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Discover the magical Pendle Heritage Centre

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The Pendle Heritage centre, some history about it, and why you need to come and visit it…

With my upcoming elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition at the Pendle Heritage centre this Halloween, I thought I’d share with you some info about this fascinating place and maybe entice you to visit me whilst I’m there.

But not to worry if you can’t pop by at the end of October, it’s such a lovely heritage centre with its unique history and character to visit at any time of year, as there’s a small selection of my elfin alchemy jewellery – symbolic wearable art made with wire, crystals, and glass – on display in the gift shop.

The Pendle Heritage centre incorporates a museum, walled garden, medieval cruck barn, gift shop, and café. The locally made arts and crafts in the gift shop, garden plants, and café help support the Heritage centre, so if you buy something here it’s a win-win, as you get something beautiful or something tasty to eat whilst supporting a good cause.

Inside the walled garden

Pendle Heritage Centre was originally an old small medieval farmstead, called ‘Park Hill’ and is one of the oldest buildings in the area. In the mid-1970s the farmstead was saved from demolition and rescued by a conservation group led by Mr. John Miller, they set up a building preservation trust, now the heritage trust for the North West, and created the Pendle Heritage centre in 1977.

The aims of the Heritage Trust, a registered charity, are to restore and find appropriate new uses for buildings at risk in the North West.  Quoting the trust website: “What is a heritage centre? A heritage centre presents historical and cultural information about a place and its people in a ‘hands-on’ informal way. Pendle Heritage Centre looks at the life, history, and heritage of the places around Pendle Hill.”

Inside the museum – showing the structure of the building

In the Heritage Centre Museum you can learn all sorts:

  • See and learn how the 15th Century timber framed farmhouse was built and added to over the years to make it the building we see today
  • See the kitchen in-situ
  • Discover more about the families who lived in the farmhouse and the history of the surrounding area and look at some historical maps and documents
  • See some of the carved stonework from the local abbeys
  • Learn about the Pendle witches and their trial

It’s well worth taking some time to look around, read the info, and learn about these interesting times in our history, a world away from us today in the modern age. 

Inside the museum – an ancient document on display

I hope these snippets about it, have intrigued you to learn more and come along for a visit. If you need more visitor info, take a look at the Pendle Heritage Centre website: www.pendleheritage.co.uk

A few comments by visitors to the museum:

“Good historical and varied information” a visitor from Fife, Scotland
“Very glad we came here” a visitor from Staffordshire
“Excellently explained, loved the story about the witches, sad tale” a visitor from Blackpool

In my next post, I share a bit more about the Pendle witches display at the Pendle Heritage centre and this turbulent time in our past.

It’ll be lovely to see you if you call by to see me and my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition this Halloween. I’ll have a magical collection of work on display, from symbolic sculptural wirework jewellery designs to colourful sparkly unique fused glasswork.

Thanks for joining me on my magical creative journey, and reading my blog post about this enchanting place. Wishing you sparkles of light. Sam Rowena, elfin alchemy, Lancashire jewellery artist

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How my elfin alchemy flower design links to witchcraft

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I was stunned to discover all the symbolism and history of the 6-petal flower design!
In 2006 when I came across a flower bracelet design in a jewellery making book I was just drawn to its shape, little realising then of the journey it would take me on creating my own version of it or the voyage of discovery that would unfold as I learn more about its ancient history and meaning.

If you are interested in reading about how I created my unique elfin alchemy wirework flower jewellery design, and the unique journey I went on, you can read all about it in my last blog post.

In this blog post, I’m sharing with you how my flower earring design links to witchcraft in medieval times.

My life is full of coincidences… how did I first come across this? I’m not quite sure, but I think I just stumbled across a picture of the 6-petal flower symbol online and saw that it was the same as my flower jewellery design, varying slightly as it is inside a circle.

The 6-petal flower is better known as a rosette, hexafoil, or daisy-wheel symbol and has been discovered in medieval and renaissance buildings; homes, churches, and agricultural barns.

Why?

It was believed the flower rosette symbol was magical and would help protect the dwelling and its inhabitants from witchcraft and evil. The use of this symbol mostly dates to a time in our past – medieval times, from after the reformation in 1517 – when there was widespread belief in witchcraft, superstition, and the supernatural.

