Emerging Designer to watch - Steph Audino

Be dazzled by beach gems

GLIMPSES of the Maldives, Margaret River, Rottnest and Bali have been captured in Scarborough jeweller Keiko Uno’s latest collection, Ocean Intrigue.

The premier jewellery collection, which was launched last month, features 18 carat gold and platinum bespoke jewellery with fine diamonds, South Sea pearls and colourful gemstones and is currently being exhibited at Claremont’s Greenhill Galleries until Wednesday December 21.

The artist said her latest collection was perfect for WA, where a large portion of the population living on the coast engaged in activities centred around or influenced by the water.

“These pieces are sophisticated, yet express vitality and energy which is the essence of the Indian Ocean surrounding our shores,” she said. “If you love the ocean, you’ll love the exhibition as all the pieces are inspired by the sea.”

Ms Uno, a qualified gemologist who has been creating jewellery for as long as she can remember, said her love of design and fashion came from her grandmother, a major influence as she was growing up.

“My love for creating began during my junior school days when I would put together chunky bracelets, rings and pendants using all sorts of materials found around home and at Boans,” she said.

“But my passion for luxury jewels was ignited while watching my grandma get ready for important state functions.

“I used to love as she’d make the magical transition from my loving and much loved everyday grandma to this lady of distinction.”

Uno’s latest collection took years to create, with one of the pieces – Sea Breeze – taking the designer four years to put together.

“While the initial sketches for this piece were down on paper over a long weekend, it took over four years of searching to source the right material to depict the mood and feel of the ocean at the instant when the sea breeze brushes over, turning the surface from glassy to choppy,” she said.

“For this piece, and others in the ‘Ocean Horizon’ series, I collaborated with a fifth generation master stone cutter from the Idar Oberstein region in Germany who skilfully shaped then etched into large crystals of blue topaz and Bolivian amethyst that I sourced to perfectly capture the scenes of an ocean sunset, sunrise and sea breeze.”

Visit www.greehillgalleries.com or to see other works in the collection visit www.keiko-jewellery.com.

Keiko Uno

Jessica follows up on Ruby’s Campaign

IT’S not often your fictitious novel becomes reality but that’s exactly what happened to author Jessica Rudd, daughter of former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

   The 26-year-old’s first chick-lit novel Campaign Ruby, which was based around the plot of a prime minister overthrown by his female deputy, was released just as her dad’s leadership was challenged by now Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

   Her second penning, Ruby Blues, is a follow up to the first novel and finds the main character Ruby Stanhope going through the lows experienced when working with a first-term government that isn’t faring too well.

   Speaking to Jessica during her whirlwind book tour around the country, the Canberra-born, Brisbaneraised and now Beijing-based writer said she was excited to be home and was looking forward to meeting everyone on the tour.

   “I miss everything about Australia,” she said.

   “I’m really looking forward to travelling around the country and getting back to WA. It will be great having a chat and a laugh with everyone – I love what your great state has to offer.”

   Describing the character of Ruby in her second novel as a bit of a cow and a best friend in a terrible mood, Jessica said she decided to write the sequel as she knew the character had a lot more to offer readers.

   “Originally the idea of Ruby came from when I was living in London with my husband and it was in the middle of the financial crisis,” she said.

   “At the time, a lot of investment bankers were losing their jobs and one of the things I wanted to explore with Ruby was that sense of having lost your job and the depression that comes with that, and also the excitement that can come from the clean canvas.

   “I took her way out of her comfort zone when she lost her job as an investment banker in London. I put her in Australia and I put her in politics.

   “In Ruby Blues, two years on, she is struggling at work, her relationship is disintegrating, the Government is doing terribly, and she’s just finding it hard to get that sense of fun and adrenalin back into the game.

   “But even now, I don’t think Ruby is finished yet. I think she has a lot more to do with her life.”

   When asked about what her family thought of her book this time round, considering the sequence of events following Campaign Ruby, Jessica said they were extremely supportive of her writing career but her dad and husband have yet to read the book.

   “My dad hasn’t read it yet, nor has my husband and one of my brothers hasn’t read it yet,” she said.

   “But mum has and she loved it. She was really thrilled and gave me encouragement along the way but I am looking forward to seeing what dad, my husband and my brother think of it.

   “It’s always really interesting when you give your work to the people you love because they are always looking for you in your protagonist, even if subconsciously.

   “My brother said to me last time ‘I can really hear your voice in Ruby’, which kind of frustrated me to be honest because I tried really hard to create believable Brit.”

   Jessica read excerpts from her book Ruby Blues at her book launch at the Joondalup Library last week.


belindac@communitynews.com.au  

Fashionista’s tips for the new season

Fashion blogger Alyce Cowell gave out style tips at Westfield Innaloo last week.Pic by Dom Menegaldo

WESTFIELD Innaloo got a visit from Alyce Cowell, one of Australia’s savviest shoppers, as part of a series of in-centre events held around the country last week.

The 23-year-old fashionista whose job it is to shop and blog for a living hosted the events, which showcased the current spring/summer trends and answered questions about the biggest fashion challenges of the season.

The former editor of Covet Magazine and Sportsgirl stylist said the style session at Innaloo involved making over two local women, discussing key trends and investment pieces for the wardrobe.

“The style session was fantastic; we taught the ladies how to get more for their money by building key investment pieces for their summer wardrobe and how to take them each from day to night,” Alyce said.

“Our two Facebook fans who were chosen were naturals on stage as our real women models.”

With spring in full swing and summer just around corner, Alyce also talked about the trends of the season and how they could be worked into most wardrobes and suit different body types.

“Colour blocking is the biggest spring/summer trend but we’re also seeing big movements towards other trends like boho, animal print, white on white, monochrome and stripes,” she said.

“The trends for this season are great because they’re all really adaptable for different ages, shapes and lifestyles.

“It can be daunting experimenting with new trends, so my tip is to tailor it for you.

“For example, if you’re not an animal print person but would love to start wearing it, try adding an accent instead, through a heel or clutch until you’re comfortable.”

Other tips she offered shoppers was to add a bit of colour to an outfit with accessories and to buy a great pair of jeans.

“It sounds boring, but when you have the building blocks of your wardrobe sorted, you can start having fun with trend items and mixing and matching for multiple looks,” she said.

“A pair of well-cut jeans that suit your shape will never date.”