Blinking and the days fly by so quickly...

Happy New Year everyone. Hope yours is already off to a stellar start!?

To be honest, I am really happy to have said goodbye to 2010... I know it's a little too far in to the new year to be looking back already (I maybe should have made this post on the 1st!), but in spite of it being a year full of a lot of happy things (my move to Belfast being one of them, Angus coming in to our little family etc) - it really did kick our arses!

Starting last January off with Swine Flu had me on my back for months, barely able to work and feeling very sick and emotionally drained... those feeling really only began to abate a few months ago - and I'm finally feeling stronger now. I have been struggling with a very painful stomach since the Summer, and on Monday, finally got my confirmed diagnosis of IBS from a gastroenterologist. Stress management is all that is to be done... so let's hope less finds us this year, egh?

Worse still, for me, has been seeing Mister Bell unwell. Hospitalised the monday before Christmas, very suddenly (again), I hate more than anything seeing him ill and can't wait for this year to bring some resolution to that... our first Christmas living together wasn't quite what it should have been, but it was together no less and we can't wait for all the rest of them, to roll by, more quietly...

My life is completely full of love and happiness (the mister and the pooch alone more than see to that!) so this year, I am just wishing for health for us both... oh, and a little wealth wouldn't go astray but it's not top of the list! ;)

Already, we have had some exciting news about fantastic new stockists for our homewares... you can read more here (I am over the top!)... and we are drinking to our health with yummy juice from our new juicer!

Looking forward to Spring and all our plans to expand abigail*ryan (a garden studio is on the horizon!)... I should be popping in to this space, but as my life has moved on, I feel a little more comfortable over in this space, telling you what we've been up to. Maybe it's just that so much has changed, a new space feels better, or maybe it's just that keeping two up is too much?!

BUT, I truly love hearing from all the people who stop in to my blog, so I would love if you would stop in and see me in the new(er) space, too...

Wishing everyone a truly fantastic 2011 - and that you all find and/or enjoy your health, wealth and happiness (love!)...

More soon,

xo

Pup's first snow...

Now that some snow has descended in Belfast, and that Angus is a little bigger (a week older, hah!), he got let out today to run around in the powder and ice in the back garden... despite shivering SO much, he was loving it ;)

He is now full of beans after being quite poorly following his injections and tablets, so it's nice that he's all bounding around being very entertaining and then collapsing for hours worth of sleep after tiring himself out.

Let's Mister Bell and I have a chance to catch up, too!

He was a very good help during our recent a*r photo-shoot... and was very taken with our Christmas Decorations! Best styling prop, ever, I say! ;))

Hope your weekend is lovely...

Axo

Tea-towels Galore...

It feels like it's been a very long time in coming, but our brand new tea-towel designs have FINALLY arrived...so, I can at last share some exciting a*r homewares news. *grin*

The drawings for these were very labour intensive and intricate, so it seems like we have been working on these for a really long while! I am just delighted with how the printing has come out on these. They are so beautiful, and we are in love with the new colours!!

We are introducing these in the shop at £9.50, so they make a perfect Christmas gift, or host/hostess gift for the party season. I like to take a cake, or a bottle of wine wrapped in one!

We are working on some more house softies tonight - series one went down a storm at the Craft Fair, and we only have a few left of those. But, with each series, we will use a different abigail*ryan fabric on the back - so there will always be something new to collect.

Also coming soon to the shop are our lavender bags! They will be £11.00 each, boxed, and make the most beautiful gifts... we already have a backlog on pre-order as they are proving so popular...(we will be sewing some more of those tut suite, too!) - so do drop me a line if you are interested in early ordering...

As well as all that, we will also have a few heirloom quilts going online... they are so special.

Cushions, too! ;)

As if that wasn't enough for one weekend and week ahead, we have an exciting new addition to our family. Meet Angus - my new 8 week old Lhasa Apso pup. He's only been with us since Saturday, but he's settling in nicely and we're already the best of friends ;) Mister Bell bought him for me as an early Christmas pressie and has been keeping his impending arrival secret for weeks... he's so sneaky, that one! ;-*

More soon (and a HUGE thank you to everyone who ordered during my shop sale - it was a great success!)

xo, Abigail

Moving Day...

Well, the day has finally arrived - the volcano ash has thrown everything it has at us (me home to Glasgow a week later than planned to start packing and so very behind, Mister Bell on a boat sailing his way here to help me finish up) - but D-Day has come nonetheless...

