Wednesday 17 December 2014

All Wrapped Up

Imagine: This time next week, thoughts of work far behind you, you have a glass of prosecco in hand and you're parcelling up your jewellery purchases to go under the tree. Here are a few festive wrapping touches to help you on your way...

1. Charlotte Trounce 'On The Slopes' Wrapping Paper £1.85 from Shedquarters
2. Washi Tape £2.50 from Sticker Stack
3. Foil Christmas Card £3 from E.Y.I Love
4. Pom Pom Gift Tag £1.50 from Paperchase
5. Catkin Wreath Brooch with Vintage Pressed Glass £340 from Alison Macleod
6. Bakers Twine £2.62 from Paper Scissors Stone
7. King II Christmas Card £3 from Hole In My Pocket
8. Gift Tag Stamp Set £14.95 from 44
9. Karolin Schnoor 'Winter Foliage' Wrapping Paper £1.85 from Wrap

Friday 5 December 2014

Christmas Sale at Grey Wolf

I am taking part in the Christmas Sale at Glasgow's Grey Wolf Studios featuring some of Scotland's top designers. Get exclusive offers and discounts at this intimate festive shopping event from myselfLaura SpringTom PigeonHilary GrantAlistair DearieCecilia StampFun Makes GoodGarnet McCulloch, and Katy West. So join us for a Bakery47 treat and some mulled wine from 5-9pm on Friday 12th December. 

Tuesday 2 December 2014

New Online

The long winter nights are upon us and I am enjoying the opportunity to cosy into the workshop and get creative. I have been indulging in my passion for scouring flea markets, antique shops and stone dealers to source precious treasures to include in some one off jewellery pieces all of which are now available to buy online.

Sunday 30 November 2014

Blog Hop

I have been asked to take part in this Blog Hop by my cousin's lovely wife Juliet Macleod. Juliet set up her studio, The Cloud Pottery only last year after a career in graphic design and has applied her creativity and attention to detail to wonderful effect
Slipware pot by Juliet Macleod

Through the Blog Hop each artist or maker is asked to answer four questions then request the same of two new artists or makers and so it continues…

WHAT AM I WORKING ON?
My main focus right now is stock for Christmas but I am also starting to look ahead to the next year. I plan to expand my range of wedding and engagement rings to include eternity bands so I am currently sourcing stones and working on test pieces. 


Works in progress and odds and ends on my workbench

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS OF ITS GENRE?
I hope that everyone within contemporary jewellery strives to be different from each other, that's what it's all about. When you are designing and hand crafting objects you incorporate a little piece of yourself into every piece. In my work I try to achieve a sense of balance using and being influenced by found and made elements.

WHY DO I DO WHAT I DO?
First of all I am most comfortable working on a small scale, ask me to paint a room and I would fail miserably, I just get bogged down in all the tiny details. But more than that, there are so many elements to jewellery that excite me. I love that something so tiny can be so precious, not just in its intrinsic value, heirlooms become charged with meaning when passed from generation to generation. As soon as I sell a piece of jewellery my connection with it is severed as it starts it's own life perhaps being worn every day and becoming part of someone's identity. This is such an honour. 


HOW DOES MY PROCESS WORK?
I used to design in my sketchbook but shamefully I don't make time for it any more, now my process is more bench based. My ideas form from curios I come across and collect. I love a car boot sale, flea market, or museum. On my messy work bench bits and bobs find each other and trigger design ideas. I often live with a tiny found treasure for years before it finds it's home in a special piece of jewellery. For example the tiny mother of pearl button at the centre of my Catkin Wreath Brooch had been stuck to my soldering hearth for ten years before it found its home. 


So now to pass the baton... I am nominating my friends Bridget Farmer and Ashley and Ian from SodaKitsch.

Bridget Farmer and I studied Jewellery and Silversmithing together at Edinburgh College of Art but Bridget has taken a different direction in her choice of home and medium, She now works as a printmaker in southern Australia.


Ian Dunlop and Ashley Jassiman collaborate to create gorgeous leather bags with screen printed interiors for their SodaKitsch label. They have just launched their online shop which I spend many an hour drooling over. 

