Meet the Maker
After a chat with a lampworker (glass bead maker) at a craft fair in London in 2012, I announced to my family that I was going to start melting glass and making beads. The idea of designing and making my own charm beads, had me completely hooked.
Glass bead making is addictive. I love experimenting with new techniques and inclusions - frit, mica, enamel powder, sparkles and silver - with glass there is no limit to style or feel you can get.
In my earlier years as a glass artist I enjoyed being a part of the Glass Beadmakers UK Community, and my work has been shown in several issues of the beloved Soda Lime Times, the online magazine for glass bead artists all over the world.
I’m a self-representing artist (SRA) - which means I believe in the idea of truly handmade products with no mass production or large machinery so each piece is literally made by me (with my hands).
What I Make
Alongside my glass work, I’ve added silversmithing to the mix, which pairs beautifully with the beads. Whether it’s a single charm bead, a matching set or a full bespoke commission, each piece is made by me by hand in my studio.
It's great now because I have the flexibility to make what I want without restraint . I can determine shape, colour, texture and material.
I have recently loved making unique clasps for strung bead necklaces and earrings to match. It’s great fun to know that only one of it’s kind exists in the world.
Why I Love What I Do
I get a lot of inspiration from natural fauna and flora - flowers, leaves and insects (see my Meadowhawk Dragonfly in the blog). I love looking at the the elements: water and the way it moves, rocks and sea life, as well as mythical creatures and legend.
But the real fun part is when I get to help someone bring their ideas to life in glass or silver. They may have a special dress that they want something to match with, or they may want a dream set of beads that they can’t get anywhere else.
Bespoke Projects
I find custom commissions very rewarding. It may be creating a piece around a colour scheme, theme or idea that is meaningful. Or it may be creating a special silver pendant that encapsulates a memory or a special place.
Past commissions have included Night Sky, Garden, Safari, Reptile Skin, Cat Fur, Rockpool and Lotus themes.
I also love to make Memorial Jewellery commissions. This is where a tiny amount of cremation ash is incorporated into a glass bead or ‘pebble’ to create a keepsake in memory of a beloved family member or pet that has passed away.
