of wedding jewellery in and around the Cambridge area. We supply gorgeous bridal sets, necklace sets and tiaras, some of which include a matching bracelet. We also supply wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in several sizes, which include hair bands and comb tiaras. Much of our wedding jewellery is made using Swarovski crystals to give it an extra sparkling touch and some are set with freshwater pearls. We offer a superb online fast efficient service and all our items are delivered free of charge within the UK.

People the world over have heard of Cambridge, a city with one of the two most famous universities in the country, but its origins go way back a long way. In the Roman era the invading Romans built a camp by the River Cam (known to the Romans as Granta) and so the city began. It later became a Saxon market town, later it was a base for the Danish army in the 9^th century and then was a stronghold of the Normans in the 11^th century. It was not until the 13^th century that the first college of the university (Peterhouse) was founded by the then Bishop of Ely and over the centuries which followed more and more colleges were added to the University City. The colleges as well as chapels and churches which belong to the university cover a large proportion of central Cambridge.

Many will have heard of, or seen, the mathematical bridge at Queens college. Apparently the Victorians wanted to know how it had been put together with no metal fastenings in 1749. However, once they had taken it down they could not put it together again without the use of bolts.

The wonderful architecture of many of the colleges attracts visitors from all over the world who come to marvel at the intricate nature of the buildings, notably the chapel of Kings College with its wonderful fan vaulting and beautiful stained glass windows.

Many famous people have studied at the university in Cambridge over the centuries, including Samuel Pepys, who left his library, reputed to have been 3000 books, to his old college, Magdalene.

Cambridge is home to the famous Fitzwilliam museum founded in the early 19^th century. On show there are artefacts dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome as well as paintings by old Masters as well as ceramics and manuscripts.

A good way to see admire the colleges is to take a punt along the river and so enjoy both the experience of this leisurely form of travel and take in the beauties of Cambridge’s architecture.

In recent years, a huge science park has established itself on the outskirts of the city and this today is centre of much development in the field of biotechnology as well as electronics.

Cambridge has a twice-weekly market in the city centre and has various shopping centres on the outskirts servicing most needs. However, if you are looking for good quality wedding jewellery, we at The Little Things In Life may be able to help you with our wonderful range of items for the bride, bridesmaids and even guests.

Flower Jewellery

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:21 GMT

Flower jewellery is very popular, especially brooches and necklaces in the design many types of flowers such as lilies, orchids, cornflowers, anemones and many other types.

The lily is a flower which has many different varieties and colours. Often grown in our English gardens, it makes a lovely and striking cut flower.

The Little Things In Life offers lily brooches, lily necklaces and matching lily earrings. The brooches, which are enamelled, come in blue and pink and the sterling silver lily necklaces are in silver and blue. The lily brooches are the blousy flowers, while the lily necklace and lily earrings are delicate buds, creating a simple, yet stylish item of jewellery.

The cornflower is one of our wild flowers, usually of a beautiful blue colour and our cornflower brooch is also of a lovely striking blue colour. The cornflower is the flower for November birthdays and as such would make a lovely gift for a loved one with a birthday in that month.

Anemones are perennial plants which come in several colours and are a popular garden plant. The Little Things In Life supply small stud anemone earrings in gorgeous blue and red colours – a truly delightful item of jewellery.

Much of our wedding jewellery is made using flower shapes and some wedding hair accessories and wedding tiaras have material flowers in red, ivory and burgundy colours. Some necklaces and earrings have porcelain flowers which create something a bit different from the norm. Sometimes the flower shapes are made using pearls and sometimes with crystals. Whatever type of flower design you’re sure to find something you like in our wonderful range of flower jewellery.

Wedding Jewellery In London

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:16 GMT

The Little Things In Life is an web based family-run company which supplies a great range of stunning wedding jewellery to the London area. We sell fabulous bridal sets with necklace, earrings and tiaras, and sometimes a bracelet to match. We also have sparkling and striking wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in several sizes and which include pretty hair bands, hair pins and comb tiaras. A large selection of our wedding jewellery is made using Swarovski crystals to provide that extra sparkle for your special day. Some of our beautiful wedding jewellery items are made with freshwater pearls. We offer a fast and efficient online service and we are available to answer any questions you may have about our range. All of our items are delivered free of charge within the UK.

