I started making jewellery for myself in 2018

following a series of evening classes, but soon got

the bug and realised that making for others is even

more enjoyable than making for myself.  I’ve since

attended a few courses and classes, as well as self

taught skills, and basically a lot of learning from

mistakes! 

 

Everything is handmade from my workbench at home.

 

I enjoy making jewellery you can wear every day - simple designs and classic shapes. I particularly like jewellery to be meaningful and something that can evoke a memory or mean something to the wearer. I believe jewellery should be easy to wear and if it tactile or has some movement, all the better!

 

For me, jewellery is made to be worn and should be a ‘keeper’ – something you return to again and again. The unique part comes from everything being handmade – nothing I make will ever be identical and although there are similar designs, there will always be something to make each piece unique.

 

Much of my jewellery is formed from silver sheet or wire although some have been produced though the process of lost wax casting. This is an ancient method of jewellery making and some of my pieces (e.g. chunky hearts, oysters) were carved in wax then cast in silver. This is a long but enjoyable and rewarding process and allows me to construct more elaborate pieces.

 

My designs are all things that I would ( and indeed do!) wear.  I find it very hard to design things I don't like.... for example if you like skulls, I'm sorry, I just can't!  I often take my inspirations from the forms and shapes in nature, although ideas can come from anywhere! 

 

I can’t seem to get enough of hearts. I started making hearts as soon as I started working with silver and just love the simple design, shape and symbolism which means so much to many, in different ways. I find it a positive and aesthetically pleasing shape and love playing around with it.

 

I work mainly in silver and tend not to use gemstones too often, although occasionally am tempted when I see ones that catch my eye! I love pearls and primarily use these in the oysters but they sometimes appear in other designs.  More recently I  have been making use of the years (or decades!) of sea finds y I have collected to create unique glass or pottery pendants.   My most recent idea came after finding my first on a sea marble, but as they are hard to find and quite large, I wanted to replicate the spinning pendant.   I now use wee semi-precious stone and glass marbles to create tactile, pretty, colourful and very fidgety little pendants. As I said, sometimes you just never know where the next idea may come from....and if you have any, I'd love to hear them!

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