The Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ) is collaborating with Manchester Jewellery Week and Manchester Craft & Design Centre to present City of Suffragettes. It is an exhibition of ACJ members' work responding to Manchester's historic and contemporary feminist voices, and I am delighted that my design has been selected. The show runs from 12 September to 24 December. This is my finished piece:
A necklace made in celebration of women using suffragette colours and a skirt silhouette. On the reverse inlaid silver dots quietly spell out Votes for Women.
I found the suffragette colours to be really inspiring. Originally I was thinking of making a non-moving brooch but cutting the shapes made me think all about the movement and sound - making noise as a way of saying we are here and we deserve to be heard - moving freely and with joy - and so I moved to making a necklace to really bring out that energy. Working with the wood and laminate I felt so privileged and honoured to be in control of my own life, to have the opportunity to create new and vibrant pieces that are unique to me and the way I see the world.
On show at Manchester Craft & Design Centre until 24 December.
