Recognise Evie May? You should. She’s currently starring in our Spring Summer 2012 campaign and is a self-confessed “complete Tatty Devine addict”.

Evie May first caught our eye when we called out for models on our Facebook and a customer remarked just how much she looks like Frida Kahlo, one of the main inspirations behind the collection. We too loved her distinctive look and in no time at all, she was whisked to London and working it for the camera.

Evie May isn’t just a pretty face. When she isn’t rocking bananas as a headpiece, she is a prolific tweeter and runs her own fashion and lifestyle blog: What Evie Wore Next. It showcases Evie’s offbeat, retro inspired wardrobe and ever evolving style alongside interviews with up and coming designers and photographers.

How old are you?

I’m 16 years old.

When and how did you discover Tatty Devine?

I discovered Tatty Devine mid-way through 2010 when I was watching a Mighty Boosh audio commentary! Mr Noel Fielding was sporting a particularly fetching necklace and when the director asked him where it was from he replied “I don’t know if the costume lady made or if she found it at Tatty Devine.” I immediately felt intrigued by the name ‘Tatty Devine’ and with the aid of Google I was soon on your website and in love with every piece of jewellery in your collections!

What are your favourite pieces of jewellery?

I have so many pieces of Tatty Devine it’s so hard to choose! My blue Bunny Bow earrings mean a lot to me as I won them in the first ever Tatty Devine competition I entered. My Ying Yang ring also holds a lot of sentiment as I bought it on my first visit to your Brick Lane boutique.

However I also really love my Large Eye Necklace as I am obsessed with all things Egyptian and I also love my Sexy Legs Brooch as I had to hit up eBay in order to find one, so when I finally got it I was over the moon!

Plus when I met the Wombats, their lead singer even complimented me on it!

How would you describe your personal style?

I would say my personal style is very eclectic and always has tribute to vintage fashion in some way. One of my favourite eras of fashion is the 1950′s, so I may be wearing jeans and t-shirt but it’s usually teamed with a pair of striking 50′s heels or a 50′s hair-bow. However with the array of vintage fashion in my collection, I sometimes look like I’ve tumbled out of the wrong era! I like to use my clothes to channel my personality so my clothing is determined by my mood and I always like to stand out from the crowd with bright or bold pieces, so I tend to buy clothes not many other people around me are wearing.

How did you feel when you were picked to model for Tatty Devine?

I don’t think words could describe how happy and surprised I was! As you probably all know, I am a MASSIVE fan of your jewellery, so to be given the opportunity to model your beautiful pieces felt like a dream come true!

What was it like on the shoot?

I think it was one of the best experiences of my life! Everyone was thoroughly lovely to me, and considering I’ve never modelled before it was even better than I expected it to be! It all felt very laid back yet very glamorous at the same time and I think I’ll remember that day forever.

Did you like the hair and make-up?

I absolutely loved getting my hair and make-up done like Frida. It was so different to anything I’ve had before and the girls who did my hair and make-up were so talented so I was very happy with how it turned out. I just wish I had the girls to do my hair and make-up every day for me! (However we might have to tone down the mono-brow for everyday I think…)

Was there anything you didn’t like about the shoot?

The only thing I didn’t like about the shoot was the fact I had to leave behind all the gorgeous pieces of jewellery I modelled! They were all so beautiful and I can safely say this collection is truly amazing, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from Rosie and Harriet!

Had you heard of Frida Kahlo before?

I had heard of Frida before! I’d watched the film about her life featuring Salma Hayek so I knew she was a very remarkable lady.

Were you aware you look like her?

I wasn’t really as I’d never really thought about it! However when you advertised for a model on your Facebook one of your lovely customers said I looked just like her and the more I thought about it, the more I started to notice the similarities between me and Frida. I feel very proud to look like Frida as she is so wonderful!

Did you mind having your eyebrows joined into a monobrow by the make-up artist?

I didn’t mind at all! It was the perfect tribute to Frida and with the floral attire I was in, it actually looked pretty good I think! It also made the photos look even more artistic and it made me feel much more like Frida.

What’s your favourite piece that you modelled?