The 6-petal flower rosette, a magical symbol of protection was commonly used across Britain and Europe until the end of the 19th Century, and in some rural areas – in places such as Poland – was in use up until the 1950s.

Other names for it are witch mark, ritual protection mark, or apotropaic mark. ‘Apotropaic’ comes from the Greek word for averting evil and the marks were often etched into stone, plaster, or woodwork near a building’s entrance point, especially doorways, windows, and fireplaces to ward off evil from entering and protect the inhabitants from witches and evil spirits.

The most common apotropaic mark is the six-petal flower design drawn with a compass. Sometimes the circles and lines extend outside the circular flower design, with the belief that using endless lines, would confuse and entrap the evil spirits.

Photo: from Historic England, daisy wheel scribed onto a wooden beam in a house in Oxfordshire, by Tom Irvings

In medieval times, it was believed that evil spirits were at work all around us, and many different signs, symbols, and charms were used for protection and good luck, such as putting shoes in the chimney or a horseshoe above the entrance door.  

Apotropaic marks are a popular topic around Halloween with many articles about them and from what I’ve read, the 6-petal flower also seems to have been used as a decorative folk-art motif representing good luck (besides its protection from witchcraft) to adorn all sorts of items, from ceiling beams, doors, crosses, cornices, coats of arms, furniture, musical instruments, to ritual items, graves, and even ships.
A few of the countries where they’ve been discovered and mentioned online: are Portugal, Yugoslavia, Austria, Poland, Russia, the Carpathians, as well as European settlers that went to the USA, Australia, and other countries.

I still have so many questions

Why use this particular 6-petal flower symbol?
Where and how did it begin?

As the path unfurls I am constantly coming across and being given more breadcrumbs of info to follow and really feel I was meant to create this magical rosette flower symbol.

the 6-petal flower design

If you’re interested in reading about how I came to be on this enchanting journey of creating my own elfin alchemy wirework 6-petal flower design, read my last blog post which I’m sharing with you it’s unique story.

Head over to my elfin alchemy website to see my colourful flower earring collection. I make them in other colours too, get in touch with me if you’d like them in a different colour, as I can create them in around 20 different colours.

In future blog posts (next year) I’ll be sharing some further history of this flower design, as I’ve discovered its history goes further back in time to the Romans, Greeks, and Sumerians, and I’ll be writing more about other ancient symbols and artworks that I’m drawn towards. 

My next blog posts are also about witchcraft – the Pendle Witches – and our Lancashire history on display at the Pendle Heritage Centre. This coming Halloween I’m going to be returning there with my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition, instead of being in the small barn, I’ll be inside the Heritage Centre in the room next to the gift shop.

There is magic all around us…

Thanks for joining me on my magical creative journey, and reading my blog post about this fascinating flower symbol. Wishing you sparkles of light. Sam Rowena, elfin alchemy, Lancashire jewellery artist

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My elfin alchemy flower design story

I didn’t have an inkling when I started on my creative journey with this flower design about its symbolism or history and was quite amazed when I discovered its link to witchcraft in medieval times.

Anyway, I’ll share with you first in this blog post how my flower journey began.

In 2006 whilst studying silversmithing part-time at college I came across the picture of the 6-petal wirework flower in a bracelet design whilst looking through an American jewellery book.

I’m not sure why I was drawn to this particular flower shape, perhaps it was due to its simple symmetry. 

my flower design inspiration for my jig wire work project whilst studying at college in 2006
My flower design inspiration

Or maybe there was something drawing me on this path?

The story would have ended there though, had it not been for my neighbouring student, Alan a retired engineer, who said I could make a jig to create a similar flower pattern, and that he’d help me.

I’d discovered a jig pegboard in the classroom cupboard and had been teaching myself how to use it, as whenever I was stuck and waiting for some teacher guidance with my silversmithing I’d spend the time experimenting with wire and developing my skills. This basic plastic jig had holes in it to create repeat patterns using wire, but the holes weren’t in the right places to make the flower pattern.

The next time I saw him, Alan had brought me a piece of wood and some nails and with his help, I used a compass to draw a small circle in the wood, mark out 6 points, and hammer nails into them, before sawing off the top of the nails and filing them flat.  This first attempt didn’t work properly, as the nails were too thin, so I did it all again with thicker nails, and thankfully this time I was able to create a decent flower pattern with my homemade wooden jig.

