“
I don’t have a particular
style and don’t really
want to, as I like to try
new techniques and
materials all the time.
At a craft fair I bought a pretty
handmade violet and crystal
watch, but when I got home
and looked at the finishing and
the quality of the crystals I was
a little disappointed. I started to
look again at ‘mum’s beads’ with
different eyes and appreciated
just how lovely some of them
were. I nipped off to a local
handicraft store, bought a book
about making your own jewellery and a couple of cheap tools.
I was hooked.
I began by making things for
myself and my family - simple
bracelets, earrings, necklaces
- but was soon asked to make
for other people. When ‘Red
Nose’ day came around at work
I decided to set out a table of
jewellery in my office and sell it
for charity. That was the first of
many we had, and to date I have
raised well over £5000 for various charities with the help and
support of my friends, family,
and other crafters I have met. I
decided I needed to go about
things in a professional manner
if it was to become more than a
hobby and named my business
‘Precious Violet’ after my elder
granddaughter, who was then
almost 2.
and the help and advice of fellow beaders across the globe. I
am influenced by some of the
more famous names in beading,
but then I am now at the stage
where I am submitting pieces
for international challenges and
find other people are asking
to ‘borrow’ my ideas, which is
great. I have one or two ‘signature’ pieces which are now becoming recognised as my work.
What is your favourite medium/ I don’t have a particular style
and don’t really want to, as I
style to work in/with and what
do you love about what you do? like to try new techniques and
materials all the time. If forced
to choose one style it would
Apart from a one day silverprobably be tribal or gothic. But
smithing course - which I deit’s still all about colour to me;
cided wasn’t for me, as there
so I make no apology for havwas no colour involved - and a
day spent learning how to make ing a ‘stash’ of hundreds and
hundreds of beads and findings
tiaras, I am self-taught using
books and specialist magazines to choose from. I particularly
creativebeadchat.com