The writer Samuel Johnson once said “the man who is tired of London is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.” London is now a multi-cultural buzzing city full of history and modernity. Side by side you have medieval buildings and modern glass constructions. Although much of London’s beauty was destroyed during world war 2, much has survived and offers a feast of sites for the visitor.

London, of course, is the capital of England and seat of its government, which meets in the Houses of Parliament, which in the 17^th century a group of rebels tried to blow up. Then there is the main official resident of the reigning monarch at Buckingham Palace at the end of the Mall.

The history of our nation is everywhere around you, from the famous Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror and once the home of many a royal prisoner, to Fleet Street where the printing of newspapers was first carried out.

London really started with the Romans and the river Thames was an ideal waterway for trading with the continent. Some remains from this era can still be found, such as a temple to Mithras which is in Queen Victoria Street, although most of it is now covered by modern London. It was after King Alfred rebuilt the fortifications in the 9^th century that London grew both in military might and politically; its wealth and trade also increased. London developed 2 centres in the 11^th century when Westminster became the seat of power and the city was the centre of trade, the two being linked by the Strand.

After the Great Fire in 1666 when thousands of buildings were destroyed, new building regulations were brought in so that new houses were made of brick or stone. In the following centuries more and more building was done outside the walls of London and gradually these villages were linked to the city and so London became the sprawling mass it is today.

There is something for everyone in London with its wealth of theatres, amazing collection of museums and an amazing diversity of shops. However, if you do not wish to drag yourself round the many shops, log onto The Little Things In Life to find the wedding jewellery of your dreams.

Wedding Jewellery In Bristol

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:46 GMT

The Little Things In Life is an internet based company where you will find a wonderful range of beautiful wedding jewellery we can supply to the Bristol area. We supply gorgeous bridal sets which comprise necklace, earrings and tiaras, and occasionally a bracelet to match. We also sell stunning wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in sizes to suit most tastes and which include lovely hair bands, hair pins and comb tiaras. A large proportion of our wedding jewellery is made with Swarovski crystals giving you that extra sparkle on your special day. For those who like pearls, some of our lovely wedding jewellery items are made using freshwater pearls. We offer a fast online service and are available to answer any questions you may have about our range. All of our items are delivered free of charge within the UK.

Bristol is a city of contrasts with its old buildings and the history associated with the city and then the new developments of offices and shops. Many of the original settlers in America sailed from Bristol. One of its famous inhabitants was John Cabot who, in the 15^th century, set sail for unknown lands to the west in search of new trading routes. This was North America and it was after this that many new items were being imported to England, such as cocoa, tobacco and wine. In turn wool and leather were exported from Bristol. Its docks grew in size and in the 19^th century Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed two steamships (Great Britain and Great Western) which were built in Bristol. He was later asked to build a suspension bridge to cross the Avon at Clifton. Lack of finance caused the project to be delayed and was not finished until after Brunel’s death.

Sadly, during the second world war, Bristol was heavily bombed and many of its historic buildings were destroyed. In their place arose many modern looking glass and concrete buildings. Some of its old churches survive, however, including the cathedral on College Green which was founded in the 12^th century as part of an abbey. It became a cathedral about 400 years later and has a very fine chapter house built during the Norman period.

Bristol is home to a popular university which was founded in 1925, and also houses Britain’s oldest working theatre, the Theatre Royal which was opened in the late 18^th century. It is situated in King Street, a cobbled street lined with many attractive old buildings. Outside the Exchange in old Bristol which was built in the 18^th century are 4 bronze pillars, called ‘nails’, and this is where the merchants and traders used to complete their transactions (hence the saying ‘paying on the nail’).

There is a belief that the inn on King Street called Llandoger Trow, built in 1664, was the haunt of pirates and that Robert Louis Stevenson based his character Long John Silver’s drinking place in his novel ‘Treasure Island’ on this.

You will find many shops large and small in Bristol, but we are sure that without stepping out of your house and venturing into town, you will be able to find some stunning wedding jewellery for your special day.

Wedding Jewellery In Durham

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:44 GMT

The Little Things In Life is an online family-run company offering a superb range of wedding jewellery to the Durham area. We supply stunning bridal sets, necklace and earring sets and tiaras, some of which include a bracelet to match. Our range also includes wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in various sizes, which include decorated hair bands, hair pins and comb tiaras. Many of our items of wedding jewellery are made using Swarovski crystals providing that extra sparkling touch and some are made using freshwater pearls. We offer an online fast and efficient service and all of our items are delivered free of charge within the UK.