I adapted the shape of the flower from the original one in the book that had been my inspiration, to make all the petals as similar as possible, and turned my flowers into jewellery for one of the silversmithing course projects.

the 6-petal flower design I created for my jewellery making college project in 2006
my flower jewellery design for the college project

The flower design journey doesn’t quite end there… as whilst developing my jewellery-making skills, knowledge, and qualifications for 5 years of silversmithing part-time at college, I was also studying to be a teacher. Quite by surprise, 2 years into my teaching journey I was given the opportunity to teach my hobby of jewellery making, fast forward a few years, and whilst teaching jig designs at an intermediate wire skills class, one of my students added the middle section to the flower but didn’t know how she’d done it. So, I taught myself and then the class this new variation.

This is the flower design I still create today, with its central wrap, as it helps to keep the wire shape more secure when worn as a piece of jewellery.  I make them in healing copper wire in a range of bewitching beautiful colours, from golden yellow to pretty pink and purple shades, combined with sterling silver ear hooks. Take a look at my current collection of elfin alchemy flower earrings.

creating my elfin alchemy flower design using my homemade jig and wire
creating my elfin alchemy flower design using my homemade jig

They’re quite special don’t you agree?

I kind of feel I was meant to create this 6-petal flower design and learn more about its history and magical symbolism, which I’ll share with you in my next blog post.

There is magic all around us…

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey, wishing you sparkles of light. Sam Rowena, elfin alchemy, Lancashire jewellery artist 

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musings about the elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition in October 2021

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The Pendle Heritage centre is such a fantastic place to spend some time, and be enveloped in all its magic and mysteries… The ancient stone barn is set in a beautiful location, nestled next to Heritage centre, across the cobbles from it and the parkland in Barrowford, surrounded by picturesque Lancashire countryside in the borough of Pendle witch country.

I felt very lucky to finally be able to hold my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition at the Pendle Heritage centre during the October half-term and Halloween in 2021. It’d been a longer wait than planned… as I’d originally booked it for October 2020, back in 2019, but due to Covid and lockdowns it was postponed to the following June. (you can read more about it in my last blog posts). 

pendleheritagecentre2022f

Guest artists

It had been my wish to share the space at my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition with guest artists, and be able to give them the opportunity to display their work and meet a different audience. But, I was glad I’d decided to wait and see how my first pop-up exhibition in June went, as it gave me the chance to figure out if I could fit an artist in the space downstairs. I knew there’d be room for at least 2 artists upstairs (as Covid was still around I limited it to just the 1 artist upstairs).

After organising some studio group events a few years ago, I was aware of the work involved, so to make it easier for myself I was just inviting guest artists I already knew. Covid made it more difficult, as some of the artists I asked, weren’t able to do events because they or close family members were in the ‘at-risk category’, thankfully 2 artists were able to join me for the Halloween weekend.

“My pop-up exhibition theme with it being held at the Pendle Heritage centre was alchemy and anything related to myths, magic, woodland creatures, nature and fairy tales.”

pendleheritagecentre2022e

Potter Barbara from Barbara Lea Pottery was downstairs with her magical ceramic fairy mushroom houses and textile artist Josephine from Phinefibre was upstairs with her colourful abstract fibre jewellery, cards, art and drum sticks.

It was lovely to be joined by these talented makers in the barn, but I felt under added pressure, as I really wanted the weekend be worthwhile for them…

Phew, I felt so relieved that we were quite busy with visitors all weekend!

To fit in my guest artists, the downstairs room needed rearranging. Normally I was sat making next to my main display, blocking the stairs. I moved my small making / packing table away from my display next to the entrance, but this didn’t work out as well for me as I wasn’t sat next to my display and couldn’t  chat with visitors when they’re looking at my displays and able give them more info about my pieces.

pendleheritagecentre2022h

The barn is what you’d call quirky, the downstairs room is kind of an awkward shape that doesn’t really lend itself for fitting in 6ft tables, although a table fits into the back of the room, I used this as an info and leaflet table, and moved them when my guest artist Barbara was in that space.

There needs to be a display table in the alcove next to the stairs, so people can see it when they are walking past the entrance and going into the Heritage centre. But, if you sit one side of the display table you’re blocking the stairs, and if you sit the other side of it, you’re blocking the way, with the room being at its narrowest there (it would originally have been 2 rooms). Next time I’m going to try moving my display table sideways and see if I can squeeze into the alcove with it and hopefully that’ll work better.

