MEET: Creature Round Robin Project Participants

The Creature Round Robin Project is a fantastic project devised and hosted by jewellery designer/maker Olly of Wollies with 3 other designer/makers (members of the UK Handmade forum) taking part as guests: Shaz of Oddsox, Kathleen of Murgatroyd and Bean and Julia of Hand Knitted Things. The rules that the participants had to follow were:

1. Describe a creature – post to next person

2. Draw a picture of the description you receive – post on

3. Make the creature from the description and picture you receive – post on

4. Add the features to the creature you recieve – post on

5. This is where you get back the creature you originally described and have a chance to add any final details before posting back to the host…

UK Handmade caught up with the Creature Round Robin Participants to find out all about it!

What made you suggest this Round Robin idea?

OLLY (Wollies) : I knew that there would be many makers of creatures on UK Handmade, so I thought I'd get one going. I wanted to suggest a project that would involve clear cut stages, starting from the very beginning when the creature is imagined. I thought it would be interesting to start with a written description and see how each creature would evolve from writing, to drawing, to pattern, to 3D creature. I really wanted the project to evolve like an exchange of ideas, a discussion. That way, rather than having each person making an isolated contribution, each participant would respond to a previous idea and interpret it in their own way.

 

Tree Urchin (Olly)

What attracted you to this Round Robin idea?

OLLY (Wollies): I loved receiving all of the descriptions and sending them off, it was really exciting. I had a peek at all of them and I loved the way each one was really individual, both in the ideas and the way the descriptions were written. Some were quite precise, others more like a story. Overall, people put so much care and time into what they sent around, it was great.

SHAZ (OddSox): My crafting centres around creature making so when I saw that Olly had started the idea I was very keen to be involved. I’m a follower of her blogsite where she shows lots of interesting work from other artists and regularly shares her latest drawings and creations. When I found out that Julia and Kathleen were also going to be taking part, after investigating their work I just knew we were going to end up with some great creatures!

JULIA (Hand Knitted Things): A spur of the moment decision. I’d just completed a design for my first toy pattern and thought it would be good to get involved in a project with other designers of similar products.

KATHLEEN (Murgatroyd and Bean): Olly introduced me to the idea for this project and suggested that I join UK Handmade so that I could take part. I hadn’t heard of the website before and was intrigued by the online creative community it was offering. I was drawn by the idea of working with other makers whom I ‘d not met before and leaping into the unknown - would I be up to the challenge?

 Inky (Shaz)

 Which bit did you enjoy most?

OLLY (Wollies): I have just loved working with others on a communal project. It is very satisfying to know that your hand has contributed to making someone else's creature! Also, I think that crafting is a very solitary activity, so doing swaps is nice because it establishes a communication with other makers.

SHAZ (OddSox): Olly planned our Round Robin brilliantly – she sent us a handmade printed instruction booklet carefully explaining all the stages. To be honest I was a bit scared of Stage 2 as this involved drawing another persons’ creature description. Drawing isn’t my strong point and I don’t usually do this stage when I’m making my own creatures. As it turned out, I really enjoyed this bit - plus it was a lovely sunny weekend so I sat out in the garden to do it!

JULIA (Hand Knitted Things): Choosing the fabric, cutting out the pattern and starting to construct/sew the creature.

KATHLEEN (Murgatroyd and Bean): I think one of the most exciting aspects of this was the anticipation of what the next parcel would bring! As soon as I’d torn open the parcel I’d be itching to get started on adding my bit. I particularly enjoyed translating Olly’s detailed sketch into a 3d creature - this was also the bit I’d been most concerned about meeting the challenge! I had to really think about how I’d construct suitable legs, shape of head and arms on a small, delicate creature. I experimented with several small scale templates before cutting out any fabric. The quick turnaround of roughly a week for each stage of the project was great for keeping up momentum too.

 The Dak-Dum-Neha (Kathleen)

What have you gained/experienced from this project?