The centre of Durham is situated on what is almost an island surrounded by the river wear. Dominating this, and the skyline of Durham, is the magnificent Norman cathedral, one of the best examples of this style of architecture in the world.

The cathedral was founded by monks who wished to find a resting place for St Cuthbert and so the early church was built in the 10^th century. A stone church was erected soon afterwards and then in the 11^th century William of Calais started work on the present day building. There have been changes over the centuries, but most of what the visitor sees today is the original building. The central tower was pput up in the 15^th century following a lightning strike to the cathedral.

On the front door is the famous sanctuary knocker. It was believed in medieval times that if someone escaping capture held on to this they were free from arrest and records show that over 300 fugitives sought refuge in the cathedral.

Durham has many bridges and from one in particular, Prebends Bridge, a splendid view of the cathedral can be obtained and a plaque on the bridge quotes the lines from St Walter Scott’s poem ‘Grey Towers of Durham’.

Much of the town’s architecture dates back to Georgian times, but with the growth of the university more modern buildings have taken their place beside them. The university which was founded in 1832 operates, like Oxford and Cambridge, on a collegiate system and has colleges dotted around the city.

In close proximity to the cathedral, situated on Palace Green is the castle, now part of the university and various other fine buildings which now form part of the this old university and include the library and the music school. The castle was once home to the prince bishops who ruled the city and it has been lived in for over 900 years.

The centre of the city still has a feel of going back in time with its cobbled streets and ancient buildings. It was not until the 18^th century that the city started to grow beyond the river and now it has spread to incorporate a few outlying villages.

It’s history has been mainly peaceful and the cathedral is one of the few in the north which was not conquered by the Scots. In fact Durham was the place where several peace conferences were held in early times between the Scots and English.

Wedding Jewellery in Ely, Cambridgeshire

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:13 GMT

The Little Things In Life supply an exquisite range of wedding jewellery in and around the Ely area. We supply stunning bridal sets, necklace sets and tiaras, with some sets even including a matching bracelet. We also supply wedding hair accessories such as bridal hair combs in various sizes, including hair bands and comb tiaras. Much of our bridal jewellery is set with Swarovski crystals to give it that extra sparkling touch and some set with freshwater pearls. We offer a great online fast efficient service and all of our items are delivered free of charge.

Ely is a small city on the edge of the Fens in East Anglia and is dominated by the magnificent cathedral, known as the ‘Ship of the Fens’. A cathedral has stood on the present site for over 13 centuries and the current building is a huge attraction for thousands of visitors from the UK and foreign parts every year.

Ely and the surrounding area was given to Queen (later saint) Etheldreda, who was born in Exning near Newmarket around 630AD, as part of her dowry from her first husband when she was married. Some years later and after two marriages she returned to Ely and instigated the construction of a monastery there in 673. This building was completely destroyed by the Danes in the 9^th century, but was rebuilt one hundred years later by King Edgar, although the building was not completed for several hundred years. In 1322 the tower collapsed and was replaced by the octagon, which is a distinctive feature of today’s cathedral.

The area around Ely is known as the Isle of Ely which sources say derives its name from ‘Isle of Eels’ (from ‘Elig’ the Saxon word for eels) because of the large number of eels which were caught there. There is still a festival of eels held annually in the city to this day.

One famous – or infamous - resident of Ely was Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England in the 17^th century who lived there for a period of eleven years with his family and the house he occupied, having once been a vicarage, is now museum detailing the life and times of Oliver Cromwell.

The famous Kings School in Ely was founded in the 10^th century and is one of the oldest schools in England.

One of the attractions in Ely for residents and tourists alike is the river Ouse in the centre of the city, which has many narrow boats moored along the banks, which is an attractive sight on a sunny summer’s day.

Over the past ten years Ely has expanded greatly with many new houses being built on the outskirts of the city. With the railway station at Ely, it is a convenient point for many people to commute to London to work. Unfortunately, as Ely has grown the shops in Ely have not kept pace with the expansion, so if you are looking to buy wedding jewellery for your special day in the Ely or Cambridgeshire area, The Little Things In Life may very well be able to help.

The Home of the Jewellery Mannequin

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:11 GMT

Jewellery mannequins are a very useful and attractive accessory for anyone who wishes to store their jewellery. Fed up with tangled chains, not being able to find the necklace you want? Then this is just the item for you!