Apart from these niggles, it’s an amazing space with lovely energy, there’s big windows in the entrance section that let in lots of light, which is the other reason I was sat blocking the stairs, as it’s got the best light for making, allowing visitors to watch me working and chat with me about my creations.

pendleheritagecentre2022d

Upstairs, is even lovelier, with a great view of the Heritage centre, cobbled courtyard area and parkland beyond and sense of space with its high ceiling.  

If all goes well, I hope to return for another elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition there in October 2022, with guest artists joining me at both weekends and short 20-minute recycled jewellery making tasters on the Monday-Wednesday of the half-term week.

In my next blog post, you can read about my fascinating flower design journey of discovery.

There is magic all around us…

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey, wishing you sparkles of light. Sam Rowena, elfin alchemy, Lancashire jewellery artist 

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elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition October 2021

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The Pendle Heritage Centre is such a magical place for my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition, I’m so looking forward to being there this October half-term. Its the perfect venue to visit for a day out, especially if its raining, you can spend some time learning about local history and the Pendle witches in the museum, find something lovely in the gift shop, have a coffee or eat lunch in the cafe overlooking the walled garden, then come by and visit me in the barn:
Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st October 2021, 11-4pm

pendleheritagecentre

Originally, I’d booked the barn in 2019 for the October half-term in 2020, but because of Covid it was postponed twice, thankfully it was able to go ahead in June 2021.

It was really lovely to be back doing an event after such a long time… sharing what I make with others really helped boost my self-confidence, and when some days were quieter I was happy to just be there in this beautiful place and sat making  jewellery.

elfinalchemypopupexhibition21c

Many of the visitors that popped in to take a look loved my creations, treated themselves or got presents for loved ones. Wow, some of my glass pendants were even heading to Australia!

I’ve shared a bit of my background story about my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition at the Pendle Heritage Centre in my last blog post I wrote in the Spring.

Actually, there’s a number of reasons behind me being there…

It all began with me visiting the Pendle Heritage Centre in October 2019 with some extra jewellery pieces for my display in the gift shop in time for the Christmas shopping season and I saw that an artist was exhibiting his work in the barn. I thought I could do that, why don’t I do it and see how it goes? Whilst I was there, I mentioned that I’d be interested in doing it, and then ended up booking it for the following October…

elfinalchemypopupexhibition21

Really what prompted me to go for it, was the lack of good art and craft events in Lancashire, they are like gold dust and then there’s the problem of being accepted for a stall, as there’s an over-abundance of jewellery and glass makers.

Although 2019 had been quite a good year for me, I’d been teaching back down in London, and at a few 1-1 bespoke workshops, plus I’d taken part in some good events over the Spring and Summer. Then in the Autumn, when my applications for a number of events hadn’t been successful, it knocked my self-confidence and belief in what I make. Lots of things were going on in my head, I wondered if I should continue on my creative journey when the path seemed so difficult.

“I decided not to ‘give up’ as I felt that sure that other opportunities would appear!”

I decided to try and see it as a positive, maybe this rejection of my work and not getting into these events was actually helping me move in the direction I was supposed to go.  It gave me the push that I needed, to go outside of my comfort zone. and it spurred me on to book my first pop-up exhibition at the Pendle Heritage Centre. It also pushed me to try other things too… as it was around this time that I first heard about Barrica in the Park and emailed them about getting involved. 

My other reason behind me wanting to do my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition is related to my health.

Doing events on my own is quite physically demanding and as I get older, I don’t have the same amount of energy that I used to have. The early start, the drive, moving boxes, setting up and taking down the display and the long day, means I’m totally shattered afterwards… and that’s only a small part of the work, there’s all the preparation that goes into it beforehand. 

“In my head I believe I’m still young, but my body tells me otherwise”

I do enjoy the buzz of doing events, meeting and chatting with people about my makes, getting feedback on new work, finding customers that love and want to wear my creations, as well as the social side of getting the opportunity to catch up with other makers. But I’m having to be realistic and going forward, needing to be more selective of the events I choose to do and not do as many.

The beauty of my pop-up exhibitions, is that I only need to set up my displays once and then they’re up for the duration of my exhibition.  Although it initially involves a lot of extra preparation creating new displays, once they’re made, they can be used again at my next pop-up exhibitions.

