I'd heard about a local bead shop and decided to pop in one day, off spec, as you do! I got chatting to the ower and as it turned out, she gave lessons on the basics of bead stringing. I returned the following day, ready and eager and haven't looked back since.....I well and truly got the bug!
After making a few pieces for myself, I was so enthused by compliments from family and friends that I decided, with Christmas just around the corner, to take my designs to a local craft fair. I was very nervous whilst setting up but soon got over that as feedback from Christmas shoppers was that positive it spurred me on to continue with my passion into the next year. The following twelve months I exhibited at various craft fairs and country shows, testing the market and at the suggestion of a good friend, held my first jewellery party - which was a great success. There have been many since, including several in Rome!
Last year I was very proud to be one of the first exhibitors at The Gallery, Pewsey, where my work was extremely well received. I now exhibit there on a regular basis. Click here or on 'Events' for details on that and other upcoming venues.
Not content with just the knowledge of simple bead stringing, I was hungry to learn new techniques, which would enable me to widen my portfolio and enhance my collection. Earlier last year, I attended a course on ’Creating with Wire’, which incorporated the art of macramé. Once I managed to get myself disentangled from the long lengths of wire, and stopped the beads from pinging off the ends, I finally got the hang of it and loved the finished effect.
Inspiration for designs seem to come to me from out of the blue. OK if I have to be honest, often whilst lying in bed at night (that’s cause for concern in itself!). I do sometimes wonder if I’m going to wake up one morning and have a beader’s equivalent to a writer’s block! I keep close links with trends in Rome—generally what the girls are wearing there this season, we’ll be wearing this time next year! Other sources of inspiration come from simply taking note of what women are wearing and being observant on the high street —well, us Italians are renowned for sitting outside bars all day with our espresso, watching the world go by!