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The lovely Gina of By Gina Jewellery has become of friend of mine via Twitter and later in real life. She is a little ray of sunshine: bright, bubbly and boy, does she create some beautiful wedding jewellery!
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I’m like a kid in a sweet shop today as Gina showcases some of her gorgeous creations and tells Brides Up North all about By Gina Jewellery.
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Romance
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How did By Gina Jewellery begin? What is your story?
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I worked as an event planner in hotels for too many years and missed working in the wedding industry after I left – a big surprise to me! I decided I’d like to continue to work with weddings but didn’t want the unsocial hours that come with the hotel industry. It was a drunken idea in a pizza shop that started me thinking that I could run my own business (but isn’t that where all the best plans start?). I started with wedding stationery thinking how easy it would be to make and how wrong I was! With lots of practice and shouting at inanimate objects, I had created a range of stationery I was happy with but I didn’t stop there. If I could make stationery, then surely I could make jewellery, and you know what…I can! That was 5 years ago now and I have no idea how so much time has passed!
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Acacia
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What jewellery products/ bridal accessories are available from By Gina Jewellery?
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I have a range of tiaras, hair bands, necklaces, bracelets and earrings on the site at the moment but I am in the process of adding birdcage veils, garters and fascinators. At the moment my range is small but it is growing all the time. I aim to have a wide selection of styles, materials and prices so that no matter what a bride is looking for I should have something to suit.
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Do you design and make all the jewellery on your site?
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I did, but I’m very excited to have some very talented UK designers coming on board. They are designing and making new pieces that will feature on my site and a lot of them will be exclusive to By Gina Jewellery. I’m doing this to expand the selection I have on the site for brides, but also to showcase what amazing handmade items there are out there. A lot of the designers don’t have their own websites and sell through Etsy or Folksy so I thought how amazing it would be to be able to showcase their work on my site too.
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Acacia
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Which piece is your favourite and why?
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Ooooh…that is a tough one! I love all my designs, they wouldn’t be on the website if I wasn’t 100% happy with them! But if I had to narrow it down to just one thing…at the moment it would have to be the Daisy Hair band (below). It’s just so simple, but yet sparkly. But, by the time this goes to press I will probably have changed my mind 100 times!
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Daisy
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Can you create bespoke pieces?
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Yes, because all the pieces are made to order they can be changed to suit the bride. Or if the bride wanted something completely different, I could sit down and discuss their ideas and come up with some sketches for a totally bespoke one off design.
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What celebrity would you like to design for and why?
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I would have loved to have designed Katy Perry’s wedding jewellery. I think a crystal tiara would have looked amazing in her dark hair! But as she’s now married, I’d like her to wear a few of my designs as she’s a bit of a style icon to a lot of people. If she rocked pearls, they would be even more fashionable!
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Darcy
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Fae
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What materials do you work with?
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I mainly use Swarovski crystals and pearls with sterling silver fitments. I also use freshwater pearls in some of my designs. All the tiaras are made using silver coloured wire. I always make sure that each material is perfect before I use it….I’m too much of a perfectionist to use anything sub standard.
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Harmony
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Can you buy all your designs online or do you do appointments?
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Everyone of my designs are available on my online shop. You can choose crystal and pearl colour and lengths online too. But if a bride wanted a more individual piece they can email or call me to discuss and I can arrange an appointment to go through the design with them.
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Isla
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What pieces would you recommend as bridesmaid’s gifts?
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If it was for a little girl the Mia butterfly pendant (below) is perfect! They are so cute and girly! For an older bridesmaid I would go with Acacia bracelet or necklace…they can be worn with so many outfits and look amazing!
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Mia
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Where do you get your inspiration from?
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From everyday life. I see what people are wearing, what’s in magazines on the TV and ideas seem to come together. I’m not a big one for drawing designs…I like to try things. I am always putting something together to pull it apart and start again. I have a quite simple style and I like to stick to that. I would like to design some more elaborate pieces, but have to wait until I have enough time to make them perfect!
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Princess
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Can you give Brides Up North an idea on price?
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We have so many things, where do I start!
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Tiaras start at £70.00 up to £90.00
Hair bands start from £25.00 up to £40.00
Hair combs start at £45.00 up to £60.00
Necklaces are from £22.50 up to £30.00
Bracelets from £10.00 up to £20.00
Earrings from £8.50 to £12.50
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How can Brides Up North get in touch with you/ find out more?
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I have every imaginable way of contacting me!
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The old fashioned way by phone on 0191 272 8004 or 07881 903 953, by email gina@bygina.co.uk, via Twitter @byginaevents
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Through my website www.bygina.co.uk – I have a blog on my website which you can follow for interesting tips and tricks and you can view my full range of jewellery and buy online.
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I have a facebook page www.facebook.com/bygina which I use for special offers and competitions.
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Twilight
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Anything else that Brides Up North should know?
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My aim in life is to have a gorgeous boutique in Tynemouth near Newcastle upon Tyne where I live. I would love couples to be able to come in, sit down and talk through all their hopes and dreams for their wedding day in a consultation room. I also aim to have a shop front in the boutique displaying all my handmade jewellery and stationery. I’d also love to showcase other handmade items from wedding businesses in the boutique.
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Vintage
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Why do you read Brides Up North?
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I love the complete randomness of the posts! One day I’m reading about a real wedding, the next dresses and the day after a supplier spotlight! It’s never the same old stuff rehashed and I never get bored! I think it also helps that I’m nosey and want to see what all the couples weddings were like!
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © By Gina Jewellery
By Gina Jewellery is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier
Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier
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