Thursday 30 October 2014

Reflections on MADE

A week ago today I was setting up my first London craft fair since having my little one and wondering if my work was still relevant. With my old annual London fair, Origin, no longer in existence it took a bit if research to work out where I would fit. MADE London came up trumps with its central location and variety of high quality exhibitors, including lots of the friends I've missed greatly these past three years. I was showing quite different work from when I was last in London so was keen to see how it would be received.

And, thank goodness, all was good. It was a busy three day show with the right kind of people milling and buying. The new work didn't seem to be as big a leap as I'd feared with it getting a great response and people saying it could still be identified as mine. Plus I was pleased with how my finely tuned new display looked. 




was uncharacteristically restrained on the shopping front but now have added lots of hand crafted goodies to my Christmas list. I wished I'd photographed more but here are just three of my favourites from the other exhibitors.

I am a firm believer that tea tastes better from a beautiful cup and Mizuyo Yamashita's tactile ceramics would definitely fit the bill. 




I have seen bits and bobs of Emily Kidson's jewellery online but this was the first I'd seen it up close, I loved her use of materials and sense of balance.




Teresa Cole aka Teresa Green is my old show buddy and it was great to spend time with her over the long weekend as well as see her latest gorgeous hand printed purses, aprons and bags. 



Tuesday 14 October 2014

MADE London


With open studios under my belt it is time to shift my attention to MADE London. The craft fair boasts exhibitors selected from across the UK and runs from 24th-26th October. MADE is located in One Marylebone, a stunning Sir John Soane Church in central London. I am very much looking forward to my jaunt down south with all of my latest creations so please do come and visit, I'll be on stand M12b. Here's a wee film of last years show to wet your appetite..

Saturday 4 October 2014

COME VISIT!

We are looking forward to welcoming the public into our busy workshop next week. This year's WASPS Open Studios at the Briggait takes place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October from 12-5pm. My studio mate, Marianne Anderson and I will be displaying our latest jewellery collections in our industrious studio surroundings. Alongside the many studios which will be open over the weekend there will be tours, workshops and exhibitions. 

Thursday 25 September 2014

Your One Stop Wedding Shop

Come and see me and my sparkly wares this Sunday 28th September at the Glasgow Wedding Collective Bridal Market. Once again the event takes place on the first floor of the Lighthouse and is open from 11am-5pm. It will be full of all sorts of weddingy inspiration including dresses, cakes, photographers, flowers and of coarse those all important wedding rings. See some of the highlights from the last fair here.


Thursday 31 July 2014

Rose Gold | Roses & Gold: Shopping Guide

My favourite of all my recent ring commissions have been those made in rose gold. So here, alongside my own rings, I have selected a few of other rosy goldy products I love. Celebrating warm coppery tones and rich floral decadence here is my Rose Gold | Roses & Gold: Shopping Guide.
  
 
  
  
 

Thursday 24 July 2014

Summer Flash Sale


Get 50% off a selection of jewellery on my webshop starting tomorrow 25th July at midday. The sale runs for one weekend only finishing at midnight on Sunday. You will have a chance to buy sample and end of line necklacesringsbangles brooches and earrings at discount prices.

Thursday 3 July 2014

A Day in the Life

I am excited to share this 'day in the life' film of me made by the very lovely and talented Eileen O'Rourke from Sugar8. Eileen was with me from when I woke (looking pretty ropey!) to when I left the studio, capturing all of the tiny details of my workshop day. I cant get the brilliant soundtrack from my Canadian friend Daniel's band The Taste out of my head, I love it.
Enjoy...

Sunday 22 June 2014

Hummingbird Bakery Carrot Cake

Last month's Spring Fling open studios was as enjoyable as ever. It was just lovely to spend the long weekend surrounded by Patti Lean's inspiring paintings, chatting to our many visitors and selling lots of my brand new jewellery designs. Patti's magnificent kitchen played host to our regular pop up cafe stocked to the gunnels with baked treats made by me and my Mum. The run away hit was the carrot cake made from my favourite baking book, the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. I promised a couple of people I would share the recipe, so here it is, adapted slightly from a three to a two layer sandwich cake:

The Hummingbird Bakery Carrot Cake is pictured here on a LOVELY Katrin Moye cake stand. 

