An acrylic painting of a...
Susan Betty Art
£25.00 1 in stock
“Unique handcrafted nature themed sterling silver jewellery”
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I have always been creative and enjoyed making things since childhood, I think this is due in large part to my mother who taught me how to sew and knit when I was young and even bought me my first sewing machine when I was 18 (still going strong 20 years later!)
About 20 years ago I started making beaded jewellery again and in time decided I wanted to try working with sterling silver. I found a good book which showed the basics of getting started with soldering, hammering, polishing etc and went from there. It's amazing what you can learn on the internet these days!!
The first time I used shells to make molds for the silver came as a challenge from one of the customers from my day job. He'd found a nice shell on the beach and wanted me to try and see if I could remake it in silver. Challenge accepted! I went online and learned about silver clay and making molds and was so amazed with the detail attained with this process that I still use it now for all my nature work.
With my husband's help a few years ago I tried making jewellery with my scraps and the silver he'd found with his metal detector and have created my 'Recycled Range'. These pieces are made using water casting and broom casting, where the results are completely organic and uncontrollable hence they are absolutely one of a kind! We also had fun coming up with names for them, based on what we thought they looked like. I am planning to make more, when I find the time, along with all my other ideas!
The supplier I use for my raw materials recently has converted a lot of their silver to recycled, and the silver clay already was, so a large portion of my jewellery is made from recycled silver. My packaging is also plastic free, including my personalised labels which are biodegradable!
I make all components myself, ie, ear wires, clasps etc, ring bands, with the exception of the chain, as it is not time or cost effective to make it by hand! I also print my own marketing materials, such as leaflets, thank you cards and labels.
I have always lived in North Devon, when I started with the shells I lived at Westward Ho! right by the beach which provided lots of inspiration. A few years ago I moved, only about 15 miles away, into the countryside which is when I started using plants and leaves etc, all found while out on what my husband dubs my 'inspiration walks' as I tend to get ideas while we are rambling around!
Although I don't make many items in the same style, as they are completely handcrafted the ones I do will never be exactly the same.
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