OLLY (Wollies): Absolutely! It was a pleasure working with all of these lovely crafters. Maybe we could get some new recruits and do an even bigger one next time :-)

SHAZ (OddSox): This project has encouraged me to pick up a pen and sketch book a bit more often and I’m enjoying it! It also made me think about how to turn a flat drawing into a three dimensional creature using fabric rather than socks. After seeing my original description evolve into a beautiful drawing and then turn into the gorgeous ‘Inky’ it’s shown me an alternative way of working.

JULIA (Hand Knitted Things): Working with the other contributors has been a great experience. Seeing how others interpret descriptions and designs has been the best part and very inspirational.

KATHLEEN (Murgatroyd and Bean): It was great fun working with Julia, Shaz and Olly and I’d love to do it again some time. The experience has made me think more closely about how I go about translating designs into three dimensional objects. I think that you can sometimes get a bit safe and complacent in your own designs and it’s good to be challenged and made to think about your creative processes. It was a fun and thought provoking exercise.

 Owl (Julia)

Would you do it again and would you be brave enough to host one?

SHAZ (OddSox): Definitely! Olly’s template is a perfect one to adapt to other ideas too. I’d consider hosting one in the future but I’d have to clear the decks of other projects first though!

JULIA (Hand Knitted Things): Yes, definitely I’d take part again! If I hosted a RR I’d want to organize it in a similar way to this one.

KATHLEEN (Murgatroyd and Bean): Yes, I’d definitely take part in something similar again and would encourage others to give it a go. Olly did a smashing job pulling it together and I’d agree with Julia & Shaz that she has given us a great template to follow on future Round Robins, so yes, maybe I would be brave enough to host one of my own soon time soon.

For more information about the participants check out their websites and blogs:

Host: Olly (a.k.a. Wollies)

http://the-wollies-blog.blogspot.com/
http://www.folksy.com/shops/WOLLIES

Guests:
Shaz (a.k.a. OddSox)
http://www.oddsox.folksy.com
http://thesockgarden.wordpress.com/


Kathleen (a.k.a. Murgatroyd)
http://murgatroydhoots.blogspot.com/
http://www.folksy.com/shops/MurgatroydandBean

Julia (a.k.a. Hand Knitted Things)
http://handknittedthings.blogspot.com/
http://www.folksy.com/shops/handknittedthings

MEET: UK Handmade Writing Competition Winner - Victoria Baker of Little Wren Pottery

Victoria Baker of Little Wren Pottery is joint winner of our recent Writing Competition, alongside Fiona Stolze. Little Wren Pottery specialises in contemporary English dinnerware for your table. All the pieces are handcrafted in Sunderland, England in stoneware clay. Victoria Baker, the potter behind Little Wren Pottery loves creating rustic ceramics for the modern home......we caught up with Victoria to find out more!

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me, I like to use natural earthy colours in my pottery - browns, reds and greens. I tend to think stoneware pottery has that rustic feeling to it and colour choices help to emphasise this. When I'm not potting, I tend to spend a lot of time out in the garden tending to my vegetables, I love listening to birdsong and sometimes animals make their way onto my pots. I also really enjoy visiting museums to look at the ancient pottery.  Often these old styles are more elegant and graceful than modern home wares.

ceramic planter

How did you get started?
My Dad has been a potter for a number of years and he encouraged me to take a night class. He'd never taught anyone before and he thought I'd better get instruction from someone else. Attending the class I actually found quite quickly I was able to produce sell-able pieces. I now produce all my pieces in my home studio, of course my Dad is always teaching me new things. I also know a few potters in my local area and if there's something my Dad and I don't know, we ask them for help too.

 Tiptoe through the tulips ceramic vase

Whose work do you admire?
I really admire the work of Japanese potters. I love how their work directly reflects the natural world through colour and texture. I also really like simple shapes that have been beautifully thrown, sometimes you just don't need a fancy glaze or slip design when your pieces look perfectly balanced. Probably the best examples of this can be found in Finnish pottery. I also get inspired by other potters I know, particularly my Dad and his former pottery teacher who we still visit.

