Looking Back on 2021

2021… What a year it’s been!  After another uncertain year due to COVID-19, we’re looking back at all the positives 2021 brought to Sheila Fleet Jewellery...

To our Customers and Supporters

Firstly, to our customers and supporters! We can’t thank you enough for all the support this last two years throughout the pandemic.  Every form of support means so much, from ordering online and visiting our galleries to showing your love for Sheila Fleet Jewellery on social media.

St Andrews Gallery

In May, Sheila opened her 5^th jewellery gallery! Based at 2 Bell Street in St Andrews, Sheila’s stunning new gallery is a jewellery experience that will take you through time and space. Inspired by cosmos and stars, the gallery holds many beautiful interior elements which represent the beauty of the natural world and universe, found in many of Sheila’s iconic jewellery collections. Read more about Sheila’s beautiful gallery here.

New Honeybee Collection

Sheila’s beautiful Honeybee collection was released in October, blending styles of the 60s with modern trends.  The contemporary Honeybee collection is a fusion of natural and geometric forms offering a range of easy-to-wear, collectible, mixed-metal designs. Reflecting on her time as a 60s girl, Sheila revisited the vintage styles to create long, silver, chain-linked necklaces; bold, hexagonal bangles adorned with 9ct gold bees; and stylish hexagonal-shaped rings, which look great stacked or worn as thumb rings. Within the collection are designs set with hexagonal citrine gemstones, and hand-enamelled pieces in rich, honey-coloured enamel. Browse the Honeybee collection here. 

Kirk Café & Gallery – TripAdvisor No 1 Restaurant in Orkney and 5 Star Rating

Once re-opening the Kirk Café after lockdown, creating a spacious safe environment was our top priority without compromising the experience for visitors.  Our amazing team in the Kirk have worked hard to keep a high standard of service and lovely food to enjoy.  This has been recognised through TripAdvisor where the Kirk Café is currently a 5 star rating and the No 1 restaurant for lunch in Orkney.  For those that visited and left positive reviews and comments, we thank you! You can book a table at the Kirk Cafe here.

Scarf Collaboration with Kirsteen Stewart

This range of beautiful muslin scarves has been developed by Sheila Fleet and Kirsteen Stewart and is inspired by some of Sheila’s iconic jewellery collections. The two Orcadian designers had often discussed collaborating, and when the global pandemic forced a period of reflection and reset, the design partnership finally began. Taking inspiration from Sheila’s jewellery and some of Kirsteen’s artwork, the result is a contemporary fusion of ideas and creativity. From Wild Grasses to Sea & Surf, this is a beautiful selection of scarves, and a perfect match when worn with your Sheila Fleet jewellery. Check out the new scarf range here.

New Postal Packaging

In 2021, we redesigned our postal boxes to create a more sustainable, reusable and recyclable package, ideal for storing your jewellery boxes! For those of you that have ordered via our website, you will have noticed these beautiful boxes feature an image inside taken by Sheila of the sea at Dingieshowe beach, only 3 miles from the workshop.

Pancreatic Cancer – Daisies

The daisies collection, inspired by a photograph taken by Sheila’s late husband Rick, is now one of Sheila’s most popular and lovable collections.  Now dedicated to Rick’s memory, the Daisies collection is also a charitable collection, having supported many people and charities over the years through donating 10% of every daisy piece sold.

Initially, the collection supported Sheila’s former employee, Emily Findlay, in her fight against cancer. Emily’s Fund is reserved for her should she require future treatment.

Throughout 2021 the Daisies at Dawn collection has supported Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland and in 2022, will support MS Orkney.

Shop the Daisies at Dawn collection here.

Bumblebee Conservation

Sheila’s beautiful Bumblebee collection is also charitable, with a 5% donation from each sale from this collection going towards supporting the important work done by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.  We are thrilled to be continuing to support this fantastic trust in 2022.

Shop the Bumblebee collection here.

Scottish Gold for 2022

Sheila Fleet’s is one of only two businesses who have access to Scottish Gold.  We are looking to get the next batch in the New Year for testing, where the raw Scottish Gold needs to be refined into an 18ct Gold standard.  The operators of the mine, ScotGold are streamlining and learning more efficient techniques in getting their gravity separation yield of the gold.  This means that the supply of the Scottish gold is rare and in turn, lead times to make jewellery could be longer.  If you are interested in considering a ring or piece of Sheila Fleet Jewellery in Scottish Gold, please email info@sheilafleet.com, or call 01856 861 203 and ask for Martin or Maureen. In the meantime, you can find out more information regarding Scottish Gold here.

New for 2022

Even at the age of 76, there is no slowing Sheila down! With work of a new collection (or two) in progress, you may see something new appearing in Spring/Summer. This image shows Olivia, our master pattern maker, busy at the bench developing one of these new designs and interpreting it into a master pattern. We look forward to sharing with you once the design is in its final stages. 

Thank You

Thank you very much for all your orders and support during what has been another challenging year for so many people.  We hope that things will become a little easier to travel as we move into Spring and look forward to welcoming those who wish to travel to Orkney in 2022!  Check out www.orkney.com for more information on things to do and where to stay in beautiful Orkney.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2022.