Mrs Magpie

Free Tickets to Open Studios!

2011-11-18T10:52:00.000Z

It's Cockpit Open Studios time (next weekend to be precise)! I'll be selling my wares in both Holborn and Deptford sites this year, and as always it looks set to be a great event. No need to schlep along the High Street in search of Christmas presents - come and see behind the scenes at Cockpit and buy beautiful accessories, jewellery, homewares and more direct from the makers.

Come along and have a glass of mulled wine with us - I'll be in Studio E2R in Holborn, and 206 at Deptford.

If you need any further persuasion, I have
6 free tickets to give away (usually £5 joint ticket or £3 Deptford only). Just email me with your name and address to be entered into the draw!

Holborn: 25-27 November

Deptford: 2-4 December

'Electric'

2011-11-07T10:00:00.002Z

'Electric' opens at the RBSA (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists) today. I was happy to see they've used my Green Amethyst Encrusted Bracelet in the publicity.

In the RBSA's words, 'On show are a selection of the nation’s most celebrated designer makers who are exhibiting their latest collections of contemporary silver and gold jewellery, alongside ceramics and silverware.' Pictured above are Kathryn Hinton's fabulous faceted silver bowls and Nobuko Okumura's intriguing jewellery.

'Electric' runs from 7 November 2011- 13 January 2012.

2011-10-23T12:52:00.000+01:00

A little peek at my stand at Origin....it was nearly a month ago but life has been a bit of a blur since then - making making making for the lovely new stockists I met there!

You may notice as well that it doesn't say Glint on my sign. I've decided to start working under my own name, reflecting that I'm not a big company, I make everything myself. Many of my galleries refer to me as Kate Wood anyway, so this makes life a bit simpler (a good thing in my book). You can still get to my website from the old address, but I'm moving it over to www.katewoodjewellery.com

You can see more photos on my Facebook page (which is updated more frequently than this blog!).

Win a free ticket for Origin

2011-09-14T23:55:00.000+01:00

After a lot of anticipation and preparation Origin is just around the corner. I'm really excited to be exhibiting there next week! It's an epic show, with over 200 makers in one convenient location - Old Spitalfields Market in London. Spitalfields has a special place in my heart as it's where my jewellery business was born - I started out selling my wares at the market.

The show is on from 22-28 September and you can find me on stand D24, where I'll be showing under my own name, Kate Wood. There will be some brand new pieces as well as lots of baubles from my Cluster, Terrain and Pompom collections.

So...I'd love you to come. I have two free tickets to Origin (usually £10 or £8 in advance) to give away!

If you'd like one, all you need to do is sign up for my mailing list and email me with your name and postal address. I'll pick the winners at random on Thursday night (15th September).

Sale ends tomorrow!

2011-08-30T19:25:00.000+01:00

I nearly forgot to tell you, I'm having a summer sale on my website and it ends tomorrow! 20% off everything, hurry hurry!

Diamond Planet

2011-08-30T19:02:00.000+01:00

Apparently a 'diamond planet' has been discovered in the Milky Way. Disappointingly, according to Ben Stappers of the University of Manchester, “I don't imagine that a picture of a very shiny object is what we're looking at here."

Not that diamonds have to be glitzy to be beautiful. Rough diamonds are a real trend in jewellery at the moment and something that I really love. Something like the Ruth Wood ring above can have a lot more personality than a big flawless sparkler, as well as being more affordable. I've been eyeing some tiny grey, cognac and black rough diamond beads and have plans for some subtle sparklers of my own...

Origin

2011-08-18T13:15:00.000+01:00

Hello there. I don't think I've officially mentioned it here (although you may have noticed the icon in the sidebar), but I'm very excited to have been selected to exhibit for the first time at the prestigious Origin contemporary craft fair in September. So I'm madly making jewellery and preparing my display. More on that later!

Just wanted to a share a couple of nice mentions from Boticca while I'm here. It's well worth having a look at the site if you're after hand-crafted jewellery and accessories.

http://boticca.com/blog/stay-cool-in-the-summer-sun-with-nicole-olivia-rihanna-and-jen/

http://boticca.com/blog/the-magic-of-monochrome/

Cockpit Arts Open Studios Next Weekend!

2011-06-02T12:07:00.001+01:00

It's that time of year again - Open Studios!

Come down and visit me in my natural habitat! It's Cockpit's 25th birthday this year so join us to celebrate - there'll be lots of amazing craft to see and buy from the makers at Cockpit, including a wide range of jewellery from me! This year I'll be in my own studio, E2R in Holborn, and then Cockpit's Deptford outpost the week after.

Atelier

2011-05-28T13:08:00.000+01:00

Just sent some summery silver and vermeil pieces off to the Isle of White for Atelier's summer exhibiton.

