Wearing the Seasons with Alice Stewart Jewellery (Ad)
This is a paid collaboration with Alice Stewart Jewellery. All images, words and thoughts are my own.
For me, the first signs of Spring that I notice are leaves reappearing on trees and buds slowly unfurling as flowers and blossom spring to life. I live in a valley in the Pennines, surrounded by hills and often shrouded in cloud - Spring can be late showing itself around here. I sit scrolling on Instagram, envious of places down south or even neighbouring Manchester, covered in blossom and greenery while I’m still protecting my plants from the frost. But there are other ways to welcome in Spring.
I love the idea of wearing jewellery inspired by the seasons, as a way of connecting with the natural world. Rather than wearing the same pieces all year round, having a small collection of treasured jewellery that links in with the current seasons. Alice Stewart designs and creates beautifully delicate jewellery for nature lovers, capturing the subtle qualities of the natural world on a miniature scale. Alice kindly sent me a Hawthorn Blossom ring and necklace from her Flora & Fauna collection to photograph among the first signs of Spring in my garden.
The Hawthorn ring and necklace (photographed in silver but also available in gold) tie in perfectly with the arrival of Spring and the joy of discovering the first blossom. At this time of year, my daily walks focus around seeking out the blossom, returning to the trees that I know will flower every couple of days to check on their buds. The blackthorn in the woodland beside my house is usually the first to erupt in blossom with it’s delicate white flowers seemingly appearing overnight. I then keep my eye out for early cherry, apple blossom, Asian pear and gorse. The soft pink cherry blossom then erupts late April, providing the most iconic display. Lastly, the hawthorn blooms in May with it’s dainty white petals transforming my local woodland.
Keeping my jewellery tied in with the seasons fits in perfectly with my love of seasonal living. I try to make the most out of each season, relishing its highs rather than festering in its lows. During Winter, my least favourite season, this meant embracing the snow-covered landscape that surrounded me and enjoying the small offerings of flowers and berries that the season brings. Spring is the lead-up to my favourite time of year (Midsummer) and always fills me with a warm, happy glow. I love nothing better than to wander down country lanes noticing all the trees, blossom and flowers that have sprung to life. Summer is always a blur of spending as much time outdoors as possible, swimming in ponds, picking wildflowers and lying in tall grass. Then Autumn arrives with a roar of fiery leaves to soothe the pain of the warm, flower-filled months passing by. I love that there is a piece in Alice’s collection for every season - from the hawthorn, forget-me-nots and wild flowers of Spring and Summer, to the acorn cups, sycamore spinning jenny’s and birch twigs of Autumn and Winter.
I may have to wait a few more weeks for my valley to burst into bloom, but I’m wearing my Hawthorn jewellery now, in anticipation of what is to come. Alice’s handcrafted designs are delicate and understated, hinting to the seasons and referencing nature in a subtle way. The Hawthorn ring shows three flowers in different stages of blossom, inspired by the wild and untamed hawthorn that covers the British countryside in Spring. The matching necklace has one flower in full blossom sitting pretty on a delicate chain. Wearing these pieces reminds me that although Spring is only just showing its first tentative glimpses here, a riot of blossom, colour and life is on its way.
Sustainability note:
Alice Stewart jewellery is handcrafted in the U.K from ethically-sourced, high quality materials that are designed to stand the test of time. Orders are packaged in eco-friendly, recyclable packaging. For each purchase, Alice makes a charitable donation to Trees for Life, to help restore the Caledonian forest in the Scottish Highlands - home to several rare and endangered species.
