I may or may not have a problem...

I decided it was time to sort out my drawers and drawers of costume jewellery.

I received a proverbial kick up the but from my Den sisters (more on them later) whom decided a much needed clothes/jewellery/accessories swap was needed.

When we moved into our new place in December, I shoved everything into drawers and boxes with the premise to sort it out one day, well that day came, and with Avie's 'help' we got it done before the birth of the newest De Souza. I also have a lovely chest of drawers just for my 'little' collection.

I have always loved jewellery. I guess being one of the 'curvier' ladies, jewellery will always fit, although I have big hands so rings can even be a struggle. Anyway, when I moved to London, I got a job in retail on Oxford Street and one of the perks of that was discounted clothing and accessors. I was in heaven! I would buy necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets for a few quid.

I am terribly sentimental about jewellery and when I travelled around Europe in 2003 I collected quite a few pieces as souvenirs of cities and countries, it was so easy to carry and I have great memories of that time when I look at the pieces now. I rediscovered a ring I bought in the US almost 15 years ago, it felt like Christmas finding that buried deep in a drawer. I also have a gorgeous wooden jewellery box that Grant gave me for Christmas in 2007, filled with necklaces he had bought in Afghanistan.

The vast majority of what I have is cheap and chic. I have never really been into precious stones although I have one diamond necklace and my diamond engagement ring. I am more about tribal/ethnic beads and semi-precious stones. Much of what I have is from Camden Lock Market in London and from our trip to South Africa in 2009.

So after a 'clear out' today, the above photos are the finished product.

I still have much more than I could ever wear but I... Just. Can't. Let. It. Go!