2018 has been a busy, busy year for me, I literally haven't stopped for more than a few days at any one time.
This was due, in part, to the design, fabrication and launch of my new collection that I have been obsessing about ever since our family holiday to the islands of Tahiti and Mo'orea in French Polynesia.
To say I was bowled over by the rich, vibrant colours of the sea and land of this tropical paradise would be an understatement.
I think I walked around with my mouth open the entire time we were there as I rode the emotions of total wonder and fascination that these colours can exist so abundantly in nature.
I was so inspired by the aqua, turquoise and teals of the sea, that I wanted to create a collection that was as vibrant and as rich.
Unfortunately my stock of seaglass lacked enough of these colours so I spent weeks tracking down seaglass collectors all over the World who could find me the colours that would best match my tropical colour way.
In the end I purchased glass from two trusted sellers, aqua blues from Japan and teal green and turquoise from Iceland.
I don't tend to record my designs on paper in the traditional way, instead I like to carry ideas around in my mind, mulling them over, designing specific elements and shapes until I am ready to sit down and make prototypes to then build upon.
I wanted to include gold and silver charms in this collection, invoking the idea of precious bounty lost in the tropical reefs that surround these islands. So I chose several pieces of seaglass to cast into precious metals.
The images above show the wax version of the seaglass charms that then goes through a series of processes before being cast into the desired metal. You can also see the selections of the new seaglass colours as well as 'works in progress'.
I love the way the organic, porous surface of the naturally tumbled seaglass is captured in the surface of the gold and silver.
The photo above is of a very special pair of my statement earrings - consisting of teal green wrapped seaglass nuggets connected by 14ct gold charms. You can find these here.
The collection also includes pieces without coloured glass.
The simple pebble drop earrings and earrings with teardrop seaglass charms above are now in my shop here. Perfect for day or night, these minimalist designs are some of my best sellers. They add a subtle touch of glamour to any outfit.
Silver rocks with teals and aquas and whilst not as luxe as gold it still holds its own in oh so many ways. Shown above are some sterling silver bangles which have the organic shapes cast from seaglass. These are also available in gold-filled, and 14k gold, and make a perfect gift to adorn any wrist.
