Birthday number 3

It’s my third birthday in the studio / shop at Manchester Craft and Design Centre and I still love it like it’s day one.

I am so appreciative of all the lovely customers I’ve had over those years and all the appreciation, feedback, encouragement and odd conversations, I’ve had a few good odd ones! It’s great to see how people react to the work and the unexpected ways that links them to it. It’s been great to develop collage commissions with people, assembling and archiving their treasured paper memories. And it’s been brilliant to make bespoke jewellery, tailored to people’s wants, tastes and budgets!

Thank you everyone who has stepped into my little space and enjoyed being there! Your support means I can keep doing what I was made to do! Thank you x

Available on lovedazzle

A few new items are being added to my collection on lovedazzle.com, take a preview below or keep a look out on lovedazzle.com

Recent New Things

A little catch up with jewels that I’ve been creating over the last couple of months. Some are available from me at my Studio / Shop (just email for further details) or on my online shop where I am currently offering Free Delivery on purchases from now until Wednesday 20th December, which is the last purchasing date to ensure it arrives in time for Christmas.

Derelict pendants . . .

Contrasting metalwork fragments in black or white silver with a semi-precious bead for a spot of colour. Here with garnet, yellow opal and carnelian.

£80 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

Fragment Pendants . . .

Brand new pendants in black or white, featuring four larger contrasts of metalwork

£70 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

Four overlapping ovals necklace . . .

Two holey ovals and two plain ovals overlap and are secured at the tips with a gold rivet. Featured here with rough cut semi-precious labradorite beads and available in black or white

£110 (online) or Two ovals (one holey and one plain) on chain instead of beads £54 (at the Studio / Shop)

Paper Dot Pendants . . .

Maps and stamps contained in an oxidised silver setting and suspended on a long chain

£55 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

Tiny Ovals Studs . . .

Little ovals with paper texture are secured at the tips with gold tube rivets

£30 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

Three Large Elements Necklace . . .

A one-off special necklace created by combining an oval of old paper, an oval of old wooden ruler and a pierced, holey oval. All brought together with semi-precious apatite beads

£235 (online only)

Palette Brooch . . .

A little dish of mixed fragments, dot of ruler, dot of Mother of Pearl, linear strip, chevron oval and dots of gold

£130 (from studio/shop)

Mixed Fragment Studs . . .

A playful mix of chevron oval and bowl in oxidised silver, alongside an organic oval of gold

£120 (from Studio / Shop)

Holey Oval and MOP Studs . . .

Oxidised holey oval studs with an antique Mother of Pearl button stitched in place

£36 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

MOP Dot Studs . . .

Antique Mother of Pearl buttons on oxidised silver disks, stitched in place

£27 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

MOP and Holey Oval Earrings . . .

Long holey ovals suspended beneath studs of antique Mother of Pearl buttons on oxidised silver disks

£80 (from Studio / Shop)

Holey Ovals and Ruler Dot Earrings . . .

Holey ovals are suspended beneath circles of old wooden rulers

£80 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

Ruler Pendants . . .

Large and small dots, oval and raindrops in old wooden rulers, linked to long oxidised silver chains

£36 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)

The Great Northern in progress

We have been working away at MCDC to prepare for the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. I have been working on some new pieces and have been lucky enough to have some one to one stone setting teaching to add something new to my work, and I’m hooked!

GNCCF opens tonight with a special private view if you’d like to join us, or we will be open from tomorrow until Sunday (12 – 15 October)

. . . some of my work in progress, some finished pieces, and setting up our stand yesterday at Upper Campfield Market . . .

Second Birthday

The 1st of September was my 2nd birthday at Studio 20a, my lovely studio / shop, upstairs at Manchester Craft & Design Centre

I’d like to say thank you to all who have visited, and “come!” to those who would like to! (& sorry for those of you who are just too far away!)

Wraps collection . . .

Wraps are something I have been making since graduating, they were the result of being inspired by handwriting, looking at the overlapping and interweaving lines drawn by the hand. Wraps were originally used in combination with the various other contrasting elements. Gradually they have developed into pieces on to their own, useful if you are wearing a necklace for instance with a wrap element along others, you may prefer to wear wrap studs for example, keeping it simple.

They remain an element amongst other contrasting elements, and they are also an established collection of their own comprising of nice weighty and tactile bangles which you may have spotted in my online shop already, there are also studs, necklaces, more recently brooches in the collection, and now I have a brand new hanging wrap earring that features a hand drawn silver lozenge top element. All are available in black or white sterling silver, and are now all available online . . .

Online Shop Now OPEN!

Exciting morning as I have just launched my online shop!

