The Lost Prince

The NPG has a new exhibition and it is well worth a look!

The Lost Prince the Life and Death of Henry Stuart explores the impact that the death of the handsome, model prince Henry had on the British nation. Henry was the elder brother of Charles I. He died in 1612 leaving his brother to inherit the thrones of England and Scotland. Would the English Civil War still have happened if Henry had lived?

Featuring drawings by Hans Holbein the younger, paintings by Paul Van Somer, Rubens and Robert Peake and two suits of armour with a wooden armature not seen for four hundred years, it is a fascinating insight into the art and culture of the early Jacobean era. I particularly love the miniature portraits of the prince by Isaac Oliver (keep an eye out for Sir Walter Raleigh in one of the final rooms too, which inspires my sketches in silver jewellery!) I had a go at making a drawing after one of Isaac Oliver's pictures, which you can see below. I have some ideas for including this sketch in some forthcoming jewellery designs...

Sketching in Silver Sir Walter Raleigh finished pendant

A few photos of the finished pendant:

I quite like the hammered oval frame. I soldered it on using pallion soldering so that everything is secure.

A little bit in love with Sherlock!

A very belated Happy New Year everyone!

I haven't blogged in a long time because I've been writing my first essay for my masters in the History of Britain. Very daunting and I have been mildly guilty of what I like to call 'productive procrastination' during the period when I've desperately needed a break from studying the actions of women in the English civil war! I've been trying to get back into portraiture. I used to draw a lot (usually people from films and television because 'real' people sometimes get upset with how you depict them!) so given the fact that Sherlock became the highlight of my week recently, I thought I'd try painting Benedict Cumberbatch.

Here is the result of my 'productive procrastination'...

It kind of looks like him and I don't think it's awful for a first attempt at using watercolours. I'm definitely going to need more practice though!

I've decided that a new year needs new designs and now that I've finally submitted my essay, I'm trying to work out what these new designs might entail. I think that dark fairytales will feature and I'm working on more layered pieces that will include lockets and secret compartments and moveable components. This may be a bit ambitious given my limited resources but I'd like to make more intricate pieces. I will also be taking inspiration from Tudor and Stuart portraiture, particularly miniatures so I will experiment and post some of my attempts in due course. Think Elizabeth I and Anne of Denmark!

Anyway, getting back to what's really important... how do you think Sherlock Holmes survived his fall?!!!

I'm sure there's an elementary explanation.

New Autumn / Winter Designs 2011

What with moving, starting a masters in the History of Britain (that I am supposed to be doing the reading for at this very moment!) and working full time, I am finding it quite difficult to make anything new in terms of jewellery but somehow I have managed to list a few new things in my shop this weekend and I thought I would put some photos of the new designs up for your perusal.

The setting for this citrine is the first claw type setting that I have ever made and although it took me about two hours, I am rather proud that it not only fits the stone but keeps it in place securely!

This is my extremely geeky homage to Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre. The recent film version, which should be still on at the cinemas is very good if you fancy a night out!

This buckle dating from 1901 is an exquisite example of pierced and engraved silver and looks lovely with the ethereal silvery grey pearls and fancy pearl set clasp.

My homage to Autumn and red squirrels, which I went to see in the wild the other day on Brownsea Island, has watermelon tourmaline beads paired with a gorgeous pink tourmaline cabochon set in another handmade setting with acorn detail on the reverse.

And finally, there are four of these adorable little mother of pearl buttons with carved deer and fir tree design. They are available in pink, blue, yellow and purple.

I have also booked two crafts fairs, one on the 12th November and the other on the 10th December and will give you all the details as soon as I receive the flyers.

Phew! Now back to Eric Hobsbawm and the English Revolution. I'm trying not to be biased (like every good historian) but I already know that I would have been a Royalist!

This is one of my favourite portraits in the National Portrait Gallery because it has charming and slightly ghoulish transparent overlays that chart the life and death of Charles I and it is particularly impressive that they have survived.