Brilliantly Birmingham

Now in its tenth year, Brilliantly Birmingham showcases the work of local, national and international designer makers through a programme of exhibitions, workshops and special events. All exhibitions are free of charge.

As part of Brilliantly Birmingham this year I will be showcasing my work amongst other designer makers at its very own Pop Up Shop in Birmingham's Pavillions Shopping Centre.

It's all about bringing contemporary jewellery to people and places that wouldn't normally have access to it. Opening tomorrow (Saturday 5th December), the shop will also offer free workshops and talks over various weekends. If you've never bought hand made jewellery direct from the designer before, now is your chance. There is a wide variety of work from over 15 individual designers, each absolutely stunning, so there is sure to be something for everyone

Here's a sneaky peek of the rings I'll be having on display.

Join us for the launch night on Tuesday 8th december between 5-7pm and be sure to also check out Flux at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery as well as Centrepiece at The Symphony Hall

Benjamins

I am really excited to be collaborating with Benjamins, a bespoke shirtmakers and tailors in Kings Heath, Birmingham. The shop offers made to measure shirts, suits and handmade ties and from this week will also offer my fabric cufflinks to match. 

A New Stockist!

Today I was excited to send some pieces to a new stockist! Farfield Mill in Sedbergh, Cumbria will be stocking a small selection of pieces from my Button Collection, including earrings, skinny rings and cufflinks, so if you're in the area, be sure to take a peek!

A Sneak Peak

I love getting new fabrics, here's a sneak preview of what I'll be using for my upcoming exhibitions!

Anyone speak Italian?

Nice feature on an Italian blog...I say nice...but I actually have no idea what it translates into!

Featured on The Carrotbox!

So I was very chuffed to have been featured on Alice's Carrotbox Blog yesterday which is very well known for showcasing all sorts of new and fabulous rings. Here's the post:

New Website!

I've been spending the last few weeks getting new pieces finished and photographed in preparation for completing my new website which I'm really chuffed to launch this week...and the best thing about it?...It has an online shop! Check it out here.

Oh and here is something I finished today, love love love the fabric combo! 

Christmas all Wrapped Up

So it maybe seems a little early to be talking about Christmas but I'm very excited to have been chosen to exhibit at the Devon Guild's annual Christmas Exhibition. A little information below from their website

"The exhibition focuses on selling handmade, high quality craftsmanship, highlighting one off, unique pieces alongside small scale batch production. 

Wrapped Up is a juried exhibition open to any contemporary craftsperson and designer-maker whose practices are concerned with these issues.

The exhibitors this year are:

Claire Baker, Caroline Barnes, Sue Binns, Hans Borgonjon, Sue Britton, Sarah Carney, Claudia Cashin, Tammy Child, Roger Copple, Louise Cottey, Zoe Cull , Mirri Damer, Carys Davies, Nicola deCruz, Pauline Edie, Beth Essex, Craig Fellowes, Louise Frost, Rowena Gilbert, Yvonne Gilhooly, Teresa Green, Hamble & Jemima, Christina Hamlin & Meryl Wright, Emmeline Hastings, Yoko Izawa, Hannah James, Tavs Jorgensen, Etka kaul, Daniel Kavanagh, Kokkino, Claire Loder, Isabel Lucio, Rosanna Martin, Hannah McAndrew, Jenna McDonald, Nicola Morrison, April Neate, Cathy Newell Price, Emer O'Sullivan, Pacha design, Emmy-Gai Palmer, Janine Partington, Jennifer Ann, Chloe Robertson, Laura Rosenzweig, Amanda Ross,Margo Selby, Miranda Sharpe, Naomi Singer, Amanda Stead, Russell Stone, Andrea Thorpe, Jessica Wall, Tracey Watkins, Gemma Wightman, Becca Williams, Catherine Woodall, Amy Louise Young"

Summer 2009 Collection

So here are some of my new pieces with the floral fabrics I mentioned in my last post. I'm really loving the new fabric, it's perfect for the summer! Included are new stud earrings with chain as well as a double pinned brooch.

A Busy Few Months...

So it’s been quite a while since my last post, it’s been a very busy few months of adding new pieces to the collection, securing new stockists and preparing for a exhibition at the RBSA Gallery in Birmingham. I’ve been sourcing new fabrics and am really pleased with my new summer pieces, which include seaside inspired stripes, country ginghams as well as some English rose floral prints. I’m also really excited at the moment about an upcoming photo shoot for a local magazine, more details coming soon! 