Hoopla

2011-05-22T13:15:00.001+01:00

Cheesy title, I know! I've been working on some hoop earrings...yes, still obsessed with the green amethyst

Revolting

2011-05-21T12:15:00.001+01:00

There's a Revolution going on at theThe Harley Gallery Craft Shop and I'm taking part!
The shop is being hijacked by Hannah Obee, curator at Chatsworth, who is taking over with a revolutionary display from 9 May - 20 June. She will draw inspiration from Welbeck’s Portland Collection and Chatsworth’s Devonshire Collection to show how craft fits into the rich history of these stately homes, focusing on the Royalist and Baroque styles of the 17th Century.

This translates into lots of wonderful opulent jewellery with a focus on pearls and beading - my favourite, as well as some great ceramics and silverware. I will be showing my jewellery alongside some wonderful makers, including fellow Cockpit designers Teri Howes and Katherine Wardopper.

Bluecoat Display Centre

2011-05-08T16:29:00.000+01:00

I've just sent a collection of work from my Terrain and Cluster ranges to the brilliant Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpoool.

Royal shenanigans

2011-04-29T14:05:00.000+01:00

I'm not what you'd call a Royalist, being more of the Steve Bell persuasion.
Still the Sarah Burton frock was quite nice.
If you're after wedding jewellery, you know where to look ;-)

New Collection...and new website online now!

2011-04-27T13:13:00.001+01:00

My new collection, Terrain is now online, along with some new additions to the Cluster range...on my brand new revamped website!
I'm so pleased to get it online and it's been a bit of a labour of love. I was quite fond of my old, pretty pink site but it was time for a change - we wanted to strip away the frou frou elements and make a clean, spacious, functional site with the focus on the jewellery first and foremost - and I think we did it!
Go on over and have a look around....

Terrain: New Collection Preview

2011-03-17T13:58:00.000Z

I'm excited to show you a selection of images from my new collection, Terrain, which is inspired by aerial landscape photographs, rocks and barnacle colonies. This translates into dense clusters of earthy-coloured stones and pearls pinned onto multiple fine oxidised silver chains.
I've used pyrite for the first time here (aka Fool's Gold) which I've been dying to use for ages - it has an amazing futuristic/bronze age look. The beautful silvery green stones are green amethyst (also know as prasiolite).
Until my brand new website is online next month (exciting!), the new pieces can be ordered directly from me, by email or telephone. You can download a catalogue of new items here. The catalogue includes some new additions to the Cluster collection too - rich red rubies and gorgeous pearl pieces which would be perfect for a summer wedding or party. If you'd like to see anything in person, make an appointment to visit me in the studio.
I hope you like these new pieces as much as I do!

Making progress on the new collection...

2011-01-23T18:01:00.001Z

Green amethyst (prasiolite) with oxidised silver.

The name prasiolite is derived from the Greek prason meaning "leek" and lithos meaning "stone," so "prasiolite" literally means "leek-green coloured stone." I wouldn't say it's particularly leek-like, but it does have a lovely ethereal silvery-green colour, which looks rather mysterious with oxidised silver (someone commented that it looks like it has survived a fire, which I love).

I've been combining clusters of stones with lots of fine chains which is time-consuming (a lapse of concentration leads to tangles and prolonged bouts of swearing) but looks very glamorous. These new pieces remind me of barnacles clinging to rocks and small sea creatures, but the general consensus is that the shapes, especially the necklaces are reminiscent of twenties' jewellery.

Better photos coming soon...

Made10 interview

2010-10-24T12:50:00.000+01:00

A little interview with me has just gone up on the Made blog. I'm exhibiting at Made10, Brighton's Design and Craft Fair, from 19-21 November. Thanks Anne-Marie! And thank you Jo for the photos, I know I'm not an easy subject!

From the sea

2010-10-18T12:21:00.001+01:00

I'm working on new collection at the moment, which I'm aiming to launch in time for Christmas. The inspiration this time has come out of the woods and into the sea.

It's been gestating for a few months now and I've been playing with some new elements - hammered, soldered closures which are a change from the wire-wrapped chain endings I usually use - these are working really well with the new pieces which use LOTS of chains! The pinned beading is still there of course and the use of multiple chains is enabling me to really build up a lot of texture.

I'm quite excited about these new pieces and I hope you will be too! I should be able to share some photos with you next month, so check back here or sign up to the newsletter (see side bar) to keep updated...

New pieces available online now

2010-07-13T18:43:00.000+01:00

I nearly forgot to tell you! (drum roll)...There are lots of new pieces now available to buy on my website here. Lots of juicy colours, gold vermeil, glowing pearls and weighty sapphires.

These earrings are beautifully lightweight and comfortable to wear and look very elegant on. They are similar to a pair I made for a bride recently - if I can persuade her I might share some photos with you.

