Rachel Eardley Jewellery

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I first discovered Rachel Eardley, a couple of years ago just after my daughter Wren was born. She cuts illustrative details from old coins and re-works them into delicate jewellery. Rachel uses lots of different motifs - from kings and queens to penguins and pineapples but I was most drawn to the wrens (taken from old British farthings) which often feature in her work. On that first meeting, I felt obliged to buy a piece. After all, one day my little girl would grow up and inherit it! Since then, I admit Rachel's jewellery has become a bit of a habit of mine. I started with a necklace and now I have a ring too. What I would really like is the magnificant multi-coin nature necklace (pictured above) but unfortunately that is going to require some serious saving!

www.racheleardley.com

The New Craftsmen

The New Craftsmen is an agency dedicated to promoting the work of British artisans who create high-end products which tell an interesting story. This includes furniture by Gareth Neal, textiles by Ptolemy Mann and rare sheepskins from the Isle of Auskerry. The sheepskins are from a tiny, remote island in Scotland's Orkney archipelago, where the makers and their flock of North Ronaldsay sheep are the only residents. There are only three flocks of this rare breed left in Orkney and they are most notable for their unusual and unique caramel, silver, chocolate and slate colourings, as well as their diet of seaweed. The skins are softened with rainwater and washed in huge sinks which were originally used for lighthouse keepers's laundry before being dried in a mangle and hung on driftwood frames. Only a limited number are produced each year and they are now available via The New Craftsmen. For this week only, the agency has a pop up shop in Mayfair, London, and plans for the future include a possible permanent physical space as well as an online shop.

www.thenewcraftsmen.com