Happy to be back

Well, I was finally back in the studio today and what a lovely feeling that was. After the manic end to 2013 and the excesses of Christmas and New Year I took some time out, but being in the studio is where I actually feel I need to be.
I started out by playing with some simple designs but there are already lots of ideas floating around so watch this space for new pieces, including more rings and lockets.

Excited!!!!

It is now just two days until my stint at the Bath Christmas Market, I can't wait to see you there: Dec 4th-9th from 10 am on Bath Street (by bhs). 

I am also very excited to show you some new pieces that I have made for the occasion...

This bunny/hare is an image I designed for some Christmas cards last year, the card was very popular so I decided to try it in silver and fell in love with it. 

'It was the middle of winter and snowflakes were falling like feathers...'

Hand painted silver baubles to wear with your favourite Christmas jumper!

And lastly some gifts for the boys. I hope you like...

My Studio

Worked on a commission piece today, my first Christening bangle. I have to say that I'm pretty darned pleased with it.

My Studio

Today I have been answering a few questions for the Made in Bristol blog Meet the Maker spot and thought I would share some of the photographs that were taken to go with it. Be sure to check out their blog and pop along to the two pop-up shops in Quakers Friars, Bristol.

New Jewellery

Hello lovelies, well hasn't it been a miserable couple of days here in old blighty, I am really missing that sunshine! However, this has meant that I have had to knuckle down and get on with some new designs instead of swanning about in the sun.
As you may or may not already know much of my work is inspired by fairytales and fanciful tales, and these new pieces are taken from two of my favourite stories.

"I SHOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A KISS"

This is what Wendy said to Peter Pan before handing him a thimble from her pocket. It is the perfect whimsical symbol of love, a thimble kiss.

When Alice fell down the rabbit hole she found a table with a tiny key upon it, this key was to a little door that led to Wonderland. 

These two pendants are available now in my Etsy shop and will be added to my Folksy shop very soon.

Another Fun Market Day

Hey ladies and gents, I realise I have been MIA, sorry, so here are a few pics from the Alma Vale Summer Fare in Bristol which I attended on Sunday to get back in the swing of things. I didn't make my fortune at this market but a great day was had and the community spirit of this quiet corner of Clifton was wonderful to see. The day was sponsored by The Alma Tavern Theatre and I would highly recommend you visit them sometime as the staff, food and atmosphere are top notch.

The hog roast and live music meant the street filled with ale loving peeps and Mother A and I were kept in good spirits by our 'neighbours' at the Heartfelt vintage shop. Mandy supplied us with tea and biscuits in beautiful china and Anthony, who took the pic of us behind the stall, provided interesting chatter of his beautiful illustrations and work as a fashion psychic. Just a great day really. 

Markets

Been busy the past couple of days making stock for the Alma Vale Summer Fayre in Clifton, Bristol, and I am now sitting enjoying a pint of Gem Bath Ale in the Alma Tavern Theatre. We decided on a recognisance mission to see what the place is like and I am not disappointed, such a nice chilled out bar. Please come along to the party on Sunday if you like the idea of live music, artisan sellers and a hog roast from 11am - 8pm. Sounds pretty perfect to me. 

My Studio - commissions

I love getting the chance to put people's thoughts and ideas into real pieces of wearable art, when someone asks me to make a commission piece neither of us know how it will look for sure but it is great when a design comes to life and exceeds mine and my customers expectations.

This happened last week when someone asked me to put together some 18th birthday gifts. The drawings my customer gave me were tweaked and given a twist of my personal style and eventually came to life, both of us were thrilled with the outcome. See what you think...

Does your craft ever surprise you?

My Studio - Wedding Season

The sun is out and wedding season is upon us, and as a jeweller this is a time when I get to make very special things for people that they will wear forever. How amazing is that?!
I am in the process of making a beautiful ring for one of my lovely Etsy customers from my 'I want a fairytale' series so I thought I would share a few photos of jewellery that has been purchased for weddings in the past.

These are a selection of commission pieces and pieces I sell in my my shops, the white gold wedding rings at the top have been sold several times for Alice themed weddings and can be customised. I have also had several brides wear my bangles on their big day and buy pendants for their bridesmaids. The cufflinks were a commission piece but I am looking at introducing cufflinks into my range.

My Studio

Well I am taking advantage of the dry days to get some photography done this week, getting some snaps of the new pieces for the shop etc.
I'm not the best of photographers but I also can't afford to get my work professionally shot, so here is how I go about things. Jewellery needs close ups, good light and often the odd prop to show it at its best. I like to take my shots outside if I can using a basic homemade light box and my Nikon D5000 (don't ask me too many details as I am still teaching myself how to use a dslr). A bright but slightly overcast morning is the ideal light in my opinion, however the odd adjustment is sometimes needed in the editing suit.

A simple light box made by lining a 3 sided cardboard box with white paper and a few props to stage the jewellery. 

The props need to highlight the jewellery, not shadow it, so just one or two items to lift it should do. Here I used a reel with ribbon and lace and a pair of wooden scissors to compliment the style of the pieces, which have been inspired by heritage folk crafts and homespun patchwork quilts.

Have a great Wednesday sweets xx

My Studio

Hello friends, I have been thinking for a while about whether to introduce you to my studio properly and how I work, rather than just showing the finished results. Although I've snapped the odd pic before, my studio is like my sanctuary and I'm quite protective of it, but I think I would like to start sharing snippets from my working day. So here is a little tour via my iPhone to start us off (apologise for the not so great quality images!).

My jewellers bench next to the window is never going to be beautiful but I love to have everything in its place, if it gets too cluttered then my work really suffers. Playing music also helps me focus, usually folksy type stuff but it really depends on my mood.

This is my reading zone for tea breaks or when doing some research with one of my millions of books. This wall is also slowly being covered with bits I have collected, found or been given.

And this corner is for designing and packaging up finished jewellery, it's my inspiration corner. Oh and Jack is there to watch over everything, people who know me well know that I have a slight pirate obsession!

My shelf of curiosities includes an old abandoned birds nest found in the garden and a Victorian tile.

The typewriter was originally given to my mother in the 70's by an old guy who worked on the local newspaper, I think it came from the news office. The desk it is sitting on is also special as it is my school desk, they updated the ancient furniture a couple years after I started and as mum worked at the school she asked if she could have my desk. It is obviously quite low but I kinda like still using it, so do my little cousins when they visit.

Anyway, there is the mini tour of my workspace, it is constantly being added to and changing and I love it!

New Collection part 2

Happy Wednesday lovelies, how are we all today? I thought I would share a few pics of some of my newer pieces now available in my shop. I am still working on the range, but these are all ready and out there for sale. This work is inspired mostly by my love of folklore and the art that it influences, using old weather/countrylore sayings and folk arts and crafts (quilts and samplers etc) as a starting point.

Shoo shoo gull, away from the sand. There's no good weather when you come to land

You can see more of my work at either of my online shops at Etsy or Folksy. And you can catch me at The Bath Artisan Market this Sunday 10-4, Green Park Station, Bath

Also don't forget to like my facebook page for the chance to win a pair of 'sewn with a kiss' earrings by April 13th xx