......It's Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year to all! May the dragon bring everyone wealth, health and happiness!!!

We've got plenty of blue in store.......

Happy new year from Nude and welcome to 2012!!!!

Here at Nude jewellery we're not moping around worrying about our December excesses...oh no, we've got the greatest hits of the 80's on the ipod and we're ready for an exciting 2012!!!!

Throughout the year we'll introduce you to new designers and keep you updated on any exciting events or activities we hear of or take part in........starting with Skate Club nights at Somerset House, a series of nights dedicated to music and dancing on the ice.  Not your ordinary night out but we cant wait to be wrapped up warm with a mulled wine/cocktail and skate like no-ones watching.  Our attendance will be on Friday - Friday the 13th, probably not a great omen but we'll let you know how it goes.

Dont stay in throughout January!  Go out and experience what January has to offer - go back to your childhood (or maybe it was just me?) and get to the ice disco!

Click on the link to find out more...

........Unusual shopping events!

Hard to believe we can take a day off from Nude towers at the moment what with all our lovely customer orders but when we heard about Circus at the tramshed in shoreditch we couldn't resist!  An eclectic mix of fashion, jewellery, art, taxidermy etc all under one roof and each styled with their own concept stall made for an alternative Christmas shopping event.  

Boring christmas gifts no more - lampshades made from jewellery, smoked ice cream and pretty little dead things - what more do you need!  We enjoyed the steam session with Fridja - boycott ironing - steaming is the way forward!  Also very impressed with Noemi Klein jewellery - I want every piece!  Managed to pick up some very unusual christmas gifts from taxidermist Polly Morgan whose work breathes life back into the animals she uses by placing them in situations you wouldn't normally find them in - we loved the tea cups, not for the faint hearted though!!!! 

Our visit - which lasted a few hours - was topped off by visiting the Lily Vanilli cafe upstairs, mulled cider and red velvet cake - defintely worth dropping in for.

......new additions!

If your a regular customer to our store you'll notice that someone has been missing from the team for a while.....congratulations to Nikki who just had a beautiful baby girl!  Welcome to the world Marnie Drew, I'm sure you'll be wearing shiny things and making jewellery before you know it.

Pictures to follow......

.....Pop-up bars!

Here today, gone tomorrow, pop-up bars are taking over.  Tired of going 'where everybody knows your name?'  Each pop up bar will open for a number of weeks and disappear as though it never exsisted.  Usually sporting fantastic interiors, beautiful people and unusual entertainment these bars make nipping out for a quick drink an exciting, never to be repeated experience!

We sampled our own glamorous pop-up experience on Saturday evening at Cointreau Prive hosted at Piccadilly Circus and styled by Dita Von Teese.  Themed as a 1920's speak easy bar there were a number of private salons styled on Dita's home in LA, comfortable but luxurious loungers, lots of velvetine coverings and some of Dita's prize posessions in cabinets displayed around the bar.  A small wooden stage is the place for fantastic entertainment and the cocktails on offer were just as devine as the surroundings - we recommend the Cointreau Teese!

Open for two more weeks, guest list only - just register online put on your flapper dress and enjoy!

......Sushilla!

An incredible passion and enthusiasm for bright colours and beautiful gemstones, Sushilla has produced an incredibly eye-catching, window dazzling collection of rough cut gemstones. Travelling around the world in search of the most vibrant gemstones, Sushilla's work is inspired by a melting pot of cultures and countries and is made to be worn and adored.

What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

I have had a passion for jewellery all my life. My grandmother had a wonderful collection of both precious and costume jewellery and as a child I loved dressing up in all the wonderful pieces.

My inspiration came from seeing precious stones in their rough state while travelling through Africa as a child. My parents to this day have a wonderful rock of Amethyst in its uncut glory. We picked this up on a road trip from Lusaka to Livingston in Zambia. Decades later while on a trip to India I discovered other stones in there rough state, and thought it would be exciting to use them in a collection. Tallulah was born!

How would you describe your customers?

