bracelets + bangles

Hope Street Markets is on again tomorrow - in a brand new location at Paddington Town Hall. This wonderful event has gone from strength to strength over the last year or so & has collected a vast array of talent along the way!

Unique handmade jewellery by Raspberry Beret

Maggie Scardfield of Raspberry Beret creates unique jewellery pieces which each have a story to tell. Her collection of handmade, custom designed jewellery combines vintage & antique findings with semi precious stones, swarovski crystals, oversized chain and freshwater pearls. A few of her designs are pictured above & many more will be on display tomorrow!

Bronze & silver jewellery by Claire Suzy Stannard

Claire Suzy Stannard creates unique, striking jewellery & accessories utilising white bronze, feathers, leather & sterling silver. See more at www.clairesuzystannard.com or visit her stall at tomorrow's markets.

Pictures & fashion by Smitten by Stephanie

Smitten by Stephanie is the cutest! Stephanie creates all sorts of goodies - pictures, fashion, shiny things, soft stuff, jewellery & toys. She finds her inspiration in shiny things, rainbows, love poems, art, pop, ice cream, sad clowns, underworld, mythology, music boxes, crystals and kittens. Definitely one not to be missed!

Well, I didn't have any luck on the horses this Melbourne Cup, but I did find a trifecta of horse-themed goodies to lift the spirits! The Stallion Cuff (above, AUD $78) from Fuzz Design Workshop is bold & beautiful. Made from cast pewter and formed acrylic, this galloper can certainly make the distance.

The etched wooden Hobby Horse brooch pictured above is from popular local label Allira (AUD $35). This young filly shows talent (and a lovely wood grain) but may have trouble finding direction!

In third place is this burgundy bib top from Secret Squirrel Clothing featuring a stampede of brumbies on the front. A fine finish with optional belt detail. It is available for online purchase from YTBA for AUD $80.

Ku-türe is a new online store featuring one-off designer fashions, accessories & jewellery by a host of up & coming designers. Caroline Turner began Ku-türe as a fashion wholesale & PR agency based in Sydney. Her business aimed to give designers a voice in the very noisy fashion industry, and the Ku-türe online store was a natural progression. Each piece listed in the store is unique - not another one exists, so when you click on the "Own It!" button, you know you're purchasing something truly special. The talented lineup includes Ampersander, DavisEyes, Ghost & Lola, Homer & Plum, Psychoglam, Sandra Williams, Sassifras, She's Laughin, Tutu, and Jane Pollard - designer of the striking jewellery pieces pictured above.

Jane Pollard is a self-taught jeweller who has been making wearable objects for the past 12 years. Working with predominantly found objects, her jewellery incorporates a variety of interesting elements including 1920s - 1960s plastic, bakelite or glass buttons, buckles, glass beads, crystals and silk, velvet or vintage ribbons. She works from her Newtown studio in Sydney and regularly exhibits her work all around Australia. You'll find Jane Pollard jewellery for sale in gallery stores and high-end fashion outlets alike, and of course, online at Ku-türe!

The two Jane Pollard pieces pictured above are gorgeous examples of the current collection - bold, individual designs which speak for themselves. The Bracelet has been created from two tan buttons strung onto two strands of red Czech glass beads with a plastic button clasp. You can "own it" for AUD $90. The Lariat and Brooch are made from a vintage navy & white plastic buckle and vintage mother of pearl button, combined with red Czech glass beads for the lariat. A versatile piece, it can be worn as a short or long neckpiece, belt or bracelet. "Own it" for AUD $340... find it at www.ku-türe.com.

The concept behind the Soma Fashion web site is to bring together a number of talented Australian independent accessory designers and provide an online marketplace for their unique handmade designs. This magpie has collected a wonderful array of shiny baubles in the form of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, cuffs and exquisite leather bags - every piece is limited edition wearable art.