Whenever I get asked to collaborate on something that isn't graphic design related then I always approach it in such a way that it really means something to me, that there is a part of my heart, of who I am or where I came from, in that piece of design. I don't do 'just because it looks nice'.
Sure, for my Borders & Frontiers t-shirt I could have shoved any random image on there, but I chose my Uncle Billy because that is a part of my heritage in that design and whenever I think of someone wearing that t-shirt I feel Uncle Billy's rebellious memory lives on.
When I, along with other bloggers - Jen from Gnarlitude, Cami and Nadia from Discount, and Zana from Garbage Dress - were asked to design rings for New Zealand based jewellery company Meadowlark, waaaaay back in November last year, I knew immediately what I was going to do. Close to the anniversary of the Queen Mum's death, there would be nothing more fitting than to design a ring in her honour.
As I have mentioned, when the Queen Mum was diagnosed with cancer she began gathering up crosses, crucifixes and even Bhudda's - trinkets of hope. It was her way of praying to whatever greater power there was to make her survive it - and the most incredible thing about it was that it wasn't for her benefit, it was entirely for me because she knew I'd never really cope without her in my life. Her hope was a completely selfless act.
When she died, I was so mad at those trinkets for letting her, and me, down. They meant nothing. Hope was pointless and praying was pointless because what you loved most in the world was getting taken away from you no matter what you did.
But then I began to see things differently. Those crosses and crucifixes meant so much to the Queen Mum and she wouldn't have blamed them for letting her down. Right up until the very end of her life she never gave up hope.
So, I decided to design a huge, chunky ring in the shape of a cross. Mine is neither shiny nor new looking - I chose to design mine to look beaten, worn, loved, used because having hope can make you angry, it makes you cry, it makes you frustrated and exhausted. Having hope doesn't always leave you unscathed.
It serves as a reminder to never give up hope even when the odds are stacked against you...just like the Queen Mum.
You can wear it whichever ever way up you feel is appropriate to you.
There is only 50 of each ring in this Blogger Collection. Meadowlark says of the collaboration:
In recognition of the blog phenomenon and in the spirit of collaboration, Meadowlark brings you the Blogger Collection - created by inviting their four favourite bloggers to design an exclusive jewellery piece.
Why work with bloggers?
“We decided to do it as we follow their blogs, relate to the perspective they have on fashion and culture, and because they are all really creative people. We love collaborating and thought it would be interesting working with people via email around the world to get a different perspective on jewellery.” says Claire, who alongside her husband Greg creates Meadowlark.
In a very open brief, each collaborator was asked to design their own ultimate piece of jewellery, something they always wished they could get but something that does not yet exist. The pieces were all crafted in Meadowlark’s Auckland studio, with regular progress updates to each blogger via email.
“It was really exciting to give someone else a brief and work with them to come up with something new and original”, says Greg, “It got us looking at jewellery design in a new way, working with others, getting our heads around the aesthetic and technical issues involved – it was a great challenge for all involved.”
Although there is no strict theme to this collection, the pieces - all rings in silver - do work together and are more avant-garde than generally found in a Meadowlark collection – by pushing the boundaries, they are really special and large show pieces.
The collection includes a triple spike, articulated finger armour, a memorial cross, and a primal claw.
Overall each piece presented it’s own challenges, but each resolved outcome has an edgy aesthetic balance, at once elegant and uneasy.
Each piece is in a limited edition of 50 worldwide. A numbered card will be included with every boxed piece inside a black velvet pouch
The designs will be released on 9th July.
Queen Michelle