I'm still packing though the removers come at 6ish, there is still stuff to be done - but our last night in our wee Glasgow love nest has been had (I slept like a log as I was sooo tired!) and this evening we will be saying goodbye...

I will be so sad to leave this little flat, it's been fantastic and full of so many memories even after just two years. If I'm honest, I've probably had some of the best times of my life here!

...however, I am so looking forward to starting my new life in Belfast, and my new life with Ryan in our first home together.

Tomorrow, we get our forever.

It feels really good.

Farewell Glasgow, I will miss you!!

*kisses*

xox

Growth...

I am so happy with my little plug plants - I picked these up in the supermarket where they were reduced to 35 pence and 45 pence! All these plants for under a pound - isn't that great!? I just planted them out into bigger pots a week ago and they have positively exploded... we even have a flower already!

I also have two blueberry plants and a cream Magnolia, along with 2 hydrangeas {which have struggled since they came home from Ikea a month or so ago - boo!} to plant out, so I am choosing pots and trying to find a moment to get that done in amongst all our clearing out/packing! We have started some sunflower seeds on our windowsill and every time Mister Bell is at the sink he calls out... 'another one's up'... it was five this morning, and now (9pm) we have 8... and leaves.

Feeling very chuffed at this point ;)

This is the first time I have had a garden as an adult - always living in apartments does limit that somewhat, so I can't wait to get stuck into this lovely space! It's really big {with wild garlic growing up at the back - which we maybe need to find a recipe for?} and has a great big deck...so I'll be starting with lots of pots and creating some beds and see where that takes me.

Herbs are a must too - as the garden is just out from our kitchen...and even though Ryan says they're "boke"- I am listening to him as much as I ever do, and he will certainly be enjoying many dinners cooked with them from now on. Probably obliviously...as long as it's not coriander {aka: his nemesis}.

I am so scared of having a black thumb, I am flexing my green fingers oh-so gingerly! ;)

I promise to share my progress, and am looking forward to many of the blooms I am trying to grow winding their way into my jewellery designs, or into my drawings for our homewares!

What's been good for you in the garden so far this year? Any tips for a newbie?? ;)

More soon!
xo

Studio Clearance Bonanza - part THREE!!

Olive Leaf Necklace - 18ct gold plated silver pierced leaf, large dark smokey quartz beads strung on heavy bead cord.

Original Price £300.00 - SALE PRICE: £165.00

3 necklaces available!

Begonia Outline Earrings - 18ct gold plated silver.

Large intricately pierced outline earrings - one of a kind!

Original Price £225.00 - SALE PRICE: £140.00
SOLD - thank you :)

Hi everyone... part three of my studio clear out is up today!

Another pair of earrings {one off outline earrings this time!}, and an amazing necklace {which was featured in a fab photoshoot a few years back!} - which I happen to have three of, so hopefully there will be less disappointed emails to answer ;)

Thanks so much for embracing the studio clear-out so heartily, it's quite sad to be letting some of these pieces go - but we also have a huge amount of money to raise to help pay for the move, so it is necessary as well as good to purge and start afresh in the studio!! Every piece I sell is an amazing help towards paying for the move, so thank you all very much...

Mister Bell's parents came over at the weekend to spend a few days in Glasgow and took a car-full of abigail*ryan stock back to Belfast {which had been here for the Christmas rush!} so I feel like stage one has commenced... now we just need to load vans with my whole flat full of things {how do you gather SO much stuff by the age of 26?!} and get it all across the water come May...

But one thing at a time... and working through the workshop is a great start! ;)

Hope you all had a lovely weekend...

Back soon, xo

Studio Clearance Bonanza - part TWO!

New Leaf Necklace - 18ct gold plated silver setting and catch, carved and stained faux ivory, smokey quartz beads, and central gemstone. Limited Edition of two.

Original Price £450.00 - SALE PRICE: £270.00

Sweet Horse Chestnut Duo Earrings - 18ct gold plated silver, smokey quartz briolettes.

Original Price £120.00 - SALE PRICE £70.00

***SOLD... thank you!!!***

Hi everyone - I'm back from a short trip to Belfast, and have resumed my studio clearance sale in preparation for the big move!!

