Forage and Find: An interview with Alice

A company that specialises in bringing new life into lived items to make wearable and spectacular unique items of jewellery; Alice, the founder, has a few things to say about the company.

What made you so interested in vintage artefacts?

Perhaps the journey into the old begun when I was around seven and my Granddad first allowed me into his ‘Den’ where he showed me his extensive collection of old coins, medals and WW1 & 2 memorabilia. Each item had its own personal story and as a consequence I wanted to keep each piece so that the story did not go unforgotten. Fastforward… In 2011, my mum and I were sorting through the garage when we stumbled upon (a real Alice in Wonderland moment) a little collection of old watch dials. We got them out and spread them all over the floor and admired their beauty. We loved how they were a world away from the bright and shiny modern, mass produced look and how each had their own little life story to tell. That was when it struck that they should be worn! It has taken us years and years to learn techniques and to create better, more unusual and imaginative creations!

Is it satisfying to think of all the stories the items have been through and the many more they’ll have?

Very. There’s nothing better than rescuing something forlorn from the back of a drawer and turning it into something that will be loved again and the history passed on. Otherwise, just like old photographs, the story just gets lost in time if it is not passed down.

How long does it take you to make one of these items?

A long time. The thing that takes the longest is collecting together all the components and sourcing them. For example, years ago we bought a watch-makers old collection which was very expensive but has seen us through. Our finds come from all over the country which in a way makes it so that none of our designs can never be repeated or imitated. Items may stay on our workbench for months before we put two pieces together and think Aha! that works. We love the idea that a customer is buying a completely one off creation, most likely never to be repeated again.

Where do you get the inspiration from for the individual designs?

Generally most of our inspiration comes from what we have on our work bench and what we can recreate – animals are a strong recurring theme throughout our jewellery such as foxes, birds, hares and even armadillos! We love combining the unusual with the unusual.

So delve back into the past and discover accessories that not only tell the time, but from a different era.

Tamara Massey

To look at their website click here, and like them on Facebook. Forage and Find also sell in Winchester High Street on the 1^st& 3^rd Sunday of each month.