Now I can’t write this without mentioning my favourite show of all time - Ted Lasso.. I finished it this week and now I’m lost. It is the best most heart-warming show and it’s about a subject I know nothing about - football. It is truly inspiring and moving and I loved the little nod to The Sound Of Music in the final episode. The whole show was pure genius and not to be missed. It will make you cry.

Anyway, back to the point, I was asked by my fabulous team to go through my own jewellery box this week as we are soon to launch a podcast about the stories behind the jewellery called ‘Show Us Your Bits’. It was clear I hadn’t done it in a while as everything was a little tarnished. OOPS!

But what a pile of treasures I found in my little jewellery box! Every piece brought back a memory. Amongst the precious metals were plastic beads, casino chips, shells, stones with holes in and even marbles all mixed in with hand-me-downs, charms from holidays and original samples I made when I started jewellery-making a long time ago, - all with a story to tell.

I rarely go into the box as I normally keep the jewellery that I wear every day and within my eye line hung on a brass hook by my bed (not that I should admit this). Most of my jewellery I keep ON and sleep in, from a knuckle full of bling to a wrist full of bangles and wherever I am you can hear me coming, I know it’s not good for the jewellery but I love wearing it as it is part of me. I’m rubbish when I have to go through customs, and I am so used to being frisked now.

Anyway, I am only going to give you a sneak preview of a few pieces so you get the idea but what I really want is for you at home to open up is your box of treasures and reminisce about the stories behind your special pieces, whether it be a wedding ring or an amulet passed down through the family to a special coin or a plastic ring won on the pier by your first boyfriend. It doesn’t have to be valuable, and it doesn’t have to be by Posh Totty Designs (although we are more than happy to share those stories) but it’s much more about harnessing the power of stories and our own personal meaningful jewellery and heirlooms. Each one completely unique to you.

So here are my bits:

One is this gold ‘Love’ ring that I wear every day. It was given to my Mum on her 21st birthday when she was working for Hermes in St. Mark’s Square in Venice. The family who ran the store gave it to her and she passed it onto me when I was 21. I love the 70’s vibe of it and I have had it on my finger since I was 21 and it won’t come off. I love it and its providence. She was a real adventurer and discovered the flavours of Italy before they arrived on the shelves of the supermarkets here. That early adventure set about her passion for Italy like I have for Mexico.

This 9ct gold Egyptian hieroglyphic pendant was bought in Luxor, Egypt when I was 11 years old. I was lucky enough to travel with my Mum to Egypt to visit my Dad who was living in Cairo at the time. I had only ever been to France once before that, so I didn’t know what to expect. It was a crazy heaving city, and it had such history with the Pyramids in Giza. It was a proper adventure and I had only recently watched Indiana Jones, so everything was so exciting. We galloped around the pyramids on a black stallion, went down the Nile on a Felucca and slept beneath the stars (so romantic until you realise there were no toilets etc..or even a roof) and went to The Valley of The Kings on a donkey at sunrise, and we sang the theme tune loudly to Indiana Jones as we travelled. (I won’t mention the Pharaoh's curse but what do you expect when you roast a chicken in Nile water on an open top boat).

I still remember the whole trip like it was yesterday and what I love about this charm is that it was really my first introduction to jewellery and personalisation. It’s a very magical piece and it has been my lucky charm for a long time. It inspired me to do what I do today.

My third piece is this bangle that my Husband personalised for me with ‘Don’t go to Paris!… play Scrabble with me at the pub by the sea!’

He gave this to me as an anniversary present many years ago when I first started my business. It was one of ours, so I hope he paid :)

It was based on a note he gave me when we first met, as I was at a life crossroad. I had just met him but was supposed to be moving to Paris where I had been offered a job. It was a very new relationship, and I was unsure whether it would go anywhere, but this note, and his commitment made me take a chance and make the right decision….and I’m a massive Scrabble fan. He gave me this bangle years later once we had moved our lives to Brighton and we would play Scrabble together in the pub on the beach. He just knew!

These are just a few of my stories and I have many more attached to every amulet, charm and Talisman. So please take a look in your jewellery box to see if you have any great stories. EVERYBODY has a great story, and we would love to share them on our up and coming podcast called ’Show us your bits’.

My friend and famous author Josie Lloyd and I will be interviewing the people with the best stories to tell, so please do get in touch.

It will be a cross between Desert Island Discs meets Antiques Roadshow and we want it to be light and fun and highlight the magic behind every loved and treasured piece.

@showusyourbitspodcast