8 Top Questions Customers Ask me

As a designer-maker a good portion of my sales come from arts markets. I attend 15 - 20 each year and speak to a lot of people like other makers, customers and people browsing, most of whom ask me questions about my business and my background. Here are the top 8 questions people ask me, in no particular order.

Original Designs

My designs all start as sketches which I work up into laser cut files, then construct in my home studio.

1 Did you study design at university?

Nope. I took art at A-level but then chose BA History of Art followed by MA Museum Studies as I thought I’d be more employable that way. The joke of course is that after my MA I spent 4 years in a bizarre series of jobs while I tried to find something that excited me (I never did), before securing a PhD scholarship in psycho-geography. I don’t regret my choice of BA or the PhD as I learnt so much from both, but I did not enjoy the MA and have often wondered if a design course would have been better for me. Regardless, I’m a lifelong self-taught designer and maker and have tried almost every art and craft technique you can think of, including many types of jewellery making.*

2 Do you make everything yourself?

I design all my jewellery myself and construct it. I outsource the laser cutting stage to a local small business as I can’t afford my own machine. Then I put it together, paint and finish myself. I use pre-made findings like ear posts, jump rings, chains, brass discs and the occasional bead. I could make some of these from scratch, but the cost involved would make my jewellery far more expensive because of the time involved.

3 Do you have a favourite design?

I’m proud of all my designs, even the really simple ones, because I remember the time and process involved in each one. The Rosa necklace is the most complex piece I make - it involves 25 separate interlocking pieces - and it’s the one I always include in applications for markets or stockists. The designs I wear the most are the Scallop Studs (I wore them on my wedding day) and the Sky At Night hoops. I always get complimented when I wear The Lovers because they’re unusual.

The Rosa

I always include this piece in applications for stockists and markets. It’s my largest and most complex necklace.

4 Is your work in shops?

My work is currently stocked in 8 shops and galleries in England and Wales. I am always looking for more stockists because they get my work in front of more people than I ever could. I have gained and lost various stockists over the years - I chose to leave a few and some unfortunately closed down, which is sadly all too common with independent makers’ galleries and gift shops. That’s why I try to buy from independent businesses whenever I can.

5 How long does it take to make something?

It depends on the piece. Many pieces involve lots of stages so I tend to batch jobs for different pieces together. I often have glue-up sessions when I’ll add ear posts to studs and earring toppers for fifty pairs of earrings, or I’ll paint enough plywood bases to make 20 pairs of The Lovers. After a piece is made I then have to package it, so I’ll sit in front of the TV and put 100 pairs of earrings onto display cards.

6 Do you run classes?

I have done, and although I don’t have any more planned, that may change if I find a suitable venue. My dream is to own a home with a space large enough for me to run regular classes that incorporate my varied interests, not just jewellery making.

My Favourite Class

Students explored different materials and techniques to make unique pieces.

7 What materials do you use?

I use a combination of materials and I’m not precious about it. The laser cut components are usually acrylic, wood and birch plywood. Acrylic is useful for its variety, wood and plywood for their natural textures and for structure. I also use metals including brass, silver, a little gold, stainless steel and gold/silver plate. Some of my work includes gemstones, glass and plastic beads and cultured pearls. I also use paint where possible, for example to pick out etched details on acrylic or to add colour to wooden pieces. One of my bugbears is snobbery about materials. I believe that every material has inherent value and beauty, whether it’s considered ‘fine’ or not, and I love finding surprising ways to use materials.

8 Do you take commissions?

I do, but it depends on the brief. At the simplest level I often make new colours of existing designs for customers, as with my Celestial Snake Hoops which I made in green for a customer (and they’re now the most popular version!). I have also made entirely new products as with the Art Deco brooch I designed for a customer to wear for her daughter’s wedding. I tell people it’s better to have an idea of what you want rather than a fixed design in your head because I will bring my own approach to the project.

Materials Girl

No materials are banned in my studio.

*An incomplete list of craft classes and hobbies I’ve tried over the past 25 years: basket weaving, Lino printing, screen printing, drypoint printing, furniture painting, woven jewellery, silver jewellery, wooden spoon carving, pyrography, candle making, knitting, paper cutting, batik, mosaics, soap making, mono printing, cross stitch, soft toy making, clothes making, resin jewellery, beaded jewellery, yarn weaving, stone carving, enamelling. Right now I’m into embroidery, model making, needle felting and collage.