New Jewels to Behold

Life got fuller than I could have ever imagined at the end of last year with the arrival of our second wee boy Corin so my blog (and the housework!) is feeling a bit neglected. BUT my jewels have been ticking over and in a creative burst in January I made some new treasures. 

A major influence on my recent work has been the folk art motifs found on dolls house furniture I inherited from my, long departed, Great Aunt Ena. I've also made a move to expand my use of gold and diamonds from my wedding and engagement ring collection into elegant earrings, bracelets and necklaces. 

Then I occupied my mind with were and how to photograph my new creations. Working again with my friend, photographer, Caro Weiss was a given. Her incredible artistic eye, attention to detail and wicked sense of humour make her a pleasure to work with. A bit of Instagram research convinced me that musician and my old school chum Clare Uchima would make the perfect model and could luckily fit in a visit between her busy touring schedule. Completing the dream team was make up artist Sharon Stephen who's light touch gave Clare the most beautifully subtle dewy glow.

Architect Luke Moloney generously provided our venue giving us free reign of the old smoke house in Dumfries town centre which he is renovating. It currently comprises of the Yellow Door Gallery, an Airb&b apartment and his home, with plans to turn the rest of the building into live in studio spaces. In the completed spaces layers of ripped antique wallpaper and crumbling walls are contrasted with crisp new farrow and ball painted panels. An aesthetic which makes my heart leap. 

So, new jewels, a beautiful model with a natural glow, crumbling walls and a smattering of folk art have made for a collection of photos I'm very excited to share. Thank you so much to all involved xxxxxxx

Click each photo to buy the jewellery online.

Photographs: Caro Weiss

Jewellery: Alison Macleod

Styling: Alison Macleod 

Model: Clare Uchima

Make up: Sharon Stephen

Venue: Yellow Door Gallery and surrounding buildings designed by Luke Moloney

Handmade Skirt: Alison Willoughby

I Have Moved!

After 8 years in Glasgow my family and I have finally made the move to the countryside we have been talking about for ages. We've set up home in the Dumfriesshire village of Thornhill with my workshop at the end of the street at the back of the old Virginhall Church, now the shop Zitan. Having grown up in the area I am looking forward to re-establishing links with old friends and becoming part of the vibrant arts scene. 

I will be welcoming customers to the workshop to discuss commissions by appointment or I'm happy to meet in Glasgow which is just over an hours drive away. 

I can now be found at:

23A Townhead Street

Thornhill

Dumfriesshire

DG3 5NL

My New Precious Metal Colour Chart

I'm always keen to help customers make the right choice when it comes to getting a wedding ring. So my new Metal Colour Chart allows you to compare the subtle differences in colour between the precious metal alloys.

Each alloy has a slightly different colour depending to what it contains. For example 9ct yellow gold has a high silver content so is a creamy yellow compared to 18ct yellow gold's richness. 

The Metal Colour Chart can now be found within my Guide to Buying Your Wedding Ring which contains lots more useful information to help you choose the right ring. 

Catkin Poem

It's nearly April and, although I'm not quite ready to discard my winter coat, glimmers of Spring are appearing. Catkin flowers adorn bare branches and new life emerges. 

Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Alder Catkins, Walberswick

I was approached over two years ago by poet Lesley Jackson who was interested in writing a series of poems about my practise. Over this time we have sent many long emails back and forth as she gradually condensed my ramble into concise prose. Today I'm excited to share her first piece which is about the Catkin Wedding Ring. 

Photo by Caro Weiss

I initially conceived this design as my own wedding ring and since then have developed the idea into my main jewellery collection. 

Photo by Caro Weiss

Lesley has beautifully captured the thought and meaning behind this one tiny ring whilst enriching the piece with her own findings. 

Catkin by Lesley Jackson

At first it is just a memory

of a jewellery store 

an antique ring on a woman’s hand

more than a decade before

and a desire to create something

significant, eternal: 

A wedding ring.

Then the long hours it takes

to heat, solder, shape and wait

until the metal cools 

and a soft sheen and pattern

is revealed. A delicate row of scales

I call Catkin.

To me it speaks of Spring,

the days the catkin throws 

his future to the wind. His lambs tail

unfurled, he spurns all passing bees

to find his flower, modest as a bud

among Hazel, Oak, Hornbeam, Beech.

The pattern whispers ‘life’, ‘a new

beginning’. Yet not just this. 

The catkin’s age-old power to protect 

is inextricably woven in, its wish

to welcome love and luck.

All this. Rooted in the ring.

This year I have added the Gents Catkin Wedding Ring to my collection. Like the ladies version it is available in 9 & 18ct yellow, white or rose gold, platinum and palladium.

Photo by Caro Weiss

Also I will soon be launching two more delicate ladies versions of the Catkin design so keep an eye on my website. 

Hands

It takes a big leap of faith for someone to buy a ring that they have only ever seen on line, especially if it's a wedding ring which they're going to wear for the rest of they're life. That's why I try to be as thoroughly descriptive as I can on my website, with detailed photos, dimensions and information on metal choices, shapes and styles. This has served me well but there was always a gap, often people want to see what the rings being worn. 

So, as my only previous option was to send the unsuspecting customers a quick picture of the ring on my gnarled hands (poor them) I have now had some pro shots done on rather more elegant hands. For these photos I have collaborated again with my friend the very talented photographer and like minded aesthetic soul Caro Weiss who I did a shoot with this time last year. We worked in the same beautifully naturally lit space in my studio building, the Briggait, and had similar styling. 

The hands in question I'm pleased to say are skilled ones: Cecilia Stamp, our female model, is a fellow jeweller, check out her lovely wears here. Cecilia's boyfriend Greg, a dentist, was our slightly reluctant male model who I think I may have traumatized by sending him for his first ever manicure, sorry Greg ;) 

But thank you so much to the both of you and a million thank yous again to Caro because I am thrilled with the results...

You may notice some new rings in there, they'll be online very soon. Plus I will share some still life shots from the shoot in a couple of weeks. xx

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.