Skulls and Latin - Perfect for your alternative Valentine's Day needs

What better way to show people how you feel about love than with a skeleton, graveyard, or a Latin quote which might actually be scorning the idea of romance?

Launching in time for your possible Valentine needs, this range of jewellery is a mix of gothic flourishes and modern style - Textured edges remniscent of Victorian mourning brooches, framing on-trend hand lettered quotes. Striking and simple black and white skulls, paired with rainbow touches.

Browse the new range

Latin? yes, Latin!

I wanted to create some designs with hand lettered quotes and mottos, echoing those found on love token jewellery through the ages. Latin appealed to me because well, everything is classier when it's in Latin, it gives the feeling of a secret message only a few people will know and interpret, plus there are some great pieces of classic Latin regarding love which can be read in multiple ways.

​So what do these mean?​

Amantes sunt Amentes means Lovers are Lunatics, which you can take to mean being madly in love, or that people are utterly mental for wanting to be in love. It depends how bitter you're feeling.

Semper Fidelis means Always Loyal... even after death? 

Amor Aeternus means Eternal Love, and once again, ties into my theme of skulls and skeletal lovers.

Quid me nutrit me destruit
OR Quod me nutrit me destruit?... Well... Quid means "what" in a questioning way, and quod sort of translates to English as what/the thing/that which. I chose to use Quid to make it feel like a query, an uncertainty. Does what nourishes you also destroy you? How certain are you about that?...

Behind the scenes

For a few years people have suggested that I take my illustrations into my jewellery, and having played with a few ways to do this, I've found a way I'm happy to put in front of you. Working with shrink plastic allows me to create designs with great detail, which then look even more impressive when shrunk about 7 times smaller. There's a surprising amount of measuring, planning, and guidelines being drawn before I start cutting pieces or applying the white!

Once shrunk I can hand paint tiny details of colour, add washes over the white, or pick out areas and details with metallic paints. Everything then gets two layers of matte varnish to help protect the art.