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Kate Laven

Meet Benchpeg's Contributing Writer Kate Laven. She makes up part of the team that bring the Benchpeg website, newsletter and social media feeds to our lovely readers, subscribers and followers Kate Laven Contributing Writer Kate is a journalist with over 20 years’ extensive experience and has written for an expansive range of titles including the Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, the BBC and the Daily Express as well as being a contributing writer for The Times, The Sunday Times and the Guardian. Kate brings her background in corporate communications, PR, marketing, blogging and media consultancy to Benchpeg. Kate maintains

Lichen inspired work by Kate Bajic

Jeweller Kate Bajic uses the countryside around her studio as inspiration for her contemporary jewellery pieces. Kate is particularly fascinated by the wide variation of colour, shapes, and forms found in different lichen species. Through photography and sample collection, Kate examines their minute complexity and translates aspects of this into her work. She handcrafts pieces using precious metals or mild steel, often combined with semiprecious stones. Designs evolve through experimenting with composition, playing with contrasting colours, or adding textural details. Most recently Kate has experimented with hand piercing and patenting thin steel sheet to create complex layered necklaces which are

Appointment: Kate Madelin to step down as NAJ's Director of Education

After a hugely successful tenure as Director of Education for the National Association of Jewellers, Kate Madelin will be leaving her role with the association in March. NAJ will now be looking for a replacement to continue to drive forward the association’s industry-leading agenda, working with the full membership, the leadership team and staff. Simon Johnson, NAJ Chairman said “ Since her appointment to NAG five years ago Kate has had a transformational impact on the Association. During this time, she has led a forward-thinking and committed team of employees and volunteers, to deliver innovative training for the whole sector. At

The 2017 ‘GeoGems’ Benchpeg Christmas Decoration Designed by Kate Dugmore

This Autumn Benchpeg launched a competition open to Birmingham School of Jewellery students and alumni to design our annual Christmas Tree Decoration. We had some innovative, thoughtful and creative designs submitted in response to the quite constrained brief, but the winner selected by the Benchpeg team, was designed by Kate Dugmore. The design entitled ‘GeoGems’ has the illusion of shattered facets within a diamond form, which is both contemporary and challenging. Benchpeg creates a limited edition Christmas Tree Decoration each year, and Benchpeg’s Founder Rebecca van Rooijen wanted to open up the opportunity to design the decoration this year to

Kate Dumbleton Launches 'Jewel Creatures' Collection

Kate Dumbleton has announced the launch of her new collection, ' Jewel Creatures'. A long time in development, first sketched out around 2 years ago, this collection features a range of gem set animals with a difference. The creatures featured in the new collection - Cat, Mouse, Dog, Rabbit, Bear and Fox , are depicted by only a few settings in different shapes. The initial range of rings and pendants in silver , various gemstones and c ubic z irconia , can be made to order in any colour combinations . Totally customizable, buyers can choose the colours

Benchpeg Awards Judges 2016

Benchpeg is extremely excited to reveal the Judges for the Benchpeg Awards 2016. Each Judge is an expert in their field, which range from fashion markets, art jewellery, commerciality, manufacture, the craft, image making, design, creativity and innovation. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Kate Baxter - The Cut London Kate Baxter is a jewellery designer and founder of fine jewellery blog & consultancy The Cut London. With over 10 years’ experience working within the jewellery industry; as a designer for global brands and as a freelance creative, Kate brought her unique sense of innovation and intuition to launch

Turquoise Mountain continues training in Jordan with help of UNICEF

Turquoise Mountain was founded in 2006 by HRH The Prince of Wales to revive historic areas and traditional crafts, to provide jobs, skills and a renewed sense of pride. Since 2006, Turquoise Mountain has restored over 150 historic buildings, trained over 6,000 artisans, treated almost 136,000 patients at our Kabul clinic, and supported and generated over $15.5 million in sales of traditional crafts to international clients, including Kate Spade and London’s Connaught Hotel. Turquoise Mountain has also curated major international exhibitions at museums around the world, from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington

Opsydia Collaborates with Emerald Supplier Myne London

Leading gemstone security specialist, Opsydia, has collaborated with ethical and sustainable emerald supplier, Myne London, to permanently place its brand logo beneath the surface of its traceable emerald melee supply from Pakistan. Leading gemstone security specialist, Opsydia, has collaborated with ethical and sustainable emerald supplier, Myne London, to permanently place its brand logo beneath the surface of its traceable emerald melee supply from Pakistan. The Opsydia team worked with Myne London Founders Fiona Wellington and Kate Murray Gordos, and their in-house gemmologist Charles Evans Bsc (Hons) FGA DGA, to create a procedure for placing the business’ unique ‘M’ logo beneath

School of Jewellery present Goblet to British Allied Trades Federation

The School of Jewellery and HND Course Director Dauvit Alexander were delighted to recently present the finished award-winning goblet to Kate Owen, Past President of The British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) in the School’s Vittoria Street home. The BATF launched the competition at the School to provide an opportunity for students to design to commission, thereby promoting newly qualified talent in the industry. Dating back to 1954, the BATF Presidency has been recognised by the addition of a solid silver goblet to the Federation’s silver collection. This collection was instigated to support and showcase craftsmanship and design. For the last three

Royal favourite Claudia Bradby launches new collection

Just ahead of Prince Harry's wedding to Megan Markle, jewellery designer Claudia Bradby, who is a personal friend to Britain's hottest young royals has launched a brand new collection which includes a 'mother and baby' pendant designed in collaboration with the HRH Duchess of Cambridge. For Bradby, whose ITN News anchor husband Tom scooped the official royal engagement interview with William and Kate back in 2010, 'Personalise' marks a shift in focus since this is her first customisable collection, aimed principally at gift purchasers. It comprises a series of silver and pearl charms, made from sterling silver and coated in

Crafts for the Future Conference

Crafts for the Future The Heritage Crafts Association is pleased to announce that booking for the 2018 conference, Crafts for the Future, is now open. Keynote speakers this year will be HCA Patron and ceramics producer, Emma Bridgewater and Sam Walton from Hole & Corner magazine, a bi-annual print magazine devoted to celebrating craft, beauty, passion and skill. In the afternoon session, makers from the critically endangered category of The HCA/Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts will be addressing the audience. Martin Frost, fore-edge painter Kate Hetherington, horse collar maker Wim Visscher, parchmenter JoJo Wood, apprentice clog maker and wood