Jewellery Mannequins can be known under many different names. You may know them as jewellery stands, jewellery hangers, necklace hangers or necklace holders, but they are all the same thing.

Jewellery mannequins come in several sizes. We have matching tall and short ones in many of our ranges. Sizes range from 25cm to 43cm tall, so you’re sure to find one to suit your needs. The bigger they are, the heavier they are. So if you have some heavy jewellery items, we strongly recommend going for the bigger varieties.

Most of our jewellery mannequins consist of a lady’s body dressed in various outfits in all sorts of colours and styles. We have jewellery stands dressed in elegant evening gowns, flamboyant dresses with boas, sparkling dresses, chiffon material dresses, velvet gowns, traditional black and silver dresses and many more stylish designs. Then there are the younger style jewellery holders: school uniforms, jeans and various pretty tops, short suede dresses with handbag.

These necklace holders have two arms at the side and jewellery hangers on the top ranging from four to six and on these you can hang your necklaces, bracelets and other trinkets.

We have a few jewellery mannequins which are complete ladies; the mannequins in one of our Papillon ranges have butterfly wings on the back of the lady on which to hang your jewellery. These make a more unusual adornment to your dressing table.

In addition to the above, we stock a range of matching jewellery mannequin hands and shoes. The shoes are ideal for ring storage and the hands can be used for smaller items, such as rings, earrings, bracelets and other trinkets.

We have found that our jewellery mannequins make delightful presents for all ages and all occasions. Many are given as bridesmaids’ gifts, birthday and Christmas presents, presents for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries or just to say ‘thank you’ or ‘good luck’ to someone.

We have a very large range of jewellery mannequins, possibly one of the largest available on line, so why not have a browse though our amazing selection; you’re sure to find just the present you want – or just what you need for tidying your jewellery!

Intricate Filigree Jewellery - Like Lacework

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:57 GMT

Filigree is the art of twisting or plaiting pliable treads of silver or metal and joining them together using silver solder to produce an item of beautiful jewellery. The end result often looks like delicate lace work and is truly stunning.

Our often overlooked collection of sterling silver filigree jewellery is amazing; the workmanship of our filigree brooches, for example, is spectacular. We have wonderful silver filigree bow brooches, butterfly brooches and bunch of flowers brooches. These items make an eye catching adornment for any lady!

You will find at The Little Things In Life delicate silver filigree leaf and flower necklaces, some with matching silver filigree bracelets. We also have a good range of silver filigree earrings which would go with any of our other silver filigree jewellery. Most are stud earrings and come in various shapes, such as filigree shell earrings, filigree butterfly earrings, filigree flower earrings, but we also have some dangling leaf silver filigree earrings, for those preferring something a little more flamboyant.

Many of the designs of our sterling silver filigree jewellery are taken from nature, with butterflies, flowers, shells and leaves being the subject for our bracelets, earrings, brooches and necklaces. We are sure you will find something in our collection either for yourself or as a wonderful gift for someone else to treasure.

Colourful Millefiori Jewellery - A Thousand Flowers

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:53 GMT

Millefiori jewellery is made using a technique which produces very distinctive patterns on glass. The word is formed from two Italian words ‘Mille’ meaning ‘a thousand’ and ‘Fiori’ meaning flowers; the patterns made resemble little flowers under glass. The technique of Millefiori was developed in Murano, Italy, as far back as the 15th century. Each piece of Millefiori jewellery is hand-made so no two pieces are identical.

The Millefiori technique involves the production of glass canes with multicoloured patterns which can only be seen from the cut ends of the cane. Thin slices of the cane are pressed into the surface while the glass is still hot. This technique produces some beautiful and unusually patterned pendants, rings and earrings. Our Millefiori jewellery is set in sterling silver.

On our website we have a wide range of Millefiori jewellery. You will find some stunning heart shaped Millefiori pendants, both small and large in various colours, including lovely blues, pinks and reds.

The Little Things in Life has a lovely selection of Millefiori pendants including butterfly pendants and stunning elaborate crosses, as well as the more traditional Millefiori cross pendants.

We also have some unusually shaped rings; why not have a look at our dolphin range?

We have a wide range of Millefiori earrings: stylish round and heart shaped stud earrings, teardrop dangling earrings, clover shaped dangling earrings, heart shaped earrings, all in various pretty colours and all individually made.

