The Adventures of Clara Francis

Clara at The Shop Floor Project

2012-01-10T02:32:00.000-08:00

Do you know The Shop Floor Project? It's an online shop selling gorgeous things made by UK designer-makers, including Clara Francis jewellery, and it now has a bricks and mortar shop which opened in the Autumn last year. We went to visit the shop in Ulverston over the holidays, and this is what we saw:

Clara Francis jewellery

Morse code blanket by Holly Berry

Leather bag by GDH leatherwork

a chance to win a beaded fox necklace - competition ends 13th Jan

2012-01-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

Don't forget you have a chance to win a hand beaded fox necklace from Clara Francis!

Check out the competition details on Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Britain website - answers have to submitted just before midnight (11.59pm) on 13th January 2012.

Christmas sparkle

2011-12-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

A garland of butterflies, flowers and a bug

2011-12-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Clara has made this beautiful necklace of rainbow-hued butterflies, pink fan flowers and little green pansies and a bug in the centre- it reminds of summer days as we head towards deepest mid winter.

This necklace is not on our webshop - contact us at info@clarafrancis.co.uk if you would like more details

Wild Hares and Hummingbirds

2011-12-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

Next on the Book Club reading list is 'Wild Hares and Hummingbirds' by Stephen Moss - a year-long nature diary of the village of Mark in the Somerset Levels.

The book's title refers to Hummingbird Hawkmoths...but here is our vintage green hummingbird made by Clara

And our favourite gold hare

win a beaded fox necklace: Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Britain

2011-12-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Now's your chance to win a hand beaded fox necklace from Clara Francis!
We've been enjoying watching Kirstie's Handmade Britain on Channel 4 - we're going to try out some of her brilliant ideas from the 12 Crafts of Christmas programme.

Check out the competition details on her Handmade Britain website, and you could be the lucky winner of our beautiful fox...

Glass flowers at Harvard's Museum of Natural History

2011-12-15T06:10:00.000-08:00

Here at Clara Francis HQ we are surrounded by glass beads, in ever hue and shade...you could say we are a little bit obsessed with glass...
We think these glass botanical models are amazing. They were made in the Blaschka's studio near Dresden, Germany from 1887 to 1936 for Harvard's Botanical Musuem.

Daisies (pic found here)

Apricot branch (pic found here)

Iris (pic found here)

our day at the Primrose Hill Designer Fair

2011-12-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely day at the Primrose Hill Designer Fair.......We met lots of lovely customers, had very good carrot and pumpkin soup (and chocolate cake) for our lunch from the Primrose Tearooms, and had a look at the goodies from other designer-makers like Quinton & Chadwick who make cosy knitted scarves and gloves, and Vicky Thornton who makes ceramics, and cushion covers out of vintage fabrics.
If you couldn't make it to the Fair this year contact us via our website for more info on some of the special pieces that are pictured below.

Our butterflies were very popular this year - let us know if one of them fluttered under the Christmas tree for you this year.

Golden apple, gold daisy and star chain, and red beaded moth

bottom right - double unicorn with swarovski crystals

some of our earrings: snowdrops, pansies, crystal balls...

The Bow Necklace

2011-12-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a special piece of jewellery to wear to all those Christmas parties? We think our Bow necklace is just the thing.

For more details, contact Clara on info@clarafrancis.co.uk

Primrose Hill Designer Fair - Saturday December 10th

2011-12-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is where we will be on Saturday!
The Primrose Hill Designer Fair, St-Mary's church, Elsworthy Road, NW3 3DJ
10am to 6pm

Enchanted paper meadows and forests

2011-12-03T04:14:00.000-08:00

At this time of year we like to curl up with a good book - and we love this one on Paper Cutting, compiled by Laura Heyenga (preface by Rob Ryan, master papercutter). We think our jewellery would look right at home within these delicate worlds created out of paper...

Su Blackwell's Wild Flowers (2007)

Helen Musselwhite: Beauties Hedgerow (2009) and detail of Beauties Cottage (2009)

Elsa Mora's Rain Girl (2008)

New butterfly necklace

2011-11-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

Clara has made this new green butterfly necklace, displayed here with our triple butterfly necklace- it is a real statement piece, which would look great with your LBD for the fast approaching Christmas party season.

Clara's Adventures: a visit to Liberty of London

2011-11-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

An adventure to Liberty this weekend, to see their Christmas lights and our most favourite department of all: haberdashery and fabrics.

