This is me. In a nutshell. {My new Emarlie Jewellery necklace}

I have a new favourite thing. (And yes, this is where my mother sighs, turns to my dad and says 'She's so materialistic'.)

Honestly though, I'm sure if it was hers, or yours, or anyone's; it would be a favourite.

I was so fortunate to receive a beautiful In a Nutshell sterling silver necklace from Emily of lovely (and local) online handmade jewellery store, Emarlie Jewellery.

I was planning on having it at least a month before I posted about it to be sure that I absolutely adored it, but I seriously couldn't wait any longer.

My faves. My favourite husband and my favourite puppy. 

This isn't just a personalised necklace, this is a personalised necklace with SIX sides. Like a nut. For someone who is fond of geometry and symmetry, this is just perfect!

To be honest, I didn't know how much I was going to wear it, since I'm a statement jewellery kinda gal (or as my mother calls it, costume jewellery), but here's the thing... I'm bordering on obsessed.

I know that personalised necklaces have been around for a while, and I've always liked them just fine on other people, but I never got one for myself. Maybe they all seemed a bit 'mumsy' to me. I mean, I don't have kids, and my husband isn't going to get his name engraved on something and give it to me, he'd think that was just weird. (And I don't like the idea of guys doing it for girls to 'claim' them, or show some kinda ownership. Not my dealio, Joe.)

But this is going to become a staple for me. You know how I know? Because I've had it since the 6th of March, and I've worn it every. day. since the 6th of March. A new record for me, I'm sure.

 Literally every single day. 

Every day that I've worn it at my retail job (more on that and why I'm back in retail a little bit in another post, I'm sure), I've received compliments, and I've given out Emily's details so often that I think I need to get her to order at extra set of Emarlie business cards for me!

So, let's get to know Emily and her lovely and quite distinctive personalised jewellery brand, Emarlie.

What do you do? What do you make? I love to make things with my hands. I hand stamp jewellery, make polymer clay necklaces, crochet, and like to do a bit of woodwork. I just have to be doing something with my hands all the time.

Why and how did you make your first product? I came across a piece of hand-stamped jewellery a few years before I started. It wasn't until we moved back to Queensland and I was at home with my two boys, before I started making them. I made two heart charms with my boy's names on it and their birthstones. I still have them hanging up in my office so I can see how far I've come.

How do you manage your time so well? I'm not so good at time management. I never have been. I find I work better under pressure for some reason, I don't know why. When you work from home with young children, sometimes housework comes last.

How did you distinguish yourself from your competitors? There are a lot of people that hand-stamp jewellery, so distinguishing yourself from them can be a little tricky at times. I have exclusive designs, use high quality precious metals; sterling silver, 9ct gold and rose gold, I am a little OCD when it comes to stamping itself; I try my best to stamp it as perfect as humanly possible. It's a very competitive market to be in.

If you could have given yourself a piece of knowledge or advice when you started what would that be? Emarlie is still currently only an online business, I would have suggested to try every possible way to get your product out there; markets, parties at people's houses, dropping flyers in letter boxes, and approaching businesses to stock your products. I still need to listen to that advice myself haha.

How do you conquer any moments of doubt that threaten to stop your great ideas? What pushes you through? My drive and determination to be successful and be always be bettering myself is what pushes me and motivates me to draw up new designs, make new beads, photograph the pieces differently. I have this motivation board with little quotes and positive sayings which I drew up when I started Emarlie (formerly Forevermore Hand Stamped Jewellery). I look at that when I doubt myself and see how far I've come.

Righto, time for some fun stuff.
What is your 'uniform'? What do you wear more often than anything else? Haha I don't have a uniform as such, just whatever clothes I choose to wear for the day. However, I have to wear a necklace everyday. I feel naked if I don't. I usually try and compliment my outfit with my necklace, and lucky for me I have a large collection to choose from haha.

What is your favourite thing to wear to make you happy? My necklaces! At the moment I'm wearing my polymer clay necklaces, I just love the colours in them, and I love colour so they make me happy.

Thank you to Emily for putting such care into my beautiful necklace; I'm proud to wear it (did I mention every. single. day)!

How do you feel about personalised jewellery? Do you already wear something personalised?


I'm linking up with Kimba Likes Wardrobe Wednesday, there’s a great giveaway to enter this week, so head over.

If you enjoyed this, you may like to read my story of dressing a Home and Away actress and a fabulous super-blogger. And bossing them both around a little.