MA Designer Maker

Ashley Heminway

Wendy Helps

If you like to mix your fine art up with more traditional craft skills, then the MA Designer Maker is not to be missed. I was lucky enough to meet both of these wonderful artists when I visited the shows last week. We had an interesting talk about their work which made visiting the shows this year even more memorable.

Drucilla Pettibone

, originally uploaded by Drucilla Pettibone.

I love my dragonfly wing necklace made by Drucilla Pettibone, you can visit her flickr page by clicking on the photograph or read her blog. There are some fabulous items in her etsy shop too.

Eleanor Bolton

Neckpieces, cotton rope and yarn

Eleanor Bolton makes unusual sculptural jewellery, constructed from rope to wear or hang on the wall.

Marta Mattsson

Bow, calf skin, silver

Nest, goatskin, butterflies

Flowerbeetle, beetle, electoform copper, plastic, silver and laquer resin

Jewellery by Marta Mattsson

"I make jewellery for adults but with a touch of inspiration from my childhood. When I was a child I played with stuffed animals, slugs and other living animals. I have always been drawn to both biology and art and in my work I am trying to combine my interests. Nature is a great source of inspiration but so is Pokemon…"

Joanne Haywood

Artifact neckpiece

Roman Brooch

Joanne Haywood is a wonderful jewellery designer and artist who works with a wide range of materials including oxidised silver and knitted and crocheted thread. Joanne has work in 2 shows at the moment, one in London at the SDC Gallery until 24th April and the other in Rochester, Kent at Rochester Art Gallery until 25th April. Joanne also has a blog, The Needle Files.

KNOT EXACTLY

KNOT EXACTLY- Ellen Burroughs & Sophie Axford-Hawkins at Hepsibah Gallery: A shared fascination with the nature of knots and plaits has drawn the two artists to work together for this show. For the jeweller, the literal processes of knotting and rope making are traditions which come into play, while for the draftswoman knots and plaits are signs of human intervention tying together organic materials and animal forms. 27 August - 2 September.

The Hand of Fatima

Mariam Aryai Rivera was at the Bust Craftacular on Saturday. Mariam is based in New York and this was her first visit to London. Mariam makes Curious Jewelry for the Nostalgic Enchanted. I purchased these unusual earrings, which were displayed on Mariam's beautiful stall on a Victorian photograph. I have substituted my portrait of a bearded gentleman by photographer Henry Death. Mariam has an etsy shop, The Hand of Fatima.

Gesine Hackenberg

sieraad met een verhaal, 2006
kitchen necklace

delft earthware, thread, gold

Gesine Hackenberg is showing work with Galerie Ra at Collect at the Saatchi Gallery in London from the 15th - 17th May.

Collect: The International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects is presented by the Crafts Council. Bringing together selected galleries from around the globe, Collect showcases the very best in decorative and applied arts.

The entrance fee is £15.00.

Sasja Saptenno

Jewellery by Sasja Saptenno.

In Holland, there are approximately 16 million people and 13 million bikes. Multiply the number of bikes x 2 and you get a rough calculation of at least 26 million inner tubes.

What happens to all those inner tubes when they are beyond repair? Jewelry designer Sasja Saptenno has found a creative way for people to accessorize with them! Sasja obtains her materials from bike shops, neighbors, and even off of her own bike!

Have a look at Sasja's website, (accessorylab) for more wonderful creations, and you can read more on her blog.

Thanks to Haute Nature for the link and Bikehacks for the information!

Lina Peterson

Brooch, gold-plated silver, felt and thread.

I first saw the work of Lina Peterson at her graduation show at the Royal College of Art in 2006. 'The focus of my jewellery lies within the exploration of material qualities and combinations. Allowing room for playfulness to enter my work, I am interested in finding the balance between the controlled and the arbitrary. The use of textile techniques are combined with a range of other materials, such as dip-coated plastics and metals.'

Her latest works incorporating felt, stitch and wood are wonderful. If you don't make it to Origin this week, you can see them on her website.

Jo Pond

Bookcover brooch

Jo Pond's work originates from a passion for old and discarded objects and a drive to create harmonious compositions. She constructs narrative content by utilising a collection of unusual materials and unconventional objects, being interested in the ambivalent perceptions of personal beauty and their consequential relationship to confidence, self-value and psychological health. Her aesthetic inspiration develops from the unintended details found in decomposition and changing materials. It is always a delight to see Jo and her beautiful work.

Laura Bennett

Nature of Fragility. Silver, plants.

Laura Bennett makes beautiful jewellery composed from natural found objects and fragile materials. Her pieces are designed to change and evolve with wear and tear and she transforms pieces that have disintegrated into new ideas and designs.

Adele Brereton

Form rings, wood, silver.

Adele Brereton makes organic and tactile jewellery, created using the traditional silversmithing technique of ‘raising’, which is to hammer a flat sheet into a hollow form. These are shaped in an instinctive and spontaneous way, taking inspiration from natural objects. Silver, gold and carved wooden forms are combined to construct unusual and individual jewellery pieces.

The good thing about visiting Origin is that you meet the makers and you can try the jewellery on before you buy it! I loved these rings by Adele Brereton.

comfort station

comfort station

22 Cheshire Street, London, E2

cool shop, lovely website

Joanne Haywood

Joanne Haywood is exhibiting her beautiful jewellery at an exhibition celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Society of Designer Craftsmen founded by William Morris and Walter Crane in 1888. The show continues at 24 Rivington Street, London EC2 until 18th October.

November Moon

brooch - black thread, originally uploaded by acrossandtwokisses.

Cathy Cullis will be selling her exquisite brooches on the feltbug stall. 10 pretty girls have just arrived in a padded envelope and I will be bringing them with me to the We Make London craft fair this Sunday. Click on the picture to go to Cathy's flickr page or you can read more about her work on her blog, November Moon.

Joanne Haywood

Joanne Haywood will be showcasing new works, including Pipe Flower Neckpieces, utilising treasures from the Thames, at this event at the Tower of London from the 12th-15th June. There is an entrance fee. More info on the Treasure at the Tower website. This exhibition is part of London Jewellery week.

Seon-hwa Lee

It was lovely to see Seon-hwa again. We met at the college show last year and her work is so beautiful - she works with free newspapers that litter our lives and transforms them into these delicate jewels - all the colour in the pieces is from the colour in the newsprint. You can see her work again next month at New Designers. in Islington.

Kati Nulpponen

In Mourning Dress, 2006 cotton, silver, nylon, satin (crochet)

16x55x4.5cm photograph by Jaan Seitsara.

Kati Nulpponen is also part of Amazing Animal and was showing work at Collect with Galleria Norsu.

Mervi Kurvinen

The Grandmother, 2006 ceramics, silver, pearls,

hand-painted miniature (Tarja Hasa) 15x6cm

Mervi Kurvinen, also part of Galleria Norsu and Amazing Animal.