Archive for the ‘Susie’ Category

Can you believe it’s been over a month since the terrible Earthquake in Japan?  So much has happened since then and yet I am still overwhelmed by the courage and bravery shown by everyone in Japan…  Four weeks ago we made a promise to donate £5 to the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal for every item bought from our web-site in the coming month.  Well, since then we have raised a massive £2275.00 !  So I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to all the customers who’ve supported our efforts by shopping on our web-site.  This would not have been possible with out all you lovely people!

Alex has also been working on a special fundraising exhibition to help support the relief efforts in Japan.  He was asked to create something really special to be auctioned in Japan through H. P. France.  You can see the auction site here, but it’s all in Japanese so it may not make any sense to you, it doesn’t to me, but luckily I have Mayo to translate!

Made in super quick time, we managed to ship this special necklace just a few days ago, so it should be arriving in Japan any minute now…

Fritillary

Check out the amazing details and texture on the petals of the Fritillary flower.  Although you may not expect it (Alex is usually found at his bench making near invisible tiny insects or whisps of delicate feather), this piece is actually one of the largest pendants Alex has made – and we LOVE it !

All of AMHQ have been coveting this piece, so let us know what you think…

To top it all, a few weeks ago we were lucky enough to be approached by Action Against Hunger – an amazing international humanitarian organisation who are committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, Action Against Hunger saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger.  A. A. H. asked us if we would like to be involved with their charity auction and dinner held at The Boisdale of Canary Wharf, which is a super posh Whiskey, Cigar and Jazz Club, check out the pics -

What a lot of whisky!

a touch of old-school glamour

We thought our Fruit Cocktail Ring would be perfect for the event, and it certainly seemed very popular, going at auction for £500 !

Fruit Cocktail Ring

On the night,  a total of £46,000 was raised. WOW.  This money will be used to support projects in over 40 countries worldwide and also enables Action Against Hunger to respond to emergencies such as the ongoing crisis on the Ivory Coast.  I’d also like to say thanks to the team at A. A. H. UK, especially Pauline!  We’d never have been organised in time with out your help!

Phew!  It’s been a busy month, but full of loads of exciting projects – working with these amazing organisations and individuals who do so much to help other people is the most inspiring thing and we’re lucky to be able to do it

Have a super weekend eveyone!

Susie  L x

Nothing cures chilly winter depression better than a puppy… especially when its a gorgeous smokey blue Whippet puppy!  Meet Pluto, Frieda’s new baby -

Only 8 weeks old and already making friends in the studio.  We want to keep him!  Maybe he could be the inspiration for a collection of jewellery?..

Or at least a pleasant distraction?  Anyway, better stop playing with the pup and get back to work

Best,

Susie x

Hey all!  It’s been a while since I last blogged, so I thought it was about time I updated you with what’s been happening at AMHQ.

As you all know, Alex is a super keen nature lover and takes his inspiration directly from the gardens and hedgerows around the UK.  A few weeks ago, Liz Haresnape sent us this wonderful image of a tiny Goldcrest that landed in her parents garden.  Brian and Janet Haresnape found this amazing creature after it bumped its’ head on their window.  Temporarily stunned, they were able to cradle it before it flew off on it’s journey!

You can see where our Alex Monroe Goldcrest gets it’s cute rounded tummy from!

Nicky Ranger has also been in touch, to let us know about the decline of Goldcrests around the UK (down 56%).  If you’re interested in finding out more about wild birds in your area then you should definitely check out the British Trust for Ornithology.  If any of you have cute snaps of animals or insects that Alex has used as inspiration, then please send them to us.  You can e-mail them to me on info@alexmonroe.com

Oh, and I have to share these new photo’s with you – taken this morning, just because I had to!

We’ve been busy making lots of these stunning Posy Bangles, don’t they look gorgeous stacked up together?!!  It’s making me want ALL of them

Best,

Susie x

Last Friday April and I spent the day in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham.  First we visited Dave at Krypton who helps us with producing our jewellery.  Dave knows everything there is to know about jewellery so it was fantastic being able to pick his brains for a few hours.

Dave has been working with Rakhi and Alex to design our new range of 18ct Eyebright Rings… which are lush,  just check out these colours!

This is what I call a true fairytale collection!  Made in solid 18ct yellow gold, these rings make the perfect cocktail piece.  Talking of gold…

…The next stop on our grand tour of Birmingham was to see Dean & Mark.  Dean and Mark are our wonderful gold-platers!  The gorgeous ‘Alex Monroe’ 22ct colour you all know and love is down to their hard work.  Here’s our very own specially built gold-plating tank -

You can’t really tell from this picture, but the tank is actually huge – and it’s specially for us   Gold-plating is a precise science so it’s quite an honour to have a tank devoted just for your work.

My favourite member of the D&M team has to be Monty, I think he contributes a lot to company moral!… I wonder if we can have a workshop dog?!

As of this morning, Liberty’s of London have stock of our exciting new collection – previously only available online, you can now get hold of our most coveted Peas, Wateringcans and Keys.

