Jewellery from the Esther Benjamin's trust workshop

Here are some pieces made in the Kathmandu workshop where I will soon be going out to teach from. Students are taught silversmithing skills that combined with their knowledge of mosaic construction make these beautiful pieces of jewellery. I cant wait to work with the project!

www.ebtrust.org.uk

Past to present

I've had these photos and letters in my workshop for weeks. Today I've been using them to develop a new piece of work. I've been looking at frames, considering the decoration, size and how they display the image. Mainly older frames and portraits because the images inside seem more important and treasured. I suppose they have lasted and been kept for a reason, even if they are a little worse for ware.

The letters document my Grandfather asking for permission to marry my Grandma and a congratulating telegraph. Very old fashioned, very polite, very English. The photo isn't of them but the bridesmaid is my Mum, it's quite strange that they all relate to marriage as I have actually only just noticed this! It was supposed to be more about keepsakes, self-expression and documenting family history.

Here are a few other things I've been looking at today that aren't related to weddings!

www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk

The Prince of Wales at Goldsmiths

On the 23rd of February I was invited to the Goldsmiths' Hall to attend a royal visit! His Royal Highness visited the Hall for an insight into how the company supports the future of the industry. Having just completed an enterprise course with the Prince's Trust I, along with four other designers (including Alison Macleod and Heidi Hinder) met HRH and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Esther Benjamin's Trust

Following an interview last Friday I am very excited to say I will be travelling to Nepal to start teaching jewellery in the beginning of May! I will be working with the Esther Benjamin's Trust to help train up new jewellers working on a social enterprise project in Kathmandu. The trust works helping victims of trafficking, former street children and vulnerable people specifically in Nepal.

I got to find out about Silversmith Nic Turnbull's time teaching with the trust at a talk she did last Friday at Bishopsland. Nic set up the workshop last August and the jewellery made in the workshop is already selling at tourist spots in Kathmandu and at events in the UK.

I will be visiting Nepal for three months with the charity so look out for more information and updates of the projects progress!

To raise money for the charity I will be doing a raffle of three pieces of my work so please get involved!

For more information about the work the charity does please visit www.ebtrust.org.uk