Bowl jug for batters, gravy and custard

Describe your typical working day......
Since I still work full time I never really have a typical day. When I get home from work I concentrate on packing orders, keeping the studio tidy or designing new pieces. I do most of my throwing on a Saturday morning.  hrough trial and error I have found this is my most productive time. I can throw up to half a bag of clay in one morning between 8 and 10 am. On Sunday's I'll turn all the pots I made, they need a day to dry out and become leather hard, before they can be turned. 

stoneware coffee mugs

What is your favourite piece you have made, and why?
My favourite piece so far has been my pottery creamers. They are a nice weight when you pick them up and just a pleasing shape. Sometimes you get to the bisque stage of having fired a piece and for some reason the glaze you choose doesn't quite work. This time though I was really pleased with how it turned out, especially how it has "run" on the body of the pot, providing a bit of colour variation.

What is your favourite process?
I enjoy throwing most of all. I find it really satisfying seeing clay go from unshaped lumps to thrown and finally turned. Usually when I throw, I have a specific object in mind but sometimes the clay does its own thing and it's really nice to have a surprise!

Cookie/biscuit jar

What do you see for Little Wren Pottery in the next 12 months?
I'd really like to go part time in my job so I have more time to develop The Little Wren Pottery range. At the moment, there aren't enough hours in the day! 

Your Dad is a potter too, do you work on pieces together, and if so, does this make the piece that bit more special?
Sometimes we work together on things, I have smaller more delicate hands than he does - so if he requires something to finish off a piece, a spout or a lid, he'll ask me to do it. I enjoy working with my Dad, there isn't much else we both enjoy together so having some time with him is great. Sometimes we do throwing relays where we interchange throwing pots on the wheel. My Dad's pieces are usually much larger and bolder (more manly!) than mine. Sometimes he teaches me things and he continually provides feedback on how I can produce better work. I still haven't quite mastered lips for jars and teapots!

What is on your Wish List?
Having a better studio area that is away from the house. At the moment the attic is continually getting quite messy, sometimes this filters its way down the stairs - so having another space with running water would be ideal.

When work is done, how do you relax?
I get in the kitchen and rustle up something nice, usually sweet! I look after my plants in the garden, maybe do a bit of knitting. When there is time, I love to watch old black and white films of all different genres and of course.....Doctor Who.

To see Victoria's range of products visit:-
Little Wren Pottery
Little Wrens Etsy Shop
Little Wren Pottery at Folksy
Little Wren Pottery Dawanda Shop

MEET: UK Handmade Writing Competition Winner - Fiona Stolze of Silk & Art

Fiona Stolze is joint winner of our recent Writing Competition, alongside Victoria Baker.  Based in Bristol, Fiona is designer and creator of Silk and Art.  Fiona creates stunning handcrafted silk products including cushions, art, silk wall hangings, scarves and greeting cards, in original and beautiful Mandala style. We caught up with Fiona to find out more about her and her work.

What inspires you?
I feel inspired by a great many things, life in all its splendour.  But I have a great love for all things Indian.....the amazing vibrant colours, the fabrics, the spices, the music.  And I love the movement and colours together and have always had a great affinity with the Impressionists. I also take huge inspiration from the inner world accessed by meditation and becoming still and play beautiful spiritual music whilst I am painting in my studio.  You can see lots of evidence of this in my mandalas. I love beautiful things and find my inspiration and enthusiasm growing as I always get inspired by other people living and expressing their passion. 

Handpainted silk cushions

How did you get started?
I've always been a very arty, creative person but never had any formal education in the arts. I used to draw, paint and generally try out anything interesting that crossed my path. I always loved buying a book and teaching myself how to do something. My background is in teaching and then I moved on to become a foreign language secretary, a freelance translator and then after my first two children were born, I trained in alternative therapies and got involved in my spiritual practices of healing and meditation - both of which have stayed with me. 

It wasn't until 1999 that I created my first mandala, which was a far cry from the work I do now. I went on to paint one or two more, then something odd happened. We were going to sell or house and a woman that accompanied her son spotted my artwork, fell in love with it and bought one of my mandalas on the spot.  Just the piece of silk, no mount or frame. She told me that others would love to see what I did and that I should consider doing it for a living. Nearly 11 years have passed since that day and I have certainly sold a lot of artwork in the meantime. We left Germany and moved to Glastonbury where I began to sell lots of small pieces of work, including window pictures, cards, bookmarks and scarves. But all the time, I steadily continued to create mandalas, building up a collection. 

