Fredericks Coffee Lounge & Bar

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Birmingham Jewellery Festival Dazzles Visitors

Over 100 designer-makers dazzled Birmingham’s visitors over the Christmas period as part of the international comtemporary jewellery festival, Brilliantly Birmingham.

133 designer-makers were profiled in the six-week event which was borne out of the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter. The festival offered visitors 35 different exhibitions and events across 20 of the city’s key venues including Mac, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and Harvey Nichols. International designer-makers from Tallinn also took part in a special exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

2010 marked a new decade for the festival and Birmingham City University graduate Li-Chu Wu was the designer-maker chosen to take it into its new era with her unique paper jewellery. Brilliantly Birmingham 2010 focused on the journey of jewellery and designer-makers through a range of exhibitions, seminars and workshops across the city.

Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Councillor Martin Mullaney said:

“Over the last decade, I’m delighted to have seen Brilliantly Birmingham grow into an internationally recognised contemporary jewellery festival, which not only celebrates Birmingham’s fantastic jewellery heritage but also showcases exhibitions from foreign designer-makers. This year’s combination of international, established and innivative rising talent has proved very popular with visitors, and has given the jewellery retailers and designers alike a real boost”.

In addition to the events across the city, the festival also saw the fifth annual FLUX. The Brilliantly Birmingham curated exhibition at the new gallery space at mac profited new and emerging designer-makers providing a platform for them to display and sell their work. The top five designer-makers were also presented with a Brilliantly Birmingham Award of Excellence to commend their strength in jewellery designer and production.

Brilliantly Birmingham profile designer-maker and FLUX exhibitor Li-Chu Wu said:

“Birmingham is renowned for its jewellery heritage, which is one of the reasons why I chose to study at the Birmingham City University School of Jewellery. The city, as a whole, offers great opportunities for designer-makers and Brilliantly Birmingham is a prime example of this.  Being chosen as the lead profile designer for such a prestigious festival has provided me with a fantastic platform for my work and through my inclusion in FLUX I’ve received a large amount of interest in my pieces. I’m incredibly proud of my jewellery and was thrilled to be presented with the Brilliantly Birmingham Award of Excellence, and I intend to continue letting paper extend its value through my work”.

This year Brilliantly Birmingham also embraced the growing social media culture by holding seminars for FLUX designers and introducing an interactive, only jewellery treasure trail around the city centre.

For more information about this year’s festival, designer-makers and venues please visit www.brilliantlybirmingham.com

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JEWELLERY QUARTER SHOPS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Despite the inclement conditions the main roads in the Quarter are well gritted and passable. The Information Centre and Jewellery Quarter Multi-Storey Car Park is also open for business along with the Quarter’s retailers, cafes and bars.

Shops will remain open right up until late afternoon Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.

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Crescent Silver

About us 

Manufacturer and supplier of bespoke awards and giftware for 25years in the Jewellery Quarter. Currently making products for the retail sales outlets at Highgrove and The Royal Collection. We make replicas for a number of major sporting events and design awards for many local companies- using the skills of the Quarter. We can put together a range of gifts or awards using a variety of materials and technologies including etching, stamping, woodturning and printing on either glass or metal.

We have made gifts for Prince Charles and candlesticks for Elton John’s wedding. Our clients include Birmingham City Council, BBC, Midlands Excellence, Sky TV, BRMB, Kerrang and car companies. 

What We Make 

From cups one metre high to thimbles, cufflinks, medals, salvers or plates in silver. Wall plaques, desk items or tableware. Gifts designed in house and made in house.

High quality at affordable prices-all budgets met-working to tight deadlines and very short lead times.

Where we are.

Email:neil@crescent-silver.co.uk 

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Christmas in the Jewellery Quarter

‘Buy Direct from the Makers!!’

The Jewellery Quarter is THE place to shop at Christmas with over 100 specialist jewellery retailers to choose from – buying direct from the Makers can save you £££s!

On Saturday December 11th the Quarter has its own special shopping day with a free vintage bus service running from the German Market (Waterloo St) and lots of events being held around the Quarter with open workshops and a rare oppoprtunity to peak behind the scenes of some of the Quarter’s contemporary designer makers, as part of the Brilliantly Birmingham Initiative (for more details on Brilliantly Birmingham go to www.brilliantlybirmingham.com and on the Shopping Day please click here to view the leaflet.

However, whenever you visit the Quarter, you can be sure of a more relaxed shopping experience, set in one of Birmingham’s most historic Conservation Areas with the award winning Museums of the Jewellery Quarter and Pen Museum (both free admission), its beautiful Georgian Square and Church of St Pauls and Art Galleries such as the historic Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.  

With so much to see and do, you’ll need to put your feet up and relax in one of the Quarter’s eclectic mix of bars and restaurants, many set in historic buildings. If it’s an evening bite to eat, you can also enjoy the Quarter’s unique Jewellery themed Christmas lights.  

For listings of some of the major jewellery retailers, restaurants and bars go to the shopping directory.

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‘RESIDENTS ALREADY HAVE A SPRING IN THEIR STEP’

Led by Phil Davis, the Chair of the JQ Neighbourhood Forum, local residents planted hundreds of crocus bulbs in Summer Row. Apres kindly provided the refreshments and their parent company ‘Town and Country Inns’ provided the funding for both the bulbs and some adjacent tree lighting which hopefully will complement their prestige development.

