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.

Kaz Baildon lampwork beads 
Kaz Baildon frit/murrini        

Anna McDade jewellery
Anna McDade components
Caroline Dewison ceramic beads
Diane Turton hand dyed silks

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