Another positive is having the exhibition space to create displays so that I can share the story behind some of my makes, you can learn about how my daisy flower design is linked to witchcraft and how my fascination with the ancient spiral design led me on an amazing journey.

elfinalchemypopupexhibition21d

 

“What’s best is I can make the most of being in a beautiful barn, where I’m able to sit making and chatting to visitors about my work and its inspiration, any sales are an added bonus!”   

Knowing how difficult it is to find good events, I also want to give a couple of local artists and makers that I’ve met at events (whose work is also related to witches, fairies, woodland creatures or spirituality), the opportunity to join me as a guest artist for 2 days at my pop-up exhibition. Sadly due to the ongoing Corona virus situation, a few of the artists and makers I invited, said they would have loved to be guest artists, but were unable to join me this time due to them – or close family – being in the ‘at risk group’, and are hoping to be able to come next year. 

I’m really happy to share that over the Halloween weekend – 30th and 31st October 2021 – I’m being joined by 2 local artists. Upstairs in the barn is a textile artist Phinefibre who creates magical felt work and downstairs with me is a ceramic artist Barbara Lee Pottery who creates the most enchanting fairy houses. 

For more info about the venue, visit the Pendle Heritage Centre website

“I hope you’ll get chance to come and visit my elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition in the barn at the Pendle Heritage Centre!”

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey, wishing you sparkles of light. Sam Rowena, elfin alchemy, Lancashire jewellery artist 

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high ups and low downs of 2020 – PENDLE HERITAGE CENTRE

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One of my goals for 2020 was to display and sell my work in some new venues… 

The Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford isn’t exactly a new venue for me, as I already sell my elfin alchemy jewellery in the small gallery shop there. But when I called in with some new work in October 2019 I noticed there was an artist exhibiting his work in their neighbouring barn and thought it would be ideal for my pop-up exhibition. 

“I was so excited about doing my first elfin alchemy pop-up exhibition at the Pendle Heritage Centre.”

pendle heritage centre
the beautiful Pendle Heritage Centre

The barn exhibition space was already booked up for Winter 2019 and during the warmer summer months the whole barn space is usually booked up at weekends for weddings and events, so I booked it a year ahead for October 2020… Little realising then what was to come in 2020.

Initially, it looked like it might be possible to go ahead as after our first lockdown in Spring / early Summer 2020, the museum, gallery and cafe reopened in August. Unfortunately by October coronavirus cases were quite high and on the rise in the neighbouring areas and Lancashire went back into a quasi-lockdown around the time of my exhibition.

I moved my pop-up exhibition to Easter 2021… and as I write this blog in March 2021 we are still in lockdown here, but have been given dates for gradually easing out of it over the coming months, although not by Easter.

So I’m hoping it’ll be 3rd time lucky for my Summer exhibition! 

The new dates for my pop-up exhibition:
Friday 4th to Sunday 13th June 2021

the barn gallery space at Pendle Heritage Centre
The barn gallery space in the courtyard

I can’t wait to showcase and display my work in such beautifully atmospheric surroundings.

In my pop-up exhibition I will be sharing some of the inspiration behind my makes, how my interest in the magic of our ancient ancestors inspires some of my work, from the 6-petal flower shapes, hearts, spirals, scrolls, Celtic designs to the colours I use. 

“My designs, especially my glass work really come alive and sparkle when you can see them in real life!”

The Pendle Heritage Centre barn exhibition space is next door to its museum, small gallery shop and cafe. It’s situated in the courtyard space at the entrance to Barrowford Memorial Park and adjacent to parking with beautiful countryside and many short walks on its doorstep. Plus it’s only 5 minutes drive from the M65. 

It’ll make a perfect day out for you…

beautiful countryside near the Pendle Heritage Centre
one of my favourite walks nearby the Pendle Heritage Centre

As we move into the beauty of Spring, I’m busy experimenting, designing and creating magical jewellery pieces, which I look forward to sharing with you during 2021… wishing you sparkles of light!

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey,
Sam Rowena, elfin alchemy Lancashire jewellery artist x

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high ups and low downs of 2020 – eden tearoom and galleries

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One of my goals for 2020 was to display and sell my work in some new venues… and happily, it’s happening!

Eden Tearoom and Galleries is a lovely new gallery that opened not far from me in Newburgh at the beginning of July.

