Meet the Maker - Marissa Irwin

Meet the Maker - Marissa Irwin

As the granddaughter and niece of professional jewellers, Marissa Irwin has been draping herself in gemstones from a very young age. Her first designs included graduation gifts for her elementary school girlfriends and birthday presents for her Mom and beloved grandmothers. She continued making jewellery throughout  university, hosting trunk shows at her family’s jewellery store in the US and selling earrings alongside local artisans at her town’s summer fair. Nowadays, you’ll find her crafting new designs with semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls and delicate gold findings at her home studio in London.

  

Marissa says! My favorite product is the Freshwater Pearl Threader earrings. They're made of 14kt gold-filled ear threaders and Freshwater Pearls that I individually wrap using 14kt gold-filled wire. I wear them almost everyday!

I often feel most inspired to create when I'm sitting at my desk with a pile of colorful gemstones in different shapes & sizes all mixed up together in front of me. I'll play with color combinations and designs on a velvet cloth until I have that 'aha!' moment. I also use Instagram as a source of inspiration by following the journeys of fellow designers & makers - seeing each of them do what they love inspires me to keep going!

Marissa will be at Homeworks on 8th December. 

Meet the Maker - Michele Wycoff-Smith

Meet the Maker - Michele Wycoff-Smith

Michele Wyckoff Smith wearing
combined Olga necklace, bracelet and bangle

I'm Michele Wyckoff Smith, a trained jeweller in love with organic shapes and textures inspired by nature. I believe that jewellery should be simple, understated and versatile. Many of my pieces can be worn on their own or combined to create a new piece. For example, my Olga chain can be worn by itself, or combined with an Olga bracelet and Henry Moore inspired bangle to make a stunning focal piece. These are best sellers and I'll be sure to have some with me at Homeworks this year.

  
Right now, I am in love with my brightly colour gemstone stacking rings. They look great in all kinds of combinations or worn individually. I take great care to develop a soft, but organic texture on the ring shank, so that it feels like it is an object found from a long ago time and place. I am endlessly fascinated by the combinations of colours people put together. 

More than anything, I want my customers to fall in love with my pieces and find that they wear them day in and day out. Beautiful design should be something that can be worn all the time, not just on special occasions.

Born by the seaside, I always head towards the water when I am in search of new ideas. The most inspirational place I've found in the UK is the beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. There is an old Victorian tip that has slid onto the beach due to coastal erosion. I have found so many pieces of decaying metal, pottery shards and odd little items that have gone on to inspire me endlessly. (Tip: it is best to hit this beach after a big storm.)

Michele will be at Homeworks on 1st December, and you can see her work at www.wyckoffsmith.com / www.instagram.com/wyckoffsmith

Maker’s Choice – Deborah B Design

Deborah B is a London-based multi-skilled artist and award winning designer and maker. Working with precious metals, leather, stones and glass, she designs and makes jewellery and accessories. inspired by nature, shapes and colours, she hand-weaves white gold for her engagement, wedding and eternity rings line ‘White Gold Stone’:

Deborah has chosen her ‘Golden Moon’ leather hand-crafted earrings as her favourite product and she’ll be bringing these and more of her unique designs to Homeworks on Sunday 9 December:

Come and meet Deborah at Homeworks Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Lizzy Chambers

Lizzy Chambers is a designer and creator of exquisite glass jewellery.

She has a passion for colour and growing beautiful natural things.

Her collection includes a beautiful botanical range of flowers and seeds that are grown in her own garden and from a farm in the North of England.

Her keepsake jewellery has a hint of nostalgia and fairy tales, giving it that magical feeling.

Lizzy's favourite product is the crystal pull through earrings, they add a little bit of glamour to your outfit and are super comfortable to wear too. She’ll be bringing them to Homeworks and Lizzy will probably wearing a pair too! 

Lizzy find's inspiration in places that you might not expect and normally when she isn't looking for it too. Whilst taking walks, browsing her favourite gardening magazines, taking a shower is sometimes the best place for a new idea!
Come and meet Lizzy at Homeworks on Sunday 9 December.

Save the Dates!

