Hello,
My name is Catherine and I’m still in shock that I was lucky enough to be voted as the winner of this challenge. Thank you so much.
I only discovered jewellery making last July. Funnily enough it resulted from my wanting to make my own hairsticks and finding I needed a headpin to do so. I went on the internet to find out what a headpin was and where I could buy one and haven’t looked back since. Oh and the hairsticks are still waiting to be made as I’ve been too busy making jewellery to get around to them.
I have to say that everything I have learnt has come from the beading forums on the net (mostly this one – thanks KitschKitty) and from books borrowed from my local library. What with being housebound due to a severe health condition I unfortunately haven’t been able to get to any classes or groups to meet my fellow beaders but am honoured to have met so many in the virtual world of online beading.
I started off with simple stringing quickly progressing from using the cheaper glass beads to gorgeous lampwork (mega thanks to Tan – who’s been an absolute star) and gemstones (yummy). I find I am constantly attracted by new methods and want to have a go at everything. I’ve recently started playing with seed beads, as I couldn’t resist after seeing all the beautiful creations on the UK-Beaders forum. I was pleasantly surprised to find it lots of fun and not at all stressful – I had thought those tiny beads might finish me off! So now I’m trying out bits and pieces with stitches I like and am beginning to combine them with stringing and the good old Nemeton tassel (thanks Lynn). It’s been quite interesting to see my change in style as I learn more. I keep meaning to write down all the tips I wish I’d had when I first started – maybe one day soon.
At the start of the next chapter, I am beginning to research and consider the idea of selling some of my creations (I’ve discovered I can only wear or give away so many). So with a bit of luck and much perseverance my beading may at some point become self-supporting. Well that’s the dream anyway. I certainly hope it happens as I can hear those yet to be made lampies calling me to me buy them and give them a good home!
Hope you all have as much fun beading as I do.
x Catherine.
Our winner is... AlchastMy name is Norma aka Alchast I live in Edinburgh with my husband and my three fantastic girls who are 15 13 and 12. I started card making about 10 years ago and moved onto jewellery making about 6 years ago. After attending a course at Edinburgh College of Art run by Anne Little, a wonderful inspiration and awesome jeweller, I got the beading bug big time. I learnt the basics of enamelling, wire working, soldering at the course and haven’t stopped learning and experimenting since. I love working with wire and specialise in making jewellery with recycled copper, both sheet and wire. I source my copper from the local scrap yards and am now such a regular customer that they keep me wire and sheet, sometimes for months, as they know I will snap it up as soon as get a chance to pick it up. I trained as a Community Education Worker, specialising in Adult Education in areas of high deprivation, and had used my love and aptitude for all forms of arts and crafts in a wide variety of projects, due to family commitments I no longer work in Comm. Ed. So it seemed to be a natural progression that I started to deliver courses in jewellery making, I have done this for nearly 2 years and love every minute of it. I love that people who come to the classes are astonished at the amount they pick-up and learn in a short 2 to 3 hour session, also how addictive it is. I am now combining copper with a variety of other materials including semi-precious stones, silver, polymer clay, lamp work beads, pmc, fabric,felt and anything else I can work into my designs. I draw inspiration from a variety of places but especially the historic surrounding where I live. Our flat is literally in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle so I don’t have to go far to see spectacular architecture, flora and fauna. I am bowled over that this piece was voted as the winner and am deeply appreciative of the honour bestowed upon me. It’s onwards and upwards with my jewellery making and am fully intending on doing this for the rest of my life. Thank you every one Norma aka Alchast