justin duance; october featured designer

This month we thought we would head to the picturesque South West of the country, specifically Cornwall home to the talented Justin Duance, designer and silversmith behind the jewellery range of the same name. 

After obtaining his degree in jewellery and silversmithing from the Sir John Cass Faculty of Arts in London, Justin began to explore building his own jewellery collection. Due to high costs in London he decided to relocate back to Newlyn Cornwall, where he built up his workshop and continues to see inspiration from the surrounding Cornish countryside.

Justin's collection of jewellery, whilst having a masculine edge appeals to people across the board. His contemporary designs are deeply influenced by the surrounding countryside and ocean and the way they engage with each other. His love of the surrounding landscape is shown in his use of different metals and combining them with a textured finish or wood to create his stylish collection.

Read on to find a little bit more about Justin.....

Silver and Wood Cufflinks

Describe yourself in ten words or less....
I absolutely love to make things and doing things no one else does! (Slightly more than ten.)

Tell us a little bit about your job and what you love about it.....
My job involves making jewellery and watches, trying to make commissions and realise people ideas. I also spend a lot of time on the computer answering emails and doing general admin. This seems to take up more time than I would like.

How would you describe your jewellery?

9ct Yellow Gold and Silver Ring

Quite masculine, using straight lines and combining them with the natural organic grain of wood. My work often has meanings associated with it especially with the symbolism of the wood or where it comes from. For example the oak I use comes from a tall ship and is the traditional symbol of strength. My watches have a vintage look with a contemporary twist using traditional techniques to create something new and unusual.

What inspires you to design and create your jewellery collections?
Sometimes I design or make something just to see if it possible. Quite often it is more about the way materials mix together rather than designing a shape.

What are some items of jewellery that you find yourself wearing constantly?
My watches. I try and wear rings but I keep taking them off for work and losing them.

Quick fire questions!

Silver and Double Wood Band

City or countryside?
Seaside!

Silver of gold?
Yellow gold

Favourite shop?
Ikea

Favourite place in the world?
Gwenvor, North Cornwall

Where in the world have you always wanted to visit?
Indonesia

What is your most treasured possession?
My daughter - although I am not sure if she is a possession.

Best way to spend a day off work?
Surfing

9ct Yellow Gold and Silver Textured Band

To find out more about Justin Duance and see his full range of jewellery and handcrafted watches please visit www.jewelleryby.co.uk.

we are one! happy birthday to us

If you have visited our online shop recently, or been to see us on Facebook then you will already know that we are now a whole ONE YEAR OLD! The time has flown by and we are so pleased with how things have developed and how far they have come. It feels like only yesterday we were rushing around to get things ready for our opening.

The support we have received from friends old and new has been amazing; bloggers, facebookers, tweeters, new businesses and more. We have to express our thanks to the lovely and welcoming people of Stokesley, where our shop is based and people from the wonderful surrounding towns and villages. Not a day passes when we don't meet someone new and interesting. 

Our first year has been a dream, full of hard work and stressful at times but we can only hope the next year is as fun, challenging and as inspirational.

We embark on the next year with a makeover on the outside of the shop, more designers available in store than when we first started, exciting plans for exhibitions showcasing the work of local students, jewellery making classes and more so keep in touch and come and visit us in store for more information.

As a thank you firstly we would like to say, please have a HUGE slice of birthday cake.

Secondly we are offering 10% off all online orders for the month of September, just use the code BIRTHDAY at the checkout.

Thirdly we are running a competition to win one item of jewellery from each designer we stock, that is 17 pieces of jewellery! All you need to do is like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewelleryby and share our page. Compeition winners will be picked on the 30th September and will be notified by Facebook.

Yum!

jessica flinn; september featured designer

This month we are turning our attention to Jewellery By Jessica Flinn. Originally from Darlington but now residing and working in Sheffield, the once local girl has quickly become a name to watch having this month been named in jewellery industry magazine Professional Jeweller's Hot 100 of 2012.

Jessica was born and raised in Darlington but after developing a keen interest in design and passion for creativity, decided to attend Sheffield University to study as a silversmith. After graduation she remained in Sheffield where she continues to design and create her contemporary jewellery collections from her workshop.

Her fabulous collections are made using techniques such as laser engraving and casting which are inspired by the industry she grew up around in both Darlington and Sheffield. Her collections are made in stainless steel, sterling silver and gold.



Describe yourself in ten words or less...
Creative, energetic and busy!

