I was lucky enough to design a range of jewellery inspired by the poetry and children’s books of the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy for the Much Wenlock Poetry Festival. Carol Ann Duffy was the patron of the festival and also performed there.

I was excited about the idea of making a connection between poetry and jewellery. Poetry has always been a passion and I love Carol Ann Duffy’s work. Her poems and stories are full of jewellery images and metaphors and were a feast of inspiration. The poems set my creative forces alight. It was a pleasure using such beautiful words as inspiration for my work and I can only hope Carol Ann feels that what I have created has done them some degree of justice. 

‘The Tear Thief’ is a magical and evocative piece. Carol Ann describes the tears as ‘jewels in the darkness of the sack’ and ‘scared tears were white like moonstones’. It instantly created a picture in my mind and I couldn’t wait to get to work. I really wanted to get across the shape, movement, light and dark of this beautiful story.

The Tear Thief

By Carol Ann Duffy

"Each night, in the hour between supper and bedtime, I visit a different street and steal the tears of every child who cries. 

When my sack is full, I climb up to the moon and I pour my sack of tears into the moon’s light"

“Tears of rage were red and glowed like rubies. Tears of envy or jealousy were as green as emeralds. Tears of self-pity were turquoise. Scared tears were white like moonstones and guilty tears were amber.”