Favourite things.....

Sew by Cath Kidston

Wanted Cath Kidstons Sew for Christmas, and was a very happy bunny when I unwrapped this! Can't wait to get started on a quilt for my boudoir, the search for the perfect fabrics is on! Available from Cath Kidston outlets and Amazon.

Imagine the delight on my face when I realised Edinburgh has an Urban Outfitters! (I'm not normally so slow on the uptake, but have been avoiding Princes St due to the disgraceful tram situation). Even more delighted when I spied a cute little jacket by Silence + Noise, in the softest of black leathers and very chuffed when I managed to get my grubby hands on one for half price. Be warned.....this will not leave my back for most of 2010.......visit http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/page/home for some amazing products.

Dates for your Diary.....

Mimi Pearl will be exhibiting with Edinburgh Craft Fairs at St Georges West, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh from 11.00 until 5.00 pm on Saturday 19th December. See you there for last minute presents and Christmas Cheer!

Last day for placing orders online is 17th December in order to ensure delivery for Christmas.

Somthing Blue.....

Something Blue Wedding Pin.....

Looking for that something blue for your big day? Then look no more, we do a little swarovski glass pearl hairpin in baby blue (available in both dark and light pins) that will fit the bill perfectly, a snip at just £5.00. Available at http://mimipearl.co.uk.

Not Mass Produced

Not Mass Produced are an online company specialising in finding you unique, handmade and yes....you've guessed it....Not Mass Produced products that are sure to delight.

Mimi Pearl are extremely proud to announce that our products are now featured with Not Mass Produced. Our selection will include some of our products that are featured on our boutique but also some that will be exclusive to them.

As always Mimi Pearl products purchased through http://www.notmassproduced.com
will include Free postage and jewellery will come in its own jewellery pouch for storage.

At Not Mass Produced you can purchase everything from jewellery, to handmade soap, to stationary......

Here's a litte preview of some of my favourites....

Mans Cuffllinks £85.00

Bird Bath £180.00

Daisy Soap £3.99

Happy shopping!!!

Mimi Pearl has been blogged.....

Mimi Pearl was mentioned today:-

http://ukhandmade.blogspot.com/2009/11/finds-crystal-clear.html

on the UK Handmade Blog, featuring our Deluxe Pixie Pendant in Aqua. UK Handmade is an online magazine dedicated to UK talent, designers, crafters and is an essential resource.

To download UK Handmade Magazine visit http://ukhandmade.co.uk/main

One For My Wish List.....

Limited Edition eye gloss by Chanel

I would imagine this product would take some getting used to in the application department, but I would be more than willing to give this one a try. You know me.....love a bit of gloss, shimmer and never seen without eye make up. I'm closing my eyes and making my wish as we speak.....

Recycled and Handcrafted with LOVE......

Vintage Boudoir Bag by Mimi Pearl

These handy bags are perfect for storing make up, lingerie, pyjamas, travelling and much much more!

Each one is individual, recycled from vintage fabrics and silks, lined with calico and pre-laundered - both eco friendly and glamorous....

Prices start from £12.00 - visit http://www.mimipearl.co.uk/userimages/procart15.htm

Christmas Event

Last week saw my first Christmas Event for Edinburgh Academy. There I met some lovely people, fellow stallholders, drank champagne, nibbled on canapes, bought presents, made great sales, couldn't stop admiring the gold embossed roses on the ceiling.....

The Mimi Pearl stall looked great - shame I forgot my camera....with lace, fresh roses, vintage props for display (someone wanted to purchase my vintage vanity mirror!), Bendicks, shimmering pearls, semi precious rocks, boudoir bags and lots of love!

A huge thank you to all the customers and Jane, Claire and everyone else for making the event a success!

Meet Anna Lavezzo......

A little background on Mimi Pearl.....for those of you who don't know, Mimi Pearl was founded in 2007 after my love of creating. Named Mimi (my daughters petname) and Pearl due to my love of pearls and the vintage string of pearls I started with - that has inspired so many of my designs.


When I was a little girl, my Nanna (pictured) was a dressmaker and a huge inspiration to me. My first pocket money was made unpicking garments that needed alterating. The "front room" where she worked from, was filled with fabric, buttons, threads, headless Edna (tailors dummy!) and invited in a stream of customers. It was here and then that I fell in love with creating. My Nan always used to say - if she had been a little younger we would have set up shop together.


When I was deciding on a logo, it seemed adpt that I use on of my favourite photos of a remarkable, wonderful and huge role model to me. Black and white photography plays a huge part getting my ideas flowing - this image was taken at a function in Tripoli, in the original, she is flanked either side by my late Grandad and some other dashing gentleman. Claiming she wasn't smoking - just "holding" the cigarette for someone - Anna Lavezzo sums up the Mimi Pearl ethos - whimsical, vintage inspired with feminine and pretty edge.

Bespoke Onyx & Pearl Slip On Necklace

Here at Mimi Pearl - I have been busy creating bespoke pieces, including wedding jewellery, thank you gifts and just general old - go on...treat yourselves! (see one such creation above).
In addition to that, that dreaded C word...yes Christmas - dare it say it - is closer than you think and I have been preparing for stalls and events. I always look forward to these events as not only do I get to meet so many nice people, I get to have sneaky shop myself. Handcrafted gifts are always far nicer than those mass produced, and it is great to support other small business and designers. See bottom of blog for where you can meet me......

Stealing Warmth at The Line.....

