South of the Clouds

Saturday, 26 April 2014

RHS Garden Wisley, May Bank Holiday

I am showing my jewellery and silverware with British Festival Silver at RHS Garden Wisley over the Bank Holiday weekend. We will be in the Glass House - call in and see the best of silversmithing, jewellery and craft in the UK.

Sunday, 13 April 2014

New Collection 2014 at Johnny Rocket's

My new collection in silver and rose gold makes its debut at Johnny Rocket's Gallery this week.

More additions to the collection to follow - and will be available in my other outlets later in the year.

Rose Gold Branch Wrap Ring

Rose Gold Branch Necklace

Saturday, 12 April 2014

Angels at the Royal Academy

We had to climb high to see them, but it's not often you get such a close up look at these details in the Royal Academy. We loved looking through one of the portholes of the enormous wooden installation to unexpectedly find a golden angel.

The Sensing Spaces exhibition was interactive and peaceful to walk around. Busy as it was the last night, but fun - and for a non-architect like me it opened my mind to new ideas of 3-D space.

Favourite quote by Li Xiaodong: 'Allowing room for the visitors imagination is essential if a space is to become a satisfying physical experience'

Favourite installation was Kengo Kuma's for the atmosphere he created

Kengo Kuma at the Royal Academy

Jasmine Tea

At last we made it to Ping Pong, the Chinese restaurant at Southbank which I've often walked past and wanted to go to. The range of dim sum was excellent, we sat out in a heated terrace and I loved the flowering jasmine tea. Served in large thermos glasses, they kept the heat in constantly.

It reminded me of the first time I had this tea at Huxingting, the oldest teahouse in Shanghai, back in 2008. You could get flowering jasmine tea in the UK a few years ago, but it was not as easy to find it back then. Not a problem now - another sign of China emerging in London.

Flowering Jasmine tea at Ping Pong

Flowering Jasmine served in glass teapots at Huxinting Teahouse 2008

Friday, 7 March 2014

Celebrating Women's Day 2014 at Wow Festival Southbank

I'm enjoying a delicious cup of Assam tea bought from Tea People at the Women of the World Festival this afternoon. I had a chat with Dilip, the stall holder, and realise I know more about his company than I first thought, namely through the multi-talented designer entreprenuer, Gillian Gamble, who is behind so much of the creative work of this exciting young social enterprise. I'm looking forward to seeing their new film about tea workers and their families - coming out soon. They're also in the April edition of Vogue.

I had called over to look around the WoW Festival, having run stalls there for the past two years - selling my own jewellery and the products made by my SEN students from Mulberry. I am glad that the business has been carried on this year by an enthusiastic member of staff and that we had the students colourful products being sold there once again. The Mulberry stall looked fantastic as always - we're very proud of the girls!! I hope they make a good profit after all the hard work. Other Mulberry students will return on Sunday to sell more products - bath salts and other gifts.

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Preparation for new silver bowl

Adding the finishing touches to some of my new paintings. Then I'll be ready to start a new silver butterfly bowl this week, with paintings as my starting point

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Happy New Year!

...with love from Chinatown, London, UK 2014 xxx

Sunday, 26 January 2014

Pontobosio Mist

I've enjoyed playing with ink in the last few days, remembering atmospheric walks in Italy at new year. Now I'm back in London, it's fun to recreate my own abstract version of the morning mist-covered mountains that were all around us, near a village called Pontobosio. Here's a small selection:

Sunday, 12 January 2014

Sketch 1, 2014

I've enjoyed doing a more precise drawing, alongside the looser palette knife paintings, since coming back to London after New Year. This is a small teacup on my Puer teatray. I like the patterns of word carvings in the wood.