In The Pink - Barn Acre Gallery

I am currently preparing some pieces that will be showing at the Barn Acre Gallery's 'In The Pink' exhibition next month from Saturday 2nd May to Mon 25th May. Kirsten Jones who runs the gallery approached me about exhibiting after purchasing one of my fabric rings at Harrogate.

The exhibition will be showing work by over 50 artists and jewellers and is open to the public 11am to 6pm each day with late openings until 8pm on Thursday and Fridays

Harrogate British Craft Trade Fair

So after much preparation, myself and the other Design Space incubates travelled to Harrogate last weekend where we had a shared stand at the BCTF. The whole experience was very successful with many people taking orders as well as a massive amount of interest in everybody's work. Here are just a few photos of the stand and the work we had on show.

The Button Collection

With Harrogate BCTF now just under two weeks away I am really chuffed with my progress on the button collection. As well as cufflinks the range features five different designs in small stud earrings as well as the addition of skinny rings. All the pieces are now available in gold as well as silver and also have the added option of having coloured thread detailing. 

New Pieces!

With the BCTF looming ever closer I have this week been working on some new pieces. The arrival of some gorgeous new japanese fabrics was just what I needed to get me going. I now have pendants in three different sizes as additions to the fabric collection with photos coming very soon!

Rappie Pie

A small selection of my jewellery, pieces from the Button Collection, can now be found at Rappie Pie, Harborne (Birmingham). Run by Penny Hornsby, her converted terrace house boutique has a beautiful selection of unique jewellery and gifts as well as home furnishing and cards.

The British Craft Trade Fair

This year, with fellow Design Space jewellers, I will be exhibiting at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate. The BCTF has over 500 exhibitor stands and takes place from the 5-7th April. Representing British Designer Makers specialising in giftware, design and craft products, fashion accessories, jewellery, interior design, pottery and glassware, the fair gathers buyers from galleries, independent gift outlets, department stores, interior designers from the UK and overseas.

Ellie Murphy - New Website Launched!

During my time at the shared workshop in the Jewellery Quarter I plan to blog about each jeweller and their work. Now is a good time to start with Ellie Murphy as this week I have been helping her to build and launch her website. 

Ellie graduated from Birmingham City University last June and is currently expanding her collection of diamond inspired pieces. The collection evolved from delicately hand pierced designs, producing minimalist lines that offer a unique contrast to the precision and complexity of real diamonds. Blocks of inlaid cold enamel in vibrant shades work with the metal to achieve striking and contemporary pieces. Her website is now live and can be found here

Diamond earrings in sterling silver and cold enamel

The Wedding Collection

My new wedding collection is selected pieces from my fabric collection that are uniquely customised for a couple's wedding day. Pieces are made using swatches of fabric from a couple's very own wedding garments and can include cufflinks for the Groom, Best Man and Father of the Bride as well as pendants and earrings for the bride and her bridesmaids. These bespoke adornments are the perfect finishing touch to any wedding day as well as being something that can be kept and treasured long after the big day has passed. Each piece is individually handcrafted by myself to completely tailor the needs of each bride and groom. 

New Photographs

Much of the past month or two has been spent photographing finished pieces to enable me to progress with the building of my website which I should hopefully be able to launch very soon! Here is a sneak preview of how the pieces look....

Cufflinks

Stud Earrings

A Little About Me

I recently graduated from University in June 2008 and since then have moved to Birmingham where I work from the city's Jewellery Quarter. I am currently in the process of developing and creating my collection of jewellery as well as setting up my own business. My jewellery centres on the combination and relationships of different materials, fusing precious metals with delicate fabrics. My obsession with buying and collecting different fabrics began over a year ago after I received a vintage sewing machine in mint green as a gift from my Nan. I had all good intentions of learning to sew but progressed however to incorporating the fabrics into my jewellery work. The outcome is wearable pieces that are colourful, bold and feminine which also retain a softer, more tactile feel.

I currently share a workshop as part of Design Space, a Birmingham City Council scheme. There are 18 of us in total and we recently had our first touring exhibition, 'Frost', held at St Pauls Gallery and Artfull Expression. You can read a review of the exhibition, written by fellow Design Space incubate Clare Pardoe, here.