Oh wow, this is so difficult, everything was so lovely! I was rather fond of the Large Frida Necklace and the Corn on the Cob Necklace however I thought the Large Parakeet Necklace made from green perspex was absolutely fabulous and the matching earrings made them the perfect statement pieces! I adore statement pieces and even though they were so different, in some ways it made me think of the Tiger Necklace as I imagine they could both really turn some heads!

Will the modelling experience affect your own style?

I think in some ways it definitely could. It has made me want to be a lot more adventurous with my hair styles and the floral prints in the dresses I wore definitely made me want to incorporate a lot more striking tribal themed pieces in my wardrobe. It has also given me the chance to discover the vintage fashion company Beyond Retro. All the clothes I wore on the shoot were from Beyond Retro and having looked more into their products I think more of their pieces will definitely be featuring in my vintage fashion collection very soon!

What’s your favourite item of clothing at the moment and why?

This is a very hard question as my wardrobe is rather extensive… (I’ll admit it, I’m a clothes-aholic) however I think my favourite piece is my knitted Union Jack knitted cardigan I picked up at Camden Market. It’s a one of a kind which is one of the reasons I love it so much! It feels very vintagey and patriotic too. The colours are bold and eye-catching and it’s definitely the item of clothing I get the most compliments on.

We love this best of British combination of Union Jack cardigan and classic Tatty Devine Chip Fork Necklace:

We noticed you do singing and acting – please tell us more!

I do indeed! Performing arts is one of the most important things in my life and I live for performing! I recently finished a tour around Liverpool of a stage production of the hit TV show ‘Glee’ and a few days ago I performed in St George’s Hall for the Liverpool Shakespeare Festival. However over the years, thanks to the fabulous opportunities given to me by such amazing projects around the city, I’ve been given the chance to perform with people such as Paul McCartney and Hayley Westenra! My biggest passion in life is music and when I get on stage I feel like I really come alive. I love changing characters throughout performances and of course I adore all the costumes too! I’d really love to make a career of singing and acting because I believe if I were to be successful in a job I loved, it’d never truly feel like ‘work’ for me.

What are your ambitions?

My ambitions are to do well in my exams, to move to London, to work for Tatty Devine at some point in some way, to get a recording contract, to write both music and literature, to stay true to myself and what I believe in and to be successful. If I did become a successful singer song-writer I’d very much like to be involved creatively too, as I am very imaginative and a budding director so I think I could apply this knowledge to perhaps designing my own tours and music videos! However, ultimately, my biggest ambitions are to win a Brit Award and I would also really love to cameo or perhaps even be the companion in Doctor Who! (Yes I am a massive sci-fi nerd…)

Tell us about your blog – when and why did you start it, what does it mean to you?

My blog, What Evie Wore Next, is dedicated to my fashion and my various different trips, from gigs to pop-up events, to exploring fabulous new shops and boutiques. I started What Evie Wore Next in early 2011, because I have always loved fashion from an early age and I just thought that blogging would be such a brilliant medium to show the rest of the world what fashion really means to me. Blogging means the world to me as it allows me to talk about the things I really love and puts me in touch with such lovely people. And as my readers will know, Tatty Devine features frequently on What Evie Wore Next from posts about trips to your fabulous boutiques or me just generally babbling about how much I love your jewellery!

What do you wish Tatty Devine would make next?

Wow, this is tricky! I think I’d love to see a collaboration between you lovely ladies and the wonderful Paloma Faith as I think you could create some really special pieces there. I’d also love to see some pug related jewellery as I am currently obsessed with those cute little dogs and maybe a Doctor Who collection, as I know some of you ladies at Tatty love Matt Smith (again my sci-fi nerd is showing…) Perhaps a Shakespeare related collection too! I’d love to see some Romeo and Juliet or A Midsummer Night’s Dream themed jewellery featuring in my collection and it would be a perfect tribute to the Bard along with your Quill Necklace too!

Thank you, Evie May. Good luck with your singing and keep blogging – you never know where it could lead! As a thank you for being our Customer of the Month (and featuring in our S/S12 shoot), we’ll be sending you something special to add to your growing collection.

