Pa-pa jewellery

Mermaids

2011-06-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Mermaids have facinated me since I was a very young child. Holidays abroad were spent in our local swimming pool all day long with my sisters, competing for who could hold their breath for the longest under water. Mastering the skill of sitting motionless on the pool floor for what seemed like ages and swimming submerged for long distances, I became convinced at an early age that I had the ability to breath underwater! I am sure that the TV programme 'The man from Atlantis' had much to do with my imaginery abilitiy.
With inspiration from fond memories and dreams of my underwater exploration I more rececently created a small collection of limited edition silver mermaid's. http://www.pa-pa.co.uk/orig.cfm
Mermaid necklace with real triplet opal set.

Mermaid cuff bracelet with labradorie stone set.

Sitting mermaid pendant in silver with round labradorite set.

Worm's Head Rhossili Gower

2011-05-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Worm's Head Gower is the most westerlly point on the Gower Peninsula. You can walk out accross to the end of the Worm on a receeding tide, incoming tide times must be checked first to avoid getting cut off by deadly currents. It is a rockpoolers heaven with some shallow and deep gullied pools to explore.
Wild rabbits and a few sheep inhabit the small island as well as many hundreds of seabirds and a colony of grey seals.
A long sandy beach stretches accross from the foot of Rhossili Downs and it's steep cliffs to Broughton. A perigrine falcon is nesting on the cliffs for the second year running and two porpoises were spotted as my husband and I walked the Cliffs one very windy evening last week.
After surfing in Rhossili Bay on tuesday last week and overwhelmed by the beauty of Rhossili's cliffs, the invigorating energy from the waves and the landscape of Worm's Head I felt I needed to share my interpretation of it all in the form of a silver ring.
Worm's Head wave ring

View more of Pa-pa's Worms Head landscape designs at http://www.pa-pa.co.uk/Rhossili.cfm

Visiting Gower wildlife in a rockpool

2011-05-04T04:09:00.000-07:00

A visit to one one my favourite Bays on Gower over the Easter break allowed me to experiment with my 'go pro' underwater camera. Usually used by our family to take fun shots of us surfing and snorkellingaround Gower the camera performed well in a flooding rockpool as the incoming tide gushed over the rocks nourishing a beautiful variety of local Gower sealife.

I came accross shore crabs, a very inquistive shrimp and sea anenome as well as a rare find - a small sea urchin. http>//www.pa-pa.co.uk/pwlldu.cfm

I hope you will agree the flow of water over this underwater landsape is beautiful.

Gower rockpool

Dolphins on Gower?

2011-04-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Our visit to the long sandy stretch of Beach at LLangennith, Gower today was full suprises. On our approach to the beach it specled with rain and we were sure our day was going to be a shortened one. As we came over the brow of the hill the clouds opened up to reveal a stunning blue skyline over the Bay. A few ft of surf satisfied a craving for a few waves and a stroll along the sand showed evidence of a 12 meter tide and many whelk shell egg cases.

I was saddened to have discovered this skelenton at the high tide mark. A small porpoise, dolphin or seal. Can anyone identify it for me? There was no skull and it was pretty much devoid of any flesh.

A lizard baked himself in the afternoon sun in the marram grass of the sand dunes.

Dolphin jewellery

2011-04-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

As the clocks went back to mark the start of British summertime a pod of bottlenose dolphns were seen off the Pembrokeshire coast at Cardigan bay. The last time we spotted dolphins was at Three Cliffs on Gower last summer on dusk. We were in a rib about half a kilometer out to sea and we were lucky enough to see a mother and tiny baby calf only for a few minutes while they came to the surface to breathe.

These handcrafted dolphin jewellery designs are inspired by a pod of dolphins, playing like children in the waves. Breaking the surface of the water their bodies glistening in the sunshine, then disappearing down into the clear waters of theWelsh coast.

Silver dolphin necklace £75.

