The Jewellers Gallery

Sophie Black is an online stockist of The Jewellers Gallery, fine jewellery by leading New Zealand designers Cathrine Clifford and Robert Stall. Cathrine and Robert specialise in one off and bespoke fine jewellery, hand designed and crafted in New Zealand. They use ethically sourced diamonds, pearls, precious and semi precious gems from around the globe.

Their experience spans several decades including some of the world’s top jewellers in Bond Street, London. Sophie Black is happy to arrange a personal appointment for you to discuss your jewellery requirements with Cathrine and Robert who will source stones, and work with you on a design within your budget.

Dinosaur Designs 

Dinosaur Designs is an Australian based company renowned for its hand crafted resin homeware designs. Founded by Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy in the 1980s, each piece is unique and crafted at the Dinosaur Designs studio in Strawberry Hills Sydney. It has recently opened a flagship store in New York. Here’s Louise’s narrative on Dinosaur Designs.

Dinosaur Designs grew very naturally, very organically for us. It's a philosophy of colour and form. Working with resin is like working with paint and that's where Steve and I both started, as students working in our studio at art school. Every piece we make is crafted by hand in Australia, passing through many pairs of hands in the process, giving each piece the slight differences that make it unique.

People often ask us if it's difficult to work side by side as a couple, but we feel lucky to be able to work together to create beautiful things. We never really stop thinking about design and art, which is why we find it so easy living and working together - we share the same passions.

Our studio in Strawberry Hills in Sydney has the most beautiful light that pours in through the windows. It's a very important place for us. It's where we create and develop our designs and produce every resin piece we make by hand. It's a place of work but it's also very personal - almost like an extension of our home. We believe that having a happy environment has a big effect on what's created and produced in it.

We love our stores too, as they are where we get to be with our customers and where we get feedback on our designs. One of the big mile stones for us was opening our store in New York. It's been extremely rewarding and we've learned so much from the experience.

Working in design is a wonderful privilege. It's a great way to study of the world. It's a never ending exploration where we're constantly inspired by nature. This is just one of the reasons we use sustainable working methods and minimise waste and electricity consumption.

Our aesthetic has refined and evolved over the years. We're now at a point where we've mastered our techniques but are constantly surprised by the possibilities that arise from working with resin. We love the contrast in textures that's created by adding elements of silver, brass and glass to each collection and we're always asking 'what's next?' as we get excited by the creative process and the journey it takes you on.

Stansborough 

Stansborough is a Wellington based woollen mill which has spun an international reputation for its unique woollen blankets and throws. Its wool comes from owner Cheryl Eldridges’ family’s flock of rare Stansborough Grey sheep on their Wairarapa farm, and is woven on looms in its Petone factory – some of which date back to the 1890’s.

Stansborough has produced garments for movies such as Lord of the Rings, and the Lion Witch and the Wardrobe, as well as being chosen as supplier of a baby’s gift for Prince William and Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte. Stansborough prides itself in being a zero carbon business, eco friendly and chemical free.

Sophie Black has consulted with Cheryl Eldridge to offer a divine selection of baby’s blankets and beanies, throws and full woollen blankets. These are heirloom pieces which will be passed down through generations.

90 Mile Beach Design 

90 Mile Beach Design hails from the Far North of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Inspired by the 1960s surfing culture, it specialises in handcrafted surf tables. Each piece is unique. The top is made from surfboard materials and the bottom is recycled table legs. This range is made exclusively for SOPHIE BLACK.