When did you first start making jewelry and how did you learn?
I started making earrings in 1990 when I was expecting my first child (now in his 20's), I sold them party-plan style and was quite successful. A few years later I rediscovered beading when I visited Florida and a marvellous craft store named Michaels. I took so much back to the UK with me it was unreal. From there it developed into something more than a hobby and I opened a Bead Shop in the UK and started teaching and writing tutorials for magazines.
Can you remember the first piece you made?
After the initial earrings and a few years gap, when I picked up the jewellery making again, the first item I made was a little silver stick man type pendant with Swarovski crystals for his body and little silver seed beads for his arms and legs. He was so cute!
Where do you look for inspiration?
I tend to find my inspiration from one componant - it could be a gorgeous lampwork bead or a piece of gemstone. That focal usually seems to tell me what to do and what to add to it.
I find colour inspires me a lot, along with beautiful places like Egypt and Morocco, both of which I have been lucky enough to visit.
What's your craft space like and how do you organize your supplies?
I have various work spaces. As my offsping have now all left home I have a large bedroom as my "indoor" craft space. It houses my out-of-hand collection of yarns along with my various sewing machines and a rather comprehensive bookcase.
Then I had "The Shed" which really is a log cabin type building, packed to the rafters with beads, jewellery making equipment, and more books.
Last, but not least, is my "workshop" which is a brick built shed which houses my kilns for glass work, my torch for lampwork beads, my equipment for stained glass and my sandblaster for making nice patterns on glass :)
What music/podcasts/TV shows do you love to craft along to?
If I am working on a tutorial I need peace & quiet, so there is no TV or Radio in my craft room, but if I am just happily crocheting, knitting or beadweaving I can do that in front of the TV with any random (usually rubbish) program on.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
I am currently doing a Diploma in Crochet, so I am working hard towards that - I also knit, sew, patchwork and design my own brand of craft kits. As you may imagine I am quite busy :)
I have just become a grandmother too, to baby Hope, born in November 2014. She is beautiful.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you for allowing me to take part in this, if anyone would like to contact me through my Facebook page or Twitter, please feel free. Always happy to chat to like minded people.
Necklaces
Belts