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BRILLIANTLY BIRMINGHAM IS BACK

Birmingham’s international jewellery festival returns this month to start a new decade of activitty profiling the city’s innovative and unique jewellery-making. To mark the start of the festival’s new vision, Birmingham City University graduate Li-Chu Wu has been chosen as this year’s profile designer-maker with her skilled paper jewellery.

Brilliantly Birmingham was born out of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, which employs around 400 people and is home to more than 80 contemporary designer-makers; in addition to hundreds of historic firms. Now an international contemporary festival, Brilliantly Birmingham returns on 27th November for its eleventh year to celebrate the city’s rich heritage and renowned reputation for jewellery design and production. Running until 9th January 2011, the festival will see an array of jewellery talent exhibited across the city including the newly reopened mac at Cannon Hill Park and venues in the Jewellery Quarter.

Growing from an informal group of local designer-makers to a prestigious festival regularly attracting esteemed international designers, this year’s event focuses on the journey of designer-makers and the festival audience. Through a range of exhibitions, seminars and workshops, audiences will be taken on a journey of jewellery-making, from initial concept to finished product.

Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Councillor Martin Mullaney said: “Brilliantly Birmingham is renowned for showcasing some of the region’s best creative talent and we are delighted to be supporting new and established contemporary jewellery designers. The city has a rich history of jewellery design and production, particularly in the Jewellery Quarter, where we also have the award-winning Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.

Last year, Brilliantly Birmingham saw over 130,000 visitors and helped profile 170 designer makers across 15 of the City’s key venues. Moving into it’s eleventh year, we are proud to be supporting the event as it is testament to the heritage and innovation that lies at the fingertips of the city’s talented designers and producers.”

This year’s chosen profile designer is Birmingham City University Graduate Li-Chu Wu, who impressed judges with the subtle movement and tactile qualities of her paper jewellery. Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Li-Chu’s work was chosen from seven candidates to front the campaign for Brilliantly Birmingham 2010. Using a mix of metalsmithing techniques and new technologies, Li-Chu’s designs consist of a series of paper, one-off, wearable pieces and body adornments.

Graduate designer-maker Li-Chu Wu said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the profile designer and have my work shown in such an impressive arena. I chose paper as my main material because I believe it not only shows the value of the material itself but also recreates the link between the material and its original source in the natural environment. I intend to continue letting paper extend its value through my work.”

In addition to the events taking place across the city centre and Jewellery Quarter, Brilliantly Birmingham will also see the fifth annual FLUX. The exhibition of new and emerging designer-makers will be situated at the new gallery space at mac throughout the festival, providing a platform for new designers to display and sell their work.

As part of this year’s festival, Brilliantly Birmingham has created a Treasure Trail around the city showcasing innovative pieces of work from emerging designer-makers.

The Treasure Trail will see designer’s work displayed in key locations through Birmingham including Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, School of Jewellery and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Their work will also be exhibited at some of the city’s top stores including Harvey Nichols and Azendi at Pavillions.

The exhibition launches on Monday 22nd November with an online Foursquare competition which offers a unique piece of paper jewellery from this year’s profile designer-maker Li-Chu Wu to the winner. Letters will be displayed at each of the locations and the first person to visit each venue and send the complete word to Brilliantly Birmingham will walk away with the one-off creation.

To find out more about the Treasure Trail and the Foursquare launch along with information about the festival, venues and participating designer-makers please visit www.brilliantlybirmingham.com

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Design Centre Jewellery

Design Centre established in 1977 is an independant family jewellery business, based in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter Birmingham, with over 30 years experience. 

We are renowned for excellent service, after sales, finest quality and exceptional prices. 

We are sole agents in the quarter for prestigious brands like Gucci, DKNY, Versace, Rado, Raymond Weil, Emporio Armani, Mont Blanc, Armani Exchange, Chamilia, Eve Beers, Christopher Wharton and Elite Collections. 

Having a wide selection of watches for everyone and superb range of engagement,traditional rings, necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelet, chains and ideal gifts. Our unique collections include Platinum, Palladium, White & Yellow gold, silver and gold encrusted with coloured stones and diamonds. 

Design Centre team are always happy to help you with any of your questions and queries. We work with you on your personal needs from Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Mothers Day & Fathers Day, Christmas and Christening. Jewellery reflects your personal style which adds to your magical moment. 

Our team has vast experience and are happy to help you with all your special occasions. 

Design Centre Team 

Our Customers Our Value 

Opening Hours:-Mon – Fri 10.00am to 4.30pm,  Sat 9.30am to 4.30pm and Sun Opening from Oct – Dec 11am to 2.00pm 

Email: designcentrejewellery.com

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Jewellery Quarter Launches Prestigious Top Model Competition with Sunday Mercury

Celebrating the Quarter’s reputation as the place for leading edge design and style, the Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative and Sunday Mercury are searching for somebody with that ‘wow’ factor to become the Sunday Mercury’s Top Model in both male and female categories.

For more details on the competition visit the Sunday Mercury website and for more details on the fabulous prize click here

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ICONS WITH ATTITUDE

 VIP Launch Invititaion

Collectors of Paul’s work include:  

• Banksy
• Jonathan Ross
• Tommy Lee
• Lisa Marie Presley
• Seal
• Mercades Benz and more

Including Marvel comics lincnsed  artwork  

Come and enjoy a glass of wine at the largest ever private viewing of Paul’s works with the opportunity to secure your very own private commission.  

To attend please RSVP  to info@stpaulsgallery.com  

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