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 Packaging for Christmas!

I do have particular gift boxes that I usually like to use but I thought I'd shake it up for the festive season this year with some ribbons and pretty new boxes.

I have been very pleased with what I bought from the delightful Fast Running Fox shop on etsy and thought I'd send out a recommendation! The shipping was very fast and everything was beautifully packaged, something that I can definitely boast of my jewellery this year! What I really like about the boxes is that with a little ribbon, they can even be hung on a Christmas tree so they are practically ornaments in themselves! :-)

Things that I am working on

Well, I am diligently ignoring the fact that I really should be doing my tax return or studying history and thought I'd put some photos up of the two things that will occupy my time today. One is a lovely silver locket that I bought the other day and have cleaned. I'd love to do something special with it perhaps using the new natural emerald rondelle beads that I bought the other day but I have run out of silver wire for the moment :-(

The other is a sterling silver tree branch component that I have soldered a squirrel onto. It has taken me forty minutes to drill a hole in the other side of the branch so that it can be made into a pendant but it should look quite nice once it's all put together.

My New Favourite Etsy Shop

Given the amount of time I spend searching etsy for unusual little trinkets, I thought it might be nice to promote fellow artisans in my blog so this will the first of my recommendations (I'm sure there will be many more!)

I rather love this hand drawn badge from Elizabeth Pawle Illustration. Just the right amount of quirky cute and a British based designer too so very fast shipping!

I have purchased one of her original drawings

as a little present to myself but I am strongly contemplating getting a few Christmas presents from her shop over the next month or so.

What etsy/folksy shops make you smile? :-)

P.S. All photographs copyright of Elizabeth Pawle Illustrations.

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.

Recommended: Glamour of the Gods Exhibition

Hello all!

If you fancy indulging in a little bit of glamour this month, then the Glamour of the Gods exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is for you!

It is an interesting mix of images detailing how the classic iconic image of a Hollywood star was created and who took the photographs themselves.

The second batch of Paris rings

After an extremely disappointing day of house hunting I have devoted some time to trying to finish the second part of the order from the Paris boutique.
Here are photos of the almost finished specimens...