Alphabet book of British Quirks

My Alphabet book of British quirks is now complete its been such as fun project, thats taken a while but it was great seeing it all finally come together. 

Vintage jewellery

I'm a really big fan of all things vintage especially vintage jewellery (a love I got from my Nan) For one of my latest project at uni I've been creating illustration to promote wearing vintage jewellery. If you have any pictures of jewellery you love it would be great to see them!! I think vintage jewellery always has a special story to tell. Whats yours? 

Vintage Jewellery Project

The jewellery we wear today is and always will be influenced by the past. Theres not many things which you can say get better with wear but jewellery is one of these things. Past down through families, it gets a new meaning. The locket Granddad gave to Nana, the old chain that your Mum never took off.  

Personally, my love of jewellery came from my family. When I was younger, around eleven years old, I was given a jewellery box shaped like a treasure chest. which looked worn and half damaged, at that age i don't think I had seen anything which looked so aged, so it became like a mystic object to me. Inside contained, relics from my Nana and my Grandma. Jewellery they had worn themselves when they where my age. Costume jewellery which was popular in the past, colourful brooches, little cameos and dangling chandelier earrings. To other people looking through that jewellery box, it might have just seem old, like tat, but to me it was and is one of my most prized possessions. When I open the lid I still get a whiff of perfume which smells like my Nana and what I would have imagined my Grandma to smell like, bringing back nostalgic memories from my childhood. Some of the jewellery has gems missing, chains which don't fasten but to me this adds to the story and makes me like the pieces even more. Borrowing from the past is the new now.

The whole vintage look, is something which is very popular at the moment in our culture, from fashion and clothing right through to a resurgence in antique furniture. I think people have become more frugal and interested in the ideas of taking things from the past and giving them a new spin, a modern take. Heres a few pieces from my collections. 

My Illustrated alphabet

For the past few weeks I've been busy creating my illustrated alphabet, which is to do with all things British and quirky. I've really enjoyed working on this project as its one of the biggest ones I have undertaken. It was great to be able to have the time to create a full alphabet of illustrations, a real indulgence. What things do you do that are uniquely British? Are there any in my illustrations that you can relate to let me know.

Fairytale Inspiration

One of my greatest loves and inspirations are fairytales, I thought I would share a few images which I have been gathering for a recent project I'm doing at University. I think these images all have a beautiful atmosphere. 

 cenotaph to the memory of Sir Joshua Reynolds- John Constable 

The Lady of Shallot -John William Waterhouse 

 sleeping beauty - christian lacroix

Little Red riding Hood- Daniel Egneus

Little Red riding Hood- Daniel Egneus 

Little Red riding Hood- Daniel Egneus 

Su Blackwell

Su Blackwell

Su Blackwell 

Su Blackwell 

Su Blackwell 

Daniel Egneus

Lauren Child

Helen Musselwhite

Helen Musselwhite 

Vogue Article

I had another play around with creating a different composition for the Vogue article illustrations. I think they now have a much more collaged feel to them. I think there a bit more dramatic then then previous ones too, thats something that I always love when working on my illustrations that I can always come back to them and change elements if I need to. This project has been one of my favourites as I really enjoy the fact that its about an important issue and has an age about it. Its relevant to its time.

Textured background (brown paper)

Plain Background

Poppy Loves Book club in Lancaster

I'm currently trying to set up a Poppy Loves book club in Lancaster. It would involve a group of us meeting on the last wednesday of every month in a venue in Lancaster (a cafe or pub) to chat about the current book we are reading. We can then chat to the Poppy loves book Club on the group Facebook, so we would have to try and find somewhere with Wi-Fi. A few authors of the Books sometimes participate in the online discussions! which is great. The last book was The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. If your interested in joining or know anyone who might be please let me know!! Im sure it will be lots of fun and a great way to make a new bunch of friends.

My email address is; Jess-holden@hotmail.com if you have any questions or would like to join up!