If you’d like to be our Customer of the Month, here’s how to get noticed: tag Tatty Devine any time you post a photo of you wearing your jewellery on Facebook. Don’t forget to tweet @tattydevine on Twitter when you’re out and about wearing Tatty Devine!

In preparation for a riotous night of teen angst, Morrissey worship and party poppers, Amy had asked us to create some exclusive props. We coaxed our fringes into quiffs, practiced our best Moz impressions and arrived at the Camden People’s Theatre buzzing with excitement. Just what is an ‘Unhappy Birthday’? The answer came in Amy’s lovingly made fanzine to The Smith’s maudlin front man.

We love Amy’s photo diary of her pilgrimage to Morrissey’s birthplace, Manchester.

You can’t have a birthday party without a cake. Sadly, it ended up on Amy’s face rather than on our plates.

Yes, that’s right. This is the perspex boombox prop we made for the show. Turn it up, Amy!

As the biggest Morrissey fan in the world, Amy had themed the party games accordingly. Moz-e-oke, anyone?

Emily even caught the t-shirt that Amy tore off in true rock god style during the finale!

Backcomb your quiff, grab some gladioli and join Amy in celebrating her Unhappy Birthday. Find nationwide tour dates and tickets here.

For her new show, you’re invited to celebrate performer extraordinaire Amy Lamé’s birthday – and she’s hoping a very special guest will make an appearance. Morrissey – icon for the bookish, bespectacled weirdos of the world – is invited too. A seat is reserved for him… will he ever arrive, perhaps clutching a bunch of flowers and a gift?

Unhappy Birthday cracks open the cult of celebrity and fandom; flays fat, faith and sexual identity; probes the pains of growing up; and cross examines a curious nostalgia for a time that may never have existed except in the bedroom of our imagination. It includes props made by non other than Tatty Devine – watch out for giant perspex pieces popping up throughout the show.

Unhappy Birthday begins with a bang from 1st-12th May 2012 at the Camden People’s Theatre in London, where there will be an exhibition of rare photographs of The Smiths and Morrissey by Tom Sheehan. It will later be followed by a nationwide tour and you can buy tickets here.

To celebrate this unhappy occasion, we have one pair of tickets to win for the date and venue of your choice. That’s not all, too – the lucky winner will also receive an exclusive name necklace inspired by the poster boy of melancholy himself: Morrissey.

To win, just answer this question:

How would you turn an unhappy birthday into a happy birthday for a friend?

Leave your answer as a comment (click here and scroll to the bottom), and we’ll ask Amy Lamé to pick her favourite as the winner! The closing date is 12 noon on Tuesday 1st May.

Wink, wink. Bullett magazine feature our new Eyelash Sunglasses in their latest issue. This Valley of the Dolls shoot perfectly captures fashion’s offbeat fifties mood.

Styled by John William (who is also our in-house stylist!), the shoot blends candyfloss locks, digital prints and tailoring. All eyes are on accessories, and where would a sixties siren be without her shades? Our classic gold rimmed aviator frame is topped with sculpted black plastic eyelashes, perfect for budding Brigitte Bardots.

Have a peep at the Eyelash Sunglasses and matching Eyelash Sunglasses Necklace here.

We’re pleased to announce that an agreement has now been reached between Tatty Devine and Claire’s Accessories. We released this official joint statement on BBC One’s Watchdog programme on 19th April 2012:

“Tatty Devine Limited and Claire’s Accessories UK Limited confirm that a mutually
acceptable resolution to their recent dispute has been reached. Although the terms
of the agreement are confidential, it can be confirmed that the banana, dinosaur and
fishbone necklaces have been removed from sale in all Claire’s Accessories stores
worldwide, but the moustache, large glasses and musical notes necklaces remain
available for purchase.”

This statement will be available to read here for 28 days. Sorry we can’t tell you much more, but we’re grateful to everyone who followed this story.

Get 20% off all Tatty Devine jewellery, and be first to see and purchase our new summer collection, during the Seven Dials Shopping Evening. The whole Seven Dials district will be open late with discounts and offers. Don’t forget to register first!