We have arrived at our destination: the iconic white and black facade, with gold lettering

Roses in November

Christmas lights

Liberty lawn fabrics

Look at those shoes! We love how these cream brogues have been customised with Liberty lawn and neon pink laces

Tord Boontje's magical Table Stories

2011-11-18T03:38:00.000-08:00

Magical stories are told on Tord Boontje's ceramics and glassware, of birds, squirrels and deer in the forest. Now that the days are darker, we love to light the house with candles. This glass candle holder throws pretty shadows across the table.

Tord Boontje's red and blue ceramics - where animals and flowers grow out of each other to create a fairy tale scene.

Autumn days

2011-11-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

In the streets and round about, the autumn leaves are thick upon the ground and the last apples are on the trees

Here at Clara Francis we have made our own autumn leaves, out of tiny glass beads, and strung them into a necklace (pictured here with a gold owl charm necklace).

Primrose Hill Designer Sale - December 10th 2011

2011-11-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

Clara will be at the Primrose Hill Designer Sale on December 10th at St Mary's Church. It's the perfect place to buy Christmas presents, or a few little treats for yourself, and relax with a cup of tea and slice of homemade cake after all that shopping.

St Mary-the-Virgin church, Elsworthy Road, NW3
Saturday 10am to 6pm
Suggested entrance donation to St Mary's £1

Clara at London Fashion Weekend - September 2011

2011-11-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hello to everyone who came to see Clara at London Fashion Weekend - next stop: Primrose Hill Designer Fair on December 10th, more details coming right up!

Beaded reindeer necklace (£140) and gold deer charm necklace (£90)

Butterfly and teacup brooches

Teacup necklace

London Fashion Weekend 2011 - 22-26 September

2011-09-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Come and find Clara at Somerset House for London Fashion Weekend where she will be selling her sparkling beaded jewels, and silver and gold-plated charm necklaces. It's also a good chance to have a look at her new designs...

...like this beautiful ginko necklace

...and this 3-leaf necklace

Or say hello to our old friends, the fox and the hummingbird

Golden Delicious

2011-05-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

I can see, through the rifts of the apple-boughs,The delicate blue of the sky,

And the changing clouds with their marvellous tints

That drift so lazily by

"Apple Blossoms,

Horatio-Alger"

It's only been a few weeks since I sat in my garden admiring the blossom on the apple trees and then all the sudden the baby apples have started growing.

I must not wish the Summer away dreaming of gathering the fruits and making pies & tarts so in the meantime I've made my own charming apple necklace...

The apple comes in sterling silver (£75) or gold plated silver (£85) plus postage and is exclusive to my blog for a limited time. For sales, please email shop@clarafrancis.co.uk

Clara heads north this weekend...

2010-11-30T13:45:00.000-08:00

Come and visit Clara @ Clothes Show Live. She will be braving the weather and heading to Birmingham at the end of this week. Clara is selling current and new pieces at highly discounted prices. She looks forward to seeing you there, Stand D8.

The Shop Floor Project: Menagerie Exhibition

2010-10-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to announce the creation of 5 brand new pieces

designed and made(all by Clara herself!!) exclusively for The Shop Floor

Project.

When Samantha and Denise Allen asked Clara if she would like to be a part

of their extraordinary new "Menagerie Exhibition" she was completely delighted

as The Shop Floor Project is without doubt Clara's absolute favourite online shop.

The exhibition itself unites artists,designers and makers who's work is all inspired

by the natural world.

It is the work of 17th century naturalist and illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian that has formed the inspiration for these new pieces.

Merian was quite a woman,she ventured

to Surinam in South America to study,sketch and paint the plant life,animals and insects

deep in the heart of the rain forest.This, at a time when women did not make such journeys.

Her work is both beautiful and completely fascinating.

There are two exciting new butterfly necklaces and three new bug brooches

prices start from £70... Do take a look and while you're there have a look at

all the other artists/designers particularly Alex Randall's amazing

Taxidermy Lighting...we want that Mallard lamp in our studio....NOW!!!!

http://www.theshopfloorproject.com/menagerieclarafrancisdetail.htm

Untill next time.............tally ho

Lets all go down the Strand again...

2010-09-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Come and see us at London Fashion Weekend from Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th September. Clara, Nicky and all the girls will be there in the Main Tent, Stand No. 1.13. We will be selling our usual stock at highly discounted prices along with one-off pieces.

www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk

We hope to see you there.

