#GETToKnowYou Day 20 - Best Seller I rarely produce designs on mass as I like customers to feel they're getting something a little bit exclusive so it's difficult to label one design as a 'Best Seller'. However, in general, I've found my earrings to be my best seller overall whether they're £10 or £20+, I'm very pleased to say people seem to love them 😊 #MindarlaDesign #chainmaille #jewellery #fashionjewellery #mircomaille #glasgowetsy #GlasgowFashion #madeinScotland #earrings #colourfuljewellery (at Mindarla Design)

#GETtoknowyou Decided to combine a couple days & start midway to catch up on the GetToKnowYou Instagram challenge. Day 15 - Beginning: All my chainmaille jewellery begins like this, enamelled & plated copper wire on a reel. I then set out a design & handcraft every single jump-ring used. Day 16 - Packaging: At the moment I use silver gift boxes & pouches. However, I'm not happy with this & often looking at more ways to reflect my brand better, without adding too much cost to the customer. #chainmaille #mindarladesign #glasgowetsy #glasgow #scottishdesign

Trying out the concept of combining Chainmaille & Crochet together. This is my first trial, möbius rossettes in centre with a simple crocheted edge. Think it needs a tassel. I'm really liking concept of delicate thread against hard metal but think it needs more R&D 🙂 #mindarladesign #chainmaille #crochet #contemporaryjewellery #earrings

Really pleased with how this turned out, I might even put as one of my face makes so far. Created using yarn I had leftover from over projects as I really do like trying to use as much as I can up before ordering any more. Pattern based on 'Summer Tunic Dress' from 'Crochet - The Complete Step-by-Step Guide', however, as per usual I've altered it a bit from original pattern. #crochet #crochetaddict #childrenswear #pink #yarn #kingcoleyarn #stylecraftspecialdk

ME Awareness Week - Cognitive Problems Many may know ME causes severe fatigue but there are many other symptoms too. One set of issues that often make me, and I'm sure others, self-conscious is the cognitive problems that come with the illness. Aphasia: I like to think of myself as fairly smart and yet I often feel like an idiot because I can't remember simple words or my brain substitutes the completely wrong word. It's incredibly frustrating as someone who is quite well-read to have your vocabulary go missing whenever it feels like it. Agnosia: This is something I often try to hide but may mean other people think I'm being rude. At times I struggle to recognise people faces, especially those I don't see on a regular basis. My short-term memory is particularly shot on this and as my partner might put it, I'd be the worst police witness to a crime possible. Customers would get me to put something by at the charity shop & come back an hour or so later - Only for me to look at them blankly & them look at me like I'm an idiot. 😐 (If they were wearing something distinctive then I'd be okay). General Brain Fog & Overload: This means when I'm tired I struggle to focus on even a simple conversation or task. It also means I can't cope with too much input at once so I struggle greatly with trying to socialise in a big group. It might make me seem aloof but when you're struggling with so many people talking, it's hard not to just retreat into yourself and the sanctuary of your own somewhat muddled brain. Sorry for long post but I hope by sharing I can help people understand ME a little more. #MECFS #MEAwareness #CFS #SEID #myalgicencephalomyelitis #meassociation

Going blue for ME Awareness month. 💙 For about 10 years I've suffered with this illness, with little to no help from doctors. Although I'm now much better than what I was, I'm still nowhere near 'normal' and have to be careful, pace myself. It's not just tiredness as so many wrongly think - it's extreme fatigue, it's pain every single day, brain fog, nausea & sickness, memory difficulties, balance problems...and the list goes on. Not to mention the mental & emotional impact of losing who once were. What's as damaging and makes this illness even harder to cope with is lack of understanding. The battles you have to fight simply to get others to believe you're ill, a fight you don't need when you already have so little energy. The judging looks when you have a good day & for once feel like going out and ill informed advice to just 'push' yourself, (when you've already pushed yourself by drying your hair that day). So if you want to do anything this month to help the thousands of ME sufferers, try to be more understanding. Understand we truly are ill but we have good days amongst all the bad days and the good days only come when we PACE ourselves not push. #meawareness #meassociation #myalgicencephalomyelitis #SEID #CFS #goblue

New earring design with amber coloured crystal. #MindarlaDesign #contemporaryjewellery #chainmaille #jewellery #jewellerydesign #earrings #dropearrings #crystals

More crochet jewellery - personally I'm liking the contrast of the soft pinks against the black. The texture of the crochet can't fully be seen in the photo unfortunately. Beads are Rose Quartz & Coral. Thinking of adding an extra coral bead at the top. #MindarlaDesign #earrings #jewellerydesign #crochet #crochetjewellery #crochetaddict #coral #rosequartz (at Mindarla Design)

Playing with idea of some crocheted jewellery, this is an earring concept I created using 0.8mm rattail. #crochet #crochetjewellery #jewellery #jewellerydesign #earrings #MindarlaDesign

Not chainmaille but my other passion, crochet. This wee cardigan is for my little girl and was created in King Cole Baby DK. Pattern was from King Cole's Baby Crochet Book 1, although I changed it up a bit with stripes and different edging. Yarn, buttons & book bought from my fav online knitting/crochet store, @woolwarehouse #crochet #crochetaddiction #kingcoleyarn #babycrochet

Decided to look for some other crystals outside my usual preference of Swarovski to try out some new ideas. Think these are really quite pretty. #crystals #bling #jewellery #sparkle

Cracking day for a walk with the wee one & Piper in sunny Kilcreggan. #kilcreggan #argyllandbute #lomond #riverclyde #spring # sunny #Scotland

Got these lovelies yesterday at the Stitching & Sewing Show, SECC from the lovely Number One Bead Shop, Glasgow. It was so hard to restrain myself amongst so many gorgeous semi-precious beads. #number1beadshop #coral #RoseQuartz #coloroftheyear2016 #SECC #Glasgow #ichfevents (at Secc Hobby craft Show)

Baroque Statement Earrings with Angelite. #handcrafted #chainmaille #contemporaryjewellery #madeinscotland #fashion #earrings #statementjewellery #Serenity #coloroftheyear2016

A much better photo of the Moonlight Earrings, with Mother of Pearl. #MindarlaDesign #handcrafted #contemporaryjewellery #chainmaille #jewellery #earrings #madeinscotland #fashionjewellery #motherofpearl

Midnight Earrings with Blue Goldstone #handcrafted #chainmaille #contemporaryjewellery #jewellery #madeinscotland #goldstone #earrings #MindarlaDesign

Hot off the work desk 🙂 These classy Mother of Pearl Earrings for fabulous occasions...and it's always an occasion to be fabulous, dah-ling 🙂 #MindarlaDesign #handcrafted #chainmaille #micromaille #contemporaryjewellery #jewellery #madeinscotland #ScottishDesign #bling #motherofpearl #helensburgh