Tell us a little a bit about your job and what you love about it...
I run a small design company which is based in Sheffield. I love my job because I do a bit of everything; designing, making, marketing and sales. Everyday is different

How would you describe your jewellery?
Clean lined, simplistic, stylish and feminine.

What inspires you to design and create jewellery collections?
Different experiences that I've had and places I visit. Inspiration comes to me when I least expect it.

What are some items of jewellery you find yourself wearing constantly?
I love bracelets and cuffs, I have around 20 in my collection made by loads of other designers. Some large some small, my wrist is never without one!

Quick-fire questions!

Tell is something about yourself that would surprise people...
I lived in Korea fr six months!

City or countryside?
City

Silver or gold?
Both!

Who would you love to see wear your jewellery?
Anyone. I'd love to see it on a complete stranger as I walk down the road.

Favourite shop?
Normann Copenhagen - very cool designs.

Favourite place in the world?
My flat, with my man :)

Where in the world have you always wanted to visit?
Brazil - I'd love to go to the carnival. 

What is your most treasured possession?
It sounds sad but my mac is my most treasured possession - I'm a gadget lover!

Best way to spend a day of work?
Day of work?? What is this you speak off? :)

To see more of Jessica's designs visit us at http://www.jewelleryby.co.uk/14-jewellery-by-jessica-flinn

inspiring independent; we need your votes!

It is that time of year again when jewellery industry magazine, Retail Jeweller, start their search for the most inspiring independent jewellery retailers in the UK. Whether it is excellent customer service, above and beyond attitude or an eclectic mix of jewellery on offer the standards will be high from all entrants and the battle tough so with that in mind, we ask for your support.

Jewellery By is still in its infancy but our collection of handmade only jewellery, from some of the best designers across the country and beyond, we feel we genuinely do offer our customer something different and unique to that of other retailers. By working with local designers, as well as those further afield we offer items that are not mass made and in some cases are one off items. We projects in the pipeline with the the students of Cleveland College of Art and Design and with our bespoke service for those that want a hand in the design process or an item of their existing jewellery turned into something else, we aim to offer the best and most honest service we can to all of our customers.

At this stage it is number of nominations that count, so if you could please show your support and send an email to Retail Jeweller editor Laura at laura.mccreddie@emap.com simply stating our store name and that we are your Inspiring Independent nomination.

Thank you in advance and keep your fingers crossed!
 
                                                          

alex monroe; august featured designer

Regular followers of Jewellery By will know that every month we like to turn the spotlight onto one of our designers. We like see what makes them tick, give them the inspiration for their work and generally have a bit of a nose. This month it is the turn of Alex Monore. 

British jewellery designer Alex grew up in Suffolk surrounded by fields, rivers and the plants and creatures which inhabit them. These are inspirations for his whimsical and intricately beautiful jewellery collections.  He trained at the Sir John Cass School of Art in London. 

Established in 1986, his core aspiration remains unchanged; to make great quality, wearable jewellery that is well designed and well priced. 

Nature has always been Alex's greatest inspiration. Whether from travels in Pakistan, walks along the hedgerows of Suffolk or even the Tuscan hills, his designs always remain inherently English. Alex always makes the original in sterling silver by hand. He uses his skills to craft jewellery that is slightly quirky, sometimes cute but always feminine. 

Alex's distinctive designs have earned him may admirers, including in the press. The now classic Bumblebee necklace has graced the pages of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, InStyle, Red........

In addidtion to producing four collections every year, Alex also embarks on numerous collaborative ventures  working with such luminaries as the Victoria and Albert Museum who asked Alex to design a limited edition locket. These diverse projects have included an 18ct gold poppy for the British Legion, a 250th anniversary range for Kew Gardens and most recently with Burt's Bee to create a limited edition ring and necklace which raised funds for the British Bee-keepers Association. 

In the middle of all of this, Alex's original objectives stay true. Rather than compromise quality and have the jewellery produced in a factory, everything is still handmade in Alex's studio in London. 

In 2008 Alex was awarded the prestigious 'Designer of the Year' at the UK Jewellery Awards. He has also made the shortlist for the award in 2009 and 2010. 

Alex Monroe: I like people who like my jewellery. They are not slaves to fashion; they tend to be more concerned about personality and craftsmanship. They care about quality and they like things that are quirky and individual. 

Visit us at www.jewellerby.co.uk or visit us in store in Stokesley to see our Alex Monroe collection, including the Bumblebee!