The two pieces above are ones I really love - another carved necklace - 'New Leaf' - this time with a very large and particularly lovely smokey quartz central stone {vintage!} and a strand of lovely sparkly faceted beads, also smokey quartz. I have only ever made two of these necklaces, and this is the last one... I have also included my original paint-up design above to give you an idea of the whole look, it's very regal and makes a really special statement piece!

Next up are the Sweet Horse Chestnut Duo earrings - elegant, long and swingy...these mis-matched beauties are finished off with stunning, large smokey quartz briolette stones, perfect for adding a little bit of understated sparkle to your look...

As always, just drop me an email at abigailpercy[at]gmail.com if you would like to purchase a piece, and I will email you back to confirm and then forward you a paypal invoice, which will also include an additional P+P cost...

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I will be back with more pieces, and news, very soon!!!

Abigail xo

p.s. Be sure to check out Mister Bell's STUNNING new jewellery pieces over at DesireLines, and our new Draft Excluders over at abigail*ryan... more details over on our a*r blog! :)

No really... back this time ;)

I can't really believe another month has gone by {more than, even!} since my last blog post... every day I have wanted to pick up my camera and photograph little bits of my day and what I have been tentatively doing - and every day I have not managed.

This horrible flu has knocked me way harder than I thought, and even more than six weeks on/in... I am still having bad days.

It's all terribly BORING. Bless poor Mister Bell who has to put up with me going all weak and grey at regular intervals, and... sounding somewhat surprised, saying "God, I really don't feel well" for the umpteenth time that week. I think he deserves a prize!!

Still - as I said, it's all terribly boring, so I won't yap on much longer. I would be surprised if anyone is still checking in with this little space... no-one loves tumble-weeds! ;)

However - I picked up my camera today - so I hope the spell is somewhat broken!!

We are currently obsessed with these amazing bread buns we found frozen at the Chinese supermarket... we steam them every morning and have them plain or with some fruit jam and they are absolutely divine. I am hoping those + red bean mochi + miso soup + lots of fish will cure me. It's certainly a diet I would be happy to die trying, anyway ;)

The lovely orchids are left over from the Botanical Illustration class I am teaching just now on Tuesday nights - I thought they looked sweet in my little pebble vases from Paris, atop the pink granny square Mister Bell crocheted a few weeks ago...my toast catalogue arrived this morning too.

In other news, I am having a big clear out in the workshop {as a BIG MOVE is coming very soon!! :D} - I am going to be offering up some more one off gallery pieces from previous years {think statement necklaces and brooches with carved ivory and juicy smokey quartz!} over the next week or so. They are going to be massively discounted as many of them are one off items, and discontinued designs {like the carved pieces!}... so it's your chance to pick up a bargain. More details to follow...

We also have some fantastic draft excluders coming at abigail*ryan... because, I don't know about you - but it's still damn chilly here!

Okay... heading into the workshop soon, so I will go for today. Planning to be back very soon... maybe sharing more sweet treats if nothing else!?

xo Abigail

Back...

The Mister is currently softly snoozing beside me after doing some chunky crocheting {oooh, I think it's a cowl!? *excited* ... will share soon!}...so I thought I would snaffle these few moments to stop in and say Hi...

It's a brand new year and I already feel like I have dropped the ball in this space - however, in a slight change from last year, I refuse to feel too badly about it. I seriously needed some time off after working so hard in the lead-up to Christmas {between the two of us, running our businesses and launching our new one!}, some time doing nothing to ring in the new year, to recharge my weary body and oh-so weary mind and do a little bit of nothing - some time not worrying, and not trying to juggle it all.

Mister Bell and I are in Belfast doing a good bit of exactly that!

Spanner in the works time, however, as I am, at this point, fairly under the weather - the whole Belfast side of the family have been fighting Swine Flu {yes, you heard it right!} for several weeks and now I seem to have succumbed. It's all so very frustrating as there is no hard and fast symptoms, and the doctors don't even check any more but I am swinging between feeling pretty crappy and rather hideously rough... a week in, and I am already bored of being so sore and tired.

I would rather get stuck into the year now! ;) But, what can you do??

We wanted to run sales in our shops to celebrate the snow and to thank you for all your support this year - but now, orders will be going out a little slowly because of the above... still, we wanted to say thank you nonetheless so there is 20% off in my shop, and in Ryan's, until I am back in the workshop - which will {hopefully} be a week tomorrow...