2010-07-13T18:07:00.001+01:00

Hello there. Before I go off to Devon to eat my own weight in clotted cream teas I just wanted to mention a lovely new stockist of mine - the Harley Gallery. Well worth a visit if you're in Nottinghamshire.

The photo is some sugar(!) work by Jane Wildgoose (fabulous name) which will be on display at the gallery from 18 July - March 2011.

Cockpit Open Studios

2010-05-13T14:36:00.000+01:00

Hello strangers.

It's been pretty busy in the studio lately - wedding season! Luckily the brides have all been lovely, no bridezillas as yet.

I'm gearing up for the Cockpit Arts Holborn Open Studios too. Please come and see me on 11-13 June in Studio E2R! More details are here

And here's your invitation

New Spring pieces coming soon

2010-03-14T17:10:00.001Z

Taken with Ellie's fancy new lens.

Prime of Miss Jean Hoodie

2010-02-16T00:22:00.002Z

Love the hoodie headscarves! And those lace-up shoes...

This is really organic jewellery

2010-02-12T13:29:00.002Z

Photos Jean-Luc Fournier. Courtesy Art:concept, Paris, and Zero Gallery, Milan.

I heard about artist Hubert Duprat's project using caddis-fly larvae some time ago but wanted to post it here after seeing it again here.
Beautiful. And disgusting. Makes me think about pattern and randomness and tessellation.

RIP Lee Alexander McQueen

2010-02-12T13:22:00.000Z

He was a real inspiration. I've posted about his work here several times and just wanted to mark his passing.

Walford Mill Crafts

2010-01-28T15:02:00.002Z

After taking part in Walford Mill's Christmas exhibition I'm very happy that they asked me to stay. Some new work is winging its way there now, including this pearl necklace.

New year new studio

2010-01-27T19:01:00.001Z

It feels soo good to be at Cockpit in my new studio, with some room to swing a cat and a place to mess up and and leave behind at the end of the day when I go back to my more homely feeling home.

I just treated myself to a huge new lamp so I can see what I'm doing. Believe it or not, I was just using the tiny black one you can see on the corner of my table before.

I need a laptop now. I'm at home doing admin as we speak. Tax returns, yikes!

All I Want for Xmas

2009-12-16T20:02:00.000Z

I'll be back at the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane this weekend for All I Want for Xmas. I'll be there on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th December from 10am - 6pm, with lots of jewellery that isn't available on the website, including one-of-a-kind pieces and some little necklaces in the £35-£50 range that would make great gifts.

So come down and check out the jewellery in the flesh! Blog readersget 20% off!

Ballet Russes

2009-12-12T15:13:00.001Z

I'm taking a break and watching this on BBC iPlayer http://bbc.co.uk/i/p90nl/. Includes little bit of Karl Lagerfeld talking about the costumes he did for Swan Lake, the influence of Coco Chanel and the design legacy of the Ballets Russes.

Fantasy Christmas List

2009-12-08T13:09:00.002Z

3.1 Philip Lim dress, Chie Mihara shoes. I have a pair of Chie Mihara shoes and they are so well made and comfortable. If you're feeling generous, I'm a size 36.

Hidden Art Christmas Design Fair this weekend

2009-11-24T13:13:00.000Z

I'm taking part in the Hidden Art Christmas Design Fair this weekend. Once again it's taking place at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, London, which is a great venue as there's loads to see, do (and eat) in the area (including All I Want for Christmas, which starts this weekend and which I'm doing next month).

I always enjoy doing Hidden Art events as there's a great range of makers and they always make the effort to make the stands look great.

It would be lovely to see you at the private view this Friday 27th November between 6 and 8pm - the invite is below. Here are the details:

Late Night shopping: Friday 27th November 12am-6pm (Private View 6-8pm), Saturday 28th 10am-6pm, Sunday 29th 10am-6pm.

The Christmas Design Fair will also feature:
• an environmentally friendly wrapping service,
• Christmas café,
• Hidden Art E-Shop and Hidden Art Select stand, and
• Drop in workshops for children.

I'll have lots of pieces that aren't available on the website, including one-of-a-kind pieces and some little necklaces in the £35-£50 range that would make great gifts.

As an added incentive you get 20% off if you mention the blog!

By the way, I've set up a Facebook Fan Page for Glint (you might have spotted it over there on the sidebar), so if you're a Facebook addict, or just like to get your news that way, please be my 'fan'. I'd love to see photos of you in your Glint finery too!

Hope to see some of you this weekend.

Walthamstow Tapestry

2009-11-06T16:39:00.000Z

I went to the Victoria Miro today to catch the last day of the Grayson Perry exhibition (ETA it's just been extended til 14th November). It was pretty fantastic. You could devote a day to checking out all the details. The gallery itself is a wonderful space and there's a lot of interesting work to see and hear including some Yayoi Kusama (the crazy spot lady if I'm being reductive) and an atmospheric sound piece in the garden.

