What: Flux Studios Open House
Where: Camberwell, SE5
When: Morning – 9th June 2011
A wonderful way to start the day. Visiting a working and teaching workshop in south London where anyone that wants to can learn how to make jewellery.
The space inhabits 12 jewellery designer makers that run their businesses and manufacturing as well as teaching short courses that run throughout the year. Today saw a small class designing and making a silver stone set pendant. More information here www.fluxstudios.org/ to see for yourself the brilliant work they do. Though I work in a workshop myself, it always amazes me how other people set up their space, arrange their bench and keep their tools. What can I say, workshop envy! take a look
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| Pendant by Suzie Byatt, Thanks for showing me around Suzie and telling me what Flux Studio is about. |
What: Theo Fennell talks “Jewel Purpose – Jewellery Beyond Fashion”
Where: The Goldsmiths’ Hall, St Pauls
When: noon- 9th June 2011
Carol Woolton (jewellery editor for British Vogue) hosted a day of talks at the home of British jewellery, the grand Goldsmiths’ Hall. After a wonderful lunch, dessert, glass of wine and a good chat, the crowd of people including collectors, long-time customers, media and trade congregated to listen to Theo Fennell talk about what jewellery means to him. A brief history; he began in Hatton Garden as ‘front of house’ for a jewellers then found his way to the workshop and discovered his calling as a designer. Theo believes that jewellery is an art form and is much more than simply fashion and ever-changing trends. It can be traced back to 1400BC where kings and emperors where buried with their crowns and rings - designing in metal can tell an entire history of one person or the religion of entire countries. The sticking point I won’t forget is the thought of how far away you ever can be from an item of jewellery or adornment. The wedding ring on your hand, the charm that has fallen off a bracelet in the park to the military medal yet to be found underground. If you ever get the chance to see Theo talk, do! He’s completely charming and captivating throughout. As well as the words, we got to handle a recent collection of one off rings. And I’m afraid they already have owners, but boy did I enjoy putting them on!
What: Louisa Guinness talks “Jewellery made by contemporary artists”
Where: The Goldsmiths’ Hall, St Pauls
When: Afternoon- 9th June 2011
Afternoon tea, followed by an eye opening talk by the wonderful Louisa Guinness. She began working with artists making limited edition furniture for her gallery then turned to Jewellery in the past decade. This collaboration bug came from a love of all things art, being able to work with people such as Anish Kapoor and Peter Blake to create something they both love in the form of jewellery. The talk explained how she finds artists, approaches them, works alongside them and how everything made is designed specifically, not only to be worn but to be admired when displayed. Jewellery bought from her gallery is given in a Perspex presentation box, so that instead of how people treat jewellery now, hiding it in a box until it is remembered, the pieces can sit on your dressing table and be enjoyed even when it’s not being worn. She encourages her customers (and now me) to ‘present’ jewellery because it is art. Why not look at it all the time? The question came at the end of the session, ‘if you could have worked with anyone, who would it be?’ to which she found it hard to pin point just the one, ‘…But definitely Michelangelo!’
What: Charles Fish New Look Party
Where: Canary Wharf
When: Evening- 9th June 2011
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| Ruth Tomlinson in the centre here, talking to customers |
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| Shaun Leane silver ring with green onyx and silver bangle |
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| Alexis Dove ring |
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| Ruth Tomlinson necklace |
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Thanks for reading,
Jx
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