Ryan blogged more about the sale HERE :) Our codes are 'SNOWDAY10' = a lovely great whacking 20% off!

So far the year has been off to a lovely start apart from being not well - we cooked a big Hogmanay dinner for the family {traditional Scottish fair, a big steak pie!} and have spent lots of days snuggling on the sofa together, watching movies, Mister Bell playing his new computer games... leafing through cookery books we got as Christmas presents, baking together - cooking and eating good food...it's been lovely.

We even hit up Ikea in a bid to get organised - so far we have tackled the front room and it's looking great so far...shelving and storage on each side of the fire-place... DVDs all alphabetised and organised, space in many a nook for pretty things and book-shelves waiting to be filled. Now we are on the hunt for a rug - something on a budget, as sadly {really, really I mean sadly} I can't stretch to this one! ;)

I bought a new orchid to stem my floral craving though. I felt it was a necessity and an apt reward for braving Ikea {twice in two days!}.

Okay - I shall go for now, my energy window has passed and I am running on empty.

Hoping to be back soon, and able to share all sorts of new things with you. I already know 2010 is going to be a busy and exciting year for me with huge changes and new horizons... can't wait to kick this flu and get royally stuck in!!

Happy New Year everyone :)

xo

p.s. the image above is Charlie Harper. R bought me the *amazing* Todd Oldham book for Christmas, and I just adore it... good thing too, as he almost broke his ankle and wrist falling down the stairs at the train station in Glasgow carrying it home! That's love for you, egh? ;)

Busy Bee's!...

Hi everyone - it's been another busy week here in the HQ! Orders getting wrapped and shipped {in this photos, it's a big stack of tea-towels!}...and our launch show at Welcome Home last Saturday too...

Last night we put up our Christmas tree [YAY!], it was late {hence the dark photos} and we were so very tired, BUT, getting up this morning to the scent of my nordmann pine, I am really glad we did. Even if Mister Bell mocked my Christmas fairy... ;)

I bought some amazing Christmas decorations last year when I was in California, and have waited a whole year to use them - SO exciting!! Have a look over at the abigail*ryan blog for more decoration pics!

...we will take a photo of the tree all lit up tonight!

We have a friend coming over from Belfast today for a few nights, so I will dash for now and crack on.

Happy Monday, all! xo

abigail*ryan @ Welcome Home...

Next Saturday, the 12th of December - we are holding a one day Christmas shopping event, as part of our abigail*ryan homewares launch, at Mhari's store, Welcome Home, in Glasgow's West End.

I hope you will join us for mince pies and Christmassy drinks - Mister Bell and I will both be there along with lots of lovely stock of cushions, tea-towels and gift-sets and hand sewn Christmas decorations - we hope you can make it!!

Where: Welcome Home, 19 Keith Street, Partick, Glasgow, G11 6QQ

When: 3-7pm, Saturday the 12th of December.

Please do swing by!! :)

xo

abigail & ryan

Perforations = RSI...

...but it's so worth it ;)

I worked on my first perforated piece {the Magnolia Brooch, above - a big'un!} a good few months ago {God, now I think about it, it was the early Summer!} and really loved a new found way for me to explore silhouette, and combine it with my hand piercing to add further detail in 2D...

I had done so much carving previously to add form, I was looking for something new!

Despite the RSI after drilling so many hundreds of holes, I really liked the effect and loved playing with the cameo shapes {I got new oval mandrels - bliss! ;)}...as I always refer back to an age gone by... so I was really excited to work on another special piece this Christmas using the same effect. I especially love making necklaces too, so this was fun.

I knew this piece had to be kept silver, as when I plated the magnolia brooch, I secretly preferred it silver - so this was clear in my mind. When I found two strings of amazing, smooth, oval Green Garnet beads - I knew it was a match made in [my kind of] heaven...

So I got cracking! ;)

You can see a little more of the Magnolia Necklace HERE :)

Just thought I would share a little background on a few of the new Christmas pieces this week - I know I have not shared as much of my process as I normally would on the blog these last few months what with time being so tight - so now I can finally sit back and share some little tid-bits...

Hope you're all well and still enjoying the peeks - and thank you SO much for embracing the launch of abigail*ryan so warmly... Mister Bell and I are over the moon.

Happy Wednesday, all.

xo

Shop Update and abigail*ryan launch!!...