Stealing Warmth From Each Other is the new exhibition at the Line Gallery Linlithgow, featuring photography by Siljes Elisabet Thorin and Keith Ingram. In this exhibition, two photographers, each with their own distinct interests and experiences, bring images to which they feel themselves drawn. Keith's sewing threads and Elisabet's decaying buildings each speak to us directly - and steal a little warmth from us all. Contact The Line on 01506 670268.

To compliment Elisabet's amazing photography I have created a range of Jewellery, Hairpins and Scenters all in muted soft colours from £5.00 - £49.00.

I was asked to re-work these pretty chinese amazonite stones for a friend. Her son had given her a bracelet and she loved it, but the bracelet broke and she wanted to be able to wear these beads again. I combined them with rich cream swarovski crystal glass pearls, sterling silver and a smidgen of crystal to create a low cost solution, without overpowering the already striking stones.

The finished result? A striking statement necklace that whispers understated glamour..........

Aquamarine.....

One of a kind necklace and Deluxe Pixie Pendant

I love this mini collection titled Aquamarine.....it's fresh, classy, uplifting...just what we need when the days are getting shorter and darker....

Handcrafted with freshwater pearls, chalcedony and moonstone.

You make me Blush.......

From the Blush Collection........Deluxe Pixie Pendant by Mimi Pearl, featuring italian glass loveheart, married with freshwater pearls, rock crystal and sterling silver.

Available now at http://mimipearl.co.uk, The Line Gallery, Linlithgow and Beauly Gallery, nr Inverness.

Just the Tonic......

Last week saw the opening of The Line Gallerys' exhibition for July 2009 - TONIC - featuring works from Nikki Monaghan (acrylic on canvas), Paul Kershaw (wood engraving), Ruth Nichol (acrylic on canvas) to name but a few. In addition to these works, Gail and Elisabet have a wide selection of jewellery, ceramics, woodwork and baskets, embroidered brooches and cushions, woven scarves and lavender bags.

The Line is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Mondays to Saturdays and from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm on Sundays, except when changing exhibitions.

The Line Gallery, 238 The High Street, Linlithgow.

Mimi Pearls French Lavender drawer scenter at £6.00 at the Line Gallery, Linlithgow

Commissioned Piece

This stunning piece was commissioned today. Two strand one of a kind necklace handcrafted with purple mountain jade, freshwater pearls, swarovski, ametrine and sterling silver.

Action for Children......

It's been a busy week here, with commissioned pieces coming in thick and fast, lots of Gala Day jewellery and last minute hairpins for Proms, as well as regular customers adding to their Mimi Pearl collections. Here's just a few......

Childs crystal pendant, hairpins......

Three strand natural pearl and swarovski crystal bracelet, Freshwater pearl necklace.....



Action For Children - Clickety Chicks
This weekend - Sunday 14th June - is Action for Childrens charity event, Clickety Chicks. It takes place at Supper Club 29 in Glasgow. This event has been hugely successful at Harvey Nicols in Edinburgh for many years. Clickety Chicks is being hosted by Gala Bingo and No.1 magazine. Tickets for this event are £60. I am gutted that I am unable to make it, but hope that the event is a huge success and Mimi Pearl goodies bring in lots of money for an amazing cause!

Recipe For Perfection.....

Take one sunny weekend, one camper van, several of the people you love, Bob Marley CD's, fresh pineapple, barefoot frisbee, hammocks for chilling, canoes for entertainment, Bella Bathurst's SPECIAL, cold beer and pizza, a couple of hitchhikers from NZ...... head up the road to Grandtully nr Aberfeldy and VOILA!!!! near perfection!

Whilst I was there I made this stunning One of A Kind Necklace using mountain jade, pearls and vintage crystal for a forthcoming Charity Event Mimi Pearl is supporting, more details to follow..

Add A Touch of Glamour to your Barnet!

Vintage Glass Hairpins by Mimi Pearl in Powder Grey
These sweet little hairpins come in an array of colours, these ones though are made with vintage glass pearls. I did some recently in hot pink...the run was limited as I used vintage glass pearls...down to the last two.

Jean Muir and Inspiration......

Myself and my sister in law went to see the Jean Muir Exhibition currently showing at the National Museum in Edinburgh today. I was very impressed with the simple lines and construction of some of the garments, and it showed how much styles transcend through the decades. It's always inspirational to hear others thought processes.....Jean Muir only designed her collections every six months, on a Sunday morning, from her white bed (has good taste then!) with a bottle of champagne at the side of her bed....I'm liking her style....

On other news....The Lines new exhibition opened it's doors on Saturday (and celebrated it's 14th birthday with cake and Bucks Fizz!) with new artwork from Nikki Monaghan. New Mimi Pearl goodies are available, including new one off slip on freshwater pearl necklaces, pearl clusters and silk and vintage lace lavender drawer scenters. I took my inspiration for this exhibition from one of Nikki Monaghan's works in tones of electric blue to green to grey. Stupidly, I didn't manage to capture any images of my new work...that'll teach me. This exhibition will run until 17th February 2009.

Mimi Pearl for Artlink Exhibition 2009

Mimi Pearl for Artlink Exhibition 2009

Artlink Exhibition will run from 2nd February until 20th April 2009 at St Johns Hospital, Livingston, Scotland.

There you will see a selection of artists and crafters exhibiting their work, in all mediums.
Most pieces in the exhibiton will be available for sale, unless otherwise stated.