Last night Tatty Devine director Rosie Wolfenden appeared on BBC News 24, on Show Me the Money. Holding her own alongside fellow panelists Tim Richards of Vue cinemas, and business journalist Lucy Tobin, Rosie talked about the topics at the very heart of running a business in today’s economy. She turned the somewhat dry subject of capping tax breaks on charitable donations into a statement of how important the arts are, as inspiration for designers like Tatty Devine and as partners, as we work so closely with organisations like the Tate and Baltic. She also spoke on the importance of manufacturing in Britain, and Tatty Devine’s unique production mix, using technologies like lasercutting as well as skilled jewellery-making techniques done by hand in our workshops.

As well as showing off her entrepreneurial acumen, Rosie looked stunning in the Mexican Embroidery Medium Necklace in multicolour, which of course was handmade in our London workshop. A statement necklace with a blazer? It works.

Watch the show on iPlayer – but be quick, it’s only available for a week.

“Here I am in my studio room at home, in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph. I like to be surrounded by things that mean a lot to me, and there wasn’t space in the Telegraph to talk about everything. I wanted to show you around a bit more, so here’s the story behind some of the other objects in the room…

I love Rob Ryan, and the starry night fireworks print under the worktop is one of his.

There’s a cassette tape made out of wool and cardboard to the right of my head, made by Rachael Matthews of Prick Your Finger, from a show she did in our Brick Lane store.

The big hat is actually a Vivienne Westwood, given to me by Bernstock Speirs, which is a brilliant hat designers next door to us on Brick Lane.

Leaning against the wall is a print of ‘found’ homemade record sleeves by Stephen Fowler and Rocky Alvarez.

My ukelele is from the Duke of Uke - I’ve been learning for about three years now.

The wallpaper brush hanging by the window is my grandfather’s. He was a window dresser for the British Shoe Corporation and came up with the “back to school” marketing campaign. My mum was the first “back to school” girl in the adverts!

The jardinières by the wallpaper brush belonged to my nan.

I love big rulers, and one of my longest ones which is two metres long is attached to the edge of the top shelf.

My velvet dress is vintage. It has lovely beaded cuffs. The beads fall off everywhere – every time I go anywhere in it, I leave a little puddle of black beads. And my necklace is, of course, Tatty Devine. It’s the big gem owl from the last Autumn/Winter collection.

There’s nowhere better than a car boot sale for picking up things with character. I always check yourbooty.co.uk to locate my nearest car boot sale wherever I am. Find yours, and go rummaging for treasure.

If you’re creative, it’s good to have your own home studio space, even if it’s just a little desk in a corner. You need somewhere to stick stuff, otherwise you forget about it. Keep inspiration all around you.”

It’s here! Our Easter treat this year is the launch the brand new Tatty Devine app. Browse our collections, shop on-the-go, discover our stores, find out about upcoming events and catch up on the latest gossip and news.

To celebrate the launch of the app, we’re popping an Easter treat into everyone’s baskets. An oeuf-ully stylish enamel Fried Egg Brooch (worth £18) is yours for FREE with any order over £30 placed through the app over the long Easter weekend.

(That means from right now, until 9am on Tuesday 10th April).

The brooch will be popped in with your order, no need to ‘add to bag’. Made from French enamel and fastened with a miniature brooch back, it features the Tatty Devine logo on the reverse. Think of it as a less messy version of the inside of a creme egg.

So, what to buy to get the Easter brooch? How about a piece from our brand new Seahorse collection?

Download the new Tatty Devine app now, and get cracking!

Music has always played a large role in Tatty Devine, providing the soundtrack to the design process and even inspiring the jewellery itself. If we aren’t debating Beyoncé’s latest video, we’re hunting down new songs to make us dance at our desks. Luckily, Studio Music asked Team Tatty for our work playlist, providing the perfect opportunity to showcase our favourite tracks.

Find out which tracks made the grade and listen to our ultimate playlist here.

Some of our most iconic pieces take their inspiration from music. Back when Tatty Devine began, Harriet lived with lots of boys in bands who would leave plectrums all over the house. She started to collect all the different colours to make into jewellery and the Plectrum Charm Bracelet was born!

Fancy yourself as a bit of a guitar hero? Turn it all the way up to 11 with this Volume Brooch in white. Rock on!