Oh my goodness, I don't think I have ever worked as hard as I have in the last six months or so... running back and forth to Northern Ireland {where my gorgeous boyfriend lives}, setting up a new business with him and keeping my existing one afloat - it has been challenging, tiring but ultimately very rewarding.

Today - I am so thrilled {and a little overwhelmed, read: teary!} to announce that our homewares business abigail*ryan, the fruit of all our labour, is finally live and online with our first installment of goods for your home.

abigail*ryan homewares ONLINE SHOP :)

We hope you love it as much as we do!

Secondly, I have just completed my BIG Christmas jewellery update, tons of new designs and reworked old favourites in limited edition colourways... many of the items are in stock and ready to ship so will reach you in time for Christmas...click HERE to shop!

Hope you will love all the new gemstone beads I have been working with, punchy green garnets, icy blue tones {so wintry!} and soft teals...

Mister Bell has also updated his shop with lots of new designs too - and most of his jewellery is in stock and ready to ship, as are his amazing handbags. I will share some more of what Ryan has been working on tomorrow...

We are all ready to rock and roll for the Holidays so get your orders in fast and we will parcel and wrap and tie bows like deamons and get them winging their way to you asap!!

Happy Monday everyone!!

xo Abigail

Christmas Update Info...

It's getting very exciting, and very manic around here... the BIG Christmas update is always a big challenge {especially in Scotland!} - as I am always fighting against the fading or non-existing light to shoot the 'goods'... but this year especially, I have THREE business' 'goodies' to photograph and style, and one, for the very first time.

Eeek!

I am totally delighted to be able to tell you I will be launching my Christmas Jewellery update this coming Monday, Mister Bell will be updating his shop too - and we will, finally, be unveiling the grand launch of abigail*ryan homewares.

I really am over the top excited to be able to share the homewares collection, finally - after so many months of work! And excited too, as I know just how many more things we have in the pipe-line for the New Year to add...

Christmas will be a little different this year in our shops - so I thought I would explain a little about it. I hope you will bear with me! ;)

IN STOCK SYSTEM...

Having always worked 'to order' - I am switching things up this year. All new items will have inventory bars letting you know an item is in stock {I have made multiples in advance which means I can ship them out to you faster!} - I will work hard to keep items in stock as they are selling, however, if an item goes 'out of stock', you can still contact me to order it... but it will take my normal quoted 14 working days.

I will of course work hard to make this faster where possible, but am hoping the whole new system will make getting bijoux to YOU, from me, as quick and easy as we can! Our aim is to ship within 3 working days.

abigail*ryan homewares will be running in the same way! We have costed all our shipping as regular airmail with the option to add 'insured, trackable shipping bolt-on upgrades'. It is *always* my preference to send goods recorded, and I do this for jewellery as standard - but we wanted to give people the choice when it came to the fabric goods...

Everything will be explained clearly on each website - so have a wee read when all is live and get in touch if you have ANY questions at all. :)

VERY last postal date to the USA is the 11.12.09

VERY last postal date to Europe is 11.12.09

VERY last postal date in UK is 23.12.09

Please order as early as you can in advance of these dates so we can ensure you get your orders in time for Christmas Day!!

Stay tuned to Abigail A. Percy - Designer Jewellery, DesireLines, and to abigail*ryan so as not to miss out on the launch.

I will be back soon to reveal all!!

xo

Abigail

p.s. You may have noticed I have retired many designs from my Vintage Collection. Many can still be specially ordered, so if you can't see what you are looking for in my shop - see my portfolio website for the full back catalogue of designs. :)

We've been busy!...

It's been another busy week here... I can't quite believe the weekend is here already! To celebrate, we stayed in today and loafed in our PJ's. Perfect, really - and we figure we can do some work tonight. ;)

I've been really busy working on the styling of all our new abigail*ryan products, and it was the tea towels first. I just bought a little dining table for my front room - after almost 2 years of eating off the coffee table, this is SO welcome {I can hear Mister Bell cheering in the background! ;)} and we have been enjoying using a few of our tea towels as tablecloths... they are so cheery!

Here are some snaps of some recent suppers - and a wee sneak peek from one of my styling sessions...

:: Antler Mag Blog

:: This is so nice

:: I'm dreaming of a studio like this for the Mister and I... via bloesem :) {One day!}

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!!

xo