A Tortoise start to the year

In keeping with my brand, I tend to move between two modes. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been firmly in Tortoise mode—steady, thoughtful, and full of planning—which means I know I’m making progress, even if it’s not always easy to quantify or show (Instagram posts never come easy during these times!). I'm happy to fall in with winter’s natural rhythm of rest and restoration rather than forcing achievements before I’m ready.

I’ve never felt aligned with the pressure to burst into January full of resolutions, so I no longer try. As the weeks pass and we inch closer to March, Hare mode usually starts to return. Lighter days mean more energy and appetite for making and doing, when ideas come quickly and I can’t wait to try new ideas and share new pieces.

Hitting the books

As it's been a Tortoise kind of a year so far, I have been cocooned at home, nose in books revisiting the reasons that drew me to jewellery in the first place, pondering where I might want to go with any new pieces I make this year.

As well as loving jewellery for its decorative purposes, I've always been fascinated by the meanings that we attribute to it and keen to weave this into some new pieces for my collection. Jewellery often symbolizes our connections, life events, and milestones, in some cases serving as amulets that protect us.

Jewellery is more than decoration (especially handmade pieces). Worn close to your skin, it almost becomes part of you, often holding a deeper meaning or a connection to loved ones.

Hannah Martin, Creative Director, Kernowcraft

We might wear inherited pieces to feel close to a loved one, choose something that marks a meaningful moment in our lives, or be drawn to an item we believe brings us luck (SATC fans will remember just how iconic Carrie’s signature necklace was).

For others, we choose them as gifts to honour friendships and partnerships of all kinds, as well as to celebrate life events like birthdays, anniversaries, or milestones. Lots of Tortoise and Hare customers have chosen Cup & Saucer earrings set with a birthstone to give as birthday presents.

I often wear a Pebblette charm stamped with an A for Arthur as part of a family charm trio made up of our initials and I always wear my Grandmothers engagement ring as a way to feel close to her as well as hoping to channel a fraction of her creativity and calm.

Since the earliest records, specific combinations of shape, material, and colours have served as amulets and talismans in every cultures. The more I delve into this topic, the more I realize I've barely scratched the surface.

"Jewellery isn’t purely a visual language—it talks. As well as talking, jewellery connects. It’s our longest-held cultural tradition, and links us all to whatever culture or civilization we’re born into. It’s also the great connector between the past and the future."

Caroline Woolton, Jewellery historian, former British Vogue jewellery editor, and author of - If Jewels Could Talk

The significance of jewellery as protective amulets was first revealed to me through Egyptian funerary pieces. I was obsessed with pieces at the British Museum and my fascination deepened as I learned more about the symbolism behind each object. This sparked my passion for understanding how jewellery can reflect personal stories and cultural beliefs. The ancient Egyptians believed jewellery held protective power, guarding the wearer in both life and the afterlife. Materials like gold were linked to divinity and immortality, and pieces such as jewelled scarab beetles were placed with great care on and around the mummified body to ensure safe passage into the next world—definitely influencing my decision to get a scarab tattoo at 19 (sorry, Mum!).

The hidden messages conveyed through jewellery throughout history can lead you down countless

paths, from the use of amuletic jewellery in ancient Egypt to the Victorian practice of spelling

"Dearest" with a combination of Diamond, Emerald-Amethyst-Ruby-Emerald-Sapphire-Topaz stones in rings.

Jewellery as a Symbol of Change

In the Edwardian era, discreet pieces with green, white, and purple stones and enamel were worn to support the suffrage movement, with Sylvia Pankhurst going as far as designing the Holloway Brooch to present to certain suffragettes on their release from Holloway prison.

During Prohibition, large rings worn on the right hand represented a defiant appreciation for alcohol, leading to the popularity of the Cocktail ring in the 1920s.

There are lots more stories to share, but I'll save those for future blog posts. I've enjoyed revisiting books I've owned for almost thirty years, as well as uncovering new insights and designs from recent additions to my

ever-expanding library.

It's fitting that current commissions are linked to personal celebrations of family and friends - more to follow in the coming months, I don't want to spoil any surprises!

Finally out & about!

Collect exhibition - Somerset House Feb 27th

I love a day out in London, and what better reason than to catch up with a friend and take in some art! By late February, I needed to move around a bit more to offset the lazy book days, so Jane B and I tootled up to Somerset House to catch this year's Collect exhibition, which ran for four days from 26th February. The event featured a fantastic mix of artists showcasing their skills across a wide range of crafts. We saw a huge array of brilliant works, underscoring the wealth of creative talent currently practicing across and beyond the UK. I came away inspired and reaching for my sketchbook!