Inspiration follows desperation to become connection.
My new studio is in a former cowshed. When I first saw it , it looked like the cows had just left, but the farmer assured me that he would fix it up beautifully - insulated, painted white, with lights, electricity and water. Desperate for a place to work I believed him and waited patiently for the work to be finished.
A public walking trail goes past my door and I can see the walkers with their back packs and stout boots tramping by. Beyond are fields of hay, wheat and barley, cows and sheep.
I work alone, but I don't feel alone as there is a sculptor in the next stable and two hand book-binders across the way. Peter the farmer drops by to say hello, and often John my husband comes by on his bike.
I work in silver and enamel, two of the most beautiful materials in the world. Silver is a gorgeous metal, forgiving and friendly to construct my pieces in. Enamel can be temperamental but if you are patient with it, it gives back in spades.
Patterns and textures are a huge inspiration to me. I look for them everywhere - on walls, on floors, on papers and fabrics, in books and magazines, in metalwork and woodwork and stonework, in flowers and plants and fields and trees. Anywhere and everywhere I collect and draw and photograph and remember them.
Since opening my Etsy shop I have had customers from many parts of the world which is lovely and makes me feel connected to a community of people who love handmade art.
More than anything I want my customers to be happy with the jewellery that they buy from me. Jewellery is precious for many reasons, but you can't treasure something you are not happy with. So the only rule I have is that the customer must be happy, whatever that takes.
