Homage: Wanderlust Life Jewellery

Recently, while shouting about the brilliant jewellery designs of Wolf & Moon, I mentioned how difficult I find sourcing jewellery which I really like but which also fits in to my budget.

I like things with weight, with clout, with sustenance - and by this I don't mean FSC materials (although having a sustainable company is of course a great potential side effect of any business) - no, I mean in terms of its sound design, and subsequent timelessness. Vintage works because it is often classic and timeless. Finding modern pieces which I can equally afford but will also stand the test of time was - for me - a tricky affair. But check out handcrafted jewellery design label Wanderlust Life. Created by colleague and friend Georgie Roberts, I saw her pieces before I ever met the lady herself, and was instantly in love.

Faceted semi-precious stones in amazing colours are strung on a natural tone thread, so that they just 'float' on the skin.

This is a well executed, understated and super chic concept. Wear one or wear three - I find it hard to imagine getting these pieces wrong. The idea that they are so small and delicate also makes me think of a nomad travelling light.... Take a look:

Georgie lives on the coast of North Devon in Britain but is a wanderer at heart, often fleeing seaside life during the winter months in search of far flung destinations. It was whilst on these travels that the idea of Wanderlust Life was born. Her pieces play on the romance of travel and the magic of carrying a little jewel from a far away place. Every stone or charm is unique, with its own meanings and properties inscribed on the packaging. 

Wanderlust Life was established only a year ago, not that you would ever know if from the way in which this small business has blossomed and developed over this short period. Georgie's next big move is to begin sourcing other products by like-minded designers by travelling the globe, and continuing to reaffirm her wander lust. She is also about to launch her website next month - Im really excited to see it all up and running!

At the moment you can purchase her pieces on her Etsy page here, and let her keep wetting your appetite for new designs on the facebook fanpage in the meantime. Like her page and keep up to date with new releases and the website launch. Happy choosing!

So pretty, so feminine and so simple. Even an absolute fuss pot like me can wear this and feel content!

The first of many new out-sourced items from Georgie's travels around the world - coming soon!

Girl About Town : Chelsea Art School Fashion Show

If you say that you are paying a visit to a college but are not a student this may give a rather dull impression of an outing. Not so with an art school, and certainly not so with Chelsea art school. This week I had the pleasure of having an elusive invitation to the First Year Textile student's first fashion show at Chelsea School of Art, very exciting. You dont have to twist my arm to visit Chelsea as the grounds are just lovely, and there is that un mistakable vibe of excitement and creativity to be found in all good art schools - I just love it - so many young people crammed together, just gasping to be given the tools to do something amazing (can you tell I miss it?). Anywho, I was front row, and managed to grab some great, if albeit fuzzy, photos of the show - you get the idea.

There was so much good work in this show - really interesting uses of materials, making unlikely sucessful unions. A few that have really stuck in my head were a recovered lampshade as headwear, and white wadding foam (the kind found inside oven gloves) worked with some kind of hard plastic in to a tailored garment. Other students had gone for a traditional process but had really pushed it further - most memorably were the coral skirt which was pleated in such a way that it appeared to take on the form of a huge tulip and the pleasts waved at you as the model walked by, and of course the knitted horn headwear  piece - strange and wonderful!

The great thing about first and second year is that this is the time when students are able and encouraged to take risks, you are still finding out your own creative identity so you end up moving in new directions and testing the waters. It is in the final year that you have to hone things in, tone it down, and start putting your work in an marketable 'box', so it is just great seeing shows at this level - it really is what you would call raw talent.

I leave you with said fuzzy photos - I defy you not to be inspired. Enjoy!

On the Backburner

Seeing as I've introducted some of the new people on the block you to, I thought Id show you some more work in progress, so lets see a little idea take shape......  

Even though there are only 3 sketches shown here there will be elements of each that have popped up in other places while I work out what to keep and what to discard, and as the personality of the idea/person emerges. Sometimes a spontaneous idea and the first drawing will be spot on and wont need revisiting, sometimes things also have work themselves out, so whilst here in 3 images it appears that Im practically finished, often it will take a while to arrive at this point.

 A little look at how things change and develop over time, when I've got an idea or an expression marinating in the back of my mind, and over time it begins to take shape as you keep revisiting it. I'm envisioning this one as a print, I just love how the texture and colour are turning out, and the generally happy feeling it's all about. We all need hugs after all!