My life has come full circle and I love the way it’s turned out for the end of my “career”. I started out with art college but having been led to believe I was really something at school, when I got into the big league, I realised I wasn’t that special, put my sensible head back on and went back to my original idea – getting a degree and working as a Librarian in Local Government for many years. I loved running the housebound library service but when my back gave in after too many book-wielding, van-with-no-power-steering years, I went on to working for Age Concern, again with elderly and disabled people.
Then I made a wrong move and went back into libraries but in a Chemical corporation – I so hated it! So then I moved back into the charity sector to organise information in a disability helpline, where I gradually reduced hours. At that time, I also started a silversmithing course, the best decision in years, it was like a duck to water and I loved every minute of it. I still go on lots of courses to brush up or learn new techniques with different materials, so I have added enamelling, silver clay, anodising aluminium, pewter etching and casting to my repertoire along the way.
When the jewellery bookings became too much to handle with working part-time as well, I gave it all up and now concentrate solely on the jewellery, ably assisted by my now retired husband Mike (my donkey at the craft fairs as I still can’t lift; as well as my studio technician, very handy to have an ex-engineer!) and my inspiration, my toy poodle Zuzu.
I live in Ashton-in-Makerfield, overlooking a park and near a Nature Reserve; it’s a very convenient little town. It’s officially Greater Manchester, in the old county of Lancashire (which we always use on our address) but where it meets up with Cheshire and Merseyside. Very convenient for my frequent visits to local craft fairs, covering all 4 counties.
Finally, about my work. Sterling silver is always the basis (never silver plate) though often in combination with copper, brass, pewter, glass, as well as upcycled pre-decimal coins and biscuit tins. All work in sterling silver weighing over 7.78g is hallmarked (as legally required) at the Edinburgh Assay Office with the lovely little castle symbol. Also, some of the more intricate/expensive designs that are under this weight will also have the hallmark but otherwise, to keep the costs down, I do not send for hallmark when it is not required by law. Those that have the hallmarked will be noted as this in my descriptions: if this is not mentioned, they are not hallmarked but please be assured, they ARE sterling silver.
Vendor Biography
My life has come full circle and I love the way it’s turned out for the end of my “career”. I started out with art college but having been led to believe I was really something at school, when I got into the big league, I realised I wasn’t that special, put my sensible head back on and went back to my original idea – getting a degree and working as a Librarian in Local Government for many years. I loved running the housebound library service but when my back gave in after too many book-wielding, van-with-no-power-steering years, I went on to working for Age Concern, again with elderly and disabled people.
Then I made a wrong move and went back into libraries but in a Chemical corporation – I so hated it! So then I moved back into the charity sector to organise information in a disability helpline, where I gradually reduced hours. At that time, I also started a silversmithing course, the best decision in years, it was like a duck to water and I loved every minute of it. I still go on lots of courses to brush up or learn new techniques with different materials, so I have added enamelling, silver clay, anodising aluminium, pewter etching and casting to my repertoire along the way.
When the jewellery bookings became too much to handle with working part-time as well, I gave it all up and now concentrate solely on the jewellery, ably assisted by my now retired husband Mike (my donkey at the craft fairs as I still can’t lift; as well as my studio technician, very handy to have an ex-engineer!) and my inspiration, my toy poodle Zuzu.
I live in Ashton-in-Makerfield, overlooking a park and near a Nature Reserve; it’s a very convenient little town. It’s officially Greater Manchester, in the old county of Lancashire (which we always use on our address) but where it meets up with Cheshire and Merseyside. Very convenient for my frequent visits to local craft fairs, covering all 4 counties.
Finally, about my work. Sterling silver is always the basis (never silver plate) though often in combination with copper, brass, pewter, glass, as well as upcycled pre-decimal coins and biscuit tins. All work in sterling silver weighing over 7.78g is hallmarked (as legally required) at the Edinburgh Assay Office with the lovely little castle symbol. Also, some of the more intricate/expensive designs that are under this weight will also have the hallmark but otherwise, to keep the costs down, I do not send for hallmark when it is not required by law. Those that have the hallmarked will be noted as this in my descriptions: if this is not mentioned, they are not hallmarked but please be assured, they ARE sterling silver.