Life as a Handmade Jewellery Designer

It crept up on me that I have now been a professional handmade jewellery designer for ten years! I didn’t mark the first day but I can see that I opened my Etsy shop way back in 2012. When I started I was working as a counsellor, which whilst is rewarding and important work, I needed a creative outlet that was just for me. It was also useful for me to have a second income stream, as clients come and go, and some of mine were on very low incomes and couldn’t pay me much.

Handmade Jewellery Design is Creative

Speaking with other jewellery designers I know that finding time to make new designs can be a challenge. The time is there, but there is something so pleasurable about the design process. Taking an idea or sketch through to completion, through the messy middle of experimentation, some failures along the way - and if you persevere, the success.

Silversmithing is Alchemy

When I have the torch in my hand and my piece ready for bonding to its home - a leaf to a ring or bangle, or a pebble to a loop for a pendant, the feeling is one of communion. The natural elements of fire, air and metal come together as one, with me as the director.

Making Jewellery is Mindful

Because the process of soldering and hammering, as well as of beading and assembling requires close attention, I have to stay in the moment. I have to pause my audiobook or podcast, or turn off the radio so I can be present while making the handmade jewellery When soldering, there is a moment when the solder flows. You can’t miss it - too long and you could melt the piece you are working on; to short and it doesn’t flow. You have to be right their with it, willing it on, getting the temperature to just the right level, and there, it flows, you hold it for no more than a tiny moment to make sure its flowed into the right places, then pull the flame away and see the solder firm up around its joined elements.

Finding Inspiration is Compulsory

To live a creative life, you need to feed your work with inspiration regularly. For me, as a nature inspired jewellery designer I immerse myself in nature every day, mainly when walking with my dog. I also visit inspiring places when I can - I am lucky to have some local to me, and you can often find me lurking around such as Petersham Nurseries, Ham House (especially the gardens) Kew Gardens and all the beautiful parks here in twickenham - Marble Hill, Crane Park, Twickenham Riverside, Orleans House Gardens and York House Gardens. Before the pandemic, I took regular trips into London to visit art galleries and exhibitions and museums, perhaps once ever month or two, with friends equally hungry for inspiration and soul-nourishment. I do like gardening, though I confess that my garden is small and nothing special. But when the roses are out, for a month in June it is heaven. It’s important, even if you don’t feel you or your life is especially creative, to give permission to have days out in beautiful places. There are free parks, galleries and museums all over the place, and some more that are worth investing in. It is also an investment in yourself.

Handmade Jewellery is Soulful

As I make and finish my pieces I do keep in mind that a person I don’t know and will probably never meet will be wearing this jewellery soon. They might not realise that it is handmade jewellery, just something pretty to wear each day that came perhaps as a gift from a loved one or a treat for themselves. Handmade jewellery is imbued with the creative energy of the maker. This is why people like to buy it - it just feels different to buy a handmade leaf necklace from someone pouring their love and soul into it, rather than the ones from M&S or Accessorise, even from Tiffany - though they are still lovely!

Collecting Natures Treasures

I am always on the look out for beautiful (and small!) natural forms I can replicate in silver. This means that I am always alert to the details of nature, and bring fallen treasures like leaves, seeds and shells back to the studio. Some of them end up being made into jewellery designs and some I keep on display to inspire me as I work.

Learning how to make Handmade Jewellery

I used to teach beginners jewellery making workshops in my studio in the garden - which was so much fun. I had to stop when the Pandemic came - and may restart in 2023. Although I am largely a self taught jewellery designer I took some classes at The London Jewellery School. They also teach a diploma, and I know some people who are taking the course now (who came to my workshops and felt they had to go on and learn more!) Watching their progress on instagram is a great testimonial for the course. You can of course teach yourself using You Tube videos though a directed course will offer the support and guidance you might need, and avoid endless searching and pitfalls (I did it the hard way, but its still a good way!).

So I hope you now understand what a lovely thing it is to be a jewellery designer. Handmade jewellery is so replenishing, not only for my customers (see some reviews here) but for me in the making process. We only get one precious life, and I am happy with my choice of how I spend mine. What creative outlets do you have? What inspiring places do you have locally that you could visit?