As long as I can remember I have loved art & design. Having been fortunate enough to grow up in a loving family where even the slightest interest in something was encouraged - I was given many opportunities for learning outside of the school curriculum.
As a child I remember being allowed to delve through my Grandmothers extensive heirloom jewellery collection. When I think about the value of some of those items have today – it’s a wonder that my literal begging to look at what my Mum & I referred to as “The crown Jewels” was ever heeded. I’m sure that “ Granny’s” wonderful collection of both the jewellery & beautiful heritage china & glass is responsible for my later “magpie tendencies”.
Creativity has always been in my nature & over the years I have had a wide range of interests & explored many avenues of creative endeavors. Some have stuck – others haven’t, & still more get put on the back burner for a few years only to resurface in another incarnation that can be used in a different application later. Everything from the needle art through to painting has it’s use & an impact on what I do now.
What led me to glass? To be honest – there was no single particular thing that did. Rather it was a culmination of many things – one of which was complete boredom with the jewellery that was currently available in retail stores throughout this country. I’ve always been a bit ‘individual’ in my tastes & style & often feel as if I’m going against the flow, rather than with it. So working in a relatively casual contemporary Art Gallery & getting to see a lot of wonderful ethnic jewellery worn by clients that was just not to be obtained unless ‘one traveled to exotic places’, I started dabbling in making my own jewellery.
The first hurdle was the lack of a lot of the ethnic style components I was looking for in this country – until I discovered some awesome beads on Ebay. The arrival of those first wee ‘lampwork’ beads was an absolute revelation. I couldn’t believe the quality & uniqueness of these wee gems from across the ocean – quite simply I was hooked!
To think that these were hand shaped & formed by individuals in their home studios (rather than produced in factories using presses & formulaic combinations to aid mass production) – was, to me, beyond my wildest dreams.
I explored further & got hooked on a whole new level – wanting to make these myself!
A loan of a book, single fuel torch, 1 mandrel & a few shorts of glass later – I was not only hooked but addicted & looking for more. Of course this led to a whole new ‘era’ of having to source & bring things in from other countries – but hey it’s an ongoing & enjoyable challenge, so I fastened my seatbelt & I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride!
At least 3 days a week I can be found in my studio, ignoring the phone (& whatever else tries to interrupt) & playing with fire & glass! I often get lost in the mesmerizing process of just letting the glass & colours do their own thing – I love to experiment with different forms & reactions. Often even sitting down at the torch just to do one thing, I find myself becoming so absorbed in the thought process when I am making something, of “what would happen if I did…..” that before I know it hours have passed & that one thing has turned into a kiln full of beads.
The standing joke around here is “Yeah Mum still cooks – just these days it’s glass!”
I’m inspired by almost everything – but primarily by nature , it’s forms, colours & wonderful naturally occurring designs are an ongoing source of delight. This, I think, is reflected in the majority of my beads which tend to be of a more organic style & form, reflecting the earthy colours & qualities found naturally in my environment.
