Getting into the mood of "Springwatch" from designers Amanda Coleman and Gerard Hobson

BBC2’s highly popular Springwatch 2015 returns to our screen this Monday, May 25^th, bringing to all UK nature lovers three weeks of almost nightly updates of Britain wildlife at 8 pm, broadcasting live from the Minsmere reserve on the Suffolk coast this season.

Nowadays, watching wildlife live at home (having witnessed a brood of nesting Blackbirds direct from our own living-room window, as shown above) or on television has generated greater interest in my household than catching stylised gardens on Chelsea Flower Show though the latter is perhaps more popular among the fashion-conscious crowd.

As Horatio Clare writes in The Sunday Telegraph, “the live element and the subject matter combined” give Springwatch that rare quality to lure viewers into the unique world of nature.  The live scenes and filmed footage shown on Springwatch have captured the nation’s imagination since May 2005.  Nestled still strongly in my mind today are scenes of the secret lives of barn owl chicks and the episode showing Monty the osprey in search of a potential mate while fending off rivals, featured in the last two years.

Meanwhile, helping us to get into the mood of Springwatch is jewellery designer Amanda Coleman’s new Midnight Owl Collection depicting a wise old owl sitting in his tree, contemplating life!  

The Owl sits on a branch made from a Sterling Silver cast of real twigs with Green Onyx, leaf details - all pieces in the collection are handmade in Amanda Coleman's workshop in Lincoln.  

The jewellery pieces are available in both Sterling Silver and 22ct Gold Vermeil, with semi-precious Green Onyx stones.  All pieces in the collection are handmade in Amanda's workshop in Lincoln. 
Amanda Coleman is a Royal College of Art Master Graduate in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery, who aims to satisfy her thirst for experimentation and new concepts in jewellery construction techniques, in a style all her own.   Becoming a mother helped give a fresh perspective on her designing.  She said seeing the world through the eyes of her children ignited an interest in fairy-tales, mystery and magic – reflected in her whimsical, quirky designs.

Also these cushions and lampshades featuring Owls, Wrens, Patridges and Swallows designed by Yorkshire-based Gerard Hobson for interior design e-shop set up by Georgia Wilkinson will certainly set you and your home in a Springwatch mood.

The collection of four lampshade and cushion designs were created by Gerard, using lino cuts, which were then coloured and scaled by Georgia before being printed onto an oyster linen/cotton union here in the UK. 

Amanda Coleman creates jewellery of kissing bunnies

British jewellery designer Amanda Coleman has a way of adding fun to dainty jewellery.

Known for her quirky, enchanting designs, her new “Kissing Bunnies” collection features two little bunnies frolicking on a spring meadow and stealing a little kiss.  How cute is that!

The pendant is made from 925 sterling silver and 22ct gold vermeil and features either a pink mix of semi-precious stones - pink tourmaline and amethysts of a green mix of semi-precious stones - peridot, pale blue amazonite and citrine.

With a master degree from the Royal College of Art in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery, Amanda ‘s new jewellery are available in both Sterling Silver and 22ct Gold Vermeil, with a mix of semi-precious stones (peridot, blue topaz, pale blue amazonite, citrine, amethyst and pink tourmaline), all handmade in her workshop in Lincoln. 

The range includes necklaces, bracelets, bangles, finger rings, hook and stud earrings.

Amanda’s jewellery is available both online or from around 70 stockists in the UK and in other far flung places such as Japan, China and Australia.

Designers put their magical touch on hand-crafted jewellery.

Nature and animals are popular themes for many jewellery designers.  Here are a few featured at the new Jewellery and Accessories floor showcased at the Top Drawer London  fair last week at its new home at Kensington Olympia.

While admiring designer Amanda Coleman’s delicate handmade jewellery, I experienced an "Into the Woods" fairy-tale moment as her jewellery are whimsical and can take us into a magical world of playful scenes.

Amanda said she takes inspiration for her designs from her love of the natural world, all things miniature and the peculiarities of everyday life.

Equally pretty are Amanda Coleman's jewellery stands from which her magical jewellery are hung.  The stands are perfect complements to her jewellery.

Carved from birch plywood, as well as veneered mdf, cherry and walnut, each stand - which can be in the shape of a Big C featuring a woodland scene or in the shape of a Moose - and features an array of holes and hooks from which jewellery can be hung and displayed and these stands can be bought separately.  Perfect for the girl who has everything.

The hand-finished and hand-decorated jewellery from Mar Moo by Amanda Cope of Wiltshire are miniature works of art.  Amanda uses sterling silver, wood paper and clay for an array of necklaces, pendants, earrings and bracelets.

Each one - in the shape of a bird, dog or cat - is hand decorated so no two are exactly the same but are very similar.  Perfect for animal lovers.

Among its efforts to promote the new jewellery floor, Top Drawer London showcased two designers who were awarded as the fair's Fashion First “rising stars”.

Designer Clara Francis who taught herself the ancient craft of bead weaving, demonstrated her own unique style of bead-work at her stand .

Her designs are inspired by flora, fauna and a dose of pop culture thrown into the mix.  Among my favourites are her butterfly and star-themed designs.

This was the first time Clara had taken part in a trade fair having started her label over 10 years ago.
Using an average of 600 glass beads – ranging from 1.3 mm to 2.5 mm in diameter, Clara has created jewellery and accessories for wide ranging clients including Harvey Nichols and the Victoria and Albert Museum, and her designs have been worn by a number of red-carpet celebrities, including Alexa Chung, Victoria Beckham and Kirsten Dunst. 

Hard at work in her stand at Top Drawer, Clara was making a special bridal tiara for retailer Browns Brides.  “I have a delivery deadline to make and so I thought why not do them during the fair while trying to keep on schedule.”

“The bridal range started after my wedding a year ago.  I made for myself a star headwear which inspired me to develop more bridal designs, ” she said.

Designer Urvi Vora, a London College of Fashion graduate, started her unique Trousseau brand of bold and colourful jeweller.

Her stand at Top Drawer was a treasure trove of statement pieces.

Though London based, Urvi's one-of-a-kind pieces featuring ethnic influences are hand-made in India.  She uses semi-precious stones in various shapes and sizes, set in gold plated metal.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.