I invested in a professional steamer and the French dyes which are so beautifully translucent and give the finished piece a gorgeous sheen and softness. I visited fairs and often left without selling anything, as I was clearly in the wrong venue. There were opportunities to sell my original paintings through shops and commissions came my way too. But the big change was when I took the decision to expand my website, started blogging and really got out there. Interestingly, my written work attracts a lot of attention to my artwork.

Silk Mandala Pictures

Whose work do you admire?
The sand mandalas of the Tibetan monks. They get rigorous training in this art and create these mandalas using coloured sand. When the mandala is complete, it is taken to the nearest water and cast in, symbolic of the transience of life. They are never allowed to claim ownership of the work they create. I love the work of Monet.  His beautiful waterlilies......mostly painted when his eyesight was failing.

Silk Scarves and Sarongs

Describe your typical working day......
Ideally I like to waken and start the day with my gratitude exercise. I sit quietly with my hands on my heart and list all the things I am grateful for in my life. Feeling the gratitude for what I already have attracts more into my life and creates abundance. I then move into a meditation which can sometimes last up to an hour. This is the ultimate healer if followed with dedication and intent. My work.....well, I'm really lucky that I have an attic studio with lots of light. My table is in the window and I have a good view from the second floor out over the treetops with a wide expanse of sky. In our last home in Ireland, I had a huge studio with a panoramic view of the Irish sea......idyllic.

I like to set everything up to create a very relaxing and creative ambience. I choose meditation music which I play to set me into a real right-brain space, where I can totally surrender to the process. I often light a candle and burn incense too and I will clear everything away from the table so I can almost walk around my mandala.  I love to be able to approach it from every angle. I typically work in short bursts at the bigger pieces and then step back and contemplate. I love to sit and watch and wait and feel the paintings. When I'm doing other pieces such as scarves or hangings, I have the end picture in my mind's eye and I can sometimes move forward at an intense pace, excited to see the completed item.

I intersperse my painting work with lots of work at the computer as I now have a Silk and Art Facebook page, my busy Wordpress blog, an Etsy and a Folksy shop, a page on Redbubble, participation on different online forums (particularly the Ning Silk Painting Gallery Network) and of course, my website which we are now in the process of streamlining and making easier to work with. Now, that may sound like a lot, and it is but you don't have to get me out of bed in the morning to make me do it and that's the key. Do the things you love doing and watch your self esteem grow.

Tell me more about the unique style of mandala......
Mandala is from the ancient Sanskrit language and means "mystical circle". These designs are in evidence all over the planet and examples of them can be found in many religions, including Buddhism, Christianity (rose windows) and Hinduism to name a few. With the exception of the Tibetan mandalas which have to follow a specific pattern and number system, a mandala generally has a central point (bindu), a series of concentric circles with patterns which can be geometric with specific significance, or more abstract, and an outer periphery. 

The image represents our life path, the journey we take through the experiences we create, starting at the central point and moving outward until we reach the outer edge. We are then able to return to the centre and start all over again on a new level, using the insights we gained the first time round. Mandalas have been scientifically proven to calm the mind and are often used by therapists. Creating a personal mandala can open doors to great depths and wisdom. Each one has its own story and inspiration and I never "think" them out beforehand, as they like to do that themselves. I mark the centre of my piece of silk and then use a fabric maker taped to a pair of compasses to randomly draw a few concentric circles. Then, off I go, drawing the mandala pattern, ring by ring with gold gutta.

The artwork you produce is so bright and vibrant, what influences your designs?
I often have a sensation of life bursting out when I create the mandalas. You will see many leaf and plant motifs, blossoms, sunshine, roots going deep into the earth, vines reaching up to the sky, tendrils growing out of things. I think it is the inbuilt desire to expand and grow and become all that I can be. I just love strong colour.....strong purples, vibrant fuchsia, burning orange and, of course, I also incorporate spiritual symbols in my work. There are yingyangs, Celtic knots, OM's, astrology and labyrinths.

