My current collection is called the Chain Reaction Collection. Each piece is inspired by a hormone, like serotonin for happiness, and is made to reflect the look of the molecule of serotonin.
I live in South East Asia - but I'm from the UK.
I will do anything to get out of doing the dishes.
I once won 3rd prize in a Korean cooking TV show in Seoul and had no idea what was going on.
I find it really difficult to walk past an orange dress without buying it.
I'm not even sure! I've tried so many crafts since I was young, but really it was small, intricate things that held my attention. So naturally I turned to jewelry and silversmithing in particular, and studied my craft at university.
Hormones, biology, molecules. My current collection is called the Chain Reaction Collection. Each piece is inspired by a hormone, like serotonin for happiness, and is made to reflect the look of the molecule of serotonin.
It is very important to me though, that each piece is beautiful, it is not about making a gimmicky piece of jewelry. I consider the design of each piece and how I want it to reflect the molecule in question. For example the adrenaline pieces in the collection are all given a blackened finish, to reflect the power and strength of the hormone. Each element of the design is as it is for a reason.
Apart from pieces in the collection I talked about, I did a wonderful commission recently which was so interesting to make.
It was for a wife to give to her husband on their 5 year wedding anniversary. She asked me to make a coin, not really like a commemorative coin but a coin to be used as a tool. This couple regularly make decisions in their life (big and small) with a coin toss. In fact they sold their house in the states and moved half way across the world on the flip of a coin which is how they met me!
We worked on an idea for the design together, adrenaline on one face for the more risky decision and an elephant on the other for the steady path. I carved the coin in wax and cast it in copper. Then I engraved the adrenaline side with some chose words from my lovely customer "Embrace the Chaos". It will absolutely be one of a kind, and I am told he carries it in his pocket every day.
I have sold at craft fairs but now I sell mostly online. It means I have more time to create and be in the workshop - but I do miss face to face interaction with customers. It makes my day when a customer emails me to tell me how much they love their jewelry, so that makes up for not always meeting in person.
Because it is a million times more personal!