Lockdown Life: Isolation Diary ~ Gem Weekly 6
Gem Weekly 6
Infiltrating the gloom to add a bit of sparkle to your day! Providing a little distraction from loo roll hunting, endless queues and, let's be honest, the anxiety of our situation.
A small businesses living room lockdown journey
Resilience, perseverance and don't ever give up!
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall" Confucious
Whilst some have taken a lovely blury eyed Easter trip to Durham Castle the rest of us have pretty much stuck to the rules and spent 11 or 12 (I've lost count) weeks in doors not seeing family or friends and doing our best to adjusting, keep going and staying sane!
It's been a difficult week for my family and I, mum was very unwell and went to hospital. The current situation makes it even more challenging for anyone finding themselves in similar circumstances, but I'm delighted to say mum went home today. It's one of many curveballs chucked at us on life's journey, but we get through it.
Verse 3 of IF by Rudyard Kipling also resonates with me as it explores perseverance, resilience and never giving up.
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
Some people say I'm resilient. Personally I think I'm just stubborn!
There are many people, families and business owners showing incredible resilience at the moment. Some researchers believe resilience is genetic. If that's the case then I must take after my mum.
Throughout Lockdown I've continued to not be beaten, and have kept my head down working. As a result I have received a number of new bespoke commission which I never expected, so I am extremely excited and grateful and looking forward to returning to the studio soon! More about this below.
Also a number of opportunities have come my way; I was delighted The Goldmisths' Company featured one of my Instagram stories in their #goldsmithsstories Instagram campaign which you can see here. This story about remodelling Jess's wedding rings will also be featured in more detail on The Goldsmiths' Company website in the weeks to come which I look forward to sharing with you.
I was also asked to answer Q&A's for features in the National Association of Jewellers magazine, and the annual Goldsmiths' Company Review, both will be published later this year. And in the next week or so I will take part in a webinar interview with Benchpeg. All of these I look forward to sharing with you soon!
Finally I was one of 250 lucky businesses that received complimentary digital advertising screens throughout June from Clear Channel. The three locations within a mile of my Hatton Garden studio are opposite the Dominion Theater at Tottenham Court Road. Outside number 3 Islington High Street and 23 Clerkenwell Road. Let me know if you spot them! ;)
So not bad for 11 or 12 weeks in a small living room! x
Applauding our NHS and key workers
Ghazala finally receives her ring!
You may remember I featured her ring during the first three weeks of Lockdown. It just needed a final polish, which my polisher was able to do as he tentatively returned to work a few weeks ago.
Here is Ghazala delightfully displaying her sparkling new ring alongside a remodelled diamond ring and bracelet. Recap the bracelet remodeling story here
Ghalzala's sapphire ring story
This stunning ring was remodelled from the four rings above. Ghazala was looking for a fluid ring design with movement, set with a teal coloured oval center sapphire and 108 stones!
Over time there has been much spiritual and scientific relevance given to 108, but for many people and for Ghazala 108 is a sacred number. These stones are varying tones of blue sapphires, aquamarines and topaz and the graduating colour and size provides additional movement to the design.
It needs to be seen in real life, moved and viewed from all directions to fully appreciate it. Watch the video to see the twists and turns and the 108 stones. The 108th being the centre sapphire!
Returning to my studio
As the shops will be re-opening on 15 June, I am tentatively looking to return part-time from the 22nd June for work I can't do at home. Traveling to work on public transport is my main concern so days during the week may vary, but I intend to make Sunday's a regular day for meeting clients if you feel comfortable doing so.
Face masks will need to be worn by both parties, and we can easily social distance. I also have antibacterial surface cleaner, surface wipes, latex gloves, face shields, paper towels, bucket loads of soap and 5 litres of hand gel!
Jewellery, or anything that needs to be handled will be wiped before and after.
For anyone who doesn't feel comfortable we can talk over video call which I have already successfully practiced during Lockdown.
I am ready! Covid-19, you will not beat us!
Friendship rings
These simple silver rings start from £8.00 and make a lovely gift in their gorgeous packaging. It's small thoughts and acts of kindness that can make the biggest difference to someone's day.
A little gift from me to you
I’d love to know if you’re enjoying these Gem’s, and what you’ve liked most.
They came about as a response to Lockdown and Isolation and have gone from daily to weekly and I’ve just introduced Little Gem which will go out at random times with offers and treats! So I’m starting to think about how to move forward with them as the country begins to make small steps to return to work and some-kind of normal. So if you have a spare 3 minutes, some feedback via these questions would be wonderful, and in return you'll receive a little gift through the post. Something real, that will hopefully make you smile!