Walford Mill Crafts

2009-10-30T11:39:00.000Z

I've got some work in the 'Christmas Celebrations' selling exhibition at Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne, Dorset. The exhibition starts tomorrow and goes on until 3 January.

There, I said 'Christmas'. It's started. Although it started for me around August this year...

Moving on

2009-10-20T12:34:00.001+01:00

I'm really excited to tell you that I'll be moving into a studio space at Cockpit Arts in Holborn in the new year! Exciting times!

I am more than ready to move away from working at home - oxidising solution in the bathroom, pieces of wire all over the living room floor. Generally just never switcing off. And I'm really excited to be joining an amazing community of makers at Cockpit.

If you've never visited their Open Studios I'd really recommend it too, there's some amazing work there (although I can't make it this year, as I'm selling the the UK Design Fair that weekend).

(Photo is from moleitau)

Islington Contemporary Art and Design Show - tomorrow!

2009-10-14T21:10:00.002+01:00

Come along and say hi.

It's at Candid Galleries, behind Angel station, here.

(If you make it and decide to buy something, mention the blog and get 20% off!)

McQueen

2009-10-07T17:36:00.000+01:00

Amaazing stuff from McQueen. He has a formula with his cuts but it never gets boring. Crazy shoes, fantastic hair, dresses for alien snake queens or upholstery enthusiasts.

Back home

2009-09-23T17:01:00.002+01:00

I've been on holiday in Greece and I'm just getting back into the swing of things....been catching up on the important world of fashion I can't afford to buy. Cheeringly next Spring we can look forward to something other than all the Robert Palmer Addicted to Love type looks and aggression I've been getting so sick of lately...

I'm drawn to the more simple looks. These are from Marios Schwab, Christopher Kane and Marc Jacobs (he's sick of black and studs too)...

Daily Routines

2009-08-24T12:39:00.003+01:00

Still mulling over the subject of organisation, I've been thinking about changing my working routines lately - specifically renting a studio and going out to work in it, rather than working at home. There are pros and cons, but I'm ready for a change and I want to disentangle my home and work lives.

I'm quite fascinated by how creative people manage the work/life balance. I came upon this the Daily Routines blog through Lateral Action. Just like it says on the tin, it details famous people's routines. Flaubert had the right idea - 'A man of nocturnal habits, [he] usually awoke at 10 a.m. and announced the event with his bell cord. Only then did people dare speak above a whisper.'

2009-08-13T16:14:00.003+01:00

Oh I need to get organised! I really do. I would love to be calm and serene with no last-minute panics and late-night working. I'm thinking this Little Otsu journal might help. It's dateless, so if I forget to write in it for a while I'm not wasting paper either (how's that for giving up before you start).

And it's pretty too.

New website goodies

2009-07-30T12:11:00.007+01:00

Hi all! I sent out the newsletter but nearly forgot to tell my (slightly neglected) blog.

I've updated my website (and it feels good!). So good that I'm offeringI'm offering FREE POSTAGE until the end of August 2009. That includes international customers. You'll need to enter the code 'Freepost' when you check out.

See the new jewellery here.

Burgh House Art Fair on Monday

2009-05-01T20:09:00.001+01:00

I'll be selling my jewellery at Burgh House Art Fair, Hampstead, this coming Mayday Bank Holiday Monday.

It would be lovely to see you there! As an added incentive, tell me you saw it here and get 15% off your jewellery purchase.

2009-04-20T15:46:00.003+01:00

A little cinematic break from the jewellery show and tell...I borrowed the DVD of Ruokala Lokki (or Seagull Diner) from a friend thinking the description sounded not too promising - a Japanese woman opens a cafe in Finland...I thought it sounded scenic maybe but that's about it. Well, watch it is all I can say! It's life-affirming in a totally un-cheesy way, and very 'zen' - a real celebration of the simple things in life - food, friendship, living mindfully. On top of that it's great eye-candy (the cafe itself is a study in Scandinavian design and look out for all the Marimekko if you're a fan. In fact Marimekko, Iittala and Arabia are among the film's sponsor's). The food depicted in the film is all beyond tempting - if you can watch it without wanting to eat cinnamon buns and onigiri then you don't know what's good for you.

Spring Greens

2009-04-02T18:08:00.009+01:00

A couple more pictures for you today....the uploading to the website will start this weekend...these are Tsavorite garnet with oxidised silver.

A necklace...

And a glamorous pair of earrings...one of my favourite pieces. These look intriguing peeking out from under your hair or can go full-on old-school glamour with an up-do.

Hope you're enjoying this lovely spring day (on this side of the equator at least). I was beading away on the balcony earlier this afternoon. It's a total sun-trap, I might have even got slightly sunburnt. Off to bake some bread now and do a spot of yoga (in a rare fit of virtuousness).

Nearly forgot to add, photos are by Ellie Laycock.

