A lesson in geometry

We go behind the scenes of the new Geometry collection from Alice Made This, featuring cufflinks, lapel pins, bracelets and keyrings inspired by primary shapes, geometric forms, architectural silhouettes and the Golden Ratio

What is in your new Geometry range?

It is a collection of belts, bracelets, lapel pins and keyring in signature metals paired with precise leather work. These new pieces work with a tailored, smart or casual look.

What inspired the collection?

It dwells on my passion for sculpture, architecture and all things primary. Using geometry as a title, and looking to the masters of their time such as Brancussi, Le Corbusier and Josef Albers, we have worked with our industrial techniques to create wearable objects of desire. 

Tell me more about the Golden Ratio.

This new collection is inspired by primary shapes and graphic forms, looking at the precise maths within shapes. Such precision is also prevalent within nature, particularly the Golden Ratio, which occurs naturally in all manner of plants, animals, and natural phenomena. This ‘perfect’ ratio reflects both the Alice Made This focus on precise and refined pieces, and the geometrical influences behind our latest collection.

Tell me a bit about the milling processes used on your Geometry collection.

Geometry is about shapes, whether flat shapes or three dimensional objects, and so some of our new pieces use the process of precision milling to create block shapes. They are precision milled at Qualiturn, a British company with more than 40 years' experience. Milling is a process that dates back to the early 19th century, with the first appearance of milling machines dated between 1814 and 1818. With the advancements in computer technology, milling became computer controlled, and by the late 1980s even small machine shops used CNC (computer numerical control) machine tools. The most advanced CNC machines operate on five axes, adding two more axes to the original XYZ. CNC machines are guided by a program of codes, operated by a single programmer. Precision milling can be used on either large or small scales, from large aircraft components to a belt buckle.

All Ernest Journal readers can receive 15% off their first Alice Made This order with the code 'ERNEST15'.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Alice Made This. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk

Win: Fancy a European adventure with a KEEN ambassador?

A seaside jolly, a city stroll or a hike up a German mountain range: you could win a European adventure with one of KEEN’s intrepid ambassadors, plus a swish new pair of KEEN’s European Made hiking boots

To celebrate their brand new European Made collection, our friends at KEEN have launched an awesome competition to win a trip for you and a friend to embark on a European adventure with one of the brand’s global ambassadors – plus a pair of KEEN’s European Made hiking boots.

So, how can you enter?

It’s simple. Just visit www.keenfootwear.com/en-gb/europeanmade and vote for the ambassador and European adventure you’d like to go on. 

What are the choices?:

• A jaunt to the charming seaside resort of Leigh-on-Sea on England’s east coast with adventurer Dave Cornthwaite
• An urban adventure in and around historic Greenwich, London with mountaineer Heather Geluk
• A hike up the Mathislehof in Germany – one of Europe’s most stunning mountain ranges – with environmentalist Andreas Schäfer. 

Sound tempting? Go ahead and vote – you could be in with a chance of winning!

To enter and for full terms and conditions, visit www.keenfootwear.com/en-gb/europeanmade.

Closing date: 23 October. The competition is open to UK, Germany, France and Holland residents.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with KEEN. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk

Meet the maker: Drws y Coed

Hannah of Drws y Coed tells us about the dappled light through tree canopies that inspires her beautiful wooden lamps, all designed and made in Wales

Tell us a bit about Drws y Coed. 

I grew up next to beautiful woodlands, which inspired me to make products that replicated that woodland light effect. So I went on an adventure in making; seeing how I could source small-scale local production right here in Wales. The joy of digital production is that there are no minimum quantities and work can be made to order.

What's so special about your lamps?

My lamps create a bit of that dappled woodland in in people’s living spaces, bringing the outside in.  I love the cosy glow created when combining wood and light – it reminds me of firelight and makes for relaxing and warm evening lighting. I’m going for what feels good!

The lamps are designed to fit onto one sheet of ply with minimum wastage. The cut-out of the lamp top section is a coaster; the cable entry point becomes a cabin magnet. I’m making a product that can be made locally to order as part of a virtuous loop of production.

What's important to you?       

Creating beautiful things, in positive production loops. Making things in Wales feels good – I think we have a lot of potential to get things right in this beautiful place.

Describe your perfect cabin in the woods.

My perfect cabin would be just peeping out of the canopy with a full view of the sky and stars. It would have a platform out front for sitting in the mornings and evenings. Some walls would be perforated just like my lamps to allow in dappled light and have well-positioned apertures to frame the best views. Inside there'd be a good collection of books and cushions. There would also be a large circular skylight for stargazing and a small wood burner.

