Jewellery from Clara Francis, YouHeShe and Family Tree

These are a few of my favourite things - from Clara Francis and Family Tree (London) and YouHeShe (Copenhagen)

Clara Francis beaded flowers and silver hare

 YouHeShe gold beetle with Clara Francis silver hare

 Family Tree brooch

rings by Ruth Tomlinson

Ruth Tomlinson is a designer that I like to check out every once in a while to feast my eyes on her incredible jewellery, especially on a day like today when it has rained non-stop and I have been surrounded by domestic chaos (what is about rainy days that make me search out lovely jewellery?). There is something about her pieces that make you think you have stumbled upon old treasure - I think it's the use of high quality ingredients (gold, pearls, beautifully cut gemstones), and the slightly asymmetrical designs that give it that much-loved, often-worn quality - a centrally placed gemstone, flanked by little itty bits and granules of gold and tiny gemstones set atop a gold ring. I would very much like a stack o' rings as below, these ones are diamonds which remind me of some Georgian diamonds I once knew.
You can see Ruth Tomlinson's jewellery on-line here, or at a Cockpit Studios open event if you want to see them up close.

Some vintage treasure I spotted that reminds me of Ruth's pieces

golden apple from Clara Francis

Just plucked from the Clara Francis jewellery tree is this beautiful golden apple:

Available in silver (£75), and gold-plated silver (£85), exclusive to her blog - to pick this perfect jewel for Spring email: shop@clarafrancis.co.uk

Clara also makes the most exquisite beaded flowers, butterflies and other creatures which are fashioned into necklaces, brooches and earrings - I found these at London Fashion Weekend and the Primrose Hill Designer Fair. Tiny beads create incredible detail, as though these jewels have been painted by a fine artist.

Find more of Clara's beautiful jewellery on her website - the hardest thing will be stopping yourself from buying one of everything.

hand made on the high street

Unexpectedly, a free morning: free of kids, free of work. What to do? A quick bus ride into town, to check out hand made things on the high street.
Starting off at Liberty - not exactly 'high street' unless Regent Street is your usual shopping haunt - I found Annina Vogel who makes jewellery using antique gold charms.  Each piece is unique as the charms are not replicas but the real thing and diamonds often feature. Lovely. Pricey. (I'm finding it hard to find anything on her website for less than £250) **sigh**

Might as well go for broke and show you this All Hearts Victorian charm necklace - which costs many thousands £££

On to TopShop which has been stocking hand made headgear by Chapeau Claudette for a while - today I found this Kylie clip - cost about £10, which is much more pleasing.

BARK jewellery is not currently in stock at Anthropologie, but I noticed this piece worn by one of the very nice gals in the shop:

and also Mimi's Honey bag in nice soft, slightly grainy leather - zip closure at the top, with a short strap and a long detachable over the shoulder strap too (this style is currently on sale on the Mimi website, thus cheaper than at Anthropologie).

mini elephant

If the large elephant is a bit beyond your budget, here is Cabinet Studio's miniature elephant - so sweet!
Available here.

Yes please

Isn't this beautiful?

There are lots of charm necklaces out there, and I think this elephant by Cabinet Studios is one of the best that I've found.

Cabinet are a newly established by Gemma Critchley and Zara Braganca, and their jewellery ranges from large statement necklaces and collars featuring textiles and beads, to smaller charm necklaces featuring an eclectic mix of animals, and earrings and rings in simple chic geometric shapes.

Contact Cabinet directly here at their Somerset studios; their fine jewels are also available from Young British Designers, and shops such as Kabiri.

Cabinet's large elephant charm necklace