The Gardener Collection in Liberty

Liberty’s have a great selection so get down there and check it out – you’ll be just in time for Mothers Day!  Don’t worry if you can’t make it down to Liberty’s, I will be adding new pieces from The Gardener Collection to our online range – there will be some lovely new bangles and earrings that are just perfect for Spring.

Suzy A & Manuele by our cabinet in Liberty

The lovely Manuele from Liberty’s is going to be around to help you try on as much A. M. as you want!

Thanks, Susie x

Only a few days to go until London Fashion Weekend! Control yourselves please…

This season it’s being held at Somerset House on the Strand… Perfectly grand surroundings for such amazing fashion goodies!  We’ll be bringing loads of brand new stock at a reduced price and some bargain pieces starting from just £20!!

Thursday 25th Feb 5-10pm

Friday 26th Feb 11-10pm

Saturday 27th Feb 9.30-7pm

Sunday 28th Feb 9.30-6pm

There is a small charge to enter LFW-END,  it’s so worth it tho!  Last year the girls at Alex Monroe HQ grabbed some lovely bargains.  Please check out the event web-site for all the details and some examples of what’s on offer :

http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk/

I can tell you now, that we will be bringing plenty of BEE’S!…

...A swarm of silver bee's waiting for fashion weekend

Please pop by and say hello, Suzy A and the girls will be on stand to help and advise.

See you there,

Susie x

Baby Loop with Robin and Posy

Just a quick note to let you all know about our latest web-site improvements.  We’ve just added a new collection page called *TRUNK SHOW!* As you’ve guessed, this page is dedicated to bringing our special one-off pieces to everyone!  Normally reserved for our Trunk Show events held at stockists throughout the UK and abroad, you can now purchase one-off pieces straight from our web-site.  How cool is that?!

9ct Love You Necklace

We’ve also just added our …with love collection.  This is mostly limited edition 9ct and diamond stuff – LUSH!  But i’ve also included a sneak preview of Alex’s Spring/Summer ’10 collection, soon to hit London Fashion Week.  There will be more to follow!

I would love to know what you think of the work, so keep in touch.  S x

As the final days of 2009 draw to a close, we’ve been looking back over the year at the special events and exciting projects worked on.  For me, the highlight has been contributing towards the Emeralds & Ivy Ball 2009 organized by Ronan Keating in support of Cancer Research UK.  This event raised a whopping £655,000!!!  I am proud to say that everyone at Alex Monroe helped to add £8,025 to the grand total.

This opportunity started when Alex was invited (at the last minute!) to design a necklace to match the theme of the evening, emeralds and ivy…

Alex made the necklace from 18ct yellow gold, set with Emeralds, Peridot and Tsavorites! LUSH!!

This years ball was designed around a secret garden theme – suits Alex work perfectly don’t you think?  As well as this stunning necklace we also made some pieces from our Enchanted Collection to be silently auctioned during the Ball.  One of the pieces was this lovely textured wide bark ring with a tiny Tsavorite stone, in gold-plate.  If you want to see more pieces from our Enchanted Collection then click this link.

http://www.alexmonroe.com/Shop-By-Collection-Enchanted/c49_52/index.html

wide bark ring

Denise (Alex’s other half) and I were lucky enough to go to the Ball!

Alex was away enjoying Australia, so I didn’t feel too bad taking his place!  The first act of the evening was the amazing dance troupe DIVERSITY!  I think you can just about see them dancing in this photo -

All in all it was a wonderful evening, so thank you to Cancer Research UK for lettings us get involved.  If you want to read more about the amazing work that Cancer Research UK do for people, whether it’s medical support or raising awareness, then check out http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Right at the end of the night, when no one was looking, Denise and I took our own cheeky paparazzi photos!  Denise looks wonderful, of course – but I think you can tell i’ve had a few too many glasses of champagne…

It’s about time I let you all know about our Open Studio Event.  This weekend we will be opening our workshop and studio space to the public.  There will be loads of gorgeous Alex Monroe jewellery at reduced prices!!  This is part of a larger event, where all of the studios in the yard open and sell beautiful works of art and craft.  Perfect for getting your Christmas shopping done in the idyllic setting of Iliffe Yard.

FRIDAY 4TH DEC,  6-8.30pm

SAT 5TH DEC,  11-6pm

SUN 6TH DEC,  11-5pm

Check out these links for more information on the other studios also opening this weekend -

http://www.iliffeyard.org.uk/

http://www.pullensyards.co.uk/

Our address is -

Alex Monroe

9a Iliffe Yard

London

SE17 3QA

I hope to see some of you on Friday night for drinks and nibbles… as well as lots of lovely jewellery!

Susie x

…Oh, and it’s cash or cheques only!

I know a few of you have been waiting for this for a while… So I am happy to announce that the Aubergine and other new pieces from the Gardener Collection are now available online!

Aubergine Necklace

Garden Key Necklace

Tag Necklace

I hope you like them!

Best,

Susie x