Now that building works in our house are finally finished and we are trying to regain our social life, we invited a few friends and neighbours over for drinks a few nights ago - partly as a 'thank you' for putting up with six months of dust and noise and partly to show off the result. But despite the 'oohs and aahs' caused by our spanking new kitchen and extension, it was what I call 'my private Egyptian Library’ that almost stole the evening.

I fell in love with Egypt and its history when I was six and my father bought me my very first encyclopedia. The beautiful bright colours and symbols, the animal-headed statues, the fabulous monuments with their stunning painted walls, the grandeur of the pharaohs and their beautiful queens… I found it all utterly fascinating and, as a child, I wished I could travel back in time to be Cleopatra or Nefertiti with their beautiful black straight hair and perfect fringes (fellow tweeterer Muireann C Campbell, a.k.a. BangsandaBun would approve!), their Kohl eye make-up and, of course, their fabulous gowns and oversized statement jewels!

Interior of Ramses IX tomb, Valley of the Kings

Ramses II cartouches, Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple

Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel

Egyptian guide Mohammed and Marisol
outside the Temple of Medinet Habu in 2000.
All pictures by Marisol Douglas

That was a long time ago but my passion for all things Egyptian continues to this day and some of that passion is reflected in a few of our pieces at Caradiaz. The Amarna necklace, bracelet and earrings, the Kiya necklace and the Nefer necklace and bracelet are all Egyptian-inspired pieces designed with elements of the Eighteenth Dynasty in mind, one of my favourite periods in Ancient Egyptian history.

Amarna bracelet

Kiya necklace

Nefer bracelet

I would have loved to graduate on Egyptology at UCL but work and other time constraints always got in the way. So, it looks like the degree certificate won’t be replacing the Birkbeck Diploma in Ancient Egypt hanging from my office wall any time soon...