april 2008
Platinum, Corset and Chocolate
I have been surrounded by chocolate for a while and am eating a little bar of great 85% pure dark stuff while typing this. Apparently I lose any air of sophistication I might have when I walk into the studio with a great ring of chocolate smudged around my mouth. Don’t know why, I think it looks quite chic.
Either sad or great news - perhaps a little of the first, but more of the second as far as I'm concerned - is that I am going to be too snowed under to make International Jewellery London worthwhile this year.
I will be very sorry to miss seeing everyone I usually catch up with at the show - BUT the reasons I am dropping out are pretty cool, so I hope you'll forgive me. And I am sure to be showing somewhere next year.
Excuse is that I am developing some fabrics and wallcoverings to extend my design ranges - I am also going to Paris on a bit of a jolly!
Still limping a little bit from my pole-dance exploits. Thank you to those of you who asked after me. Yes it is ridiculous.
Still more ridiculous was my attempt to breathe new life into the studio by getting it redecorated in a great new colour. I went to B&Q and picked a colour for the walls called Corset. It was really pretty and I was happy to get it spontaneously because I was so desperate for a change.
I returned home to paint the first patch on the wall and discovered that I had chosen the EXACT same colour for my workspace that I have had for the last 10 years. I don’t even need to paint the entire wall.
I am currently working on entries for a Platinum Design Competition. It's a shame I have to add stuff and can't just send drawings and photos. It is always weird writing about business and work. It is a bit like writing about breathing. It’s just what I do.
Anyway. Chocolate to eat, patterns to ink and a wall to swear at. Back again next month when I may divulge my cheesecake recipe.
x hb
march 2008
French, Americans and Poles
March has already proved to be a little bit odd, I have discovered a weirdly intense love of french decoration that has lain inert for 30 years only to hit me violently in the head at the beginning of the week. I have been scouring the internet looking for ornate bedheads, bits of lace, copper templates and chaise-longues. Must be an age thing. I've been quite happy with Swedish and good honest British things until now. I might spend a couple of hours on ebay later looking for a blue sign for the outside of the house...
I have also discovered a lovely new pal in the form of an American I have met a few times but never fully exploited. We went out on Friday to watch a display of pole-dancing, the breathtaking athleticism of which I cannot even nearly express here. It was bleeding marvellous. I say "we" watched the display, but new American pal was, in fact part of the display having practised pole-dancing for over a year.
It was so inspiring that I decided to have a go. I did. I leapt. I realised how little upper (and indeed lower) body strength I have. I landed incorrectly, sogged to the ground and am now hobbling about on crutches and being sniffed at for my seedy exploits while trying vainly to get as many people as possible to make me hot, caffeinated drinks.
It's fab. I'm going again. Many thanks to The Art of Dance in Plymouth. Everyone should be going to classes like these. I just need some more strength!
Picture is of Jo, my new teacher, calmly doing the physically impossible.
x hb
february 2008
Love, Love and Love
Love is in the air, Everywhere I look around….
It is really nice to see everyone I know happily paired up at this time of year – or more accurately, it is nice to see the non-singletons I know dashing around sweatily, attempting to buy some gift that their loved one won’t demand the receipt for… (I really can help with that, by the way)
I am sorry about the rather dramatic depletion of stock at the moment – please email if anything you like or would like to give is unavailable and I will reserve a place on the waiting list for you while things get sorted out.
I am currently reeling from the fact that Stephen Fry has been in touch again to accept a pen that I am developing for Conway Stewart – of which more, of course, later. I suppose it isn’t that tricky a question to answer though, “I sent you some precious metal before, would you like some more?” Apparently he is willing to wave it around on QI. The pen, that is. Fnarr fnarr.
I have been looking at some new boxes. There are also printed lovelies and show-materials on the way (I hope).
Here’s to you, lovers and sweethearts everywhere. You are a damn sight braver than I am and you have my unswerving admiration.
Hope you like the ambigram ^ it was my first attempt and I think it's OK - pendant anyone?
x hb
january 2008
Gems, Age and Fantasy
Things have only rarely been busier with me. I’ve been managing to get quite a lot of Gems TV watched though. Late Saturday and Sunday morning, tea made, loved ones carefully silenced and TV on.
It’s great. It’s rubbish. I love it (although there is one woman on there that I have to watch on mute.)
It’s official. We have now been going for 5 years. Someone said to me the other day that I look the same as I did when I started it. That’s just a lie. I have aged a lot. It's nice if it's not too visible, I suppose!
For those planning to run a business, my advice is to ditch your expectations right now. It'll save time later. (I do love my work - I honestly do!)
On another subject, it would be unfair to write much more of this without giving a huge heads up to both Squaresoft Enix and Studio Ghibli. Both companies provide me with not only a commendable working model to attempt to emulate, but also some of the most stunningly beautiful and passionately created artwork and storyboards I have seen. My work appears to be totally unrelated, but the influence has been there for the last decade or so – it has to have had some effect!
