Inspiration IS BORN
For silversmiths Sophie Honeybourne and husband Raff, the arrival of baby Rex has proved more inspiration than disruption
Four-month old Rex has not only inspired a new range of items in his mum’s jewellery store, but also a new attitude to their work.
I suddenly find myself at the seaside, and can’t resist a walk next to the rolling waves. Like the main town, the seafront is unusual. Yes, it’s got its deckchairs and cafes but not all are typically seaside. The Met Bar, relaxed and friendly with good food, caters for year- round locals as well as welcoming visitors.
Doubling back now, pop into the new Bistro for something delicious and elegantly prepared, and feast your eyes on the wonderful art exhibition. Or if tapas is your thing, there’s nothing more authentic than Spanish food by a Spaniard at El Toro.
The town proper is as eclectic as the majority of high streets are ubiquitous. You’re hard pressed to find a chain store here
Independent ladies clothes shops, such as Luchelle, make for surprisingly affordable sources of garments you don’t see in chain stores – many of them Fairtrade – then round the corner to Honeybourne Jewellery.
Sophie Honeybourne’s work is a joy to look at. Intricate but never twee, comfortably wearable yet strikingly beautiful, her curvy flower designs work as simple stand- alone earrings or as tumbling cascading necklaces. Little notices like ‘work in progress!’ add to the sense of friendliness. No standoffishness at this high street jeweller.
I’m heading back to my car now, but am drawn in by the muted shades of the window to Inspirations, where Marianne Davies is busy cutting fabric in her soft furnishings workshop at the back. Although
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she has a library of fabrics she welcomes customers who bring in their own fabrics – “they might have found a bargain from the internet!” – which she will turn into curtains or cushions.
Just as approachable – and again, breaking the mould that such shops should be stuffy and rarefied – is Burfields. Owner Jackie is an experienced antique dealer with a passion for contemporary art, so her light and bright shop is a living demonstration that old and new not only mix but complement one another. “I choose work from Island potters and jewellers and it really lifts the darkness of the antiques,” she says, pointing to a whacky table lamp by Dennis Fairweather which perfectly complements the period sideboard it sits on. “I choose things that I really like – such as Anna Hayward’s hand-made glass jewellery, or this harbour picture by Lorna Seaward,” says Jackie. “And I’m just as fussy about my antiques. I’ll only buy pieces that are authentic as well as attractive. The customer has to have confidence that something is of the period you say it is.” Greetings cards by Island artists and even funky reading glasses are stocked, and the really clever thing is that nothing looks as if it doesn’t belong.
That could be said of Ventnor itself. There really isn’t anything that doesn’t belong. The arts embrace everything from classical music – fund raisers recently bought a Piano for Ventnor – to jazz, from comedy to poetry: a thriving Guitar Club meets each week at the Spyglass Inn. St Catherine’s church is a thriving hub of support for the community, as well as being venue for music.
Ventnor is like nowhere else.
“We’ve been making fun little micro collections alongside my signature enamels this year,” says Sophie Honeybourne. “They seem really popular and are selling well.”
Rex’s striped Babygros led his dad to create the perfect Mother’s Day gift from ‘the little pirate’ to his mum. ‘Pieces of Eight’, resembling hidden treasure with a message from child to loved one was the result.
“We’re developing a really cool collection of keepsakes, all inspired by Rex,” says Sophie, whose maternity leave away from the workroom has enabled partner Raff to explore his own ideas, while being at home has inspired Sophie. “We took our original Victorian doorplates off when we decorated and I designed new ones. We’ve collaborated with Charnwood, the Island’s enamel stove makers, who’ve made up our designs in stainless steel using vitreous enamel. Customers are loving them.”
Moving into items which have a practical application is Raff’s forte. His silver bookmarks, personalised in the cool Honeybourne style, have been in huge demand through www.
notonthehighstreet.com, their online outlet. Here can be found Sophie’s personalised keys. “They arose from my obsession with Alice in Wonderland,” she grins.
Honeybourne Jewellers is a little wonderland in itself, worth watching for the next items from their micro-collection. And Sophie will shortly be back to taking jewellery commissions, because Rex is happy to spend time in the shop. “He loves the shiny things. He’s a little magpie!”
May / June 2012 43
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