She is 7cm long from the dolphins nose to her tail and hangs on leather

New solid silver dolphin ring £65

Dolphin jewellery collection www.pa-pa.co.uk/dolphins.cfm

I was fortunate in 2007 to swim with a wild dolphin on the West Coast of Ireland at a remote stretch of coastline. Myself and my husband were overwhelmed by the playfulness of this beautiful dolphinl. At one point the female dolphin finned down to the sand below and lifted a piece of plastic waste from the ocean floor and presented it to me one the end of her beak not more than twelve inches from my mask. With tears in my eyes I realized I had witnessed something truly ashtonishing.

Silver dolphin necklace commission a similar piece from £165

Gower tides lowest for thirty years

2011-03-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

A long walk along the beach from Mewslade, Gower accross to Fall Bay and out to Tiers piont this friday was a rockpooling paradise. The tides around the British Isles were the lowest they gave been for thirty years this weekend. The glorious sunshine on friday made for a wonderful exploration of a reefy landscape normally unexposed by higher tides. The rocks were covered with battered and broken stems of brown kelp, evident of the winter swells of recent weeks that had torn apart these seabed forests. Looking out towards Worm's Head, as the tide dropped back even further, the rocks were supprisingly flat beneath the westerly face of Tiers Point. From Tierspoint looking out to the east, the rocks are mixture of five foot deep gullie, holes and deep pools displaying beautiful and dramatic shapes that soften out into flatter ledges, amass with bladder and kelp algaes. The pools were a murky turquoise green, stunning against the dark brown and purple algae where many dog fish egg cases - 'the mermaids purses' were entangled in their stalks.

Deep limestone troughs and gullies at Tiers Point, Gower

http://www.pa-pa.co.uk/fallbay.cfm

Fall Bay reef exposed

Kelp forest at Tier's point facing East

Looking out to Worm's Head fromTier's point

Edible Red crab before we put him back in his hole.

Gower

2011-03-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

The Gower Peninsula is just a ten minute walk from my studio on the edge of the Gower peninsula, South Wales. Born and raised so close to Gowers beautiful beaches and coastal walks it features very prominently in all aspects of my work as a designer silversmith and in my spare time as a keen watersports enthusiast, nature lover and walker.
My whole family shares my passion for the sea. The whole of Gower Coast hosts a wonderful variety of wildlife, sealife and marine plants to observe and enjoy.

In 1956 Gower was named as Britain's first area of outstanding natural beauty. One of my favourite paces is Worm's Head at Rhosili. A stunning walk out to the the headland of this most westerly point takes you over barnacle encrusted rocks, grassy banks and steep rock faces To the side of the path seals can be seen enjoying the comfort of seaweed cushioned rocks below and seabirds take refuge on the steep cliffs facing north.
A translation of Rhosili into english suggests the local name of a stream flowing into the sands from Rhosili hill. Alternatively it could derive from the name Fili, a celtic saint of saint Cenydd's cottage.
Rhosili is rich with history, megalithic tombs and tales of smuggles. At the church of St. Mary the virgin stands the memorial to Edgar Evans who died with Scott in the Antarctic. The wind sept cottages of the village of Rhosili are scattered 200m feet above the dramatic cliff tops.
The vessel called the "Dollar ship" was wrecked in the bay in 1807 remembered famously for it's cargo of silver coins, some of which were uncovered by the tide and found by villagers. The coins were identified as Peruvian dollars of Phillip 4th, thought to be part of the dowry of a Princess Catherine of Braganza. Many ships sank at Rhosilli and at the other end of the bay at Broughton. In 1887 a vessel named the Helvetia, leaves it's skeleton today which is lodged and still exposed at the sands of Rhosili bay.

Silver sea anemone jewellery from U.K designer silversmith Pa-pa.

2011-03-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

SEA ANEMONE NECKLACE

To view webpage visit www.pa-pa.co.uk/ANEMONE.CFM

My husband and I walked from Mewslade valley over to Fall Bay and out to Tiers Point yesterday in the sunshine. On our way back accross the beach I took some photos of my new sea anemome collection of necklaces with a beautiful barnacle and seaweed encrusted rocks in the background. I thought I would share them with you. I have used a blood red garnet to reflect the colour of these jelly like jewels that cling to the rocks with their tentacles withdrawn at low tide. As the tide washes in the sea anemones open to display their flowing locks of stinging celled tentacles that hunt for their next meal.

