Brighton 5 Ways Artists' Open Houses

Firstly, have I really not posted anything on here since LAST YEAR? I'm quite shamefaced.  I'm basically blaming social media for my apalling blogging of late.  I update my Facebook and Twitter much more frequently, honest!

So, enough of the excuses, I'm popping in to tell you that I'm showing my jewellery as part of Brighton Artists' Open Houses this May. I'll be at 3 Florence Road in talented ceramicist Sylph Baier's house, exhibiting alongside Wolfram Lohr's beautiful leather accessories, Tanja Ufer's jewellery, textiles, lighting, the list goes on! There will be a cafe in the garden run by Bee's cakery so you will be fed and watered too.

Click here for your invition, and visit the website for details of all the incredible artists who are taking part in houses all over town. Perfect if you like a nose around other people's houses (who doesn't) and want to see some great art and craft into the bargain.

A little peek at my stand at Origin....it was nearly a month ago but life has been a bit of a blur since then - making making making for the lovely new stockists I met there!

You may notice as well that it doesn't say Glint on my sign.  I've decided to start working under my own name, reflecting that I'm not a big company, I make everything myself.  Many of my galleries refer to me as Kate Wood anyway, so this makes life a bit simpler (a good thing in my book).  You can still get to my website from the old address, but I'm moving it over to www.katewoodjewellery.com

You can see more photos on my Facebook page (which is updated more frequently than this blog!).

Win a free ticket for Origin

After a lot of anticipation and preparation Origin is just around the corner. I'm really excited to be exhibiting there next week!  It's an epic show, with  over 200 makers in one convenient location - Old Spitalfields Market in London. Spitalfields has a special place in my heart as it's where my jewellery business was born - I started out selling my wares at the market. 

The show is on from 22-28 September and you can find me on stand D24, where I'll be showing under my own name, Kate Wood.  There will be some brand new pieces as well as lots of baubles from my Cluster, Terrain and Pompom collections.

So...I'd love you to come.  I have two free tickets to Origin (usually £10 or £8 in advance) to give away!

If you'd like one, all you need to do is sign up for my mailing list and email me with your name and postal address. I'll pick the winners at random on Thursday night (15th September).

Diamond Planet

Apparently a 'diamond planet' has been discovered in the Milky Way.  Disappointingly, according to Ben Stappers of the University of Manchester, “I don't imagine that a picture of a very shiny object is what we're looking at here."

Not that diamonds have to be glitzy to be beautiful.  Rough diamonds are a real trend in jewellery at the moment and something that I really love.  Something like the Ruth Wood ring above can have a lot more personality than a big flawless sparkler, as well as being more affordable.  I've been eyeing some tiny grey, cognac and black rough diamond beads and have plans for some subtle sparklers of my own...