Ingredients:
200g soft light brown sugar
2 eggs
200ml sunflower oil
200g plain flour
1/2 tsp (rounded) bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp (rounded) baking powder
1/2 tsp (rounded) ground cinnamon , plus extra to decorate
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
¼ tsp vanilla extract
200g carrots , grated
65g shelled walnuts , chopped, plus extra whole walnuts, to decorate
300g icing sugar , sifted
50g unsalted butter , at room temperature
125g cream cheese, cold

Preparation time: 25 mins
Cooking time: 25 mins

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas 3. Base line two 18-cm cake tins with greaseproof paper.

2. Put the sugar, eggs and oil in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated (don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly split). Slowly add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt and vanilla extract and continue to beat until well mixed.

3. Stir in the grated carrots and walnuts by hand until they are all evenly dispersed. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tins and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and the sponge bounces back when touched. Leave the cakes to cool slightly in the tins before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

4. To make the cream cheese icing beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.

5. Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed.

6. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.

7. When the cakes are cold, put one on a cake stand and spread about one-third of the Cream Cheese Frosting over it with a palette knife. Place the second cake on top and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides. Finish with walnuts and a light sprinkling of cinnamon.


Tuesday 13 May 2014

Spring Fling Open Studios 2014


I will be joining acclaimed artist Patti Lean in her studio again for Spring Fling. Running from 24th-26th May this years event sees 95 artists and crafts people exhibiting their work across Dumfries and Galloway. Patti and I will be running our regular 'pop up' cafe with teas and plenty of home baking plus we're holding a special drinks reception on Saturday 24th from 5-7pm with all welcome. On your tour around the region you can also visit a series of large scale mural paintings commissioned as part of the Spring Fling Rural Mural scheme in partnership with street arts collective Recoat. You can find out more about the project and order your open studios catalogue on the Spring Fling website

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Wedding-O-Rama


The wonderful Glasgow Wedding Collective are back again this Sunday 4th May with another inspiring Wedding Fair at The Lighthouse. Come to pick out dresses, be dolled up by hair and make-up pros, sup champagne but most important of all come and say hi to ME


I will be surrounded by jewels including some brand sparkling new gents wedding rings (online soon I promise!). 

Sunday 6 April 2014

This Year So Far In Patterned Wedding Rings

It has been a super busy start to the year making lots of pretty patterned wedding rings for brides&grooms and grooms&grooms! Here are a few of my favourites..

Wednesday 26 February 2014

Your Brand and Online Selling Training Day

I'm looking forward to speaking tomorrow at the 'Your Brand and Online Selling' training day run by Craft Scotland and Applied Arts Scotland. It looks like it will be a great day with lots of other interesting speakers lined up including branding expert Giles Etherington, owner and director of Brand Satellite. The event takes place at Gayfield Creative Spaces in Edinburgh running from 10am to 4pm and you can book tickets here.


Friday 14 February 2014

I Feel Love

Happy Valentines Day everyone! And bon chance for all those loved up marriage proposals planned for today (needing some ring inspiration?).


Tuesday 4 February 2014

Jewels and Blooms

I've been itching to do this for ages, my very own photo shoot, it has just taken meeting the right people to make it happen. My co-conspirators: photographer Caro Weiss, Di from Myrtle and Bracken, Alexis Miller hair and make-up and Steph our model. All, bar Steph, a doctor in real life, are fellow Glasgow Wedding Collective members and all, including Steph, are VERY good at what they do. I have been developing a lot if new work lately and it's great to be able to communicate a bit of the mood and style I am aiming for when I'm designing. 
'Relaxed elegance' was our theme for the shoot and although we didn't want things getting too weddingy we wanted a romantic feel. Our location was an undeveloped part of my studio building the Briggait. All of the props and the clothes are my own, including the cozy grey Yungi blanket, welcomed by Steph on the chilly January day. Di made gorgeous oversized floral head pieces and Alexis did beautifully subtle make-up and loosely pinned hair. Then Caro set to work telling stories with her camera as she does so well. I am absolutely in love with the resulting pictures and can not wait to scatter them all over my website and beyond. Enjoy x