Gosberton jewellery maker creates collection to celebrate Matthew Flinders return to Donington
A jewellery maker has created a special collection featuring icons of British and Australian culture to mark the reburial of Captain Matthew Flinders, taking place in Donington, tomorrow.
Annica Clark, who launched Annica’s Jewellery Company in summer 2023, has made a variety of earrings to celebrate Flinder’s Anglo-Australian links, featuring flags, koalas, teapots, Victoria sponge cake, maps and more.
Her AUS meets GB range was inspired by one of her customers who suggested she create something to mark the historic occasion and as a result she’s made a combination of stud and dangly designs in honour of Donington’s most famous son.
Born in the village in 1776, Matthew led the first circumnavigation of Australia. His remains were identified after they were found in an HS2 rail project dig at St James burial ground in Euston, London, in 2019. His interment takes place in Donington on Saturday, July 13.
Annica, a dispensing optician at her family’s business Clark Family Eyecare, in Donington, said: “Everything I’ve made is either very British or very Australian, while the mismatched flags combine both!
“They’re hand painted onto clay, they were quite fiddly to do, but I’m really pleased with how they’ve turned out. Other designs include lizards, koalas and surf boards to represent Australia. I’ve also made some which look like aged maps, complete with the outline of Australia on them.
“To represent Great Britain there’s mini-Victoria sponge cakes, Union Jack bunting, teapots and rain clouds. I had to include the rain as it was the first thing people said when I asked them what reminded them of Britain!”
Annica’s latest collection officially launches at the end of June, when it can be ordered through her website. If the new items sell out, customers will still be able to place an order but will have to wait a bit longer for it to be dispatched. She’s also had stalls in Spalding, Boston and Bourne and hopes to do more.
Annica, of Gosberton, enjoyed making jewellery when she was younger, but the hobby fell by the wayside until a couple of years ago. With her two children growing up she decided to revisit it and began making brightly coloured polymer clay pieces for herself.
“I’m self-taught,” she says. “I had a bit of knowledge from when I was younger and just started making them for myself, and then people began asking if I sold them.
“I found some better earring fixings, and now I use surgical stainless steel which is hypoallergenic. Some of the first designs I made were rainbows – all different colours.
“I’m the type of person that if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it properly and I really threw myself into it. I’ve set up a website and attended a few markets.
“I’m quite a self-conscious person, I know I can do stuff, but I never thought people would buy my pieces. Then I just thought it was a fad, but I’ve had returning customers and it’s going really well.”
As well as earrings, Annica also sells hand painted claw clips and is experimenting with resin designs too.
She says her colourful works, which also includes earrings featuring Jammy Dodger biscuits, dolphins, flowers and sheep, are inspired by anything and everything around her.
“I love making jewellery – my tagline is ‘Made for the love of creativity’. It’s how I spend my time; I get in from work, do everything I need to do with my kids and then I spend a couple of hours drawing out new ideas or making pieces,” she added. “I really look forward to it – it’s a chance for me to just switch off and go into a little world of my own.”
* Annica’s collection is available to buy through her website annicasjewellery.co.uk and in person at markets. Prices start from £6.