Sneaky peek

2009-03-30T11:09:00.003+01:00

I've just had some new photos done for the website, so here's a little peek of what's going to be in store for the coming season...this one's made from sea bamboo and gold-plated silver. Sea bamboo is a type of kelp with a bamboo like structure. It looks very much like coral and is a more environmentally friendly alternative.

2009-03-29T02:17:00.000+01:00

Happy first day of summertime! It's making me a bit grumpy though I must admit - I want my hour back!

I'm working of some jewellery pieces today. I like listening to the radio when I'm making things, it's nice to engage two different parts of the brain at once. And making is a rather solitary business, so it's nice to hear a human voice.

Lately I've been listening to This American Life, which has over ten years' worth of archives to listen to. I really enjoyed the last section of this show. It's Russell Banks reading an edited version of his short story "Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story," which appears in its full version in his collection The Angel on the Roof. He has a wonderful reading voice.

Spprriing!

2009-03-12T17:00:00.004Z

On my balcony microclimate a couple of weeks ago. Come back sunshine!

Something nice to wake up to.

Missoni

2009-02-28T18:15:00.004Z

So much knitting inspiration from Missoni. I love the soft colours and the easy comfort of it all. I'm not usually a big Missoni fan (too slick, maybe), but this is making me hope for a cold Spring.

Brrrrr...

2009-02-02T15:12:00.002Z

It's snowing in London. A lot. I can't remember snow settling like this since I was a little kid. London is full of festive, snowman-building, snowball-chucking people.

After marvelling at it all we repaired for some mulled wine.

In other cold-weather news, I finished knitting my long fingerless cashmere gloves. I love them.

Christmas

2008-12-05T10:26:00.003Z

It's that time of year again. December is running away with me, it's scary. If you're thinking of ordering from Glint this year, here are the last order dates for Christmas delivery:

UK and the Channel Islands - Saturday 20th December
Western Europe - Thursday 11th December
USA - Thursday 11th December
Japan - Tuesday 9th December
Anywhere else - please contact me

These are the last standard order dates but please contact me earlier with custom orders or if you are ordering anything particularly involved!

UK Design Fair

2008-12-01T16:01:00.003Z

Thanks to everyone to came to see me at the design fair this weekend! It was a great show.

As always I had to buy something for myself as well, and I got the bargain of the century with 6 Soop mugs for a tenner. They are supposed to be seconds, but if that's the case then Wai-Lian must have extremely high standards because they seem pretty perfect to me...Jammy dodger anyone?

What I'm doing this weekend...

2008-11-27T16:08:00.006Z

(Click to view bigger)

Come along and see me at the
UK Design Fair, 28-30 November 2008, Shop 14, The Old Truman Brewery, corner of Hanbury Street and Dray Walk, London E1 6QL Map

There's a late night shopping evening on Friday 28th, 5-9pm, and I have some free drinks vouchers to give away - just ask!

And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US.

Stripes

2008-09-21T13:14:00.006+01:00

I'm a knitting-crazed fool at the moment. I want to make a stripey jumper and I found this image on style.com for colour inspiration...there is such an art to colour blending and Sonia Rykiel is always vibrant without being garish...

Layers

2008-09-11T11:06:00.004+01:00

Perusing the catwalk photos on style.com I came accross these 3.1 Philip Lim zip pieces. They remind me somehow of this Patisserie Valerie profiterole wedding cake....

And, more obviously, of Susie Bubble's zip neckpiece...

Pssst Sale!

2008-07-14T18:28:00.001+01:00

Just popping in to let you know about my Summer Sale - everything on www.glintjewellery.co.uk is 20% off until Friday 15 August! Just use the code Summer08 at checkout and the discount will be applied to your entire order.

Updated!

2008-04-07T22:20:00.003+01:00

Well, finally! The site has been updated with shiny rubies, and gold and silver baubles, all on my favourite blackened silver, go over and have a look.

I have to say wrangling with html is not one of my favourite activities, and I'm always in denial about just how looong it takes, but it feels good to have my newer pieces on display.

Sneak preview

2008-02-14T17:58:00.006Z

I'm working away on a site update. Meanwhile here's a sneak preview of one of my new necklaces, this is the one I always wear myself. Photo by the talented Ellie Laycock.

Oh, I've changed my blog colours too, I think it feels a bit more spring-like...

Back online: www.glintjewellery.co.uk

2008-01-30T14:49:00.000Z

Phew!

Technical hitch

2008-01-29T11:56:00.001Z

I'm having a little technical problem with my website which means my email isn't working either. Not fun, but everything will be back to normal within a couple of days. Apologies to anyone who has been trying to get in touch with me, I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Out of the Ordinary: Spectacular Craft

2008-01-21T15:04:00.001Z

I just wanted to tell you about a really inspiring exhibition I went to last week at the V&A: Out of the Ordinary: Spectacular Craft . Art made with craft techniques/ artistic craft (or whatever you want to call it) has received a lot of much deserved publicity and discussion of late and while this exhibition is small in scale it showcases some really inspiring international artists/craftspeople.

