All items by Trinkets by Elza

My happy place, where I mix, pour, paint, roll and cut to the small, hours making my creations like a feral craft goblin

I'm Elza Collins, I'm a teenage goth trapped inside a 40 somethings's body and love all that is dark, creepy and just a tad weird. All things fantasy and horror are my inspiration, dark and gothic, I'm here for it. I'm also a huge dinosaur and D&D nerd, so love making jewellery and accessories with those vibes too.

I create goth, alt and nerdy jewellery from my little craft room at home in the Welsh Valleys, where I live with my partner, our Agent of Chaos and Archie the substantial tabby. But things haven't always been this way...

Back in the 2010's I was living in London with my partner and gallivanting around playing in a samba band. Many of the gigs and events required different themed costumes, which I loved putting together and making the accessories for, so over the years my confidence in my capabilities grew. I began making my own jewellery to wear day to day, as well as gifts for friends and family. I started with beads and charms, then ribbons to make chokers. I love looking for materials and have spent many, many hours searching for beads and just the right findings or clasp to go with them.

When the dreaded RSI got me in both hands and wrists I got signed off work, unable to write, play the PS4 or drum, I began to climb the walls. On a whim I pulled out my craft boxes from beside the sofa in the living room (I could only dream of a craft room back then) and began to thread some beads and work on some hair clips without being in pain. From that moment I started making so many necklaces, earrings and hair accessories that I didn't know what to do with them. Upon returning to work, I plucked up the courage to sign up for their Christmas Fair and had my first stall. The rest, as they say, is history!

My craft has come a long way rom threading beads in my lounge, as when I got made redundant during the Pandemic, I sank some money into craft materials, resin to be exact. And so began my many years long hyper-fixation. There is something very satisfying about mixing the resin, adding the colours and pouring it into moulds, it feels like creating a potion or alchemy. Each pour being unique. never knowing quite how it will turn out until the next day when it is peeled from its mould fully cured. Being self-taught, it is such a process of trial and error, with lots of internet research thrown in for good measure. I use a combination of Epoxy and UV resin, depending on what the piece is and the type of finish required. At the moment I have fallen into a new polymer clay hyper-focus and am enjoying learning all about how to use this versatile material. Some day I will get back to the box full of leather working tools, studs and leather sitting forlornly on my shelf, but it will have to wait its turn.

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