Silk Wall Hangings

Do you have any new products on the horizon?
Yes, I always have many things on the go at once but I would love to create beautiful one-off pieces of clothing with mandala art on some of them. I am working on accessories too, including little bespoke clutch bags made with hand painted fabric.

I offer panels of silk with my mandalas on them. A company prints these for me on the same fabric I paint my originals on. I stretch them and apply the gold gutta pattern so that they are very close to the originals. I recently received photographs from a woman in Georgia who asked me to provide her with 24 of these panels for a specially created ceiling for her bedroom.  The final piece is amazing. I would love my work to be incorporated into many more wonderful projects like this and am looking into ways to promote the idea.

One big project I come back to again and again is creating a DVD with my artwork animated to music and
of course, the writing. I am planning to have my own book out in print in the next few years and hopefully smaller e-books on offer within the next few months. I am currently working on small tutorials. 

Where do you see Silk and Art in the next 12 months?
Definitely much more out in the public, with more recognition. I want to continue working with video both to publicise my products but also offer tutorials and self help books to those who live further afield.  I would love to establish my brand but also get my name known more too so I can do more things parallel to Silk and Art.

Silk Mandala Picture

When work is done, how do you relax?
That makes me smile.  ou'll often find me relaxing by sitting at the computer until late at night, putting the last minute finishes to my blog. Other times I will get completely lost in a book. How do I really, really relax? Well, I just love to have a really hot bath and just soak for ages right up to my chin and just chill.....well simmer. Meditation is something else which induces deep feelings of relaxation for me, a great way to start the day or wind the day up. Another thing I love with a passion is going for very long walks. There are lovely woodland walks which I can do easily from here along the River Frome. It's great for clearing my head and allowing myself to find the solutions I seek. I adored going for beach walks when we lived in Ireland, walking as far out as the tide would allow, stepping onto virgin sand. Feeling the tide lapping against my feet and the breeze in my face.  Water has something magical about it.  One day I'll have my healing centre beside the water.......

Mandala Greeting Cards

To see Fiona's range of products and get your own piece of Mandala art visit:-
Silk and Art
Silk and Art Blog
Silk and Art Etsy Shop

We will have an interview with Victoria Baker of Little Wren Pottery later today! Watch this space.

MEET: Rose Sharp Jones

Today we meet textile designer Rose Sharp Jones of Rose Sharp Jones Textile Design.

Please tell us who you are and what you do.

My name is Rose Sharp Jones and I am a textile designer. I specialised in knitted textiles during my BA course, continuing this during my recent MA where I also incorporated printed textiles into my work. I also use crochet for many of my products. Much of my inspiration comes from traditional textile techniques such as smocked embroidery and aran knitting stitches. I use these techniques to create a range of contemporary textiles that are applied to a variety of products including furniture and cushions as well as wearable accessories.

Pieces are hand or machine knitted, crocheted or made from fabric screen printed with my hand drawn designs. I use organic and sustainable materials throughout my work. I make all pieces myself and am based in south London.

How long have you been creating for?

I’ve been creating since childhood in one form or another but have been running my business for just over a year, since completing an MA in Textile Design.

When did you first realise you could turn your craft into a business?

I first planned to set up my own business during my MA course.

Describe your work setting.

I have a workroom at home that’s filled with lots of things! There are a lot of shelves and drawers for my yarns and fabrics, as well as my desk with drawing and painting equipment for designing my printed fabrics. I also have my knitting machine set up in another part of the room.

What inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Much of my work focuses on finding new uses for traditional techniques in contemporary products, so I’m constantly motivated by different product ideas as well as the original inspiration that I find in traditional textiles and dress. Other inspiration can come from anywhere!

How do you keep a balance between work and home life?

This can be hard but I try and keep the balance by working to normal daytime working hours, although this obviously varies at busy periods!

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?

It’s great when you receive positive feedback from customers, when they like the colours you’ve used or a new print design for example. I also teach knitting and crochet classes and have found this enjoyable and rewarding.

And the most frustrating?

