Monty Python Live

So it was very last minute but the other night I managed to get a ticket to see Monty Python Live at the O2! I was really lucky. My friend had a spare ticket and so even though I failed in my initial attempts to get a ticket (I think they sold out in 40 seconds originally!), I managed to see the legends of comedy that are Monty Python. 

They performed all of the famous sketches. 


The Lumberjack Song...

 The Spanish Inquisition...

The Dead Parrot...

The whole stage looked like a Japanese print (although that may have been the angle I was sitting at!)

I'm a huge fan of Terry Gilliam and particularly of his animations so it was really cool to see him on stage. Here is a reminder of how brilliant his animations are:

I was wondering if I could make some Monty Python themed jewellery. Although I'm not sure I could top these Holy Grail themed cufflinks by British designer Chris Parry.

Just brilliant!

We Make London Camden Boutique

I am pleased to announce that Jewellery Designs by Sarah Birt now has a little corner of the We Make London Designers Boutique in Camden!

The address is: 

53 Camden Lock Place

West Yard

London

NW1 8AF

I have taken some photos of the approach to the shop to try to make it easy to find although if you follow the signs for West Yard Street Food and look out for the sky blue window frames and door, you should find it quite easily.

How to find the We Make London Boutique:

First, exit Camden Town tube station and follow the crowds towards the famous Camden Lock painted bridge.

Then walk past the orange juice stall and the Irregular Choice shoe shop, turn left into the market and look for the arrows pointing for West Yard Street Food.

Once you are in West Yard, you will see many food stalls and people sitting, enjoying the unique Camden market atmosphere. The boutique is number 53 so look out for bright blue window frames and card holders outside.

My jewellery should be on the window sill on the left hand side of the shop. I will post more photos but this gives you an idea of the exciting range of handmade items made by UK designers.

These are just a few of the items from Jewellery Designs by Sarah Birt that will be available in July (while stocks last!) 

You can of course still shop online at my etsy shop and you can find about more about the We Make London Boutique here.

Happy Shopping!

Sketching In Silver Series Update: Soldering

This post is an update of my Sketching In Silver: Portraits series, which has been at the top of my to do list for some time. The idea is to pierce a portrait of an historical individual using well known British portraits for inspiration, then solder some silver sheet onto the back to strengthen the pierced design. It did work the first time that I tried it with my portrait of Elizabeth I

However, since then I've had a few expensive disasters that are frustrating and disheartening when the solder ran and obscured the pierced design as you can see from poor Anne Boleyn below

Now, it's a poor workman (or woman) who blames his (or her!) tools but I do think that the technique of pallion soldering that I was using was incorrect for this type of work. Pallion soldering is when you cut up tiny pieces of solder and melt them using a butane torch on a fire brick. Anyway, after some serious contemplation, I alighted on the idea of using silver solder paste. My reasoning was that the solder is powdered and combined with flux in a syringe so it should melt quicker and stop the silver from getting too hot and melting or the solder from running too freely. A bit more research and I decided to use hard solder paste (there are several types of solder: hard, medium, easy and extra easy where hard is the most commonly used.) Last night I had a go at making a Walter Raleigh pendant and apart from the extremely noxious fumes that the solder paste produced (seriously this should most definitely be used in a well ventilated area and if you possibly can, outside!) by jove I think I've got it!

The design seems securely soldered onto the sheet at the back and as you can see, the solder hasn't run and engulfed the design as before. The original portrait miniature that this image is based on is by Nicholas Hilliard and it is part of the National Portrait Gallery's collection. It is unfortunately not currently on display. Now I just have to decide what design to use as a frame and then solder on some links to attach the beads that I want to use. Of course it could still go very wrong when I solder the frame on but fingers crossed all will turn out well!

Vintage Jewellery Making Set

The antiques market in the Jubilee Hall in Covent Garden is one of my favourite places to go on a Monday morning. It's got a fantastic array of jewellery, porcelain and the odd random knick knack all at very reasonable prices considering its central London location. I often find that there are those moments when you notice an item on a stall and are drawn towards it like a moth to the flame. The Monday just gone was one of those moments! A humble red wooden box holds a wonderful array of watchmakers and jewellers tools. Stone setting implements, gravers and punches. Some of the tools are a mystery to me but I knew enough about them to know that I had to have them!

The label on the front of the box reads Robert Pringle and Co. The company was formed in 1835. They ceased trading in 1965 so this is at least 47 years old!

Judging by the wear on the box, it has been well used although some of the tools are a little bit rusty. I wonder who used them in the past. Perhaps it was by an apprentice although the tools are so fine so they must have been used by someone with a steady hand and a lot of skill. I have used similar tools before so I can't wait to get to work on some silver with these!

How to find We Make London's Summer Boutique...

Here is a photo montage of how to find the We Make London Summer Boutique featuring my jewellery and the best new British designers of the moment...
Turn left out of Hampstead tube station on the northern line (edgware branch.)


Cross the road towards Waterstones and Starbucks


When you see Perrins Court by the Orange shop, turn right


Find number 8 Oak Studio and a beautiful range of fantastic handmade goodies!

Get thee to the Nunnery!

If you are in the vicinity of London for the month of February and would like to spend an hour looking at the work of up and coming and extremely talented young artists, I can thoroughly recommend Apocalypstick at The Nunnery Gallery in Bow.

A light and airy space filled with neon wonders, Apocalypstick features work by twelve artists and is a mix of paintings, sculpture, installations and video art. Fun, accessible and generally an excellent way to spend an afternoon!

The exhibition is open Fridays to Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. from 4th - 27th February.