“I was over the moon to have some of my elfin alchemy pieces selected to take part in their opening exhibition!”

Each year the gallery is running different themed exhibitions, this first exhibition that runs from 11 July until Saturday 10 October 2020 is; ‘Beyond the Window, an exploration of nature after lockdown’.

Eden Tearoom and Galleries in Newburgh

Some info about the exhibition from the Eden Tearoom & Galleries website: “Beyond The Window: An Exploration of Nature After Lockdown is an exhibition which collectively explores how we view and interpret the natural world around us, from the gardens in Nancy Collantine’s Secret Garden Series to the awe-inspiring vastness of outer space in Claire Lake’s Nebula Series, this exhibition explores how artists respond to and record the changing world around us.

While we have been confined to our homes during quarantine, the natural world outside has blossomed. This exhibition explores the ever-changing beauty of nature, each artist questioning the world around us and our place in it in their own unique way. Ranging from dramatic landscape painting and delicate glasswork to the intricate textile instillation of Vanessa Lam, Beyond The Window offers a snapshot of our engagement and connection with nature.”

Visit their website www.edentearoom.com to see some images of the artists taking part and learn more about the tearoom, gallery, exhibitions, and events coming up over the next few months.

“Am so happy that my new elfin alchemy abstract glass pendants – that magically play with the luminosity of light – have gone down so well in the exhibition, getting many compliments and heading off to new homes. Its given me such a welcome boost that I’ve really needed at the moment.”

elfin alchemy bewitching beautiful shades of blue glass pendant
elfin alchemy ‘zing sparkles’ abstract glass pendant

Eden Tearooms and Galleries are also running an artisan market on the first Saturday of the month and you can find me there – my events info – with my elfin alchemy pop-up stall. Due to the Coronavirus nearly all my events this year have been cancelled, so I’m really looking forward to taking part in them and being at in person markets again. 

“If you can do come visit and support a local event and gallery exhibitions, its such a great opportunity to treat yourself or loved ones to something handmade by local artists, creatives and artisans.”

Hopefully, in a little while, it will all turn out great! 

I will be sharing more about these 2020 highs and lows in my next blog posts, come with me on my adventures…wishing you sparkles of light!

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey,
Sam Rowena, jewellery artist x

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high ups and low downs of 2020 – Barrica in the park

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One of my goals for 2020 was to display and sell my work in some new venues… and happily, it’s happening!

I first heard about ‘Barrica in the Park’ in Autumn 2019, when a friend and fellow-maker shared some information about it on social media and I got in touch hoping to be involved in it.  Thankfully after writing a few more emails, I was given the opportunity to be part of this new local endeavour.

‘Barrica in the Park’ is run and organised by Barrica Wines with 30 partners involved, mostly local artisan food and drink producers, plus a few creatives and small businesses. Jane from Barrica Wines, “…a place where established local producers can share space with smaller producers who have neither the financial nor logistical clout to open independent shops”.

It’s a collaboration of people passionate about what we do, and its great to be part of this new venture that showcases all of us under one roof.

Situated inside the beautiful 17th Century farmhouse, in the courtyard at Astley Park, Chorley you will find a unique selection of wines, beers, and spirits (many wines from smaller vineyards and local beers brewed in the North West), freshly baked bread and pastries from the local bakery, ‘All you Knead’.

Barrica in the Park

There are wonderful local artisan-crafted makes; delicious brownies, cheesecakes, chocolates, honey, jams, chutneys, cordials, beer, and gin. Head upstairs to discover local artistry and crafts; art, photography, candles, engraved glass, Japanese paper lampshades, and my elfin alchemy jewellery.

You can find 2 cabinets of my work, displaying a selection of my designs, from colourful abstract glass pendants to sculptural beaded wirework earrings, necklaces, and brooches.

We first opened to the public on the 1st of February and there was going to be a proper launch event later in the Spring, plus a food festival in the Summer and lots of other events happening in the Park. Sadly, due to the virus all this, along with our ‘meet the makers’ has currently been put on hold for a while. 

In February and March, all of the partner businesses involved were there doing monthly ‘meet the makers’, such as tasters, demos, an opportunity to chat with us about what we make/do. Now, instead of this some of us have been helping out manning the front door, greeting customers, sharing info about ‘Barrica in the Park’, or the social distancing measures that have been put in place and asking people to put on hand gel before entering. 

