Nature's rare accessories

The tree of knowledge, eh? At Chelsea Flower Show a wicker sculpture (the sort of thing you might see festooned with tempting floral treats in a department store), formed the centerpiece of a ‘biodiversity display’. The aim: to seduce the public into doing anything and everything to encourage insects and birds to visit their gardens. However, only certain plants and flowers appeal to butterflies and bees... and possibly not the likes of this strangely inventive creation.

These days, all ‘great ideas’ seem to require celebrity endorsement. The tree of knowledge was no exception, with luvvies like Jeremy Irons and Greg Wise offering their penny’s worth. Mr Wise even penned a rather luvverly poem, imploring us to ‘be less tidy’, ‘let things rot’ and ‘embrace decay’. Cheers, Greg!





My favourite gardens are invariably where the wild things are. A stunning entry at the show was L’Occitane's Provencal garden with its luxurious lavender beds – great for bees… plus wonderfully gnarled olive trees and ruggedly unadulterated rocky terraces. M&G's traditional English garden was nice, and, I suppose, guaranteed to be a winner – being the show's official sponsor and all of that.





And Leeds City Council's garden, sponsored by Hesco Bastion, was awesomely overgrown, with the rather contrived addition of a model canal lock (I can’t imagine that was entirely cast from eco-friendly materials?)

Anyway, seeing these delightfully unkempt plots reminded me that the winged insect I haven’t seen much of in recent years (despite living by the river) is the dragonfly. Dragonflies apparently gobble up all manner of curious bugs, okay they eat some butterflies and bees too - but also mosquitoes, which could come in handy with global warming. They’re curiously colourful as well, and imbued with symbolism and cultural significance in many parts of the world.





At ShopCurious, we’ve been promoting the benefits of naturally beautiful things for ages, which is why we’ve got plenty of nature inspired jewellery and accessories on offer - this unique Art Nouveau style dragonfly brooch being the perfect example.

Knowledge may be a dangerous thing, but birds and bees are a safe bet any day. I reckon seeing a few more dragonflies might be good news for biodiversity too.

Do you?

Wedding butterflies

Whether or not you have butterflies in your stomach at your wedding, you can pay to have butterflies released on your big day. This unusual gesture is becoming increasingly common -











rather like releasing doves, (although they probably know where to return home to later).


Curiously, both are deemed suitable and are also available for release at funerals and memorial services too.

Anyway, I suppose this fanciful style statement is a little less messy than rice or confetti, and relatively eco-friendly to boot… However, in this day and age, should we not be concerned about the welfare of the poor butterflies? Supposing they get lost, let alone disorientated, after being shaken up and let loose in a strange place. Won’t being trapped in a container or basket make them traumatized? Never mind the couple getting married, spare a thought for the poor innocent victims etc.

If you’re looking for a more humane lepidopteran alternative, how about this 1950s vintage Bakelite butterfly bag from ShopCurious? I think this could be the perfect accessory for the social (and socially aware) butterfly – suitable for bride and guest alike.

Do you?

Pre-wedding butterflies?

If you’re planning to get married in the near future, you’re highly likely to suffer from pre-wedding nerves – often referred to as 'butterflies in the stomach'. Butterflies are symbolically associated with romance, and this strange ‘all of a flutter’ feeling is one you might also experience when you first fall in love.








Looks like Kylie Minogue is head over heels (in love) in the recent photo shoot by David Slijper for Elle magazine. On the cover of this June’s Elle, Kylie has literally got butterflies on her stomach… Okay, they’re acutally beautifully hand painted and embroidered onto the unique, vintage silk obi belt from ShopCurious that she’s wearing in the photograph.





Kylie now has “more than 22 years of pop stardom under her belt”, and many are wondering if she’ll ever settle down. Elle’s Kerry Potter asks Kylie if choosing a wedding dress is something that might eventually happen and, if so, who would she want to design it. Check out the article if you’re curious to know her answer to this and other fashion related questions, such as her favourite designers, costumes and style preferences.






I’m more curious to know what’s triggered the current trend for butterfly inspired accessories..

Are you?

Beyond love

What lies Beyond Love?
For Love never dies.
Love lasts forever.
Love transforms.
Love multiplies.
In the Lover’s eye,
ascending,
transcending mortality.
In the dance of the butterflies,
an ethereal coronation,
the perfect union.





Described by L’Officiel magazine as “one of the most original jewellery designers of her generation”, London based Brazilian, Marcelle Lawson-Smith is also something of a poet. Her verse, as well as her latest collection of digitally printed leather cuffs, are inspired by love’s power to transcend mortality.









Marcelle’s wedding to her English husband, twelve years ago, was an “unusual and elaborate celebration, with pairs of butterflies as its central theme – to represent eternal love.” One wall was covered by two thousand butterflies and Marcelle’s dress, the invitation and the wedding cake were all covered with pairs of butterflies.





Marcelle was also influenced by the symbolism of Victorian mourning jewellery when creating the vibrantly coloured pieces in her new range, which are available online, exclusively at ShopCurious.

In Victorian times, secret messages were sometimes hidden in small accessories. Butterflies, symbolizing resurrection (as in the metamorphosis from a chrysalis), were often depicted in sculptures and on cemetery headstones in Victorian graveyards.






Lover’s eyes were also popular as pieces of mourning jewellery, but some debate surrounds the details of their initial introduction to the UK. It is thought that they were originally used by secret lovers in the late 18th century – the Prince of Wales and Mrs Fitzherbert being widely cited. A unique collection of antique Regency curios, including lover’s eyes can be viewed on the romantic novelist, Candice Hern’s website.

Marcelle Lawson-Smith’s lover’s eyes are also based on William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55:


“Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
'Gainst death, and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes.”


Will you?