Category: Celtic Jewellery

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How about my own Instagram?

Well, the answer to the question about my own Instagram feed is that results vary – and quite significantly!  Partly this is due to my testing out the benefits of “pods” or “engagement groups” and partly, I suspect, it is to do with the hashtags I am using.  Life is a learning curve and, when you’re late to the party, it’s not always easy to edge in to a crowded room from the front door.  I wonder if sharp elbows would help??

This is my most recent image on Instagram – I just love this brooch with it’s Art Nouveau inspiration but with it’s interlacing design too.

When you see this brooch in real life – it’s an amazing piece of workmanship.  The 3-d design brings the Mackintosh style to life.  You can easily visualise sitting in a rose garden, looking at roses climbing up a trellis.

I’d love it if you would follow me on Instagram – my instagram name is @scottish_celtic_jewellery – looking forward to seeing you there 🙂

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If you’ve been following me on Instagram …

Last weekend, we spent a quick break with family on Skye.  It takes us over five hours from door to door, so we can’t just drop everything and go to see them.  A couple of days’ notice – not a problem.

The drive north was quiet.  We had expected the roads to be really busy but we drove for many miles without catching a glimpse of headlights in our rear mirror.  That’s the kind of driving we like – so going off-season means we’re not being jostled by speedsters who want to do London to Portree in an afternoon.

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry
Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry arriving in Uig – next stop Lochmaddy

Although we have visited Skye before, we were on our way to the Outer Hebrides so this time we had the opportunity to see much more of the island.  We called in to Uig to have lunch after visiting the Kilmuir Graveyard where Flora Macdonald is buried.  Much to our surprise, this is also the cemetery where Alexander McQueen has been laid to rest.

Flora Macdonald’s grave in Kilmuir Cemetery
Alexander McQueen Grave in Kilmuir Cemetery, Skye
Alexander McQueen

We didn’t know (or had forgotten) about Alexander McQueen’s Skye connections, so were quite touched to see this unusual memorial to such a talented man.

What else did we see on Skye – more to follow!

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Unusual ways to wear your brooch

I love brooches – but they’ve been out of favour now for quite some time.  However, all of a sudden, creative ladies are finding new ways to wear their brooches, bringing a contemporary twist to those statement pieces.

Silver Celtic Brooch
Dundreggan Silver Celtic Brooch

Stylecaster has put together a few suggestions on wearing a brooch (one features a brooch pinned onto the sleeve of a sweater, gathering folds of the garment together at the elbow – not too sure about this one because I know that I would get caught up on someone else’s garment.  It’s also at eye level for young children.  I do like the option of embellishing the top edge of a pocket with a bar brooch, though.

silver luckenbooth brooch
Holyrood Silver Luckenbooth Brooch

Another author has put together some very creative ways of wearing brooches – from securing a scarf with a brooch to placing one on a hemline.  It would seem that Nicole Kidman wears one on the nape of her neck sometimes when wearing an evening gown.

The Elegant Duchess suggests pinning a brooch to a handbag to update it’s look.  That would certainly be a great idea on a fabric evening bag!  How about on the waistline of an evening gown or the crown of your hat – even pinned into your hair to embellish your evening look.

I think I must be traditional – I like a brooch pinned on the lapel of my jacket – but maybe now I’ll look at my brooches in a different light and will probably find a spot on the collar of my roll-neck sweater.

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Christmas 2017 – Last Posting Dates by Royal Mail

International Last Posting Dates
Christmas 2017

International Standard and all International Tracking and Signature services

Saturday 2 December
Africa, Middle East

Wednesday 6 December
Asia, Cyprus, Far East, Eastern Europe
(except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia)

Thursday 7 December
Caribbean, Central and South America

Saturday 9 December
Australia, Greece, New Zealand

Wednesday 13 December
Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland

Thursday 14 December
Canada, Finland, Sweden, USA

Friday 15 December
Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal,
Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia,
Spain, Switzerland

Saturday 16 December
Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg

UK Last Posting Dates
Christmas 2017

UK Business Contract Services

Tuesday 19 December
Royal Mail 48®

Wednesday 20 December
Royal Mail Tracked 48®
Royal Mail 24®

Thursday 21 December
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®
Royal Mail Tracked 24®

Friday 22 December
Royal Mail Special Delivery
Saturday Guaranteed®

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Over 30 Stylish Celtic Cufflinks in Sterling Silver

We’ve had a busy time with family this summer – it’s been great getting out and about and catching up with everyone!  Starting to feel a little elderly now as we can’t keep up with the pace as well as we used to.  We’ve visited some interesting places including Dumfries House (just outside Cumnock) and we got as far south as the Hexham area – it was fantastic too.

Hexham Abbey Window
Inside Hexham Abbey

But now it’s time to think forward to our online shop – and getting organised for Christmas.  Oh, dear, this year did go by in a flash.

We’ve got a great selection of Scottish sterling silver cufflinks which make a great gift, either for Christmas or birthdays. Although men are more casually dressed, there are still times when smart attire is de rigueur – weddings, interviews, formal business meetings, for example.  (We love it when we see smartly dressed men and long for the return to the snazzy suits worn by the film stars of the 1940s and 50s …. sad but true)

Celtic Cufflinks - rectangular shape
Oran Mor – Silver Celtic Cufflinks

These cufflinks are solid and feature a Celtic interlace design.  Discounts are available if you order more than one set.

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Corporate Gifts

Little did we think when we went into semi-retirement that we would be asked to fulfill a corporate gifts order – however, we’re definitely up for a challenge, especially when it means that we get to promote Scottish craftsmen and women.  In all, we commissioned work from half a dozen of Scotland’s best silversmiths for an order which had to be delivered in January 2016.  It all went to plan, although we were a little anxious to get the products made and back from the Edinburgh Assay Office in time for delivery.

Celtic silver and leather bracelet
Three Nornes Silver and Leather Bracelet

We would love to talk to you if you are interested in sourcing Scottish gifts or jewellery for your DMC event – we can be contacted on 07955 450739.

In addition, over the years we have built up some great relationships with gift and jewellery companies so we would be happy to search out that perfect gift for your event.  Please challenge us!

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Black Friday Deals – Part 2

Ok – here’s the second product which is eligible for a 20% discount for Black Friday.  These beautiful gold Celtic earrings are made in Scotland and hallmarked in Edinburgh.  They are fitted with gold hook earrings and this gives them an extremely elegant look!

Mhorain Celtic Gold Earrings
9ct gold Celtic Earrings with Hook Fittings

Here’s another view of the earrings

BLACK FRIDAY is the code to get your 20% off at the checkout 🙂  https://www.macgillivrays.co.uk/mhorain-gold-earrings.html

#blackfriday #celtic_gold_earrings

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Black Friday Deals

We’ve got a BLACK FRIDAY offer for you – on this lovely set of cufflinks from Sheila Fleet Jewellery – to save 20% on the price, just use the code BLACK FRIDAY at the checkout.

Please hurry as this offer only applies to this one set of cufflinks!

https://www.macgillivrays.co.uk/celtic-cufflinks-maid-of-the-loch.html

Silver Celtic Cufflinks
Maid of the Loch Silver Celtic Cufflinks
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Celtic Dance at an Irish Wedding – what a lovely thing to do.

Some of the best weddings we’ve attended have had something special happen – either because there was a live band playing or because someone arranged something unexpected.  We didn’t attend this wedding but the video on youtube has captured the moment when the guests, bride and groom (I believe!) put on a display of traditional Irish dance for the guests.

I just love this!

If you love all things Celtic, we invite you to check out our range of Celtic silver or gold jewellery