Here’s all the information for our two Christmas Bazaars for 2017. We’ll start sharing work from our fabulous designers and makers soon, you can see who’s coming by checking the sidebar for each date. Meanwhile here is everything you need to start planning your visit:

Meet the Maker - Simone Selaib - Salandini

My name is Simone Selaib-Salandini and I’m a jewellery designer based in Notting Hill, London.

My work is made up of different collections including Victoria Regia, Industrial and Leaves. They all complement each other and comprise necklaces, rings, earrings, arm bands, bracelets, head pieces and anklets:

All my jewellery is hand crafted by me, I use silver 925 and 999, gold, bronze and semi-precious stones.

I graduated with a BA in Fine Arts and discovered my passion for sculptures and metal. After finishing university I lived in the Italian city of Naples and experienced the wonderful craft of restoration of church ceilings and sculptures.
I love the process of designing and making and I trained as a silversmith, took a course in professional development for designer-makers and began to sell to galleries and shops.

Recently I have participated in Arts and Crafts Fairs and I love the direct contact with the public and to see their reactions to my work.

I draw my inspirations from everyday experiences and the fascination I have for metal itself.

I like to play with line, space, light and shadow; where clear forms are integral part of each piece.

My inspirations reflect my artistic background. Jewellery is intuitive and spontaneous for me, influenced by sculptural and architectural works.

I once read .....‘my business is to create’ and this sums up exactly how I feel!

Simone will be at Homeworks next Sunday 4 December.

Meet the Maker - Hélène Turbé

Photo: Lily Bertrand-Webb 

Tell us little bit about who you are and where you are based?
My Name is Hélène Turbé, I’m a fine jewellery maker based in West London. I live near Kensal Rise and my studio is based just behind Ladbroke Grove.
I’m passionate about the handcrafting process and can spend hours working on details. I totally love working close to my work creating an intimacy with each of my pieces. My work is inspired by the ornate allure of jewellery dating from Antique, Byzantine and Victorian eras, enhanced by intensively repeated details, and by the use of coloured gemstones and pearls:



Where did you train and when did you start your business?
After working 10 years in Paris as a producer manager in the media Industry, I finally moved to London to accomplish my two dreams; to live in London and to study a fashion course.

In 2001, I joined London Metropolitan University to study jewellery and ended 3 years later with a First Class Honours degree.

In 2009, I set up my workshop while looking after my three kids. Very quickly, I managed to sell my work to few shops in London. I now work from an Artists Community Studio called Kindred Studio in St Marks Road (behind Ladbroke Grove) where I share my space with six other brilliant makers. I still work for the same retailers who have supported me from the beginning while making bespoke order for private customers. Very soon you will be able to shop through my website.




What inspired you to become a designer and set up your company?
Very young, I was fascinated by illustrations in children’s books, by my mother’s haberdashery and carving wood. I guess my curiosity never left me. I grew up on a little island surrounded by religious signs called Ile d’Yeu in West of France. Everything inspires me, all my surroundings. I’m fascinated by icon figures, icon medals, and rosaries:



Usually I start drawing some ideas and designs on my sketchbook, and once I’m happy and ready for it, I move to my bench where I start making a model before working directly on gold.
Depending of the piece, but sometimes it can take 2/3 weeks before finishing it.

Hélène will be at Homeworks on both 4 & 11 December.

Angela Cork

Angela Cork is a Jeweller and Silversmith. Her sterling silver Pillow collection for men and women is all hand made in her studio in West Hampstead.

She’s back at Homeworks for another year on Sunday 6th December:

Sunday 7 December - Our first sale preview

Less than a week to go until our first Christmas Bazaar next Sunday and here’s our first sale preview. We work hard to bring you a carefully curated mix of makers so there’s something for everyone. This Christmas we have a mix of new faces and returning Homeworks regulars:

Queens Park local Sonia Shakerley returns to Homeworks with her distinctive hand crafted jewellery. She makes bespoke pieces for private clients as well as earrings, necklaces and rings:

Homeworks very own Lou Rota will be selling her new collection Lou Rota London. They’ll be lots of new products including samples and seconds so come early to bag a bargain:

Simone Selaib Salandini returns with her intricate silver hand made jewellery:

Alpaca Pie are back with childrenswear and accessories made with love in Peru,

but with a classic British quirkiness:

Ruth Hannett and Sharon Chin are Bea Bags - they design and make all their bags and accessories:

Homeworks favourite Celia Worster will be back with her gorgeous aromatherapy oils and creams.

