Exhibitions « Dandelion and Olive

Bluebird Jewellery

london weekend – part 1

I was in London a week and a half ago at The Most Curious Wedding Fair and today I thought I’d share some lovely images of my journey to and from the fair. Below was an amazing painted shop front very close to Spitalfields market. I don’t think this is a shop that exists now but as I went past early in the morning I can’t be sure but wow isn’t it beautiful!

On my way to the tube I made my way through Hatton Garden (jewellery quarter for London) and passed my favourite named street, how great is Bleeding Heart Yard for a street name and it even features heavily in a Dickens novel.

I love the front of this fish and chip shop but by the late afternoon when I passed again it was crammed full of cool young londoners spilling onto pavement but early in the morning it looked lovely.

Each morning of my weekend I got up at 6.20am to catch a train to London and by the time I arrived in Brick Lane I was in need of a little pick me up and on Cheshire street I found a great cafe with gorgeous and energising berry smoothies with nice little corner to sit in. As I was wandering around a bit before 10am the streets were fairly deserted so i have rather unpopulated photos from this trip!

Now if only all gas meters were decorated like this our towns would be fab!

Sporting a sunny yellow satchel to match the sunny weekend!

Now the Shard is by no means my favourite London building but it is pretty impresive as you approach it from below. I took this with a trolley full of wedding ring gubbins on my way home so next time you’re at London Bridge station look up!

Part 2 of this London trip coming soon with pics of lovely wedding suppliers I met at the fair.

Bluebird xx

weddings and how to do it in style

This coming weekend I will be taking part in A Most Curious Wedding Fair on Brick Lane in London. I am organising postcards, printing a banner, polishing wedding rings and choosing my outfit for meeting lots of couples planning their big day. Couples are really excited when they realise rather than tramping high street jewellers they can come and make their wedding rings in my jewellery teaching studio so I am spreading the word to the capital and hoping to inspire some creativity and get couples hammering and crafting and polishing until they have truly special and personal rings to exchange on the big day.

I thought I would share some of the other exhibitors who will be at the fair alongside me.

This image of a couple with huge love sign is from Scene Setters (website nearly live apparently). Scene Setters make large decorative card props and I adore their glitter stock artwork, how cool would this be at the reception!

Next I love Hattie & Flora event designers with amazing images of their event and promo styling on their website. I love the balloon pics and the intense colourful furniture they offer.

Next up check out the stationary from Candyflossie, I adore the pinwheels and retro style invites and the save the date invites. All so lovely and unique, especially the pencil save the dates!

For a touch of cool, unique elegance then don a hat from Joelle Reeves Millinery. For me its the pom pom headpieces and bird pieces.

I have been busy with promo material this last week and have some lovely crisp pics of some wedding rings my couples have made, how lovely are these rings, all made by complete novice jewellery makers. Why not come make your wedding rings too.

There are lots more exhibitors at the show including photographers, dress designers, caterers and more, more, more. If you are planning a big day then come say hi this weekend or if you can’t make it then check out all the exhibitors here.

Bluebird xx

handmade goodies

We have open studios at the moment as part of the Artists Open Houses. The christmas one is smaller than the May festival but it is a chance to close down the teaching studio for a month and sit around chatting to the public whilst sipping some mulled wine. I took a few pics last weekend so thought I’d show you some, lots are under £10! I haven’t captured everyones work yet but here are a few lovely things.

The beautiful collars in top image and the textile brooches above are all by Sally Cochrane. I have my eye on the top collar and a knife and fork brooch, maybe the polka dot one with pinky crochet edging.

The creatures above are by Mary Moo an artist who delights in making quirky creatures and bonkers boxes from salvaged textiles and objects.

The lovely needle felted robin above was made by Mia Underwood who wrote this book this year and has made a selection of felted and papier mache figures and animals and a selection of wonderful foxy scarves. Her robin making felting kits have flown out the door since they arrived!

Patrick Edgeley (Mr Bluebird) of course has some work too and this time of year those screenprinted letters are a best seller as they make great kids pressies and are light to post. Our boys have chosen one each for their room and one day soon they might actually be put up!

Lovely Sue of Bunting Boutique has these super sweet fabric stars, one of which hangs in our house all year round, I also bought a sweet paper garland from her too but it is yet to find a home in our chaotic home (still renovating and decorating).

Mary Fellows has her bright and breezy t towels, aprons and prints with us again this year and I love her cloud print.

Now for some Bluebird Jewellery, after a little chat with one of my students I realised I hadn’t catered to those brooch averse customers, so last week I made some vintage button necklaces to go with the brooches I made last month. I creted a few single button necklaces and a treble one too, i also made one with 4 but it was too ugly to contemplate so it lasted about 3 minutes before I cut it up, re fashioned it and have made a few singles from it. I have just realised I didn’t photograph my under a tenner work but hey-ho never mind!

No. 1 son also got in on the act and made some drawings and is now very excited at having made his first £6.00. The robot drawings were his best seller but the pizza is pretty cool too.

Come say hi if you are near by this weekend, Christmas Boutique at Cross Street Workshop, 14b Cross Street, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1AJ

Bluebird xx

wedding Fair Frenzy

Well it has been hectic at the studio this week getting ready for 2 wedding fairs only 7 days apart! The first this Sunday is Belles Vintage Wedding Fair at Hove Town Hall. Bunting Boutique and I have been making, pricing, creating new products and generally getting in gear to meet some lovely brides-to-be.

As well as making Bluebird Jewellery I also have a teaching studio by the seaside where couples come and make their own wedding rings, for pics click here.

I have spend days polishing and cleaning up about 30 wedding bands to show brides and grooms what sort of rings they could make as well as rings they can commission me to make. Ironically (as any jewellers out there know) cleaning and polishing is a filthy job and my hands are the hands of mole that has been digging for months and I sort of look as though I have a very bad pink fake tan, from the polishing compound but hopefully I can scrub myself presentable by Sunday morning!

I made some engagement rings too as I have discovered often proposals are made with silly rings and the real ring is purchased later when the recipient gets a chance to help choose. Looking forward to meeting lots of couples and hopefully getting the chance to help people create their dream rings.

Bluebird xx

robot invasion

Last weekend I took my daughter to delve into the robot world at Hove Museum.

The exhibition ‘Robot Invasion’ is a wonderful collection of robots and space toys from Sussex artist and illustrator Chris McEwan.

There are so many shapes, sizes and colours connected to these iconic toys that they can be enjoyed by all and are a constant sauce of inspiration today.

Bluebird Bunting Boutique Babybird

Bluebird Bunting Boutique