Anything else you want to tell us?

Drws y Coed means 'door to the woods' in Welsh.  I chose it because it relates to the light qualities I create with my lamps, and also because I have a dream of re-cloaking Wales in woodland.

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Drws y Coed will be one of 45 crafts people at Tent London at the Old Truman Brewery in collaboration with Etsy, 24-27 September

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Drws y Coed. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk

Meet the maker: Stay Gold Mary Rose

Dean Hearne, creator and curator of The Future Kept talks to jewellery maker Abigail MaryRose Clarke about upcycling beautiful objects that have outlived their intended use

SGMR's tools of the jeweller trade

What first got you interested in making jewellery?

As a teenager I wasn’t impressed with the mass-produced accessories that were available on the high street. My school friends and I would venture to an old junk shop in the Brighton laines that had vintage jewellery from all over the world. In school I started to make my own jewellery from whatever I had lying around and I continued my experiments through college and university. 

Tell us about your design style – what makes your collections unique?

I love to work with patterns, glazes and texture so I tend to find a ceramic piece and try to incorporate the existing image or design. I like to preserve the original qualities and history of the piece rather than just smashing up a plate to use the shards. 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I am obsessed with ceramics in general, from contemporary designs to chintzy antiques; Scandinavian, West German and Postmodern ceramics always catch my eye. Most recently, 1960s and 70s British ceramic designers have played a huge part in my work, especially the work of Susan Williams Ellis of Portmeirion and Honor Curtis of Troika, St Ives. I love their techniques of the way they combine embossed symbols, scratched patterns and organic rough glazes. There are some incredible modern ceramic artists I follow on social media, such as Martina Thornhill, B-Zippy and Young In The Mountains. 

What did you do before you made the leap into being a full-time jewellery maker?

As a student in Manchester I'd work part time in bars and music venues in the evenings and at weekends. I eventually ended up moving back to the south east where I ran an old bookshop and crafted in my spare time. I then started to apply for craft events and created an online Etsy shop. The big change came when my work was spotted by the accessory buyer at Anthopologie and everything started to take off.

Can you tell us about a favourite piece that you have created?

I love giving my jewellery to friends and family – this was originally who I started making for. I particularly enjoyed designing the groomsmens' button holes for my friend's wedding as well as the bridesmaids' head pieces for my brother’s wedding. It’s always an honour to be asked to make a piece for such a special occasion.

What are your favourite places for sourcing materials?

Oh there are so many! When sourcing for larger wholesale orders I go to the larger porcelain manufacturers in Stoke-on-Trent to buy in bulk. It’s always so amazing to look around the old pottery mills and factories – some still have the old kilns and equipment lying on benches, and old plaster moulds and bisque-ware stacked on drying racks. For smaller-scale orders and commissions I look around charity shops and markets. I adore Lewes flea market and the old fishing hut antique shops in Rye, but I absolutely love it when the customer brings their own heirloom crockery to be transformed. I've recently finished an order for a bride-to-be, using her grandmother’s wedding china. That really makes the transformation all the more special. 

Stay Gold Mary Rose's Spearhead Pendants (£25, pictured), upcycled from vintage willow china, are available to buy through The Future Kept.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with The Future Kept. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory, please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk

Not Another Bill: the element of surprise

Every month, Not Another Bill subscribers receive a surprise gift in the post, crafted by designers, artists and unique brands. Here are some of the gifts they've sent in recent months, now available to buy on their website...

Pocket Sundial
Taking influence from historic sailors and mathematicians, this functional pocket sundial is handmade in Austria. £45

AbbeyHorn Money Clip
An exclusive money clip, engraved with a golden pineapple motif, made from ethically-sourced horn. £30

Opinel Pocket Knife
A knife that embraces the outdoors and ignites your inner boy scout. Beechwood handle and carbon blade. £24

Blue Splatter Spoons
Available in two sizes, teaspoon and serving spoon, individually painted to create a unique splatter effect. £5/£12

Noise Goods Card Holder
A practical and durable leather card holder. Noise Goods leather wares are designed and handmade in Portugal. £32

Hard Graft Key Fold
A neat remedy to keys making holes in your pockets and scratching your phone. Crafted from vegetable-tanned Tuscan leather. £22

Not Another Bill are offering Ernest readers £5 off any subscription plan – just quote code 'ernest5' when ordering. This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Not Another Bill. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.