Magpie Chique
About .........
The Spoon depicted above won the applied art category in the 2012 Welsh artist of the year Awards, It is made of solid sterling silver. It was made from scratch using a sand casting process, after taking from an impression of a budding twig, molten silver was poured into the mould, then once removed from the mould, the excess sprue was then hand wrought over an anvil to create a spoon bowl, and then the piece was surface treated with sandpaper to finish. This piece is now in a private collection.
Unique Hand made Accessories,
inspred by the organic forms of nature,
made by me, especially for you!
Above: Liz Simmons, designer and maker behind Magpie Chique.
Below: Welsh Artist of the year award for applied arts category 2012.
A Brief History...........
Magpie Chique began with my discovery of jewellery making aged 11 when I was brought a box of beads for Christmas. From then on my life long love of sparkly twinkly things became a passion for jewellery making.
I started with beading and wire wrapped jewellery, then moved onto charm jewellery incorporating vintage elements and reworking items whenever possible.
Whilst attending University I began selling my unique hand made costume jewellery in a small independent jewellery and accessories shop in Bristol called RaRaRa.
During University I began taking part time silver smithing courses at Windmill hill city farm in Bristol; this was my first foray into working with silver.
Then, after University I began working in the jewellery retail sector in Pravins in Bristol and then Diana Porter in Bristol. These opportunities let me observe different approaches to design and fabrication and the myriads of different styles and forms of jewellery available on the market.
Concurrently I began studying my NOCN level 2 Jewellery design and silversmithing qualification at Bristol School of art. This was an invaluable experience, furthering my skill set and enabling me to learn and use a myriad of different techniques and equipment, such as enamelling, fold forming, and granulation, stone setting, and etching, reticulation, casting and discovering a love of spoon making.
I built up my set of tools and equipment, and began making things at home in my own time. Soon, I moved to Wales and began making more silver jewellery, and I developed branding, packaging and began approaching shops and galleries with my Silver work, I went on to create an Etsy shop and sell work both online and in retail settings.
I am now living in Bristol, continuing to create silver pieces with gold and precious and semi prescious details, with a focus oh unique hammered textures and sand casting.
Please see the adjacent page 'stockists' for information about current and previous exhibitions and where you can buy Magpie Chique products today!
My Vision...........
Hand made, unique items of adornment for the discerning customer who desires something prescious you won’t find in a chain store.
All products are made by me, by hand in the UK, every purchase is an investment in a wearable piece of art.
Every item is a one off, as the process of hand making each item imparts a uniqueness, such as slight vaiations in shape, size, texture, finish, etc.
I try and source recycled silver and gold wherever possible, which minimises environmental and ethical implactions of prescious metal use.
My products draw influences from nature, incorporating organic forms and textures.
My silver products are influenced by the Japanese concept of 'Wabi-Sabi', which is that beauty is created by
imperfection, the organic uniqueness of every hand made piece is what makes it beautiful.
My work focuses on natural textures and forms, with some abstract influences.
I have been particularly interested in twigs, leaves, stars and moons recently,
as well as more abstract wearable 'art' jewellery pieces.