Ink Play

Just having fun playing with ink on rice paper

Week of Private Views

Check out the Private View at Treasure last week  - what an amazing show in an incredible venue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYomu_sh_uo&feature=youtu.be

Now getting ready for Private View number two at our very own Flux Studios in Camberwell this evening - call in to Vanguard Court for a glass of wine! 
We're open all weekend

Artist's Book

I've just finished making an artist's book for Treasure: my sketches, silver and some pics from China. I've added these two from a trip some years ago just because it was a stunning sight: from a remote area outside the great city of Chongqing. 

Treasure Check

Great coffee in Tom's Kitchen, Somerset House

I stopped by at Somerset House to check out the venue for next week. So exciting to be exhibiting in such a beautiful place. I loved the two exhibitions there: 'Kokoro' by internationally renowned Japanese Tatoo artist and Wendy Ramshaw's House of Dreams. So inspiring to look at these prolific artists' works and see how they create.

I've now left my studio behind - where I've spent huge numbers of hours creating in the past few weeks -  as my work is all safely in the Assay Office to be hallmarked for next Thursday's Treasure. 

it was work in progress - now complete!

Somerset House

It's now exactly two weeks to go before I show my jewellery and silver gifts in the stunning venue of Somerset House.  Really looking forward to this, my biggest show so far!

You can go onto http://www.treasureuk.com/tickets to buy advance tickets using the promo-code :: Jeweller241 - this entitles you to 2 for the price of 1 tickets.

Grand Imperial, London

We came here last night to celebrate success at Chelsea Flower Show. What an amazing Cantonese menu from top Hong Kong chef Rand Cheung. Superb service, beautiful calligraphy on the walls - loved the ceramics, especially the designs on the plates.

We over-ordered - great lunch for the next day though!

New Blossom Bowl

In the Pearl and Silver Collections at Claire Hart Design, Treasure 2012

Continuing the floral theme from Chelsea 2012, I'm delighted to have completed my new Blossom Bowl: with two small mother of pearl roses on branches and miniature spoon it is now ready for Treasure.

It will join my silver gifts collections: tiny Butterfly Bowl, Rosehip Spoons and Blossom Double Spoons......

....and of course lots of jewellery too - soon to be photographed.

Chelsea nearly ready to go....

.....and it's looking good!
I went up to the massive construction site on Friday, with my sister-in-law to help my sister Cathy set up. Hundreds of people working away, building the settings and planting. We saw the pyramid, lots of my favourite outdoor sculptors - well, here are a few shots.

I'll return to see it completed on Thursday.

Someone's excited to be at the Pyramid!

I just had to pose next to an old-style rickshaw

Signage looking good!

....and here's the head!

I like this sculptor's work of powerful animals

Omar @ Hideaway

blurred action shot!

Nothing like seeing Omar on home territory, down in Streatham last night to a packed sell-out gig at the fabulous Hideaway.

Blooming Aliums for Chelsea

the perfect aliums

Cathy's aliums, with two weeks to go......

With 10 days to go before she exhibits her sculpture at Chelsea Flower Show, my sister Cathy is growing (180!) aliums in a friend's garden - they should bloom in time to surround her work.  

Will they, won't they.....?? A brave few have just started to open and are looking promising. We have plenty of rain at the moment - we just need the sun now. Where is it??

more Istanbul inspiration

the awesome Haggia Sophia

One of the most serene rooms I saw in Istanbul - the Library of  Topkapi Palace

here are a few more images from Istanbul. There was too much to see in a short time!



 I'll have to go back.......

window in a sarcophagus, Haggia Sophia

Blue Mosque minarets and an obelisque

swirling dervishes

Istanbul Patterns

Turkish tea and roses 

I didn't make it to China this year, but I travelled East and got nearly halfway there - to Istanbul for a few days. Love the cultural fusion of West, Middle East and Asia.

I even found the jewellery quarter and made some essential purchases. I stumbled across helpful and friendly sellers just outside the Old Bazaar. I haven't been able to find roses this small in China, so am really pleased with this purchase. Yesterday I claw-set the first one on to my new branch necklace which will be unveiled at Treasure (now only 5 weeks to go!).

Here's a small taster to give you a flavour of the fusion of East/West designs.

Old Bazaar Lights

stunning window which was unfortunately in the Circumcision Room of the Palace:(

Haggia Sophia intricate wrought iron

Palace tiles 2

 Istanbul was a blast of colour, pattern, noise, cultures and definitely worth a trip. I can't wait to go back!

Old Bazaar Lights