While Summer sees a downturn in many businesses, life at Princes House is neither quiet nor dull! We continue to benefit from the joys of doing our own thing, while sharing in the value of being a collective.

At our recent business get-together, we were delighted to welcome Terry Mullins from The Reluctant Salesman. With great gusto and enthusiasm, he inspired us creative beings to enjoy valuing our expertise in business terms. As award-winners in our own rights, we are now proud to shout about this and to share our expertise: we are already seeing the results!

Annie Harvey has been asked to design a wedding gown for literary heroine Elizabeth Bennet! This year sees 200 years since the publication of the nation’s favourite novel “Pride and Prejudice” and the organisers of the Jane Austen Festival, in Bath,,have asked Annie to make a Lizzie Bennet inspired Gown to close a Fashion Show being held the on the 14th September 2013 which will be broadcast to Jane Austen societies around the world. This is a real 'home-coming' for Annie as she visited Jane Austen's House,with a friend at aged 15, dressed as the lady herself and had her picture taken by a handful of Japanese tourists as they 'took a turn about the grounds' with the director of the museum.

Just four years into her business, Victoria Walker has been selected to exhibit at the prestigious Goldsmiths Fair in London this September. The Fair is described as 'the ultimate one-stop destination for those seeking out jewellery and silver, by the most exciting independent designer-makers in the UK. Established in 1983, the Fair has grown in stature and allure, and is now considered to be the most important and prestigious event of its kind in Europe. Victoria is absolutely delighted and plans to exhibit a selection of her kinetic lockets made entirely in gold. She will be exhibiting during week one, 23-29th Sept. Goldsmith’s Hall, Foster Lane, London, EC2V 6BN.

Meanwhile, Natalie Fox has launched a new website advertising her bespoke stationery design service. This covers wedding stationery, event stationery and business stationery. Go to www.nataliefoxdesign.co.uk for ideas and feel free to ask her advice.

Clare Greenwood has been booked for a diverse range of talks, including a presentation in Plymouth, for the Dental industry, from all over the South West, as well as seminars to various medical faculties and corporate ventures. Her strap-line “Look the Biz with Looks Magic” is recognised as an important aspect of engaging on a personal and corporate level.

Anna Burt and Helena Giles are developing their business models as we speak, so look out for our forthcoming blogs. Ella Butler is busy revamping her website and Mirri Damer is currently sourcing sapphires in foreign climes, so we can’t wait for her update on that adventure!

Corinna and Steve are so busy preparing food that we hardly see them, but we so enjoyed their fantastic canapes at our recent “Wedding Planners Open Day”. Sarah Hooper has a busy itinerary at the moment, in some cases going to three weddings a day to do their hair, quite a feat but achievable for someone with her skills.

Anna and Holly have been working together coming up with some fantastic ensembles using matching fabric for the headdresses and wedding dresses and, as people realise that the occasion doesn’t need to be a wedding, the creative prospects are becoming limitless!

So just when we need it, at the end of the busy day, we can now enjoy being pampered by Rosemary Taylor who has an amazing therapy room offering a range of pampering and therapy sessions also available to men, an ideal gift idea!

Check out our new brochure and feel free to contact us at any time!

 
 
Here is the first of a new series of posts here on the PH Blog where you can find out a little bit more detail about our fabulous house residents, what they do, how they do it, and how you can have a piece of the pie!

This week we introduce Jeweller Extraordinaire...  Victoria Walker
What does your business do and what inspired you to start?
I design and make kinetic jewellery based on seed pods and flowers. After four years studying fine art and illustration, I took an evening class in jewellery making and fell in love with it. This lead me to study at degree level and I graduated with a first in 2009.

Earrings by Victoria Walker Photo: Paul Mounsey
How long has the business been going?  Who is ‘behind the scenes’?
I have been running my business since graduating in 2009 and currently work alone.

Give me a brief over view of the services you have on offer...
I create kinetic lockets which are the centrepiece of each collection where you will also find non-moving matching items such as earrings and bracelets. I occasionally do commissions.

Kinetic jewellery - Daisy Locket - closed, and open
Have you won any Awards? if so which ones?
Goldsmiths Company Precious Metal Bursary 2008
Exhibitor award, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2012


Describe your studio (Please send a picture or two).
..
The smallest studio in Princes House. My traditional jewellery bench was  built in by a local carpenter and my bespoke display cases were designed by me and  built by my dad.

The Victoria Walker studio on the 2nd Floor of Princes House
What sets your business  apart from your competitors?
My products are very unique and require and element of engineering in order to  develop the kinetic parts. My non-moving collections also include a lot of hollow forms which require specific forming skills.

Do you have a specialist area / style of product that you to create?
I specialise in kinetic fine jewellery based on botanical forms.

Poppy revolving ring
Who/what are your influences?
I'm intrigued by the idea of creating gentle impressions of the natural world from comparatively harsh materials and tiny mechanisms.
      
What do you love most about your job?
I love creating pieces of jewellery that give joy to the owner and surprise the viewer. I love the idea that they will be treasured for a lifetime.

Tell me about your favourite client experience...
A Scottish couple expecting a baby saw my work in a gallery in Edinburgh and really liked it. They were looking for a special piece of jewellery that their baby girl could treasure for the rest of her life. Keen for the piece to have a strong Scottish connection, they commissioned me to make a kinetic Thistle Locket for their little Olivia. (They even sent me a picture of her!).  I really loved the sentimental nature of the commission and the idea that it might be passed down to her own children.

What are the stages of your service and how long on average does it take from consultation to completion?
Kinetic pieces are always made to order and I usually quote 4-6 weeks (though I'm always keen to meet deadlines for birthdays/anniversaries so they can sometimes be ready quicker if needed).

Top tip for choosing your perfect gift....

If you want to buy jewellery as a gift but you're not sure what size she would be in a ring/necklace/bracelet, I'd say go for earrings as they will always fit!
    
Can I find you at any wedding fayres this year?
I tend to do contemporary craft fairs rather than wedding fairs. All my shows should be listed on my website including The Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey in June and Goldsmiths Fair in September.

What was your best Christmas present?
Baking and cookery books - I love them! My fave this year was called Tart it Up by Eric Lanlard
(note from PH Blogmistress - I can endorse this - Victoria is a master baker!  We often have tasty treats in the Princes House kitchen!)

Where can I find out more about your business?
 My website vwjewellery.co.uk

Kinetic jewellery - Jubilee Rose with inset diamond