The snakelock anemones are lovely display of mossy green and pinky purple tipped tentacles which tend to be longer. I have used aquamarine, pink tourmaline and garnet to celebrate this variety of sea anemone.

Silver sea anemone on silver ball chain £60

Pa-pa jewellery 2011

Silver barnacles garnets, turquoise and silver sea anemone necklace.

STARFISH rockpool rings by U.K designer silversmith Pa-pa

2011-02-18T04:52:00.000-08:00

The silver barnacle cluster ring .

Inspired by the familiar common acorn barnacle. These tiny crustaceans are free swimming larvae that settle firmly on the rocks from the high water mark downwards around the Gower Penninsula and our Brtitish coast. . Some barnacles were brought to the British Isles on the Hull of Australian ships- Australian barnalces.These Australian barnacles are seen on the surface of rocks near sheltered estuaries near fresh water.

Silver crab with triplet opal and silver barnacles.

Starfish opal ring with barnacles.

http://www.pa-pa.co.uk/

GOWER mussel snowflake christmas decoration by Pa-pa jewellery

2010-12-09T03:14:00.000-08:00

The newest Coastal art design from Pa-pa can be seen at the outdoor Christmas market ,Oxford street ,Swansea up until the 19th December.

This design is made from empty blue mussel shells gathered from Oxwich Bay, Gower in November. It hangs approximately 1 meter in width.

http://www.pa-pa.co.uk/pictures.cfm

Worms Head,Gower

2010-10-27T02:09:00.000-07:00

I had a magical experience with a walk out to Worms Head Rhosili, Gower last monday. The sun shone all day with a refreshing northerly wind to remind us of autumn. The Worm's Head being the most westerly point of the Gower from where we could see St.Annes head clearly across the huge expanse of blue sea. We had hoped to see grey seals and were not disappointed to come across many of larger bull seals lazing on the seaweed covered rocks and their newborn pups playing close by under the cliffs at low tide.

Mumbles and Gower

2010-10-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Bay necklace is my most recent design in silver. The currents off Mumbles Head are represented by the twisted forms of silver wire accross which the sailing boat moves from side to side.

Commission from £495
A Collection of Gower, Swansea and Mumbles inspired Pa-pa jewellery Designs can be seen at The Oyster Gallery, Top of Newton Rd, Mumbles.

Swansea and Mumbles boasts the birthplace of Dylan Thomas and Catherine Zeta Jones.

The small village of Mumbles hosts a busy shopping area at Newton Rd, where you will find coastal living gift shops offering quality goods and designer fashion.

The design below is inspired by the many sailing boats in and around Mmumbles and Gower. Swansea bay holds many sailing competitions and has Mumbles yacht club at the shoreline of the village of Mumbles.

Pa-pa jewellery awarded prize for International business

2010-10-05T01:35:00.000-07:00

Pa-pa jewellery designs awarded International Business woman of the year 2010, at the Swansea Bay Business Awards.
South West Wales Media managing director Blanche Sainsbury opened the ceremony and said: "I believe that the greater the role women have to play in our community, the better chance we will have in overcoming the challenges we face.

"It is important after years of fighting for female gender equality that we celebrate female talent.

"It is vital to use the recognition today to help other women who want to achieve more.

The Women in Business Awards 2010 were judged by Confederation of British Industry (CBI) assistant regional director Ian Price, Burgess World Travel founder Jill Burgess and Swansea Bay Business Life editor Wyn Jenkins.

The Bay necklace by Pa-pa jewellery

2010-09-25T01:05:00.000-07:00

The newest design from Pa-pa is The Bay necklace. A unique piece in silver inspired by the stunning coastline of Swansea bay. A sailing boat is central to the design which can move from side to side along silver formed wire, representing the strong currents off Mumbles lighthouse. Two silver seagulls complete the bay theme as they swing in motion above.