(If you ask her nicely she might give you a head and neck massage, a perfect way to ease

the stress of festive planning):

Knitwear designer Gilly B creates hats, gloves and scarves using only the finest natural yarns

and joins us for the first time this year:

Lighting designer Charlotte Packe is back with her stunning lighting range:

Dorothy Stiven  sources beautiful one off vintage finds in Scotland and France.

Come early to buy something unique:

Moomu returns with gifts and accessories:

Out of the Dark recycle, restore and repurpose furniture as a means to train, educate and employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The results speak for themselves and Out of the Dark are selling their beautiful restored furniture next Sunday:

Homeworks regular Sasha Kamen will be back with her handmade fine jewellery:

Christa Davis is back with her sell-out reconditioned cashmere knits and vintage fabric accessories:

Homeworks very own Samantha Frankel Ceramics is back for one day only with hand made ceramics and accessories:

Scamp will be back with their usual mix of bright and bold screen printed baby wear (the London bus is a real favourite) plus new wooden laser cut products and some festive fancies:

Have you ever wished your Ikea bag was a bit more special? Twisted Twee will be selling a limited edition range of these rather lovely Vintage Ikea Bags. That’s more like it:

Newcomer Helene Turbe designs and makes elegant, delicate and timeless jewellery with an ethnic vibe:

Home address will be at Homeworks for the first time on Sunday and founder Celine believes beautiful pieces for your home don’t have to be expensive, as long as they have a story to tell:

There we have it - lots of good reasons to tempt you away from Oxford Street and online shops.

Shop independent and buy local this Christmas.

See you on Sunday!

Our First Christmas Sale Preview

Not long now until our first Christmas Bazaar on Sunday 24 November. We have many returning stallholders this year and lots of new ones too. Here is a small selection of our stallholders coming along next Sunday. Keep checking back for more previews with more designers and makers over the next few weeks.

One of our Homeworks founders, Lou Rota is set to relaunch with brand new collections early in the New Year. She is having a big stock clear out and her Vintage Plate Art Kits, mugs, trays, platters and jugs will all be at bargain basement prices:

Ocabini is a small design company that create classic cashmere/silk garments with contemporary designs. Their children's range is colourful and cosy, whilst their adult range includes fresh individual prints and classic knits for women and men:

A Queen's Park local, Sasha Kamen makes all her jewellery by hand in her studio: 

Homeworks regular Somerville Scarves return with their trademark silk scarves, cosy hats and accessories:

Twisted Twee have been making and peddling cheerfully sardonic childrenswear and items of practical lunacy since 2003.
All their goods are manufactured and embellished in the UK and they work with people who put sustainability and good working practice at the heart of their business:

Soochi Ltd will be selling kids’ fashion from Bonnie Baby and Little Duckling:

Simone Selaib-Salandini will be selling the collections she supplies to galleries and her more funky street wear collections made of semi-precious stones:

Savile Rogue return with their unique cashmere football scarves and accessories:

Clara Francis is a bead weaver - each piece is made using Japanese glass seed beads sewn by hand one bead at a time. They are little pieces of art you can wear and keep forever:

Christa Davis returns with her distinctive and beautiful clothes for adults and kids, made by blending up-cycled cashmere and silks and vintage fabric:

Nicole from Barefoot Books will have a selection of christmas books and activity kits for children, perfect presents and stocking fillers:

Isolyn will be selling a selection of colourful felted wool bags & purses, slippers and brooches:

The winter chill is coming and Alpaca Pie is spinning more beautiful knitwear and accessories to keep your little ones and you toasty and warm:

Holistic Silk is committed to fair trade and ethical production and they return to Homeworks this year with a selection of their beautiful and therapeutic products: 

Celia Lindsell creates a stylish range of organic lavender accessories for you and the home including doorstops, gift sets, silk, French linen bed pillows and much more:  

Sirplus make all their clothes from offcuts and surplus fabric, or ‘cabbage’, you can find out more about it here: