I'm really pleased to announce that I have been selected for the KickStart initiative as part of International Jewellery London this September! Just ten emerging designer-makers have been chosen to take part and we'll be exhibiting alongside each other at the UK's largest jewellery trade show at London Olympia. This is something I have always wanted to be part of and it's such an honour to be chosen, especially after my recent NAJ 'Award for Excellence in Jewellery' at the British Trade Craft Fair. What a year so far!

Yesterday I took a trip to the Goldsmiths Centre in London to meet my fellow KickStarters who are all an extremely talented bunch. We all spent the day learning more about International Jewellery London (IJL) and getting our heads crammed full of ideas and useful tips on what to expect as new exhibitors. Let's just say I'll be very busy between now and September...

We did get to relax in the evening though when our hosts laid on a great event to introduce us to some key figures within the jewellery industry. Lots of champagne and lots of smiles were had! I'm can't wait for the show in September and look forward to sharing more from my journey with you...

So, I may have neglected my blog for a little while, but if anything is worth writing about then this certainly is! I'm back from a weekend at the British Trade Craft Fair in Harrogate, and as well as some lovely new stockists on board I'm delighted to say that I also have a new award to my name! Out of the 400+ exhibitors at the show at least a quarter of them were jewellers, and very fine ones at that. So, it's fair to say that I was gob smacked to receive the 'National Association of Jewellers Award for Excellence in Jewellery'. Here's a photo of me looking slightly stunned with Lindsey Straughton from the NAJ, of which I'm now an honorary member.

Hopefully this award will lead to other new and exciting prospects, but just to receive this kind of recognition from such a prestigious organisation is such a credit. Read the full Jeweller Online article about the award here.