How long have you been making jewellery and how did you first get into being a designer?
I’ve been making jewellery from about 2013 and then I started the silversmithing in 2016 when I attended a 10 week class with a local silversmith in her studio. I’ve been a designer for a long time when being involved with various crafts over the years. Just before I started jewellery making I was part of a Design Team for a well known paper craft company where we were supplied with the products and we made the samples to be shown on a shopping channel.
How would you describe your personality/style and how does that feed through into your jewellery designs?
I consider myself to be friendly, jolly and I love to learn new things. Therefore new designs and techniques are often brought into my jewellery as I perfect a new skill.
What do you love about Jewellerymaker and how long have you been part of the 'JM family'?
It was JM that got me started into jewellery making after a friend introduced me to the channel in 2013 to watch Liz Welch demonstrating polymer clay and I never looked back. I’ve been lucky enough to attend workshops at Ivy House to learn everything from silver clay to Pearl knotting. In fact I still use lots of tools I acquired from JM in the early days.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to start making jewellery for the first time?
My advice for anyone wanting to start jewellery making for the first time is simple - just do it! 😃. You’ll make lifelong friends along the way too which is a bonus.
What are your 'Can't live without them' jewellery making tools, and why are they so special?
These would be my jewellers saw, pliers, bench peg and vice. They’re special because I use them every time I’m working in my studio and couldn’t manage without them.
If you could choose what gemstones and components you were given for this heat of the competition, what would you pick and why?
If I could choose gems and components for this heat I would choose cabochons (of any shape or size) my favourites are turquoise, amber and rhodochrosite. I’d also choose silver/copper sheet and wire and bezel wire to make a setting for the cabochon. I would choose these items as stone setting is a big part of my style.
Have you been recognised anywhere else for your jewellery designs eg magazine articles, competitions, or greatest jewellery making achievements?
I featured in a JM magazine (a few years ago) with a pendant I’d made from JM products and I’ve also won Designer of the Month at Cooksongold.
What was your favourite /best purchase from Jewellerymaker and why?
My favourite and best purchase from JM is, without doubt, my bench peg. I use it every single day, it’s personalised to fit my needs and I wouldn’t part with it for the world.
What would it mean to you to win Britain's Next Gem?
If I won Britain's Next Gem it would mean to me the start of an exciting new adventure with new opportunities which I would grab with both hands and throw myself into the whole experience. It would be a privilege and a pleasure to work more closely with the JM team.