Lack of time is frustrating, the administrative and website upkeep side of my business take a lot of time which detracts from the time I have for designing and making. It’s difficult sometimes when designs don’t develop smoothly but that’s part of the creative process and working through problems can be very rewarding.

What are your long term goals?

I hope to run a successful business promoting the use of traditional crafts and hand made, environmentally friendly products.

What advice would you give someone trying to start their own creative business?

Try and get a good understanding of running a business and seek business advice if you can. Carrying out the administrative side of your business will probably involve a lot of your time. Try and research the best markets for your work. Keep your products original and make sure that you enjoy making them!

Is 'handmade' a lifestyle choice for you and if so why?
I try to buy as many handmade products as possible and have a real appreciation for products handmade by other designers, as I understand the work and time that goes into them! I make a lot of clothing and accessories for myself as well as gifts for family and friends.


To find out more about Rose and her work visit her website: http://www.rosesharpjones.co.uk/   

Contact Rose for information on how to order her products:
Email: mail@rosesharpjones.co.uk
Phone: 07958 925 866
http://www.makers-online.co.uk/artist/rose-sharp-jones

MEET: Eberth Lobo of Olinda Jewellery

This week, we meet an inspiring man, Eberth Lobo of Olinda Jewellery. Originally from Brazil and now living in the UK, Eberth shares his passion for designing and making jewellery.

Please tell us who you are and what you do.
My name’s Eberth Lobo and I’m originally from Brazil. I live in Loughborough with my wife Ruth and our 12 year old son, Tiago, who is a tennis player. I design and make unique pieces of jewellery, made with natural stones and gemstones (including onyx, lapis, coral, amethyst, turquoise, rose/green quartz, gold tiger eye, jade, agate and crystal), Murano glass and shell, on chain, wire, leather and cotton, with silver and gold-plated findings and clasps.

How did you come up with the name of your business?
My wife Ruth came up with the name of the business. Olinda is a small town in Brazil, just outside Recife, in the North-East of Brazil. It was a Portuguese colony and, like Lisbon, it’s hilly and its cobbled streets are lined with colourful houses. It’s famous for its annual Carnival, called Frevo. It’s an arty town with lots of quaint little cafes and shops. Also, ‘linda’ means ‘beautiful’ in Portuguese, so ‘O linda’ means ‘Oh, how beautiful you are.’ So the idea is that if you wear a unique piece of colourful Olinda jewellery, you will be a beautiful woman!

Who or what inspires you most in your work?
Who? People who have seen my work and appreciate it. Their feedback inspires me to keep creating more.

What? The stones themselves. They choose me – when they are ready to be turned into that unique piece of jewellery, made for that special person.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do, and what is the most frustrating?
The most rewarding is when each piece of jewellery finds its owner. Sometimes a piece lies there for a long time, sometimes it’s found straight away – but there’s always a person the piece is waiting for. Some designers wouldn’t wait as long as me – they dissemble and recreate another piece. I don’t – I know the piece will be found, however long it takes. Because of this I feel I’m performing a service for people by giving them something special and unique that will make them feel special.

The most frustrating thing for me is when people don’t appreciate the value or quality of handmade items in general. Creating handmade jewellery is a gift and one of my aims is to raise people’s awareness of the value and uniqueness of artists’ crafts.

What are your long term goals?
To devote more time to designing and creating jewellery – I am currently a teacher of English, creating jewellery in my spare time. In the future, I know I will be able to make Olinda a successful business in the sense that I will be able to devote all my time to the gift I have.

How do you promote your business?
I show my jewellery at craft fairs around the country, at jewellery parties, through my website (www.olindajewellery.com), which was launched last month, through distributing flyers, email networking, word of mouth, etc. … you name it.

What makes you stand out from the other jewellery businesses out there?
Firstly, every piece I make is unique – even if asked, I won’t make a copy of one of my pieces – this gives people the satisfaction of knowing that no one else has a piece the same as them.

Secondly, each piece of Olinda jewellery, has something of myself within it, which goes with the person who buys it.

Thirdly, as I mentioned before, each piece is destined for one particular person, which makes me a mediator between the stones and the people – it’s the stones that call me to turn them into a piece of jewellery for a specific purpose or person – it’s not me that chooses the stones or their destiny.

