Linda Connelly Enamels

Tag: brooch

  • Seascape – Enamel Jewellery

    Seascape – Enamel Jewellery

    A celebration of the sea, dunes and marshes of the North Norfolk coast, UK

    One of my favourite places to visit in the UK is the North Norfolk coast. My family and I have been regularly visiting for the past thirty years or so and it is a place that always inspires me. Last summer husband and I went again and this time we stayed more centrally than previously and as a result we were able to spend lots of time walking by the sea and marshes instead of driving to and from my favourite places. I fell in love with the landscape there all over again and was able to spend lots of time drawing and photographing the wild flowers and the amazing ever changing views of sea, sky and marsh land together with the abundant birds and wildflowers. During the course of a week of breakfasting on fresh croissants from a local cafe whilst sitting on a bench watching the ever changing water in the inlet together with long daily walks along the coast, ideas for a whole new range gradually appeared in my sketchbook as if by magic. They were literally born as a result of immersing myself in the spirit of the landscape around me whilst hunting for fossils, paddling in the sea and walking the coastal footpaths with marshes, dunes, pebbles and wildlife together with the ever crashing waves and the sound of gulls as a soundtrack. I called them Seascape and some of you may have seen some of these at shows last year. I hope they convey a sense of the place and remind you of your own special times on beaches and by the sea in with family and friends. 

    Seascape Pins and brooches

    The first pieces I made were small brooches. The one on the right can also be worn as a pendant. I love a brooches myself as they pin just as easily to a fleece or jersey as to smart going out clothes. They are cloisonné enamel on silver that I have hand-engraved.

    Seascape brooch
    Seascape pendant/brooch
    Seascape brooches

    Seascape pendants and earrings

    Like the brooches these are all hand engraved silver with cloisonné enamel. Many of my piece feature a jelly fish because we saw them in the harbour whilst we were disembarking after a boat trip along the coast.

    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Pendant
    Seascape pendant
    Seascape Pendant
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Tiny pendant
    Seascape pendant
    Seascape pendants and earrings Silver cloisonné enamel

    Chips and Ice cream – A perfect meal for the beach

    Seascape chip fork and ice cream spoon

    More pieces are being added to this range so please check out my shop if you are interested. If a piece isn’t available please contact me as some pieces may be able to be repeated. They won’t be identical but could be very similar.

    More pictures from North Norfolk coast, UK

    Here are a few more images of the spectacular scenery. They don’t do it justice but I hope they convert just a little of the huge skies and sense of space and freedom that I felt there.

  • Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant and Brooch

    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant and Brooch

    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant and Brooch

    I have long been interested in environmental issues and when I was tasked with making a piece for an exhibition entitled “Underwater Flora and Fauna”, I remembered hearing about Kelp Forests and I decided to investigate further.

    I learned that these are found all over the world but I was particularly interested to discover that they exist off the Sussex coast which is near to where I live. Kelp forests provide a vital habitat for a host of sealife, from tiny worms to young fish and help protect coastal areas from storm surges. Threats to them include climate change, pollution and over fishing. David Attenborough made a film for BBC South called “Save Magical Kelp Forests”. There is a campaign by Sussex Wildlife Trust highlighting this issue and I wanted to help by raising awareness. Jewellery has been used throughout history to convey messages and this piece follows  this tradition to help initiate conversations about the cause.

    Sketch book designs for Kelp Forest jewellery

    I began by making lots of drawings to decide the shape and the design. The first piece I made was a smaller pendant measuring 40mm x 26mm. This enabled me to try out the colours and the design before I committed to a larger piece of silver.

    Small Seahorse in Kelp Forest pendant

    I wanted to make the next piece able to be worn both as a brooch and a pendant. This makes it more versatile and adaptable, plus brooches/badges are particularly associated with messages and protest. It took a lot of planning to ensure the shape worked for both, as well as working to help create the illusion of depth to the sea. Here is the design I chose to make.



    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant/brooch

    The enamel comprises fine gold and fine silver cloisonné on basse taille fine silver, set in a bezel with jelly fish on the back. There is a loop for a chain and a double pin brooch fastening. The pin fastening can be used as a stand to display the piece when it is not being worn. It measures 56mm x 28mm.

    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant
    Reverse of Seahorse in Kelp ForestBrooch/pendant
    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant/brooch on display

    I am planning for this to be part of a new series of pieces entitled “Let’s Talk”. There are too many instances of individuals, businesses and governments quietly getting on with polluting our planet in pursuit of profit, without a care for the consequences. “Let’s Talk” will be a range of pieces designed to promote conversation about environmental issues and to raise awareness. With knowledge and coming together there is a real hope that we can work together for the good of nature and to promote a better, healthier future for us, our children and for generations yet to come. Knowledge is power and we can use it to work together for a better future.