I was really impressed by Susan Collis, who uses jewellery techniques where you would least expect to see them. I loved her table, where what appear to be watermarks and paint splashes are in fact made from inlaid mother of pearl, howlite and opal, among other things. I also really liked her dust sheets, which look paint-splatted until you inspect them more closely and see that they're meticulously embroidered. I tried to find some good images of her work but this is something that really only comes alive when you see in up close and personal. The images just look like ordinary screws, rawl-plugs, paint-splattered furniture and dust sheets!

Lu Shengzhong's papercut work (pictured above) was amazing too and really quite moving. Incredibly, each of the thousands of figures that make up the work is individually cut with scissors and scalpels.

There are photos of each artist's studio space on display as well, which is really interesting if you're anything like me and enjoy nosing around other people's spaces!

Happy 2008!

2008-01-14T12:13:00.000Z

I'm just emerging from my post-Christmas hibernation to wish you all a belated happy new year and thanks everyone for a great 2007!
Don't know about you, but all I really feel like doing at the moment is watching films, eating roast dinners and knitting (a new obsession), but I'm gearing up for a big shop update with new pieces for spring....hopefully in time for Valentine's day.
I'll keep you posted with a sneak preview here before they go online....

15% OFF 12-16 December only

2007-12-13T11:55:00.001Z

Can't make it to the Christmas Fair? To make things fair (no bad pun intended) on all the non-Londoners, I'm offering 15% OFF everything on the website from 12-16 December only!

Just type Xmas07 in the vouchers field at checkout.

The Angel Christmas Fair

2007-12-13T11:48:00.000Z

If you're in the Islington area of London this weekend, come and see me at the Angel Christmas Fair!

There'll be affordable paintings, photography, illustration, fashion, textiles, jewellery, glass, ceramics and furniture to buy direct form the designers.

The Angel Christmas Fair
Candid Arts Trust Galleries (just across the road, near Angel tube station)
3 Torrens Street
Angel
EC1V 1NQ

15-16 December, 12 - 6pm

Fair Opening Times

Saturday 15 th December 2007: 12-6pm
Saturday 16 th December 2007: 12-6pm

I'll be selling everything at 15% off the website price , as well as some fair-only pieces in the £20-30 price range which would make ideal gifts.

Click here for more information

Nice to meet you!

2007-12-03T13:00:00.000Z

Just popping in quickly and belatedly to thank everyone who turned up to see me at the Hidden Art Fair! It was lovely to see some of you face to face!

I had a great, if exhausting couple of days and met some fantastic makers. Among my favourites were Nadia Sparham who makes wonderful patterned textiles and ceramics. You might have seen her murals at Start and Cochinechine in London. Nick Fraser had some brilliant products too. I bought one of his black acrylic Christmas decorations which was perfect for a friend who doesn't really do frou-frou when it comes to home decor...kind of a techno-electro snowflake...

Ok, back to the work bench...

Hidden Art Design Fair

2007-11-15T15:23:00.000Z

Hello....I've been a very bad blogger lately...I vow to do better!

I just wanted to tell you about a pre-Christmas fair I'm doing next weekend, the Hidden Art Design Fair at Abney Hall in Stoke Newington (73a Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0AS).

Fair Opening Times

Saturday 24th November 2007: 10am-6pm

Sunday 25th November 2007: 12pm-5pm

If you're free that weekend and in the area it would be lovely to see you, and I'll have some new designs that haven't made it onto the website yet. In fact, if (in the unlikey event!) you read this blog, just mention mrsmagpie and you can get 20% off the retail price.

As well as jewellery, there will be fashion and fashion accessories, ceramics, lighting, furniture, interior accessories, textiles and glass, all brought to you direct from local designer-makers.

If you can’t make it during the daytime, I have a limited number of invitations to give away for the private view on Saturday 24th November, 6.30 – 9pm. Come and have a glass of wine and a mince pie with me and maybe do a bit of late-night shopping! Just leave me a comment if you'd like an invite.

The fair is part of the well-established Hidden Art Open Studios event. For more information on the open studios, click here

Daily Candy! And Secret Sale!

2007-10-08T13:03:00.000+01:00

Thank you Daily Candy for sending so many new visitors my way today! :-)

Just to make things interesting, I thought I'd have a little celebratory, semi-secret sale....so if you've made it over here to the blog, you have earned 15% off your purchase by typing DailyCandy in the vouchers field at checkout. Offer valid today and tomorrow only!

Kate x

Alexander McQueen

2007-10-06T12:14:00.000+01:00

Love all of it! Love the feathers, even if they would make me sneeze...

