LEFT: Swallows necklace, sterling silver and freshwater pearls

It is spring at last! The weather has been lovely for the last week, and I have been distracted by the birds outside my window collecting food and nesting material. On the subject of birds, the new design shown left has been accepted for sale on the Hidden Art e-shop site, and seems to have been well recieved so far. Today I am working on a alternative version of the necklace with black swallows, produced by oxidising the silver bird forms to create a black surface finish. I am currently in the process of photographing recent work so more pictures will follow soon!

LEFT: necklace with freshwater pearls, sterling silver and oxidised silver.

I am working like mad at the moment to finish and photograph a few new designs, and have included this photograph as a sneak preview! I have used pearls in quite a few of my designs lately, particularly favouring cream/white freshwater pearls, in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Although it is now well known that pearls are produced by oysters in response to an irritant, many cultures have myths surrounding pearls and their formation; the two most common ideas suggest that pearls are either the tears of a gods/spirits/mythical creatures (Persia, Japan) or that they originate from rain/dewdrops (Ancient Rome and Greece, India). Within one country or culture it is not uncommon for more than one myth surrounding pearls to exist. I think one of the most fairytale-like myths is the one origionating from Persia that suggested that pearls were born when a rainbow met the earth, and that thunder was responsible for any irregularities seen in individual pearls.

In the designs that I am currently completing I have used white and cream pearls of a variety of sizes, both round pearls and potato pearls (ovoid, often slightly irregular). I will post more pictures soon!

LEFT: using a gas tourch to solder a ring band closed, prior to attaching the stone setting

Happy new year!
In the run-up to Christmas I had quite a few comissions for unique pieces intended as Christmas presents, as well as selling current designs. The number of commissions was greater and more varied this year, and provided me with some very interesting work- it is always interesting (and very informative!) to see which design clients go for when offered several options.

After a very busy (and successful!) pre-Christmas rush we were snowed in here in Devon for a few days, providing plenty of entertainment and distractions in the form of snowball fights and long walks with the dogs! It all looked very pretty but it has been nice to be able to get out and about again now that it has cleared. I am now back indoors and hard at work developing some new designs which should be for sale soon!

Pegasus Necklace

NECKLACE: silver, oxidised silver and freshwater pearls

Last week I had this design, the Pegasus Necklace, accepted for sale in the Hidden Art E-Shop (www.hiddenartlondon.co.uk, go to 'shop', search for my name under 'designer-makers') according to their strict selection criteria. I am very pleased to have my work available for sale through such a prestigious organisation, and hope to submit more designs in the future, so will keep you posted!

The wing pendant is silver that has been given a black/dark grey surface finish via the process of oxidation, using liver of sulphur. The dark finish makes for a more dramatic and striking design, and enables the engraved feather design to show up more clearly. The pearls are an unusual flat shape, roughly square in form, and I like the way that the positioning of the holes in the pearls means that when strung together they sit on alternate sides of the strand. This piece developed from the small sculptural unicorn/pegasus piece that I talked about earlier on this season (pictured at the bottom of the page).

Christmas is coming!

RING: silver bird perched on a gold band

Work has suddenly picked up pace as Christmas is now approaching- I don't know where the last few months have gone, it seems like we've gone straight from the end of August to November! I am working on a few private commissions at the moment, with all of them at different stages in their completion, from the most recent one still being at the design stage, to a necklace which is just awaiting a final polish when it is returned from being hallmarked. Although most clients approach me for Christmas commissions in good time, there always seems to be at least one person who leaves it until a week before Christmas; I always try to take on even last-minute commissions (where possible!) but in these cases the person usually needs to be warned that it may not be ready in time for Christmas day!

I have been out and about looking at some of the Christmas decorations already on sale, I like to pick up the occasional more unusual piece, but you usually seem to have to wade through a huge amount of less 'interesting' pieces to find them! I seem to be drawn to bird and deer motifs, and bird shapes have also appeared in some of my jewellery designs. Over the last few years I have also acquired a selection of variously sized clear glass baubles which have ended up staying out all year, hanging in a bunch from a shelf- they are far too nice to only have out once a year!

Well I am going to get back to work now polishing a few finished pieces, so 'bye until next time.

Hidden Art

Hello! I have added a link to the Hidden Art website in the left hand column of this page. Hidden Art is an organisation devoted to the promotion of contemporary art and design in the UK, and the website contains a directory of members (designer-makers working in a variety of disciplines) as well as an e-shop. If you have an interest in contemporary craft and design (including ceramics, furniture, textiles, jewellery etc) this site is well worth a look, as is the E-shop if you are in search of unusual, well designed christmas presents (yes, its that time of year again!). As a member I have set up a directory page with my profile, photos of work etc which can be found by clicking on the link www.hiddenartlondon.co.uk/designermakers , selecting 'jewellery' in the left hand navigation bar, and then clicking on my name.

Banksy Exhibition

This picture was part of the Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum which I visited at the end of August. Part of the exhibition consisted of just Banksy's work, and the rest was displayed throughout the museum, mixed in with the other exhibits, making it a challenge to try to spot all of the pieces! This painting was hung amongst some of the Museum's permanent collection of pictures. I try to visit a wide range of exhibitions (style/medium/artist) when possible, and find that although they don't directly influence my designs, they stimulate my imagination and creativity. Despite the long queue (and resulting three hour wait!) the Banksy exhibition was definitely worth the visit!