Gioia Mia loves Nuthatch

Hallo everyone

One of the many benefits of taking part in wedding fairs is the chance to meet some of the other suppliers. At the City Chambers Open Day in Edinburgh I was exhibiting next to Sue, of Nuthatch. In between chatting to the lovely brides, grooms, bridesmaids and mothers of the bride who had come to the Open Day, we had a natter about all things wedding - and I managed to sneak a taste of one of Sue's samples when she wasn't looking. I can wholeheartedly confirm that the tablet she makes is absolutely delicious!

'After working as a designer on many leading food brands

I decided to follow my passion for well designed packaging and cooking by creating my own Scottish tablet.

I started to do small boxes of tablet for weddings and events just last year 
and am able to source unusual materials for the boxes and labels.

I have worked with some lovely people since starting up and really enjoy each unique project that I work on.  

I believe anything handmade is something to be treasured,  the boxes are lovingly thought out and put together 
with the gorgeous tablet wrapped up inside and sealed with a heart or a personal message.'

 Thank you so much for supplying your delicious tablet for my sister's wedding. 
Everyone thought it was amazing and it got so many compliments. 
I have to say it is the nicest I have ever tasted 
and I am very glad I managed to track you down. 
Any excuse and I will be back for more 
and of course be happy to recommend you to anyone.

Best Wishes

Collette

'I now offer a locally packaged Scottish breakfast tea and quirky tea towels by Gillian Kyle
which really complement the tea and tablet. A little bit of Scotland all wrapped up in a gift box!'

You can buy Sue's delicious tablet, tea and gift boxes online here.

Nuthatch Online

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Credits

Photography

I am really grateful to Alan Watson allowing me to use his work on my blog.

You can see his website here. 

Real Brides: Shona

Hallo everyone

I'm really delighted to bring you another post in my series of interviews featuring some of the beautiful brides for whom I have made jewellery and accessories.

Shona commissioned a headband, necklace and earrings for herself, and two co-ordinating headbands for her flower girls.

At what stage in the whole wedding planning process did you start thinking about your jewellery and accessories?

I thought about it quite early on but couldn't decide for ages.

How did you hear about Gioia Mia?

My boss had visited an Open Studios event in the studio where you work from, and recommended you.

How did you decide what jewellery and accessories to wear?

I only finally made a decision when I visited Gioia Mia, who made it very easy. I think this was about six months before the wedding.

Shona made an appointment to come up to my studio. We had a lovely time chatting about her wedding . She tried on some samples I had made and we discussed colour schemes. She ended up picking some very delicate clear Swarovski crystals, which added a touch of sparkle which complemented her own understated elegance.

I made these into a headband, and matching necklace and earrings.

For her flower girls I made two matching freshwater pearl and clear Swarovski crystal headbands.

What did you enjoy most about having your jewellery and accessories designed and made for you?

The personal touch was so important and the jewellery was unique which made it very special.

Is there any advice about jewellery and accessories that you could give a bride to be?

Visit Gioia Mia!

Credits

I am really grateful to Trevor Silver for allowing me to use his beautiful images of Shona's wedding on my blog

You can see his website here.

Gioia Mia at the Edinburgh City Chambers Open Day

Hallo everyone

I was very excited to have been invited to take part in an open day recently. It was hosted in the beautiful City Chambers in Edinburgh, by the events team working there, on what turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny day in late autumn.

I took a selection of pieces with me, including headbands, tiaras, combs, hairpins, necklaces and earrings. Many of these pieces have been featured in magazines and photoshoots, as well as having been worn by some beautiful brides!

Photographer Alan Watson kindly took some images of my display just after I finished setting up:

Alan also took some beautiful images of some of the individual collections I had brought with me.

Renaissance

This delicate design features stylised organic branches and leaves. It is available in a whole range of Swarovski pearl and crystal colours:

Renaissance tiara, comb and hairpins

Renaissance tiara

Renaissance comb

Rococo

As the name suggests, the Rococo collection is a delicate play on irregular shapes and forms.

Once again, the many different colours and shades available to choose from (and the hundreds of different ways that these can be put together), make this collection easy to co-ordinate with any bride or bridesmaid's outfit.

Rococo headbands and combs

Co-ordinating earrings and necklace also available

Nuvola

The Nuvola collection features delicate clouds of Swarovski crystals. All of the collection can be made to co-ordinate with a particular dress.

Nuvola comb

Nuvola hairpins

Headband and tiara also available

Semplice

The Semplice collection is beautifully understated. It is based around a single colour of Swarovski crystal or pearl. The many different colours and shades available to choose from make it easy to co-ordinate with any dress.

Semplice headbands

Earrings and necklace in background

Semplice hairpins

Arco

The design is of Arco is based around a gently curving arch. The arch is filled with a subtle and elegant mix of Swarovski pearls and crystals in different shapes and sizes. The colours can be specially chosen from the many hundreds of pearl and crystal colours made by Swarovski to complement a specific outfit.

Arco comb

Arco hairpins

Arco asymmetric headband

Duo

The Duo collection is classic and elegant. The various pieces in the collection can be made from one colour of Swarovski crystal and pearl, co-ordinating shades or contrasting colours - the perfect way to match up jewellery and accessories with any outfit.

Duo necklace and earrings

Duo tiara and set of hairpins also available

Do drop me a line if you'd like to come and try some of these pieces on, have a chat about something in your own colour scheme, or if you'd like to me design something for you.

I'm delighted to have been invited to take part in the next wedding open day at the City Chambers in Edinburgh in March 2012. I'll be there with some beautiful new pieces and a fabulous competition too. You can read more about the details here.

Credits

Photography

I am really grateful to Alan Watson for his beautiful images of my work

You can see his website here

Real Brides: Lee-Anne

Hallo everyone

I'm really delighted to introduce the second in a series of interviews featuring some of the beautiful brides for whom I have made jewellery and accessories for.

Lee-Anne commissioned an understated, but very elegant, Swarovski rhinestone and pearl headband from me.

At what stage in the whole wedding planning process did you start thinking about your accessories?

I started thinking about accessories after I had decided/chosen the style of dress I wanted. I knew from the very start I didn't want a tiara, as I'm not an overly blingy/princess type person, but I think after choosing the dress was definitely the final decider.

How did you decide what accessories to wear?

I decided what to wear after having a vision on what I wanted and shopping around from there to see what matched what I had in mind. Looking at magazines etc initially helped with inspiration.

How did you hear about Gioia Mia?

I heard about Gioia Mia through The Scottish Wedding Directory.

Lee-Anne had seen one of my headbands in the Directory, and made an appointment to come up to my studio and try it on. We spent a lovely hour chatting about her wedding and her dress while she tried on a couple of different styles.

What did you enjoy most about having your jewellery and accessories designed and made for you?

What I enjoyed most about having my headband made for me was the personalised service. It was lovely to have something special made for me on my wedding day, and having it arrive in the lovely packaging was so exciting.

Is there any advice about jewellery and accessories that you could give a bride to be?

Advice I would give to brides to be is to choose accessorise that complements you as a person, and I would definitely choose the dress first then work it from there. Also it's nice not to always go with tradition - there are so many nice hair flowers/headbands out there instead of a traditional tiara.

Credits

Photography

I am really grateful to Gordon McGowan for allowing me to use his beautiful images of Lee-Anne's wedding on my blog.

You can see his website here.

Makeup

Lee-Anne's makeup artist was the very talented Jacquie Bruin.

You can see her website here.