Dries Van Noten

2007-10-04T12:19:00.000+01:00

Sooo maybe when Fashion Week (month?) is over I'll get on with some work and tear myself away from style.com. Some lovely prints and colours at Dries...everything reminds me of my friend CK who is a Dries obsessive...

I love a puffy sleeve...

Comme des Garcons

2007-10-03T13:03:00.000+01:00

Some pretty cool looks among the keraaziness...

Love the African hairstyle print and the silhouette at the top but I'll pass on the bottom half of the outfit, especially the clown trousers...

2007-10-03T12:22:00.001+01:00

Beautiful sleeve details at Sophia Kokosalaki.

Hidden Art Fair

2007-09-25T13:28:00.000+01:00

I've recently joined Hidden Art, a great not-for-profit membership organisation that supports and promotes designer-makers.
I was really pleased to be selected to take part in their Open Studios Fair at Abney Hall in Stoke Newington, London on 24th & 25th November. Conveniently for me, it's within walking distance from my house! I'll give more details nearer the time, but I think it'll be a great place to find some original and independently-produced Christmas gifts....

Louise Goldin - my favourite so far....

2007-09-17T12:39:00.002+01:00

My favourite so far this season....tropical fish knitwear that looks so comfortable and wearable....

Philip Lim

2007-09-11T00:14:00.000+01:00

I like this necklace idea from 3.1 Philip Lim, via style.com.
I'm keeping an eye on the New York shows but it's been a bit safe and iuninspiring so far...

Shi Liu

2007-09-04T22:53:00.000+01:00

I have a new stockist this month, Shi Liu. It's a beautiful bespoke bridal and evening wear shop on St John Street in Islington, run by the eponymous Shi who is lovely - if you go and check out the gorgeous dresses and jewellery there you're likely to get a cup of jasmine tea and a chat into the bargain.

The shop's in a great area of London, just round the corner from Saddler's Wells theatre and Exmouth Market, home of the famous Moorish restaurant Moro. There's a really cute and ideosyncratic flower shop there too, Pod, where I bought a little organic-looking pod-shaped vase on my way back from Shi Liu. I have a bit of a pod-shaped object obsession at the moment...

(Sticking to the wedding theme, if you happen to pick up a copy of CosmoBride this month you'll see my vintage leaf bracelet with coral featured in a 'Grecian wedding' spread! It's masquerading as a laurel leaf bracelet).

Kew Gardens

2007-08-29T00:28:00.001+01:00

My parents came to visit today and we went by boat along the Thames to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. There is so much to see, it was vegetation and texture overload! Note-taking is not my strong point however and I have no idea what either of these plants is called.
The slightly decomposing fruit may not be conventionally beautiful but I love all the texture and the little juicy nodules. Almost jewel like? Actually it makes me want to start making something with the smoooth ruby beads sitting on my work bench.

Hello Taiwan

2007-08-21T23:16:00.000+01:00

A few months ago I was contacted by dpi, a Taiwanese design magazine, and asked to do an interview. Well, it's out now! I got my copy of the magazine yesterday. The online version looks good, but it's so lovely in the flesh. All that flowing hair on the cover illustration by Margot Mace (there's an accent on that last e but I can't work out how to put on in) is embossed, luvvly. I'll post a scan on my website as soon as I get one done. Meanwhile, here's a transcription of the interview, which I am posting despite feeling slightly bashful about it.

Please introduce yourself to our readers. (background, story of growing up, personality…etc).

I grew up in a small down in South West England with my two brothers. I was always drawing and making things as a child, and I read a lot and loved dancing – so not too different to how I am now. I didn’t really consider art and design as a career when I left school, I think I had the idea that it wouldn’t be possible to make a living at it, so I went on to study French at university in London, and lived in France for a year. After university I drifted into a few different jobs and ended up working as a museum curator, but it never really felt like the career for me. I made jewellery in my spare time, and as I developed my ideas and skills I became more and more interested in trying to make a living at it, which I’m now lucky enough to do. I live in Dalston in North East London with my boyfriend (who is studying acupuncture) and I work from home designing and making my Glint range of jewellery.

Why do you like design? And why did you choose to become a jewelry designer?

I’m quite a visual person in that I’m interested in the aesthetics of my environment and things that I use and wear on a day-to-day basis. Like most people, I started out by designing and making things that I wanted to wear myself. I like working with my hands, too, and I find it really satisfying to give shape to something concrete that has started out as an abstract idea. I didn’t really ‘decide’ to become a jewellery designer, I just gradually realized that it would be possible for me to make living at doing something that I loved. It started with me wanting to make jewellery that I enjoyed wearing and was interesting to make, friends asked me to make things for them, and it went from there!

What does jewelry design bring to your life?

