Masterpiece 2013

I was given a ticket for Masterpiece last year and knew I'd be back in 2013 to see it again.
Interesting walking through what was the Chelsea Flower Show only a few weeks ago to see yet another amazing exhibition in the same grounds, this time all under cover.
Highlights for me this year were the galleries showing contemporary Chinese Brush Painting: I loved Gao Xingjian's sublime ink on paper, in the Aktis Gallery and Yang Yanping in Michael Goedhuis Gallery.

Work by Gao Xingjian, similar to one I saw at Masterpiece 

I missed the talk on contemporary Chinese brush painting given by Michael Goedhuis and hope to hear another one sometime soon.

Jewellery Week 2013

One year on from Treasure 2012 at Somerset House, I'm delighted to be in the group show Luxe By Me  10-16th June which is showing during London Jewellery Week.

Call in and see nine fantastic designers at Luxe by Me in Craft Central, Clerkenwell.

Cathy at Chelsea

Last day at Chelsea and the sun's out - hooray.

If you visit, stop by and see my sister's sculpture - Cathy Hart and all her creatures. Saw lots of people stopping and smiling when I visited on Weds. She's had her best ever show at Chelsea this year.

Well done Cathy!

Chelsea Colours 3

Loved the artisan retreats at Chelsea but my absolute favourite this year has to be jeweller and anthropologist Pippa Small's - complete with afternoon tea laid out, golden tree and friendly people to chat to.

                                                              A gorgeous gem of a retreat!

Chelsea Colours part 2

Looking around the Chelsea Flower Show on Wednesday evening, I loved the artisan gardens, and especially the Japanese artisan garden with running water and oval frames in the walls. Designer, Kazuyuki Ishihara, won the Best Artisan Garden and a Gold Medal for An Alcove (Tokonoma) Garden.  

Japanese artisan garden at Chelsea

It reminds me of the circle shape I see in gates and doors when in China. This is my favourite gate from a local park near where I lived in Kunming. Very serene. 

Entrance to the park in Kunming

I also liked this miniature mountainous landscape recreated in the Great Pavilion at Chelsea, full of my favourite flowers, the orchid.

Chelsea Colours 1

Aren't these colours good for the soul? 

Chelsea Flower Show 2013......more to follow!

                       

Dulwich Open House, Baroque the Streets

Brilliant talent unleashed at Court Lane Private View for Dulwich Festival, particularly with the superb street dance and catwalk show. Favourites were Lisa E Moss's jewellery, meeting graffiti artist 'Agent Provocateur',  part of Baroque the Streets, and Cathy Hart's sculpture (of course!).

Liked the Stik graffiti on drainpipe!

     

graffiti for Baroque the Streets

Two stalls at Southbank

Spark Productions

Claire Hart Design

Here they are at the Women of the World Festival, my silver jewellery on the stall I shared with Flux  jeweller Alex Yule, and the glorious technicolour products my students made for the Mulberry stall!

Huge thanks to all the colleagues who helped set up the students' stall and brought them on the trip to Southbank. Thanks also to Tim Scott and Gillian Arnold for printing the mugs - they sold really well!

The students can't wait to count their earnings tomorrow........they'll discover that they did fantastically well:)

WoW Festival at Southbank

I saw Jesse Norman introducing some speed mentoring - from a distance! 

Sea Bamboo Bracelet with Butterflies

The Women of the World Festival at the Royal Festival Hall today was packed, with inspiring speakers and lots of info for women in business and in charity work.

Lovely chatting to people at the stall I'm sharing with Alex Yule Jewellery.10% of my sales this weekend goes towards Eden Ministries, a charity I've seen in action in Kunming. They successfully rescue women from trafficking, using a holistic approach, which includes providing them with safe accomodation and teaching them jewellery-making skills in workshops.

My students made fantastic sales today on their stall 'Spark Productions' - and came to help sell! They had a great time.

Looking forward to two more busy days at Southbank this weekend!

Wedding Show in central London

Call in to 'Craft Central Gets Hitched' - central London's premier Handmade Wedding Fair 21-24th March - where I'll be launching my new silver branch necklace with blossom, alongside my classic red, white and butterfly collections. 

Free entry for lots of  inspiration for your wedding from 60 selected designers:)