That’s a difficult one, I rarely get to meet the end client. But the few I have met are confident, know what they want and are not afraid of colour.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

My mother’s Pink Tourmaline engagement ring.

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

Keira Knightley quite simply because she is beautiful and talented. I can just see her wearing one of my statement pieces!!

If you hadnt been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?

I have always loved travelling, so maybe a travel writer. Although this could be difficult, I’m dyslexic.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Lots more stones. I know there are plenty more out there that I haven’t used yet. I will continue to focus on the stones. I would like to make more dramatic one off pieces.

To view Sushilla's collection click here

...MADE!

On Sunday we took a trip down to Brighton for MADE, Brightons design and craft fair showcasing local and national designers.  The Corn Exchange was the venue for the fair, we loved the intimate vibe and the buzz in the atmosphere.  There was an incredible wealth of talent selling jewellery, ceramics, textiles......far too tempting but luckily we can buy things guilt free and give them as fabulous, unique Christmas presents!

It was great to see Emma Turpin at the show, we've just started stocking her Maidens Garland range in store, a collection of fine silver jewellery featuring hand folded silver rosettes which are mounted on pegs allowing the rosettes to spin - very quirky and interesting!  We also managed to meet up with alternative jeweller Kate Gilliland whose taxidermy jewellery continues to break convention by using unusual materials to form feminine, pretty pieces.

We had a great day on Sunday and enjoyed speaking with Emma at Contemporary lab and Kate from Vanilla Ink who stock our very own Katherine Seaman's work.

Looking forward to MADE 2012! 

When we saw those dainty little maids with handpainted faces we knew we couldn't resist the charm of Hannah Walkers jewellery collection. A new designer in Nude, Hannah's work is distinctive and unique. An interesting mix of sterling silver rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets and of course these beautifully crafted doll pendants which appeal to a perfect little princess and playful adults alike. Read Hannah's story here....

What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

From a very young age, I have always enjoyed making and using my hands.   I guess it was discovering the Covent Garden bead shop, as a child, which really inspired me to make jewellery and improve my skills.   When I left school, I went on to study jewellery at Edinburgh college of Art and the Royal College of Art in London.   Professionally, I have designed for a wide variety of clients from luxury jewellers, Boodles to Marks & Spencer, Acessorize and Next.   My most recent collaboration has been to design a collection of fair trade jewellery for Oxfam.

How would you describe your customers?

My clients like to have jewellery which is easy to wear, beautifully made and a little bit different.   They tend to have a very discerning eye and a love of detail.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

My most recent favorite (it changes all the time) is one of my newest designs.  It is a tiny, solid rose gold disc embossed with a butterfly which has the initial of my daughter engraved on the back.  It is so tactile, I adore it.

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

I think Harper Seven Beckham really has to have her very own Pretty Maid pendant.

Why?  Because, I haven’t met a little girl who hasn’t treasured hers.

If you hadn’t been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?

I have almost as much enthusiasm for plants and horticulture as I do jewellery, so a garden designer would be just perfect.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I am currently developing more jewellery which is suited to children - christening bangles with charms.   Also, I am very keen to create a collection in rose gold.   And lastly, I am keen to introduce a bit of sparkle into my collection by using diamonds...Plenty to keep me busy.

Click here to view the Hannah Walker collection.

....The Minotaur

A bit different from our usual entries but last week I attended the Minotaur pop-up exhibition in the old Victoria tunnels.  Artists from all over the world were commisioned by Steve Lazarides to create their interpretation of the classical greek legend said to have the head of a bull and the body of a man.

The old Victoria tunnels is a labyrinth structure which was perfect for such an exhibition.  The art reflected the struggle between men, technology and nature in an emerging world and featured installations, interactive exhibits and artists from very different backgrounds.  It was a cultural delicacy and there was in fact a restaurant inside - which you had to request an invitation for.  We didnt get round to that and we spent so much time staring at and digesting the work on display that there wasnt much time for anything else.  Particularly liked the taxidermy rats and the visual installation film! 

Let us know if you attended or indeed if there are any more unusual exhibitions that we should visit.