Many of our Millefiori jewellery items match, so why not treat yourself to a matching Millefiori pendant and pair of Millefiori earrings?

Colourful Enamel Jewellery

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:29 GMT

Enamelling is a very old process used since the days of the ancient Egyptians for colouring or decorating many different objects. It results from fusing powdered glass to a base by firing at very high temperatures. Once the metal melts, it flows onto the surface to be decorated, such as sterling silver, and then hardens to a durable coating.

The finished result can be beautifully coloured necklaces, earrings, brooches or pendants.

Our sterling silver Enamel jewellery is then rhodium plated to prevent tarnishing which will prolong the beautiful appearance of your enamel jewellery.

Some enamel jewellery consists of rhodium plated metal with the beautiful colours fused on to this surface, producing some lovely colourful earrings and brooches.

We believe that our range of enamel jewellery is one of the best kept secrets on the internet! We have a wonderful collection of beautiful and unusual necklaces, brooches and earrings. Many of the delicate necklaces have matching earrings, making either a lovely present for yourself or someone else. Several of our necklaces would be very suitable for wedding jewellery. The simple lines of many of our items create a stylish impression.

We also have Archibald Knox design jewellery, art deco style jewellery, art nouveau and Mackintosh designs, many in sterling silver.

In our range of enamel jewellery we have floral and insect motifs; lovely dragonfly brooches, butterfly brooches, agapanthus necklace and earrings, tulip design necklace and earrings, beautiful orchid brooch and earrings, lily jewellery, cornflower brooch and stunning anemone earrings. This is by no means a comprehensive list. Why not take a few minutes to look for yourself at our exciting range of enamel jewellery.

Our colourful enamelled jewellery makes a perfect gift.

New Jewellery Arrivals in October from The Little Things In Life

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:26 GMT

Welcome to the October update from The Little Things In Life jewellery website

We have great news this month on several new arrivals, and an exciting new range!!

First our new range - Scarves

We have added a new range of colourful silk ladies scarves (handmade in Scotland); they are certainly colourful and will brighten up anyone's day! We also have a selection of gossamer-like polyester scarves of various rainbow colours. If you are looking for a ladies scarf at a great price, try us out!

We have also added loads of new Millefiori Jewellery which will also get your attention, certainly with the bright colours. We have added new millefiori earrings and millefiori pendants. These are all made using sterling silver and are top quality murano glass, NOT cheap resin alternatives.

Just so we keep the men interested, we have added several new Cufflinks to the Mens Jewellery section. These new executive cufflinks make a great gift and add a splash of colour and style.

In our new New Arrivals section you fill find all these new items and also a selection of new sterling silver pendants, necklaces and anklets that have just arrived.

Winter may be coming, but it's no excuse not to be bright and cheerful with our colourful new arrivals.

It's The Little Things in Life that count!

Wedding Jewellery, Wedding Hair Accessories, Bridal Accessories and Gifts

Mon, 01 Jan 1900 00:00 GMT

The Little Things In Life is a family run business. We combine high quality products with very high customer service standards. Just read our testimonials!

We consider ourselves to be specialists in wedding jewellery, bridal accessories, fashion accessories such as hair fascinators and gifts such as jewellery mannequin stands. We have one of the largest ranges of wedding jewellery available online in the UK.

Our wedding jewellery selection consists of a large variety of items, from bridal hair combs, necklaces sets, tiaras, complete wedding jewellery sets, parasols, wedding bags, rings cushions and more. In fact we have one of the largest collections of wedding jewellery online in the UK.

We have now added to our website a new wedding features section where visitors can read about weddings of brides who have previously purchased some of our wedding jewellery products. Take a look at their stories and photographs and see how our wedding jewellery looks on beautiful brides. After your big wedding day has taken place, why not contact us with an account of your own day and send us some photos of yourself in your Little Things In Life wedding jewellery. We would also like to feature bridesmaids and any of the bridal party who may be wearing jewellery and/or bridal accessories from our wedding jewellery range. Details can be found on our wedding features page.

We offer high quality products at great value and first class service. We dispatch all orders the next working day following your order by first class Royal Mail which normally take 1-4 days. For those in a hurry we offer an express service for just £5. If you need an item gift wrapped and delivered direct to the recipient, we do that too for just a £3 charge.

Everything you see on our website is in stock. We do not offer items that we don't have.

ALL our prices include free delivery in the UK.

Customer service isn't dead: it's normal at The Little Things In Life.