Deep Dive into Pearls

I learned how to knot pearls in silk thread when I was in Hong Kong. I love the meditative and repetitive process. It shows off the pearls beautifully and gives a beautiful movement to the necklace. 

I love the lustre of pearls and especially when they are combined with precious metals such as gold and silver. 

I've been listening to the pearls podcast from the V&A and understanding more about their history and cultural significance. Worth purchasing if you are fascinated by pearls as I am. Beautifully presented by jewellery historian, Beatriz CHadour-Sampson. 

Here is jewellery featuring pearls and bamboo by Silvia Furmanovich, one of my favourite designers.
 

Nicolas Varney is an incredible designer who has made this intricate bracelet featuring conch pearls which are the rarest pearls you can find. 

I saw some beautiful pearls jewellery on my  recent visit to the V&A at the Bollinger Gallery with its amazing collection of jewellery. 

 

entering the gallery                                       pearl jewellery from the 1600s

 

Red on white

I just spotted this in my back garden. It's only the start of February but there are signs of life everywhere and it is great to have a splash of colour to liven up the winter garden.

It reminds me of the red collection I brought out in London, the bright red sea bamboo claw-set on sterling silver branch. I really loved crafting the branches and look forward to restarting my silversmithing when I get my new studio set up in the next couple of weeks. The shot was taken in the Full Focus studio, London.

I have ideas ready to go as I had some time last year to draw and experiment with watercolour, oils and lots of drawings. More to follow.

Happy 2020!

RUA 2014 Ulster Museum

The Ulster Museum once again hosts the Royal Ulster Academy 2014 Annual Exhibition which opens today 17th October - 4th January. I've seen some pics of the show and it looks better than ever - can't wait

 to see it when I'm back home in Belfast. 

You can see the latest works from some of the best Irish artists - a great combination of established artists and fresh new talent featuring not only paintings but also sculpture, glass, ceramics, photography and film. 

....look for my little Butterfly Cloud Bowl - tiny in comparison to some of the amazing oil paintings, but it's there on a plinth alongside the sculptures!

RUA Annual Exhibition 2014

Good news! 

I'm totally delighted that my new Butterfly Cloud Bowl has been selected for the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition in the Ulster Museum 17th October 2014 - 4th January 2015.

The inspiration for my silver bowl is the Butterfly Spring in Dali, SW China, where every spring time people come to see literally thousands of butterflies, attracted to a pool and the surrounding blossom, creating a spectacular sight.

Summer Sale until the end of August

My Summer Sale has started with 20% off all jewellery in my Red Rose and White Pearl Collections.
Please contact me at clairehartdesign@gmail.com for prices and details.

 

Desire Fair, Winchester

Call in to the fabulous Desire Fair this weekend and see the best jewellers and silversmiths in the UK. The set up for tonights private view is well underway.

It's my second year showing here and this time I'm delighted to be exhibiting with the amazingly talented silversmiths from House of Jewellers.  

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

I'm flying back for the Private View tomorrow evening at the Ulster Museum and can't wait to see the wide range of art, especially all the paintings, and to meet the artists. Some names are familiar to me from exhibitions years ago and from the BP Portrait Awards in London, and now I'll see these incredible artists all in one venue, back in Belfast. Fantastic!

.....and of course I'm really looking forward to seeing my very own Blossom Bowl on show at the RUA Exhibition!

The exhibition opens to the public on the 18th October.

Blossom Bowl 

Tutti Frutti, Rare Beauty

We're open at Number Ninety-Four Gallery - call in if you're on Columbia Road any weekend this October!

Glamping in the New Forest

I can now say I'm a convert to glamping since my weekend in the New Forest. Waking up to sunshine was a plus of course, but also loved the walk through heather, gorse and forests, spotting the wildlife.  I have a wonderful new branch ring commission from friends in the New Forest - more of that on the blog in the next few months. 

waking up in a yurt in glorious sunshine:)

love the hazy purple of heather

.....finally we spotted some fallow deer. Fantastic sight!

realy like the colour of this horse

Tuscany studio

Not many jewellers get to go on holiday and find a bench has been set up, with stunning views across the hills.

liked the knot of wood on the edge which worked well as a bench peg

I did a few hours of filing in the best studio space ever, looking out across the valley at Panicale. Was relaxing to do a bit of work - followed by sunbathing, then eating, then a bit more work.

Wouldn't mind working from a hilltop studio in the future.

It's easy to work when you have views like this.....

Banking in China

Another great Friday night atmosphere at the V&A - 'David Bowie is....... '

Loved the red carpet into the gardens, with 'paparazzi' at the ready, Bowie music blasting. Needless to say, we just slipped off the red carpet quietly and were glad to see a more extroverted poser in front of us take the limelight with flair. Great fun!

But looking around the galleries, our attention was caught by these tiny silver place card holders from the 1930's, from Chengdu.  The little figure on the left carries a bamboo stick with two baskets on either end with the word 'bank' written in mandarin. Is this how money was transported in the past?