My name is Marina and the name of this site has been inspired by my daughter, who is my little jewel! I've been making tiaras for almost 10 years now, although I have been pretty obsessed with them for more than 25 and finally after a lot of persuasion, I have decided to set up this site in order to show you what I can do! I like to think that my tiaras are interesting, creative and original and I hope from the pictures you can see, you will agree!
Over the years, I have been asked to create dream tiaras for lots of different needs, tastes and events. These range from many similar styled tiaras for large Asian weddings, to individual, bespoke and unique tiaras for small register office marriages, personal occasions and proms. Also, I now have collectors of my work that believe they should be looked at and appreciated as fine art and not worn!
I source materials from around the world, via the internet, personal contacts and on my travels. However, I believe that my 'style' and evolution for making beautiful things is unusual in it's approach. This is because, often I will keep materials for years, waiting to be inspired as to how to use them, which leads to the most unlikely combinations and fusion of designs! I tend to fall in love with the beads first and wait for the inspiration second! A good example of the use of beads which have inspired me (and I couldn't wait to use!!!) are those used in the Murano Collection, which you can find in the main tiara gallery. I bought all of these during a recent trip to Venice and at the moment I have no more to make further tiaras and jewellery. However, if they are well received, I will do my best to make another trip to buy more supplies (someone has to do the tough stuff!), so if you get in touch and they are gone, don't despair, because I will do my very best to help you (really I will, I could use another bead buying holiday!)
When I start to create something, in this case a tiara or an artist bear, I normally have a vision in my mind of what I would like the finished article to look like. However sometimes this changes, but I only allow the reality to differ to my 'vision' if it becomes even more beautiful than I had originally hoped it could ever be!
Also, as much as I love certain popular materials like Swarovski crystals, it is very rare for me to make a tiara that is solely using these. This is for various reasons, 1) because I think that too many of them can be 'overkill' and it is impossible to see the beauty of the individual stones and 2) because most tiara makers seem to cover their designs in Swarovskis these days and I like to be a little bit different! For these reasons, I mostly use them as 'accents' to bring “bling” and attention to areas of my work and not for them to become the sum total of it. However, if you would like something that is exclusively Swarovski crystal, but maybe using unusual shaped stones, then do contact me and I will see what I can do! As for the more run-of-the-mill kind of styles, you can get those anywhere and I would direct you somewhere other than my site…
I rarely make the same tiara style twice, (except for wedding parties and the "Beautiful on a Budget" Collection) but if you see something you like or you have special ideas of your own, please don't hesitate to get in touch on the email address below with your needs. I can always make something slightly different to the one you love, so that you too have something unique...(that is part of a wedding day, knowing that you are the most beautiful girl in the World and no one will ever look quite like you! Put simply, you are "Princess" for your day and you should be as stunning and unique as only you can be and I do my best to help you achieve that!) Alternatively, I might have it in stock waiting for you! I keep rather a large stock, but also run a bespoke service too and am happy to discuss modifications to my existing designs or to create something completely one-off for you.
I also want you to know that your comfort is important to me! For this reason, many of the tiara bands you can see in the gallery are hand-woven by me, out of gold-plated wire and 925 Sterling Silver for an extra comfy fit. All silver and silver-foiled Venetian beads are mounted onto Sterling Silver bands, without exception. The gold equivalents are mounted onto gold-plate, quite simply as gold wire is notoriously difficult to find and outrageously expensive! (Any tips as to where I can obtain affordable 9 or 18k wire would be appreciated!!!) Slightly heavier beads are normally mounted on flexible and good quality pre-made gold and silver plated tiara bands. However I make sure these are as light and comfortable as they possibly can be! I purposefully try and make sure that none of my designs are very heavy - I don't want you to have the huge headache I had at the end of my own wedding day, when I took off the monster-structure tiara that I had someone make for me!!! At least it inspired me to go and create better for you...!!!
My prices aren’t the cheapest, but my standards are very high and I want you to know that you are getting an original piece that will never be replicated…tiaras can be obtained cheaply these days elsewhere, it just depends if you want something that take hours, days or even weeks to make that will never be seen again…unless of course it becomes a family heirloom, as it surely will!
The spiritual bit (please don't be scared...!)
One of my other “hats” is as a reiki master and angel healer*. I will willingly infuse your tiara/jewellery with reiki energy at no extra cost if requested, just ask if you would like it done before I send your piece to it’s new home! Also, when creating bespoke commissioned pieces, not only can you tell me some of your ideas about colours and styles, but also I like to try to channel the bride’s personality and 'style' while I am working if she has no objections…and most people are delighted with the outcome! Mostly I like to work intuitively and just let myself 'feel' what works well together. As I mentioned above, that often means that I source materials and keep them for some months or even years before I am inspired to create a special piece, however when I do, I know that it is the best it could ever be! If required I can also make particular beads in your tiara “angel stones” (stones which have been attuned to the vibration of angels, so an angel is there to help whenever they are needed, for 999 days after creation…which maybe good for wedding day nerves or helping to get the weather right?).
Finally...
My relationship with artist bears hasn't been quite so long! I have become interested in them over the last few years, having developed a "hug" of my own and realized that as a creative person, I wanted to make them too! At the moment, there is likely to be more tiaras than teddies on the site, but more teddies will be added as I make them! I do hope you will enjoy this site and come back and see us again soon!
Love,
Marina xxx
Email: Marina@TeddiesAndTiaras.co.uk
***STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS***
COMING SOON - INNOVATIVE AND AMAZING TOP QUALITY RAINBOW TIARAS IN PURE SILVER WITH A FEW INTERESTING TWISTS!!! PERFECT FOR DARING BRIDES, BRIDESMAIDS, PROM QUEENS, BELLES OF ANY BALL AND OF COURSE, COLLECTORS OF FINE ART! PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON FOR DETAILS!!!!
* Although I am a reiki master and angel healer, I do not suggest that my tiaras/jewellery have any special powers. If you are worried about your health, please see your doctor.