Hopefully, in a little while, it will all turn out great! 

I will be sharing more about these 2020 highs and lows in my next blog posts, come with me on my adventures…wishing you sparkles of light!

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey,
Sam Rowena, jewellery artist x

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high ups and low downs of 2020 – a Wintery start

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My 2020 began with a manic few months, there were some amazing ups, but also downs too!
A new year always begins with hope, dreams, and aspirations for the future and what can be achieved during the year. 

One of my goals was to sell my work in some new venues in 2020, in 2019 I got the ball rolling by booking an exhibition – a year ahead – for Autumn 2020 and also applied to be part of a new local venture on my doorstep. In January, I got some super news, happily, I’d been accepted to join ‘Barrica in the Park’ in Chorley, and would be displaying my work there from when it opened to the public on the 1st of February.

Barrica in the Park in a 17th century farmhouse
Barrica in the Park is in this  gorgeous 17th Century farmhouse

Also, more fantastic news, I learned that my Anglo-Saxon theme jewellery making Masterclasses at the British Library would be going ahead. So lots of last-minute work ordering/organising materials, booking a hotel and train tickets, and doing extra research and designs for it.  

On a downside, I came down with pretty bad food poisoning and a cold, thankfully I was well enough in time for my teaching down in London.

But more was to come, during February England was hit with some devastating storms, bringing many floods in their wake. Trains were cancelled and I got stuck in London for an extra night. I also learned that my studio-workshop had been badly flooded… once I was home and the storm and the floodwaters had subsided, I headed over there to find it was a complete mess. Argh! 

The next few weeks were quite a slog, trying to salvage what I could from the damp, cold, and foul-smelling studio. I could only cope with a being there for a few hours each day, impaired by the numbness that affects my hands – it only allows me to do short bursts of work – trying to wash and clean the smelly grime of the floodwater off the stuff in my studio. The mouldy damp conditions and breathing in the stank air of my flooded studio were making me ill, I decided it would be better to sort through my stuff at a slower pace, from the warmth and comfort of my home and that I needed to move out.   

It was then March and I was kept busy with sorting and kitting out a new cabinet and display of my work in Barrica in the Park, then our lock-down began…

I will be sharing more about these highs and lows in my next blog posts, come with me on my adventures…wishing you sparkles of light!

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey,
Sam Rowena, jewellery artist x

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high ups and low downs of 2020 – lockdown

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What a year it has been so far, with ups and downs aplenty, it’s definitely going to be a year to remember!
Hopefully, when our lives resume and go back to normal after the pandemic has gone for good, we will see the positives that have come out of this experience we are going through now.

“Our months of lockdown have given most of us the chance to reconnect with who we are and what is really important to us; our health, family, friends, a roof over our heads, and enough food on the table. Plus an opportunity to reflect on our lives, dreams and aspirations.”

Slowing down has given us time to really appreciate the simple pleasures of life, the beautiful colours and sounds all around us in nature during the changing seasons – the smell of the earth after the rain, flowers blossoming, birds singing – all continuing around us quite unaware of what is going on in our world.

a lovely rose in my garden 2020
a beautiful rose blossoming in my garden

The beauty of each day dawning afresh with new hope!
Such blissful peace and quiet we have not known before with places empty of people and their noise. All but a few essential shops closed for months, with many cafes, restaurants, museums, galleries, and other businesses still yet to open their doors again to visitors as we get used to our ‘new normal’ way of life…

But I know that not everyone’s experiences these past few months have been the same. A few of my friends have been busier than ever as essential workers or they’re juggling working from home with home-schooling their children and food shopping for parents self-isolating. There are many that will be going through suffering too, being ill with the virus or losing loved ones, and friends to it.

I am sure, we are all thankful to everyone helping to care for the sick and those who continue working for us in our essential services; hospitals, care homes, food shops, post offices, police, public transport, often putting themselves at risk.

“After going through treatment for cancer 19 years ago, I’ve learnt that we just have to take one day at a time, and appreciate that we are still here and all we are blessed with.
Worrying about things won’t help us, especially when we are going through something outside of our control, we need to try to keep a positive and thankful mindset.”

More about my highs and lows so far this year in my next blog posts, come with me on my adventures…wishing you sparkles of light!

Thanks for joining me on my creative journey,
Sam Rowena, jewellery artist x