What advice would you give someone trying to start their own creative business?
Whatever you believe in, go for it fully. Believe in yourself and your creativity. Your self belief will make it happen, however long it might take. Focus on your goal and it will happen – what you sow, you will reap. I only discovered my gift for making jewellery 2 years ago, but since this discovery I have been 100% sure that this is the right path for me and have fully believed in what I’m doing. And now I’m here already. Also, make sure your presentation shows who and what you are, from your business card to your display or your website. I’ve spent the last year improving and perfecting my presentation – this was a big investment but well worth it.

Is 'handmade' a lifestyle choice for you? And if so, why?
It is now. From the experience of creating handmade jewellery, I have come to realize how little value people place on handmade goods. Realising now the energy that goes into my own creations, has obviously made me much more aware of this value. I now only use handmade soaps, look for handmade items for gifts, buy handmade greeting cards, etc.

If you had time to learn a new skill what would it be?
I’m already planning to do a course on working with silver clay, to enrich my own creations. I’ve always wanted to work with silver and this will broaden the range of my jewellery collection.

See more of Eberth's work at http://www.olindajewellery.com/

MEET: Beverly Lay

This week we meet someone a little different, based in London, Beverly from All Things Original is the founder of a fabulous online boutique showcasing UK designer makers.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your business got started?
I’m always doing something crafty, sewing, quilting, making jewellery, experimenting with my Gocco or doing a bit of cross stitch for my daughter.

After a degree in Graphic Design, I started a career in advertising but soon realised after only a couple of years of selling my soul that it wasn’t for me. At around the same time, I was experimenting with jewellery making in my spare time and, one summer, decided to sell what I had made.

A local shop owner who saw what I was selling approached me and asked if she could order some of my jewellery to sell in her boutique. She proceeded to order 50 items for her shop and, with a new-found confidence, I was soon selling my wares to different shops around the country as well as at both Greenwich market and the Upmarket on Brick Lane.

It was through doing this – and particularly through selling at the markets - that I met so many fabulous other designer makers. It really gave me a brilliant insight into what was out there in terms of UK craft and design.

I knew that what was on display was popular but felt that beyond the boutique shops and market stalls in London it was actually quite difficult for the average person to find all the wonderful bits and pieces being made by UK designers.

So, after to speaking to lots of my friends and colleagues about the idea for an online shop, I resolved one cold winter’s morning over a cup of tea to set up http://www.allthingsoriginal.com/.

The next few months involved lots of planning and admin but the site was finally ready in November 2007 and the rest, as they say, is history!

The only downside to is that now I don’t get to make my jewellery so much anymore, but I still try to keep creative - my latest passion is quilting!

What is the ethos behind All Things Original?
Starting out as a small designer maker myself, I know just how much hard work it takes to make a successful business out of making and selling creative goods. That’s why from the very beginning of All Things Original I wanted to ensure I was adding to the work of designer makers rather than just taking from it.

All Things Original is not a big corporate enterprise – and I will never let it become one! I like to keep in close touch with my sellers, regularly checking in with them to make sure that they are getting the most out of the site and promoting their work in relevant press wherever I can.



Describe your typical working day.I really do not have a typical working day. Mornings are usually chaos trying to get my daughter off to nursery and my husband out the door to work but once the chaos is over I make myself a coffee and start to go through my emails.

I answer customer queries, print out yesterdays orders, do a little social networking, upload any new bits and pieces and deal with any press requests that may have come in - generally try to get on and tackle my ever-growing to do list!

Unfortunately there’s a lot of admin associated with running a site with almost 60 designers. However, I spend a lot of time browsing blogs and looking for new designers and new trends. Sometimes a fun day may include visiting trade or craft fairs just to see what’s out there.

Then it’s back to being a mum and wife for a while - baby’s tea time, bath, bottle, bed time and dinner – before finishing off any bits and pieces that I didn’t have time to get done in the day.

What do you love most about what you do, and what is the most difficult?
LOVE – discovering new designers that I think are very special and just don’t know it yet!