2010-06-28T01:44:00.000-07:00

Gower mussels have been the inspiration my unique collection of silver necklaces and earrings. I have always been facinated by the beauty of the shells interior, which hosts a beautiful palette of pearlised blues and purples as well as the exterior of the shell where fine lines define the growth of the shell.
Mussel shell necklace with pink quartz, blue sodalite and real blue mussel shell. The blue mussel shell has been set in a thick silver case which rotates to reveal a stunning silver exterior hosting two silver barnacles. For more details please visit http://www.pa-pa.co.uk/oxich.cfm

2010-06-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

A pod of common dolphins was spotted 100 yards off shore at LLangennith beach on saturday 27th June. To see fifteen or more so close to the shore is uncommon. Most of Gower dolphin sightings are off the Worm's Head at Rhosili where the currents meet and the depth falls to around 70 feet in some parts.

Silver dolphin necklace inspired bythe pod of dolphins seen on Gower. These playful mammals come into the bays of south Wales to rear their young during the summer months.

2010-04-27T02:06:00.000-07:00

When the bitterly cold easterly winds and icy conditions visit us here in Britain at the beginning of the year, it is hard to imagine where the shallow water marine creatures are. I know however that it is at this time of year, from November to June that the sharks of the British waters are breeding.The most familiar to me being the common spotted dogfish. These cat sharks or dogfish are usually found sleeping during the day in the gullies and rocky outcrops of our shallow waters. Every spring when snorkeling I am lucky enough to come across one or two of these beautiful animals.They lie peacefully on the sand with their brown marbled eyes closed. Their skin has a surface pattern that any designer would be proud of; it is not unlike leopardskin sandpaper.

These elegant swimmers usually produce up to ten egg cases every month.The smaller egg cases of the dig fish have curly tendrils which attach themselves to long seaweed strands and rocks.On numerous occasions we have seen the baby fish which appear after only one month inside the case washed upon the sands.These baby fish spend another seven months fattening themselves on the yolk before swimming free into the open ocean after nine months.

Sadly and frustratingly the dogfish themselves are often found along the high tide mark, bearing the scars of fisherman's butchery. These fish are not fished commercially, only for fish meal and oils, though sold as rock salmon in some markets. Their sandpaper skin and small sharks teeth make loosening the grip of a fish hook a little more challenge and it is easier to kill the fish to remove a hook. I am aware that in the pursuit of the treasured sea bass around our shores, the constant tug on a fishing line of yet another or the same dogfish is seen as a keen fishermans nightmare.

I was taught to fish as a child.Now a little more informed and with a lot more respect for the richness and diversity of our local marine life, I am keen to educate my family as to the fragile and wonderful treasures of our shores and to educate them on sustainable food sources that our ocean can provide.

www.pa-pa.co.uk/fallbay.cfm

Mermaid's purse necklace £125 to order phone 07791 478563

Broken glass replaces sand on Gower beauty spot.

2010-04-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Join us in the fight against the plastic bag and broken glass.

Friends of mine own the campsite at Hillend, LLangennith,Gower. A weekly litter pick by the owners of the campsite harvests a massive quantity of broken glass, plastic bottles and disposable barbecues from the sand dunes.

The surge in popularity of the Gower Penninsula for water sports, fishing and beach activities has not only increased visitor numbers to our coastline but has brought with it a growing trend of day and nighttime beach fires and after dark parties. We need to highlight the aftermath of the beach party and the worrying amount of broken glass and bottles left behind that is replacing our golden sand. I question why there is no enforceable law against such littering, when you can be fined for dropping a cigarette in the town centre by a council ranger.

I admit a beach fire is a magical experience. As a child a day at the beach was not complete without cooking foil wrapped potatoes on the burning embers of a driftwood fire. The sound of the crickets, the pounding waves and hiss of a beach fire at the waters edge are treasured memories. We need to ensure that fires are put out properly and that we dispose of our rubbish responsibly.