Craft & Design Magazine feature!

The postman brought something very exciting this weekend, a copy of Craft & Design magazine which has a two paged feature by Rachael Chambers about me and my jewellery. I'm really pleased with it, my jewellery looks good and even I look OK!

Pages 32-33

Craft & Design magazine is available from the website or in art galleries and centres, click here for a list of stockists. It has loads of great articles about makers, galleries, events, courses and has something for makers and craft lovers.

May/June 2011

Vintage Finds

Yesterday I went to the Vintage Fashion and Textile fair run by Decorative Fairs  at Chester racecourse. I was on the hunt for some more haberdashery to make into jewellery. After a bit of rummaging I came home with a good haul....


Vintage haberdashery heaven

 The 1940s and 50s buckles I'll use to make brooches like this one below, they are all one offs, at the moment you can only get them from me at Craft fairs and events.

Vintage Buckle brooch

I found a box full of tiny snippets of lace - not whole pieces, just parts of patterns, they must have been part of a lacemaker's sample box, because some of them have little notes attached to them with instructions on how to make them and if you look at the picture you can see one with a customer's name - Mrs Potter. So lovely to find these samples of another maker's work and to be able to use them, not leave them in a box.


Lace samples



I'm looking forward to using these pieces of lace to make some one off pieces in my new collection - Vintage Lace. I wonder if this lacemaker was like me and finished her samples hours before she sent off to sell her lace to a client or at went to some fair? (I finished the first samples for the Vintage Lace collection less than 24hrs before the British Craft Trade Fair a fortnight ago!) I wish I knew the names of these makers, such a lot of work and skill and nobody to credit for it.

Vintage Lace - Fiorenza earrings

Vintage Lace - Fiorenza necklace





Photo Session

Today I spent a few hours at Cetra Gallery and Studio in Heswall, having my work photographed by Richard, in fact I even got to take some myself, but Richard's are definitely the best!

I've edited some, but have loads more to do, here's a sneak preview of some of the Bridal Jewellery shots...


Vintage Fiori tiara

 


Vintage button hairband




Clematis hairband



Vintage button haircombs



Vintage Noir featured in Attire magazine

Attire Accessories  -fashion industry magazine, has featured my Vintage Noir range in their trend file for Autumn/Winter 2011 


Attire Accessories magazine April 2011, p27

  On the same page at the bottom is some lovely Turkish needle lace jewellery, I have one of their rings that I bought earlier this year.

British Craft Trade Fair 2011

I've just got back from lovely Harrogate after BCTF 2011. The last few weeks have been full of preparation for this annual event in my making calendar. As ever it was exciting but exhausting..... (I might need a snooze after I've typed this)

Exciting because: I got great feedback and orders for my new designs, and lots of compliments on my stand and work too.

Exhausting because: I decided a week before the event to start a new collection of jewellery which I finished less than 24hrs before set up!

It's always a great chance to catch up with other makers, make new friends, put the craft world to rights, go to Betty's Teashop .... oh yes and not to forget the main purpose of it all - to do some business too! 

It was a bit quieter than usual this year, a reflection of the current climate, but lots of regular customers have been back for more stock for their shops and galleries and there are opportunities for more exhibitions, publicity and workshops for later in the year, so after a break today, I'll be back making tomorrow, getting orders ready and planning for the rest of the year.

I'd better go and unpack my car....