It hasn’t quite got to the Cosplay stage yet, but it wouldn’t take much…
And with that rather startling admission, I’m off for another month.
x hb
december 2007
Dazed, Review and Christmas
Coming up to the end of the year I always feel a little bit lost.
I am more or less together when it comes to buying and making gifts for people – I even have my cards done. I know roughly who’s doing what and what they are going to be eating from now until past New Year.
Something is missing though. Maybe I could use a relationship…. Nah.
I’ll just have a review of the year…
High point: Meeting with Conway Stewart for the first time in September.
Low point: Having to cancel my trip to Tokyo.
Best web-based discovery: Zamzar. Excellent, quick file conversion site. Stylehive is cool too.
Best general discovery: Aldi 69p orange juice. Delicious – and the glass bottles can be re-used too!
Best meal: Burger with friends from the British Jewellers’ Association in Earls Court.
Best event: My 30th birthday party at Katie’s. A cool April night’s BBQ then on to Annabelle’s burlesque club. No slime/foam/silly string involved (I didn’t say it was perfect!)
Best new person/people:Not yet met = Gok Wan – a saviour for human women at last. Met = Hollie Easton. Quiet, underestimated, hard-working and just a great person.
Worst person: This is space for a brief growl about an un-nameable celebrity I encountered this year. Grr.
Best purchase: Fearsome, knee-length, black leather Kurt Geiger boots. My white PSP was such a good purchase that it prevented me doing anything else, so needed to be sold and is therefore disqualified.
Best outfit: My Christmas one. I don’t want to give anything away, suffice to say it was designed by John Rocha.
Best store: The new Poundland on Royal Parade in Plymouth. I am a serious bargain junkie. That shop is full of both bargains and junk so I am happy.
Best creation: My wolf cufflinks. I love them.
Best TV: Heroes, without a doubt. Peter Serafinowicz is a fantastic man. I like Strictly Come Dancing too but don’t tell anyone. I also rediscovered Whose Line is it Anyway? on Dave. Fine television.
Worst TV: I switch off a lot - I dislike shows that belittle their audience, sneer at participants or make them “transform” in a slicey-fleshy sort of way. That’s practically everything gone.
Best song: Currently Radar by Britney Spears. Generally anything by Led Zeppelin, Skin or Jools Holland.
Best film: I saw Dirty Harry for the first time this year. It might not count as a proper answer but it really is fabulous.
"I love..." My deliciously odd family and my job.
Happy December, people.
x hb
Quick sub-note. I've just been onto Facebook and discovered that I am Best Friend!! Of course it means nothing in real terms (except that I truly am the best) but has seriously made my day. Thanks! x
november 2007
Games, Swoons and Insects
A bit of a busy month, so of course Captain Dizzy here has to go and do something really stupid.
I have wanted a PSP (Playstation portable) for a very long time and finally managed to come up with sufficient rubbish reasons why one would be really great for me. I would use it as a digital photo-frame at exhibitions. I would carry around all of my designs and photos and pricelists and things. I just ended up sitting on the sofa playing Final Fantasy and Katamari for hours on end. (I even came up with "design inspiration" justification for playing those games - well, they are very stylish!)
I had to be grown up about it and take it back. I sent Katamari to my best friend. She works with computer games, so she has a better excuse than me, I guess...grr.
A downside to this month was that I fainted on my way to a meeting. Many thanks to everyone who has helped me out. I promise that I am looking after myself.
One great thing about November (being able to buy a load of Christmas presents aside) is that I have discovered the work of an excellent macro photographer, Igor Siwanowicz. He specialises in beautiful composed pictures of insects and his portfolio is both exceptional and inspirational - blame him if my next collection has a Praying Mantis theme!
x hb
october 2007
Pens, Birthdays and Shelves
It's been a hectic couple of months. International Jewellery London was perfect but I am now looking forward to both Christmas and celebrating my fifth year of doing this great job!
I've just finished designing our limited edition birthday charm bracelet. It should be good. I hope you like it. It will be out in the first half of 2008.
Of course we have Christmas before then and I have overspent already. I just love Christmas shopping and inevitably end up forgetting what I have bought for who and far too much ribbon and tissue paper - and it's only October.
I've had a great time creating designs for Conway Stewart. Although I have never designed pens before, I have enjoyed working in pattern in both my jewellery and in textiles. It's a lovely experience and I am honoured to be working with a company with such an excellent reputation. I am so excited about it - it still hasn't really sunk in that they want me! We have agreed on a couple of designs already. I will share more news as it happens!
I have been a member of Facebook for a couple of months now and according to its "Compare Your Friends" feature, my friends have said that I am the most adventurous (flattered) and the second best friend in the group. When I find out who the first best friend is, I will bring them down by whatever means necessary....
Amid the charm bracelets, International Jewellery London, pens and Facebook, life has really filled itself up. So what do I do? I turn my flat into a tip. It all started when I decided to recycle more, take all of my old videos to a charity shop and put up a couple of shelves. My flat is untidier than it has ever been before - cool huh?
Oh. I took a couple of pictures of some flowers I was sent....so that's what this month's picture is about.
