Rye – July – What’s On?
It may not feel like summer, with this less than idyllic warm weather, but I’m still very much enjoying the long light evenings. Time is being spent working in my studio, or spending time outdoors, nurturing my greatest source of creative inspiration, nature. Nothing beats a walk along Camber Beach to help reinvigorate my senses, restoring a sense of calm and flow when I need to hit the reset button.
I’ve been playing with new materials and styles as the brand evolves, including the use of some pretty little Keshi Pearl drops to make some lovely drop earrings, totally handmade from start to finish, and a step outside of my regular style which has felt very refreshing.
Great Dixter Plant Sale
Image courtesy of www.greatdixter.co.uk
The colours of the summer have been a joy to explore this season, especially following the completion of my gemmology course exam, seeing the beauty of gems reflected in the flowers that bloom this time of year.
I have plans to visit Great Dixter, as I hear their plant sale this month is wonderful, and in such a beautiful setting, too! The shapes and colours of flowers in bloom, as well as learning about the alchemy of growing plants never ceases to amaze me.
The latest at the RCC
I’m still working away in the studio, preparing for September’s Open Studio and Autumn Show events at the Rye Creative Centre, which will mark the next collection of Heather Rajaratnam Jewellery.
Stone setting is a new skill I’ve learned recently, and I’m so excited to show you the pieces in this new collection. Make sure you follow me at @heatherrajaratnam_jewellery to see more behind the scenes content as the next collection takes form and I work towards these events. I really hope to see you there, you’ll find me in studio 102.
If you can’t wait for the next collection, of course you can shop the current Potentia and Tutela collections online here.
Creating with Clay
My studio neighbour and friend, Stephanie Rubin is hosting Clay Portrait & Figure Modelling Workshops in June, teaching you to create your own model figure or portrait from clay. Steph is such a wonderful teacher, she’s highly skilled and passionate about her craft, and it’s sure to be a brilliant workshop where you’ll learn something new, all with an element of play to help strengthen and stretch those creative muscles.
She’s also holding a Charcoal to Clay Workshop, which will start with a series of quick charcoal drawings, before then moving onto a longer session modelling using clay. A perfect Artist’s date to help shift your perspective, exploring line and form in both 2 and 3 dimensions. I’m really hoping to make it to this one, myself!
I’ll be back next month for another instalment of this blog, but in the meantime, please make sure you’re signed up to my newsletter here, and follow me on social media here.