Thursday, October 11, 2012

And in the beginning there were beads...


Kaz Baildon lampwork beads
Welcome to another inaugural post, this time from me, the AJE United Kingdom Correspondent. Not one of those reserved Brits you hear talk of me...been here 10 minutes and already given myself a fancy shmancy title! In all seriousness though I'm absolutely delighted and more than a little surprised to find myself here at all. I've only been involved with jewellery for a few years and I know there are people out there with heaps more experience than me, but I do love what I do and I hope I can share some of my passion with you. More about me here if you're interested.

Wondering about what to write for this first post got me thinking back to those early days working with hobby store beads and how quickly things changed. Knowing there must surely be something more interesting out there I did a 'quick' Internet search and several hours later had to be surgically removed from both my laptop and my credit card and now I have a serious addiction to art beads and components. These days I buy them from all over the world but back then I shopped much closer to home so it was UK artists that set me on the journey which got me here today. There are of course many, many talented jewellery artisans in the UK but for now I'd just like to introduce a few that first piqued my interest. So, let's get to some eye candy shall we...

Lampwork was my first art bead discovery and with it the work of the Kaz Baildon  of Cheeky Cherub Designs. Kaz has a wonderful eye for combining colour and is an absolute perfectionist in her work. I'm a real sucker for etched beads and earthy, saturated tones which she does brilliantly but her repertoire is immense.

Kaz Baildon lampwork beads
Kaz and I have a synergistic working relationship - I love her beads and she loves my design style so it's not unknown for me to turn her beads into jewellery which then finds it's way back home to Kaz.

Kaz Baildon lampwork beads, necklace by THEA jewellery
Kaz also makes and sells the murrini and frit blends she uses to decorate her beads and even though I can't make beads I had to have some...they look great on enameled copper.

Next up is Anna McDade, the jewellery designer whose work first had me reaching for the sheet metal and saws, not that I have ever come close to imitating  her. She specialises in detailed pierced work and etched metal pieces, often with animal and bird motifs.

Anna McDade jewellery
Anna has also developed a covetable range of etched components and handmade beads in a variety of metals including anodised aluminium.

Anna McDade components
I really only started working with ceramic beads in my designs to any great degree earlier this year but Caroline Dewison of Blueberri Beads was the one ceramic artist whose work I did use early on. Her little sea urchin beads have become almost a signature design but how could anyone not fall in love with a pair of star gazing raku hares? Fairy tale charms and electroformed copper and ceramic beads are also on Caroline's menu and if that's not enough, she's started making lampwork beads too now.

Caroline Dewison ceramic beads


Last but not least is Diane Turton of SowZere Designs (sow's ear) who was responsible for my early introduction to fibre in jewellery with her beautiful hand dyed silk ribbons and strings. Now this will have Jennifer Cameron smiling since we share a love of but mental block in the use of fibre...yes I did pull the loose threads off and iron the sari silk Jen sent me with my bead soup this year! That block doesn't mean I don't have a huge stash of this gorgeous silk though and I'm petty adept with the strings now.

Diane Turton silk ribbons
My fraying issues may also be a thing of the past now as Diane's 'Raggy Ribbons' (centre frame) don't fray any more than they have already when you get them - marvellous!

So there you are - just a few of my compatriots who helped me on my way before I'd even found a niche with metal clay. You can visit their shops using the links below. Oh and a little bird tells me  Kaz is in need of a big new torch to put into practice some techniques she learnt in Australia recently so she's extending her mailing list sale to AJE readers with 30% off in her Etsy shops at the moment - coupon code OCTOBER30.


And just in case you haven't had quite enough I've put together an Etsy treasury with lots more British talent - just click on the picture. Enjoy!


Lesley
The Gossiping Goddess

21 comments :

  1. Fantastic first post Lesely, I so enjoyed reading about your early journey with beads and have discovered some new artists too!

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  2. What a wonderful inaugural post, Lesley! i have found many new bead artist because of your FB postings, many of them in the UK. THANK YOU for that! You already know how much I love your jewelry designs, and your bronze and silver components...you are a true artist with a keen eye for color and composition! Thanks for the new limks here!!,

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  3. You are so evil! Showing me new places to spend my money! Ahhhhhh!

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  4. Wow Lesley, very in depth I love it!! Funny to see Anna McDade, I just a few minutes ago found a few of her copper cuffs on Pinterest and have been researching her work, I hadn't yet found her component shop so thank you for that!! Her etching and heat patina of copper has mesmerized me. All wonderful artists!!!

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    1. Kristi - I'm the proud owner of one of Anna's cuffs, I don't buy much jewellery for myself but her work is so breathtaking. Check out her Flickt stream -she is a talentented artist and photographer too...
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/anna_mcdade/

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  5. Smashing post Lesley! I have the attention span of a gold fish but you kept me with you to the very last line! Pretty beads too. Claire xx

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  6. Good afternoon Lesley! I am still drinking my morning coffee, and feasting my eyes on the treasures you shared! Thank you! I am glad to have "met" you here and on the InterWebs - wish the pond were a bit smaller so we could have a lunch date... Great post, I look forward to hearing more from you! Off to window shop now.

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    1. Aw thanks Jenny - I wish we could all meet up too...can you imagine what a great time we'd have. One day I'm going to throw caution to the wind and start a road trip to meet all my beady friends and the AJE team are top of the list!

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    2. I have a spare room. And thanks - I am currently stalking a set of beads in Kaz's shop... Debating!

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  7. WOW what an amazing post!! I have so many new artists to stalk!! I like your new title and just like Jennifer I so wish to have lunch with you some time!!! You are a great addition to the team!!!!

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  8. Wow!! A fantastic post from the AJE United Kingdom Correspondent!! Loved every little bit! A HUGE thanks to Kaz for the coupon code! I was just itching for some beads in the colour she had and on sale to boot!! I didn't know about Anna! Love Love! Love the ribbon and Caroline's beads are so great I can't part with them. She is really nice too!Love the treasury.Now to win the lotto and have it all...Thank you!

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  9. Great post Lesley. I love the silks from SowZere too.Especially the Grunge silks that are already frayed. They go great with just everything. Thanks for all the new work to look at.

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  10. Stunning showcase of UK talent, I'm pleased to recognise so many names. A great intro Lesley.

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  11. Terrific first post! I'm loving all of the eye candy you included - what a diverse and talented group of artists you've selected.

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  12. What a great post, Lesley!! (Though I don't think my husband is going to thank you for introducing me to more bead porn!) And those little raku hares are too wonderful - I'm not sure I'd make anything with them, just perch them on my workbench where I could look at them whenever I needed a lift.

    Had never heard of Anna McDade, but her etching work is stunning - off to do some research!

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    1. That's exactly where those hares have been for several months Francesca!

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  13. Love your first post! And all the beads! Can't wait to see more :)

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  14. I like Anna McDade jewellery. Great post about beads.

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  15. What a great first post Lesley. I love all of the UK artists you have chosen, it makes me very proud to be British :)

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