Website relaunch – What has changed at Helenka White Design.

Helen White November 28, 2012

I just noticed that I haven’t updated my blog in a while and the last entry was the first part of the Polydays 2012. The reason for the long silence is that I have been super busy with my website and have created new pendants and rings.

Originally the work on the website was only intended to improve the SEO as I didn’t get much traffic – my blog seems way more popular compared to my website, which is nice, but doesn’t put food on the table. So I had to do something about this. Thanks to Facebook I found Pippa Haines from Pippa’s Web Design, who helped me with the SEO.

SEO, for those of you, who haven’t heard of this before, stands for Search Engine Optimisation and is quite essential if you want search engines to find your website and also rank your page. It’s not an exact science as Google keeps changing things, but there are certain things you can do, like defining and using keywords on your pages and creating meta tags but in a way it makes sense (i.e. writing keyword heavy texts is a no-no).

As I am based in Wales, create a lot of animal jewellery and am concentrating more and more on polymer clay we decided to concentrate on these words. However this required a substantial change in my own website blurb and creating extra pages with relevant text. In the process I decided that it would be nice to change the banner, which showed a pretty selection of semi-precious beads. I used this photo originally, because I simply didn’t have anything else at the time. However we both felt that it doesn’t really represent what my website is about and in fact could be slightly misleading – I don’t sell beads on the website but finished pieces of jewellery. So I had a think of what I could replace it with and also looked for a nice font. I really love my nautilus range especially the one you can see on the banner, so picked this one for the banner. Pippa played around with the font and the image and then we realised that we need a different colour scheme for the whole website.

Website banner – copyright Helen White

I wanted it to look elegant, clean and simple, so went for a greyish colour scheme. I never liked the way my shop was set up as it looked messier and messier the more items I put on there. So Pippa created separate pages for different shop categories – this does not only make it far easier for customers to browse and find items, but also for search engines to find my website as these are again all SEOd. We also complied with EU law and added the cookie policy and notice on the website.

For some reason the software for the website didn’t allow for customers to register and create their own login details. Registering has one big advantage – when you go to the shop it has all the important information saved. However I always hate it when I have to do this myself on various websites – mainly because I end up having to remember a gazillion passwords. So we decided to keep it simple and opted for just the user-friendly quick checkout – so no passwords to remember apart from your PayPal.

All in all it was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it and I am really happy with the result and I can highly recommend Pippa’s services.

I hope you like it too and will have a look.

Next blog post I will continue with my report on the Polydays.

Mokume Gane Pendant - copyright Helen White — Mokume Gane Pendant – copyright Helen White

UPDATE: Sadly Pippa passed away in 2024. She has been a good friend and very helpful with my various revamps of this website.

Ivy cooper leaf bracelet

January 9, 2026

My dad bought me this bracelet for Christmas and I absolutely love it, it has amazing detailing.

Malia Mackenzie

I could have kept them for myself!

March 25, 2022

“I have bought some lovely jewellery and bookmarks from Helen typically to give as special and unusual presents. Everything is beautifully made, reasonably processed and always well packed. I have also been a lucky winner of a red bracelet and earrings set which has bought me some lovely compliments as does the lovely blue and white nautilus necklace which is so unique and eye catching. I was really interested when Helen began making the sculptures, watching her posts as each model developed. As a cat worshipper, this specific group really caught my eye! I bought two cats; one sitting black and white, the second white and black which was laying down – bought them as presents for people with cats of similar colouring; they are so lovely, the detail is wonderful and their recipients are so pleased with them! They nearly didn’t get their presents, as I could have kept them for myself! Thank you Helen, your work is wonderful!”

Cathy St. John

Thrilled with them.

“Just taken delivery of 2 cat sculpture ornaments, a surprise for my birthday and am thrilled with them. Very special as handmade so each one unique. They arrived very well packaged and in cat paper with a ribbon and each even came with an adoption certificate with my cat’s name on, a lovely touch. Very personal service with a follow up to check if parcel had arrived safely and undamaged. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a lovely unique gift for friends or even themselves. In fact, I’ve just ordered another cat to go with my others! Thank you, Helen :)”

Louise West

Every item is unique.

“I discovered Helenka White Design through The Cat (magazine of the charity Cats Protection) and I have now bought five of Helen’s beautiful pieces: two sitting cat pendants for myself) and three gifts – including one for a non-cat person who was delighted with her shiny pendant. Helen’s service is prompt and personal, and all the items were lovingly and attractively packaged. Best of all: every item is unique, yet the prices are so affordable!”

Brenda Griffith-Williams

Surpassed expectations.

“I commissioned a custom pair of earrings from Helen and was very happy with both the process and the finished result. She patiently actioned my requests for various adjustments to the design along the way and the finished product surpassed expectations. Highly recommended.”

anon

Very tactile and beautifully made.

“I’ve bought several items from Helen over the years, both for myself and as presents. They’re all unique, artistic and stylish. One of the things I like most about the jewellery is the lovely feel. All the items are very tactile as well as beautifully made.”

Sian Aubrey

Love the little cat pendant.

“I wanted to get something special for xmas for my wife, and, I found Helen’s site. Whilst there was lots there I liked, nothing that would be perfect for my wife, so, I emailed Helen, told her what I wanted, and, GOT IT. Had to pay a bit extra, but, when you ask for pure silver you have to pay for pure silver. Love the little cat pendant I have got, with a pure silver chain. Communication with Helen was so easy, so simple to sort out issues. If you want something from her for this xmas, order now, fast like.”

Mark Fisher

Arrived beautifully packaged.

“I ordered a custom piece to be made for a young lady’s birthday. Helen was very good with communications over the piece, making sure I was happy with the design and materials used. Delivery was very good and it arrived beautifully packaged. She was overjoyed with her present and also the unexpected gift that Helen had added. I’ll be definitely recommending Helen’s work to others and shall be returning to purchase more of Helen’s lovely work at later dates.”

Jim Laver

Delighted with the finished pieces.

“I asked Helen to design me a necklace using beads I’d seen and liked on her website. I had quite a clear vision for what I wanted and she agreed she could make what I wanted and offered to make me some matching earrings.

She communicated with me frequently throughout the design process offering alternatives and using photos to illustrate the options. She gave me quotes for the work ahead of time. She worked diligently and in a very timely fashion keeping me updated as she went. I was delighted with the finished pieces which she packaged beautifully and sent by secure post. I was very happy throughout the entire process and Helen finished the necklace and earrings to a very high standard. I would have no hesitation recommending Helen for her work, design and collaborative approach and the excellent quality of her jewellery. I’ll be keeping an eye out on her website for other items I might fancy.”

Siobhan O'Neill

I received several compliments from family and friends.

“I was thrilled when Helen contacted me in October to inform me that I had been chosen as the winner of her latest giveaway to celebrate her 4th successful year in business! I was to be the proud owner of her beautiful Macaw polymer clay pendant and earring set and I also had to thank Bobby, her beautiful pet kitty, who pawed my name out of the bag!

Just a few days later my handmade jewellery set arrived safely secured in a pretty little drawstring black velvet bag. The colours were striking and the set was so well made with Helen’s signature marked on the back. I wore it first with my red top and black jeans and received several compliments from family and friends! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Helen and Bobby once again for the lovely giveaway and to wish Helenka White Design much success in the future. I will definitely recommend her products to all my family and friends and will be looking forward to seeing her new creations!”

Tracy Nixon