Contemporary Jewellery from Lovedazzle

Supporting British designers is something I'm really passionate about on Bling and Buy, so I was intrigued when I heard of a new website that hand picks the best "handmade, collectable, investable, wearable art," and brings them all together on one retail site: Lovedazzle.

Below are a few of the pieces they're currently showcasing:

Orange vetch bangle by Sue Gregor, £35
Tiny butterfly studs by Hannah Louise Lamb, £29
Heart of gold locket by Nick Hubbard

For me though, it's all about the brooches. The designs of Timothy Information Limited are particularly quirky.

Unknown 27 by Timothy Information Limited, £106
Copper Oak Brooch by Becky Crow, £112
Mobile brooch A123 by Lindsey Mann (which comes with it's very own display trolley!) £445

The people behind Lovedazzle, Tony Gordon and Christine Bola, are experts at showcasing new pieces after a long history of hosting jewellery exhibitions, so I'll be definitely be keeping an eye on the site in the future.

In the meantime, why not have a browse of the site and let me know YOUR favourites?

London loves retro pin from Fluffs Stuff

I don't often get a chance to make it into London, which means I still retain an appreciation for the charm of all of the capital's tourists spots, famous icons and...shops. Obviously. So, I often find myself drawn to objects that pay tribute to our great city.

I've seen Fluffs Stuff featured quite a bit on Folksy recently, and I love their fabric 3D take on a brooch. This London-based pin would look amazing on a blue or red pea coat, or simply pinned to a plain handbag.


Purchase the pin for £10 from the Fluffs Stuff Folksy shop.

Folksy Find: Ship Picture frame with Fish and Chips Detail

This may just be the most British piece of jewellery we've ever featured on Bling and Buy.

At first glance, I thought Folksy designer Cream Tea Jewellery had simply decided to use this picture frame as a quirky way to showcase the tiddly fish and chips brooch. On closer inspection, it became apparant that the frame WAS the brooch!

Featuring a swashbuckling ship, the frame is just 2.5 by 3 inches, and the fish and chips charm is fixed to the outer frame. I have no idea what you'd wear it with, but I'm pretty sure it would be a unique icebreaker wherever you go.

Fancy a bit of British charm? The brooch is £13.50.

Computer key 'Glam' Brooch from Farfetch

I spend a large part of my working week browsing gadgets and geek-stuff for Dork Adore, so I guess it was inevitable that my passion for jewellery would eventually overlap with my nerd-tendencies.

The result? This quirky brooch in the design of a set of computer keys.

The Computer Key 'Glam' Brooch above is from Farfetch.com, a new site for me. The majority of designer pieces on the site are way out of my budget, but this brooch is a far more affordable at £30. It's created by the design collective Vicolo Paglia Corta, a group of photographers and fashion and graphic designers. They've got a few other computer and lego inspired pieces, so it's a must-see destination for designer dorks.

Got a geek on your life who would appreciate this?

White Feather Brooch from AlrightDarling

Sometimes, it's the really simple designs that can grab your attention away from the more glitzier items. Whilst browsing the UK section of Etsy, I came across designer AlrightDarling (possibly the most british name ever) who offered a selection of clean cut white brooches and rings.

This feather brooch above is created from a clean resin material, and its simple design gives you the flexibility to pin it to whichever outfit you choose to wear. The actual design is exclusive to the AlrightDarling too, so you won't find it all over the high street either.

It's yours for $12, complete with gift wrapping.

The Oriental Magpie: Vintage style wooden butterfly brooch

My weakness for anything butterfly related is evident in my clothing choices, decor selections and, of course, in my jewellery box. I've got necklaces, rings and bracelets adorned with this fluttery little creature, but one thing that's missing is a beautiful brooch to casually pin to an outfit.

These vintage style wooden butterfly brooches (£6 each from The Oriental Magpie) are a perfect mixture of classic style and eye-catching colour.

They're small enough to pin to a headband or hairslide for a boho look too. Now all I need is a little bit of sunshine to showcase these babies!

Max's World: Green Knitter's Brooch

Recently, I've been meeting a lot of people who are really into knitting and stitching, and it's got me kinda interested. It's so big now that there's even groups for people to get together and knit together, known as Stitch and Bitch. I'm tempted to get involved but fear my chubby fingers might prevents me creating some of the amazing creations they showcase.

For those that can actually knit/stitch, you might like this knitter's brooch from Folksy designer Max's World. The brooch is only £6.50 and comes in a variety of colours, as well as options including earrings and necklaces. The brooch features a tiny pair of knitting needles and ball of wool. Adorable, no?

Arty Farty Gingerbread Man Brooch

I'm having a little bit of a love affair at the moment with pins and brooches. It always seems to surface this time of year when I dig out my coat and look at those lapels, which are crying out for some funky little detail to catch the eye. This Gingerbread Man Brooch by Etsy seller Tuckshop definitely fits the definition of eye catching.

It also ensures I have the soundtrack to Shrek stuck in my head all day. It's $14, and comes in a couple of similar styles for a necklace. Tuckshop is also home to some delicious looking jewellery including a pair of egg and bacon earrings and sushi pin brooch.

Tempted?