If you go down to the woods today.............

2010-09-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Every morning come rain or shine,Clara can be found on Hampstead Heath, walking her loyal and beloved dog "Daphne".......Daphne likes nothing better than to walk off the beaten track into the deep dark woods and it was here that she stumbled upon these incredible fairytale like Toadstools.Thanks to modern technology and cameras on mobile phones Clara could photograph them and use them as inspiration for one of her new pieces.With much tweaking and experimenting she has created this new toadstool necklace made entirely from her favourite red and white glass beads.

This morning Clara went back to the very same wood.This time with her two little girls and Daphne.They were all on the lookout for other inspiring things to turn to into delicate jewels .....she and the girls and Daphne found lots, but you'll have to watch this space to find out what they found..........

Clara in Wonderland...

2010-08-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

Come teatime,here at Clara Francis, we like nothing better than a proper cup of Earl Grey poured from our very proper bone china teapot....if we're being particularly indulgent we will have a slice(or two)of Victoria Sponge(with Clara's Mums heavenly, home made raspberry jam).

This tradition mixed with our obsession with all things childhood and the work of Lewis Carroll has led us to creating some brand new pieces..here's a sneak peak...

.....pink bun cake

ring and mad hatter beaded tea cup

hairband covered in Liberty fabric

Back into the garden...

2010-07-22T10:47:00.001-07:00

Due to the ever increasing popularity of our liberty fabric covered hair bands , we have decided to go back into the garden maud and add something new . . . .

Here are some of our deligthful new cuffs , each with its own unique array of delicate bead work.

for all enqueries please contact : info@clarafrancis.co.uk

Up and away in Clara's beautiful balloon

2010-06-07T05:21:00.000-07:00

Our new hot air balloon pendant comes just as we see the rise of the steam punk movement in art and design.

Taking inspiration from the world of jules verne and victorian england, this hand beaded balloon pendant sits beautifully amongst Clara's vintage and nature inspired designs.

These are now available to be ordered .

For all enquiries please contact info@clarafrancis.co.uk

London Fashion Weekend- Febuary 2010

2010-06-07T03:49:00.000-07:00

Clara wearing some of her new designs.

Here she layers a beaded hot air balloon pendant, a silver fox head pendant and the fabulous Alice in wonderland themed charm necklace.

Here we are at February's fashion weekend in the beautiful rooms of somerset house.

exhibiting Clara's wonderful jewellery designs in our very own woodland wonderland.

Come into the Garden Maud...

2009-10-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

We are still seeing the last remaining bees, butterflies and ladybirds here in our town garden and in order to have our very own Summer all year round, we have designed these exquisite hairbands, each one covered with Liberty fabric and adorned with our intricate bead work. What better way to brighten up a dull day and bring a smile to faces all around you.

Each hairband is a 'one off', a real limited edition collectors piece. Prices from £45.00 to £200.00.

For enquiries, please email shop@clarafrancis.co.uk

Let's all go down the Strand...

2009-09-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Come and visit us at London Fashion Weekend from 24th to 27th September. Our beautiful stand will be at Studio 180, 180 The Strand, WC2 (Stand No. 05-22). We will be selling all jewellery at heavily discounted prices. There will also be a mouth-watering selection of new limited edition pieces made just for the Show.

For more information and to book tickets visit London Fashion Weekend or call 0871 230 1558.

Must fly, we have a lot of beading to finish in time for next week.

Clara goes to the Victoria & Albert Museum...

2009-08-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

This intricate hand-beaded necklace is designed by Clara Francis for the Cherry on the Cake: Jewellery collection. The inspiration for this necklace design has come from a floral silk design by the Spitalfields designer Anna Maria Garthwaite(1690-1763). Exquisitely translated into beadwork Clara Francis uses peyote, tubular peyote and brick stitches, working with a drawn template to achieve the careful shading. In a satisfying link to the heritage of this piece Clara runs a stall on Spitalfields Market and can trace her own ancestry to the area.

The Cherry on the Cake: Jewellery collection celebrates the launch of the new William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery on 24 May 2008, and is devoted entirely to jewellery bringing together 19 contemporary makers, designers and artists for the collection. The aim of the V&A’s ‘Cherry on the Cake’ range is to bring together designers, ideas and products in a collection of exclusive, special limited editions which match the diversity, originality and quality of the V&A’s Collections.