JEWELLERY

Over the last few years I've had various attempts at making jewellery.  In his forties, my father gave up the family business (a fruit stall in Petticoat Lane) and made his living by making cheap costume jewellery.  I eventually overcame my dislike of jewellery although have never had my ears pierced and, many years later, I'm surprised to find myself dabbling in jewellery-making.

SILVER BROOCHES & PENDANTS

I made these two brooches and two pendants at a class at the Midland Arts Centre (MAC).  The pendant in the bottom right is made from twisted wire (my father did a lot of that when he made wires for pierced ears) and offcuts from the circular pendant.  The 'chain' of the circular pendant is crocheted silver embroidery thread.   

KNITTED WIRE & BEADS

EMBROIDERED & BEADED BROOCHES

I like to use loads of bead with fabrics, including handmade felt.  The top left brooch was made at an Embroiderers' Guild away weekend at Westhope College in Shropshire and the bottom right one at Jacqui Lawrence's class at MAC.

WOVEN BEADING

Two woven bead 'purse necklaces' and a beaded necklace using handmade

silver beads and bought seed and larger beads,

 METALWORK

Two pendants made of annealed aluminium from drinks cans, patterned by denting with a pencil and machined-stitched onto black felt.  I made these at another Birmingham Embroiderers' Guild weekend at Westhope College.  In the top right-hand corner is an enamelled metal brooch made at a workshop at the RBSA in Birmingham