The Pear Pearl (and others!) by Lindsay Pearson

So OK, OK, I know I get into a habit of writing about the designers I love, but hey, if they keep making gorgeous jewels I will keep writing! Once more it's the turn of Lindsay Pearson, the designer of my much-adored YES necklace, a silver ode to all things positive. I wear it a lot but it's also my talisman for days when I know things might be a little tough.

Step up her Pear Pearl. This pretty 9ct gold chain falls to a Tahitian pearl drop, styled to look like a little pear, complete with leaf and stalk. I think Lindsay might have even worn a Pear Pearl on her wedding day... Pictured here also are some of her most recent designs, the Hope & Anchor necklace and her little initial coin necklace (worn here with the Pear Pearl and Hope & Anchor necklace), both in 9ct gold. Beautiful, accessible, something to personalise and treasure. She runs with the tagline 'jewellery forever' and I certainly believe her.

A little something: Elisa Solomon jewellery

Cute cute cute. Having another little browse at Cat Bird recently I spotted a delicate black diamond ring by Elisa Solomon; checking out more of her work I was hit with a real sense of the 1960s; flower power and free love, cute handmade rings with multicoloured gemstones and playful shapes.

 
Think butterflies, hearts, daisy garlands. In fact, reading more about Elisa and her style, she explains "[my] designs reflect the pure belief in love, freedom and kindness of the 60s... These symbols are a subtle reminder of what is important to focus on in daily life". Though she's based in New York (and our nearest stockist is in France!) I can definitely see the appeal this side of the pond. Looks like I'm feeding my sapphire addiction again... Oops!

Silver Butterfly ring set with pink and orange sapphires

Yellow gold Peace necklace set with multicoloured gemstones include sapphires, garnets, emeralds, aquamarine and iolite

Yellow gold Heart ring set with sapphires and turquoise gemstones

Yellow gold Moon pendant set with pearls, rose-cute diamonds and opals (my birthstone!)

A little something: Adorn London goes Mad Men

Firstly, let me apologise for the delay in posting - have been at Bestival on the Isle of Wight for the past few days. I have a little write up about IJL that's now a week overdue (sorry all the lovely designers who I have written about, it's coming!!). In the meantime, head to Adorn London where this week's theme is dedicated to the fantastic 60s-based show Mad Men. Better dig out my tweed pencil skirt and pussy-bow blouse, yay!

New Designers: Better late than never!

I feel terrible... I was meant to write about New Designers pretty much straight after the show but it's been a good 2 weeks now. So better late than never I guess! New Designers is an annual show for design graduates (jewellery, textiles, graphic, ceramics, furniture and so on), where design colleges and universities from around the UK come together to show off emerging talent and new ideas - so definitely an interesting one when it comes to jewellery!

 The entrance to London's Design Business Centre, home to New Designers.
Images courtesy of newdesigners.com

To keep things short and sweet, here's a little selection of those jewellery designers who - for me - really stood out at this year's show. There was almost too much to look at, and with only an hour to make it round while the boyf waited patiently outside, I'm hoping this selection will justify just how much brilliant, high quality jewellery is being designed in the UK right now...

Nicola Grant

Resin and silicone neckpieces which shimmered like little ice sculptures. Really loved her use of colour and light through the texture of the resin and its slinky movement.

 Images courtesy of Nicola Grant

Charlotte Kimber

These unusual bangles and rings were pretty unmissable, taking their influence from the shapes and forms of octopus tentacles. The jewellery is designed to be playful, creating different shapes as it moves.

Images courtesy of charlottekimber.co.uk

Lisa Murphy

Formed using Rapid Prototyping techniques, Lisa'a jewellery takes freehand designs and turns them into structured, graceful necklaces and rings. Loved the industrial-meets-deco feel of her jewellery designs.

Images courtesy of lisajmurphy.co.uk

Alice O'Neill

Taking inspiration from everyday objects, Alice's present collection focuses on dressmaking, and the little bits and pieces found in a 1950s sewing box. Strands of lace, empty cotton reels and fastenings all feature in her pretty yet quirky jewellery.

Images courtesy of Alice O'Neill

Francesca Stadelmayr

The soft colours of the perspex which Francesca uses in her designs really caught my eye. Along with the shapes and solid feel of her jewellery, the need to touch and pick up her work was irresistible. A great graduate from London Met's Sir John Cass jewellery school.

Images courtesy of francescastadelmayr.com

Holly Wilcox

Based on seed pods and the natural shapes and forms found in flora and fauna, Holly's jewellery features granulation, a mix of metals and textures for jewellery which - like Francesca's - you want to hold in your hand and feel it as you wear it.

Images courtesy of hollywilcox.co.uk

Myia Bonner

Myia's taking of the simple, ubiquitous diamond shape and turning it into over-sized jewellery was clever and also pretty. Mixing colourful perspex designs with silver and brass pieces, Myia's work explored material and shape for a bold outcome

Images courtesy of myiabonner.co.uk

Maria MacLennan

Inspired by Paris and a love of vintage 'ephemera', Maria's jewellery designs were super detailed transformations of match boxes. Mixing oxidised silver, pearls, ribbon and paper, love letters were a theme through Maria's jewellery, as was the chance to hide little trinkets inside her work.

Images courtesy of mariamaclennan.com

For the full list of exhibiting colleges and universities, take a look at the New Designers site, here.

A little something: Daydream Nation for Peter Jensen

Pretty splash of colour and soft crochet detail make these two necklaces by Daydream Nation rather lovely summer treats. The first is called the Octopus necklace (cute, eh) and the second the Metamorphosis necklace, because rather wonderfully you can detach the pearl section and wear it as a bracelet... Head to Kabiri to snap them up in their summer sale.

 

Images courtesy of kabiri.co.uk

Designer: Coco Kato

I've been wiling away the hours recently with lots of books; something I go through phases with. I might not read for six months, and then consume 5 or 6 books in half that time. The one I'm reading at present - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin - is the beautifully written story of Eilis, a young girl who leaves her small Irish home town for 1950s America. She lands a job in an Italian clothing store, where the customers, their clothes, those worn by her sister and her housemates are all richly described. As a result, I keep thinking back to Madame Bovary, a book which delights in detailing the silks, lace, embroidery and fine leathers which Emma Bovary finds herself insatiably drawn to...

Flowering Pearl necklace, by Coco Kato. Image courtesy of Coco Kato

So in a round about way, this brings me to Coco Kato (aka Ikuko Kato), a London-based designer who uses silks and fabrics in her jewellery to create elegant, playful and versatile pieces that you could probably spend hours just touching, running through your fingers and ultimately admiring. A little reminiscent of those Degas paintings...

Flowering Pearl necklace, with silk ribbon and Japanese pearls, by Coco Kato. Image courtesy of Coco Kato.

Flowering Basket hoop earring, made with silk and Japanese pearl.s Image courtesy of Coco Kato.

Flowering Pearl necklace in grey and sky blue, with white Japanes pearls. Image courtesy of Coco Kato.

Ikuko's use of pearls exemplifies her Japanese heritage and upbringing, adding to the sugary sweetness of her work. Her use of mixed materials and has won her the accolade of ‘Designer of the Year’ from the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo. Perfect with a pastel dress, but no doubt just as fabulous with old Converse and a grey jersey tee...