I am offering free delivery for the whole of June 2017 and if you sign up to my mailing list you can also enjoy an extra 10% on all orders placed via the shop throughout June. My mailing list can be joined by clicking here

March Meet The Maker 2017

So I took part in #MarchMeetTheMaker on Instagram again this year and I thought I’d share a selection here . . .

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Can’t live without . . .

My riveting tool.

Apart from my family, my fella, the support of customers and admirers, my hands, my daydreaming , etc etc! Thought I’d keep this one basic! I do love that tool and have been using it for 20 years now!
I discovered recently I have an ancestor, in one census he was a riveters helper, in the next a riveter, yes!

Me. . .

… this is me! At my bench. A place I love to be.

Favourite to make . . .

New things! Shouldn’t be showing this really as I haven’t got far with it at all. Currently playing with stone setting, which has been on my list for years, some of these stones I’ve had since I was studying! My vision is greater than the results so far, so much more to do. Eek!!

Workspace . . .

We have pretty small workspaces at the craft centre to give room for shop area, so it has to be well organised to make the most of it and i have to say it does work perfectly, it’s my favourite studio of all the studios I’ve had.

Organised . . .

A bit of the organisation I mentioned above. I (conveniently!) love drawers, boxes, tins!

Inspiration . . .

History / People / Stories

Old buildings & Details

Found things

Paper Books & Documents

Non precious becoming precious

Beautiful mysteries

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Sketchbook . . .

I don’t get much time to work in a sketchbook these days but since I graduated I’ve maintained a collection of soft back a4 with cartridge paper (same paper as I roll print with). They’re a mix of workings out, off cuts, repeated drawn shapes, scribbles and lots of designs I’ve scribbled onto the nearest bit of file paper then masking taped into the book!

Work clothes . . .

I can wear whatever I want for work. It’s often grey with stripes or holes, as long as it’s warm, I’ve had lots of studios over time and they have all been cold, some really cold!

 Brand image. . .

My logo which is simply my name handwritten and a rather large pile of postcards with their lovely layered old edges, which isn’t technically my branding, but it is very relevant!

Where . . .

For the last year and a half I have been making and selling from my lovely studio / shop upstairs at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, and it is perfect, I really feel my years of being a jeweller makes sense working in this way.

How it’s made . . .

I do plenty roll printing, everything gets roll printed with cartridge paper to give a warm texture referring to the postcards and the paper with these unique prints are then used in my collages.

Feedback . . .

I spent many years in a studio making and sending my work out with no feedback and it took me a while to pick up courage to take my work to fairs, I was not confident in my work for years. Now I find myself in a studio that’s also a shop. We all get to hear, quite a lot! I am developing a thick skin! Some don’t say anything, that’s fine. Some make comments that are really useful or interesting, and some are . . . ! I also get such treats like people coming with a box of perfect ephemera they want to give me, amazing! And some are gorgeous people like the couple who recently bought a necklace and then came back the next day and left with a collage, (My favourite too!) and I’m so chuffed it now lives with them in their lovely home in Germany. They even took the time to send me this photo of it amongst some lovely intriguing other works. Thank you! This kindness keeps me (us?) going. Our work doesn’t end when you wrap it up for someone, it starts its journey.

New jewels on Lovedazzle

I’ve just added new jewellery on to lovedazzle so you can buy online for Christmas! Items scattered with postcards, colourful stamps and old wooden rulers. Deliveries will arrive in 2 to 5 days. Go and take s look! 

You’re invited!

MCDC Christmas Event

We launch Christmas at MCDC on Saturday 19th November and we would love you all to come along!

We will then be open 7 days a week until Christmas, our last day is Christmas Eve when we close at 3pm

MCDC Christmas Event

Saturday 19th November 2016

Live festive music between 2 – 5 pm (we are open 10 – 5.30pm)

#MemoriesAreMadeHere 

You can follow me on:

Instagram @clarehillerby 

Facebook @clarehillerbyjewellery 

Twitter @clarehillerby

. . . for new pieces being created for my studio / shop along the way to Christmas #inmycabinets 

Buy Art Fair down and done

Buy Art Fair finished last night and it has all come down and done for another year now. So just a few details of some collages made for Buy Art Fair and the stand itself. I’ve more new collages in the shop, hanging them today, so come and have a look! 

Buy Art Fair 2016

For the last few weeks I’ve been working towards Buy Art Fair. It’s the first time I’ve taken part in the fair and will be showing new collages, 2 more days left to make more! I’m currently at my desk drowning in papers, eagerly waiting to be chosen! 