DIFFICULT – Managing my time between being a mum and a businesswoman and knowing when to stop - there is always something to do.

What are your future plans for All Things Original?
I’m working hard on improving the functionality and backend of the site at the moment and trying to make the shopping experience easier for my customers. These new features will hopefully be up and running by the end of the year.

We’re also looking at creating a bespoke service that will give people the chance to order specific pieces based on the designs already on the site.

Long-term, I want to build up the community aspect of the site for my sellers, giving them a chance to interact with each other to share ideas and also with sellers to resolve queries more efficiently.

And if I’m daydreaming, I think about the idea of setting up a physical All Things Original shop to showcase some of the best work on my site - but we’ll have to have a very good 2010 before I can think seriously about that!

What styles and trends have caught your eye recently?
Anything bold and beautiful works for me right now…the new statement necklaces by Gossimarwings are a great example.

Pansy Necklace by Gossamarwings

MEET: Dianne King

This week, UK Handmade interviews a fascinating jewellery designer based in Fife who began her second career only five years ago after moving from a background in art history and sculpture. Creating strong pieces with a clear narrative structure, weaving stories that flow with the natural properties of the materials she works with, Dianne's work is quite unique.

Please tell us who you are and what you do
My name is Dianne King and I design and hand-make one-off pieces of jewellery using silver, gold and precious/semi-precious stones in unusual designs and combinations.

I like to think of each unique work as having a story behind it. I can rabbit on for hours about the ideas and associations behind the work! It’s important also that jewellery is satisfying to touch as well as good to look at – most people play with their jewellery while they are wearing it.

My pieces are assertive, but not aggressive. They will get you noticed, but don’t shout.

Describe your work setting
My studio is a converted stable with small square windows fitted with shutters so that I can have it dark for soldering. The down side is I have flagstone floors – disastrous if I drop anything.

What inspires you in your work?
My background is in sculpture and art history so I make a lot of references to other art in my jewellery. For example, the Ruffle series comes from looking at Elizabethan portraits with their enormous lace ruffs and pearls.

I also take ideas from literature: the Sea Stories series is partly inspired by reading Neil Gunn’s novel, The Silver Darlings; the Dreaming Stone series comes from a line in a Ben Okri novel.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
I love seeing the transformation that takes place when someone puts on a piece of jewellery that’s exactly right for them. They seem to sort of glow and increase in confidence!

And the most frustrating?
When I have to stop making to do normal things like shopping, which I hate.

Making jewellery is such fun! But I never seem to have enough time to explore all the ideas I want to develop. I have lots of things on the go at once, in various stages of completion. Possibly because I came to making jewellery as a second career, I have so many things I want to do and get impatient with myself for being so slow. I’m a perfectionist, and that takes time.

Describe your typical day
I normally start the day at 6.30am and go for a brisk half-hour walk after breakfast to clear my mind for the day. I don’t usually get into the studio till about 9am. My schedule very much depends on whether I am working to an exhibition deadline in which case I can be working till about 10 at night. (In consideration for the neighbours, I try not to be hammering after 10pm.) I stop for endless cups of tea which often end up going cold as I get lost in the work.

What are your long term plans?
I’m exhibiting in London for the first time from 10th – 13th June at the ACJ stand at Treasure, as part of London Jewellery Week. I’m very excited about this and hope it will lead to new gallery contacts.

I’d like to find more good galleries to exhibit my work. I like galleries which show interesting fine art as well as applied arts. I’d also like to show abroad again. I’ve had two solo shows in Sweden which went really well but it would be good to exhibit in another country too.

If you could live your life all over again, what would you do differently?
I would give more time to my parents as they grew older. In retrospect, I realize that they would have appreciated that, but at the time I was juggling a full-time job, a small child etc. My parents died quite suddenly within two months of each other.

If you had time to learn a new skill what would it be?
When I studied sculpture at art college, I never tried stone carving so I’d love to have a go at that some day. My jewellery tends to be quite sculptural but not in that reductive way. It’s a completely different way of working and that could be very refreshing.

You can find out more about Dianne and her work on her website, www.dianneking.com.