You give me that hummingbird heartbeat.

Back with a blogging vengeance, I thought I'd show you a pretty cool website which features handmade jewellery (what else were you expecting from me?!) and also unique gift ideas from different designers.  I've been loving birds this season, and with spring completely sprung my garden has seen an abundance of the little twitters.  Of course I'm not asking you to wear a real one around your neck, but you should definitely check out some jewellery, featured here.  

All the artists are singing about Hummingbirds, Katy Perry inspired this posts title and Cheryl Cole also has a track called Hummingbird on her album, so why not back the trend with some of these beauties from Rosita Bonita's boutique on Howkapow.  Before I begin, I want to share a little bit on how Rosita makes her jewellery.  Rosita Bonita is Camberwell 

College graduate, Rowenna Harrison. Her unique pieces begin as illustrations which are screen printed onto fine, coloured leathers and then carefully assembled using vintage chain.  Pretty sweet, huh?

Hair Clip; £49.00

If you've been reading my blog lately, I've gone hair mad, buying most of the Umberto Giannini 'Glam Hair' range in a bid to make my hair voluptuous.  I love hair accessories too, and this would look cute whilst pinning back a french braided fringe.  It might also make for something cute with the Chanel bun I showed you on my prom inspired post.  

Necklace; £98.00

A great statement piece to brighten up any outfit.  I like how the jewellery range is inspired by the 50s - my favourite fashion decade!  

I also noticed the Lucy Peacock range on Howkapow, especially this necklace here:

£59.00

It's quite abstract and I like it.  Another great piece to funk up an otherwise plain outfit.  The triangles made me think of Sara Bro-Jorgensen's designs.  

So what do you think? 

Check out Howkapow here.

Sara Bro-Jorgensen Interview

Many of you may have read that for a university project we had to interview a fashion designer.  Well I chose Sara Bro-Jorgensen, who was lovely in the flesh.  Check out my interview piece below, plus my work laid out for Surface magazine.

(Ignore the top-right image, it doesn't print blurry)

SCOUTS HONOUR

Vauxhall Fashion Scout ‘One’s to Watch’ winner combines a love of culture and digital print in a ‘playful’ womenswear collection. 

“It’s the only place to be in Dalston,” Sara says in her European accent, motioning around Dalston Superstore.  She’s sat at a table in this café by day, bar by night, with it’s retro 70s print wallpaper and ‘Now! That’s What I Call Music’ vinyl records hung above the bar.  The night before lingered in the atmosphere, mixing with the smell of a full English hangover cure, coffee and grease.  Sara searched through her Marc Jacobs clutch for tea money, revealing a small bag full of coins.  “It’s really expensive, funding a brand.”

Denmark-born Sara Bro-Jorgensen never knew that her career path would lead her to fashion design, let alone win one of Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s ‘One’s to Watch’ awards.  The 30-year-old designer (dressed in all black and sipping at a cup of English tea) sits reminiscing how she got to this place in her life.  “I started on a photography course in Denmark, but I ended up doing Knitwear at the Royal College of Art in London,” she laughs nervously.  Fashion seemed inevitable for Sara having sewed clothes for her sisters and herself, but photography proved too much of a passion to push aside. 

Jorgensen managed to combine both her loves using the art of trompe l’oeil.  “I find it fascinating” she says.  She becomes even more animated as she begins to talk about her inspirations for the new collection, shown in Paris.  “I was building upon on my S/S 11 collection.  I was inspired by early 20s silent movies, working in prints of tuxedo jackets onto my garments.”  One of her favourite garments from the collection is a Goth black midi dress, with a trench coat graphic printed on both sides of the piece.  It’s a daring look, something that Sara’s woman is.   “She’s someone who is playful and not afraid to wear what she wants.”

Sara is very cultured, having lived in Denmark as a child she moved to India with her parents and sisters when she was a teenager. Once she had finished her A Levels, the designer took time to travel and gain work experience from the likes of Adam Jones, Dior’s knitwear designer.  After six months in Paris she ended up in Berlin, “it’s a great place to live,” she says laughing.  Jorgensen returned to education, earning a BA in Fashion Textiles and a Masters in Knitwear.  On her recent adventure back to Paris, Sara met Emilien Bouglione, owner of Cirque d’Hiver, describing him as a “90 year old man with an amazing sense of style.”  He invited her up to his apartment, where there was champagne and laughter. 

Looking around Dalston Superstore, Sara begins talking about what London fashion is to her. “It’s a lot of things, young designers, very creative and it’s always pushing itself to the edge.  That’s what makes London so special”.  The designer expresses the importance of travelling the world and picking up inspiration from different cultures.  “I also took the American Indians’ way of decorating themselves with beads and used it in my A/W 11 collection.”

Sara is optimistic about the future, although a little nervous even so.  “I’ve started applying for funding for my line, I hope to build the business up that way.  It’s a hard industry but if you have the passion, you’ll thrive.” 

I Spy! Inspired Knitwear Desginer: Sara Bro-Jorgensen

Just a quick blog today guys as I have SO much university work to do.  

I wanted to introduce you to the designer I met today, this is also an exercise to absorb some of the information I got from today!  

She's different to any other designer I have met or love from a far, she works with knitwear.  Sara was born in Denmark and had trouble deciding between photography or fashion design as she'd always been making clothes for her sisters and herself but loved taking photographs.  In the end she did a BA in Fashion Textiles, then moved to London to do a masters in Knitwear.  This year she won Vauxhall Fashion Scouts 'Ones to watch' award and got to show her A/W 11 collection.  Here are some of her lovely designs for you all to check out.  

She keeps her love of photography within her work, using the print technique and creating Trompe L'oeil which she thinks is "fascinating".  

I like this look - cropped knit with shoulder pads, loving the 80s vibe here!

So what do you think of this designer, I personally say Yay to this.  

Yay or Nay?

Check back to my blog soon, I'll be posting the full interview profile on Sara! Also, I will be posting week three of my Neutrogena trial here tomorrow as I have so much to do tonight.