I find it quite meditative to make jewellery, and it’s really satisfying to slowly piece together the different elements and end up with a something beautiful. It’s great to watch someone try something on and fall in love with it, it makes me feel that what I’m doing is worthwhile and impacts on people’s lives in a positive way.

Why did you found the brand glint? What does glint mean?

I first started selling my jewellery at London’s Spitalfields Market, which is a starting point for a lot of new designers. Selling the jewellery really helped me to focus on the direction it should take and the range began to take shape and tell a coherent story. Shortly thereafter I launched the Glint website, www.glintjewellery.co.uk. I really like the hard sound of the work glint, and the way it looks when it’s written down. The word means ‘a bright gleam or flash’, which is obviously appropriate for a jewellery brand! It implies glitter and glamour without sounding in the least ‘girlie’.

Please introduce the concept and specialty of your works.

Glint is about simple but detailed jewellery that draws you in and becomes more interesting the closer you look. My pieces also tend to have a time-worn look to them but they are modern in their simplicity – the leaf charms I use are vintage and with the Cluster pieces the oxidized silver gives them a worn-in look. I’m always balancing old and new, simple and detailed, and I like to contrast hard and soft looking elements, like soft pearls and hard faceted stones. It’s not in the least trend-led, although I’m interested in fashion and I’m sure that trickles down to my work in some way. I don’t like to conceptualise too much, I just want people to look beautiful wearing the jewellery and to absorb it into their own style.

Please introduce the most popular work in all your works.

The Aventurine Leaf Necklace. I’ve introduced some new colours and styles using these vintage leaves recently and they’re proving really popular too. I’ve been pleased with the response to the long Sautoir necklaces too.

Where and how do you get inspiration to present in your works?

Primarily, the stones and metals themselves inspire me and seem to demand that they are used in a certain way. I’m also inspired by natural formations like clusters of berries, clumps of moss or even mould and barnacles– things are accrue from a number of smaller elements and become more than the sum of their parts.

What are the interesting happenings when you designed jewelry?

It’s always interesting when you’re developing new work, just seeing what shape the piece is going to take and whether it will spark off something exciting – maybe a whole new series. I love looking out for unusual stones to use in my work, too.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like eating out or going to the pub with friends and going to the cinema and exhibitions – I went to Christoph Buchel’s Simply Botiful installation recently, which was amazing. I practice yoga as often as I can, and I like reading and listening to music – I love David Mitchell’s books and I’m obsessed with Joanna Newsom’s new album Y’s at the moment.

What does freedom mean to you? When and what makes you feel free?

To me, freedom is being able to live without fear or worrying about what other people think. I feel free when I’m just walking around the city with friends at the weekend, and on Sunday night when I really appreciate that I don’t have to go out to work for anyone else on Monday morning.

What is your dream in the future? How will you reach your dream?

I want to develop my practice and the business whilst keeping it small and controllable enough that I can continue making it myself. I’m considering looking for a shared studio space too, as working from home can get a bit lonely at times. I’m going to keep on doing what I’m doing, pursuing my ideas and developing my techniques, focusing on the present and hoping the future takes care of itself. I’m looking forward to taking more holidays in 2007 too!

Please recommend some special places in your country to our readers.

In London, I’d recommend going to the Brick Lane and Spitalfields area on a Sunday - Spitalfields Market is worth a visit and there are some great independent and vintage shops in the area. It’s worth getting up early and checking out the Columbia Road flower market too. For food, Rasa is a great Keralan restaurant in Stoke Newington – it’s cheap and really delicious. In you want to go to the countryside, give Stonehenge a miss and check out the prehistoric stone circle at Avebury in Wiltshire – much more atmospheric.

Hikaru Furuhashi

2007-08-18T20:35:00.001+01:00

I love food, and I love good typography, so these images from Hikaru Furahashi are pretty appealing. I think I first came across her work through Lena Corwin's blog. Something vibrant to look at on a wet, grey day (is it really August?!)

New Stockists

2007-08-18T16:45:00.000+01:00

I've just sent some jewellery off on its travels to these two shops - Myrrh in Sevenoaks, Kent, and Jac. in Atalanta, Georgia. So if you're in the area(s) go and have a look...

Little Doodles

2007-08-18T16:01:00.001+01:00

Kate Wilson's little be-wigged birds are insanely cute. You can buy prints from her Etsy shop.

Angie Boothroyd

2007-08-18T13:02:00.001+01:00

Angie Boothroyd makes beautiful jewellery with a really interesting texture. She mostly works in gold that she alloys herself. This is her Palm Cascade set. I really like some of the gold and tourmaline pieces too.

First post....

2007-08-18T12:40:00.000+01:00

Hi! Anyone there?!

I'll be posting here to let you know what's going on with my jewellery range, Glint, and sharing things that I like and that inspire me - jewellery, design, clothes, art, and anything else that catches my eye.

Here's a picture of my caviar bracelet by way of introduction...

K x