I’m excited to be on the Manchester Craft & Design Centre shared stand, so I can walk along with those from MCDC that take part every year, and I’m in lovely company. More info on the others taking part in the MCDC link above. Yesterday our front room looked more like a mounting and framing waiting room . . .

Buy Art Fair

22 – 25 September 2016

Old Granada Studios, Manchester

Making & Selling

. . . where I think, design, experiment, make, display, meet, discuss, re-home . . .

Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

I am excited to be taking part in the Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair . . . this Sunday! It is now at Altrincham Town Hall, and across the road is the award winning Altrincham Market. I’d like to be at both places at once on Sunday!

I hope you can join us at this lovely event, there will be around 40 makers from many craft disciplines. I will be taking my jewellery, collages and cards. I’ve been busy making new jewellery recently and I’m working on new collages and cards this week!

 

Sale starts today – Saturday 27 February 2016!

On my way to the shop to start a sale over on Facebook today, exciting! It will start around 11am all going to plan and will continue until 5pm on Monday. I’m attempting to clear some space, including head space for some new work. Here are a selection of what’s on offer, feel free to comment or email if you are interested in anything or pop over to Facebook for the full collection and details. (hello@clarehillerby.com)

Ring with MOP oval, postcard circle, linear raindrop (size R / Mother-of-pearl oval is 30 x 16mm) was £130 / now £60

6. Ring with 9ct gold wrap (size N ½) was £195 / now £120

Circle studs with red stamp + postcard (20mm across) was £70 / now £30

Circle studs with purple stamp + postcard (19mm across) was £70 / now £30

3. Ring with ruler in patterned setting (size S / ruler is 23 x 14mm) was £90 / now £40

Ring with ruler in ivy pattern setting (size R / ruler is 23 x 14mm) was £90 / now £40

Cufflinks with holey silver ovals on grey perspex ovals (ovals are 20 x 12mm) was £70 / now £35

Cufflinks with large green map + stamp (24mm across) was £90 / now £40

Pendant with linear raindrop, postcard raindrop + red stamp circle (19” long) was £146 / now £70

7. Ring with MOP, ivy setting, linear panel (size P / Mother-of-pearl is 22 x 14mm) was £110 / now £50

Earrings with postcard ovals + labradorite beads (oval + bead is 35mm long plus hook) was £105 / now £50

Earrings with large circles of postcards (25m across) was £90 / now £45

Christmas at Studio 20a

Christmas decorations have been hung, shops are stocked with goodies, and we have officially launched our festive period at Manchester Craft & Design Centre! Plus from the 1st of December we will be open 7 days a week. Monday to Saturday from 10am until 5.30pm (as usual) but also Sundays from 11am until 5pm. There is also a new exhibition to see Exploring Wonderland, a celebration of 150 years of Alice in Wonderland. Hope you can join us!

 

Things have progressed …

I have made progress at my new studio / shop here at the craft centre. All the painting, bench building, cabinet hanging, shelf making and days of painting everything in sight are coming to a close! I’ve just hung drawers of jewellery in the window today and the last big job is to hang my sign, but I am very happy to be open and it’s all going nicely!

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My very own shop!

 

It’s been awhile, it’s been so very busy!

I am so pleased to announce that I now have my own Studio & Shop at Manchester Craft & Design Centre. When I first visited Manchester 4 years ago I visited the Craft Centre and have been dreaming of having my own place to work and sell my jewellery and collages.

I have now been here in Manchester for 3 1/2 years, I can’t believe it’s been that long, but at the same time a very short time to find a lovely flat, my very own shop, good friends, and my soul mate!

We are open to visit from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 5.30pm, then Sunday’s too in December.

I will be having a special launch very soon, once I have painted some more and made some work benches I will set a date and announce it here!

LNCCF | Sunday 26 April | Altrincham

Over the upcoming, just over a week, I will be preparing for the Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair … the list of exhibitors is now on-line, plenty of reasons to visit! Hope you can come and support some great makers …

 

New jewellery to buy online . . .

I have added new work to my two online galleries, lovedazzzle and madebyhandonline. The work above is a selection  from both but you can click onto the links for more.

Lovedazzle and madebyhandonline are my two online galleries if you want to see and buy from the comfort of your sofa! My work mostly varies with each item made, so if you can’t see what you are after, if you are wanting a different colour way or necklace length for example, feel free to contact me (post@clarehillerby.co.uk) to discuss your preferences. I also post items here in the blog from time to time that you may be interested and again feel free to request more details on their whereabouts or availability. Alternatively I am happy to make bespoke items based on my current designs, from simple items to larger specials as in the ‘lovely necklace commission‘, more details on the progress of that commission coming soon!