My Favourite Customer Photo: July

I love this photo by Decoherent_blue of one of my Be Above It bracelets!

Interview With Making Magazine

I was recently asked a few questions by the lovely folk at Making Magazine! You can read the interview below and there are lots more from other creative people over on their blog

Jewellery designer Kate Holden lets us in on her metalwork musings...

What first sparked your interest in jewellery making?

I started making pieces of costume jewellery for myself when I was in school but didn’t truly discover a passion for jewellery design until around 5 years ago when I started evening classes to learn silversmithing. Learning about different types of metals and gemstones and how to work with them really interested me and made me realise the design possibilities with jewellery are endless. I really enjoy working with metal and the idea of the permanence of it is something that really inspires me too.  

What so far has been your biggest achievement?

My biggest achievement so far has been going full time self-employed at the end of 2013. Being able to work for myself has always been my dream, deciding to take the leap was pretty scary but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I haven’t looked back.

If you weren’t a crafter, what would you be doing instead?

I don’t think I could be doing anything else! I’ve always felt the need to make things and I have to be doing something with my hands. I think creating things, anything, is so important.

Are there any other crafts that you are passionate about?

I’m interested in woodwork and recently went on a woodland woodcarving workshop with Miscellaneous Adventures which was excellent. I’ve started making spoons but I definitely want to get better at working with wood and learning new skills, I’d like to eventually be able to make my own furniture and larger items. I also really enjoy taking photographs and love a good vintage camera.

What three words best describe you?

Independent, curious, optimistic

Tell us about your latest project

I’m currently working on my spring/ summer collection and making a few new designs that can be personalised. I love making personalised pieces and finding out the words that people choose to have on their jewellery is one of my favourite parts of the job. I also recently went on a metal engraving course, which I’m still practising, and hoping to be able to incorporate some hand engraving into my work in the future.

Where do you find your inspiration for new projects?

I tend to find my inspiration in the everyday to be honest. I’ll see an interesting shape when I’m walking around or I’ll be reading a book or listening to music and a particular phrase or idea will stand out to me and I’ll work from that. I’m a bit of a daydreamer so most of my ideas are thought up when I should be in the middle of doing something else, or late at night when I’m trying to get to sleep.

Tea and cake or pie and a pint?

It’s got to be pie and a pint. I’ve got cravings now, might have to have that for dinner tonight!

To see more of Kate's lovely jewellery, head over to her Etsy shop. 

All images from shop and Kate's Instagram, @ohsomeday.

July Playlist

(I've got this) Sanctioned Blues by Ultimate Painting



The Bird by Kathryn Joseph



Mountain At My Gates by Foals



Kathleen by Samantha Crain

My Favourite Commission: June

This one's not technically a commission but I just really wanted to share the amazing photo Ffion McKeown took of a necklace I made her as part of a swap for one of her stunning caligraphy pieces. The quote, "Tell me what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" by Mary Oliver, has become really important to me and I've hung it next to my bed so it's the first thing I see every morning. You should definitely check out Ffi's Instagram to see the rest of her beautiful pieces and photos!

June Playlist

Micachu and the Shapes - Oh Baby

C Duncan - Garden

The Lunchtime Sardine Club - Dollars For Donuts

The Heartless Bastards - Low Low Low, not new, but new to me

Young Fathers - Nest

Instagram Giveaway

I reached 1000 sales on Etsy, which is a bit of a milestone for me! To celebrate I'm doing a giveaway over on Instagram to win a personalised piece of Oh Someday Jewellery of your choice. If you'd like to enter head on over to my Instagram page, a winner will be picked from a hat on Friday 10th of July 

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year

I had a look around the Wildlife Photographer of The Year exhibition at Brighton Museum recently, the photos are absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend going and having a look around if you're visiting Brighton at any time. 

There's also a section taxidermy and animal skulls on show which I took some photos of. The skull is from a Fennec Fox, which is also in the photo below from the exhibition, by Bruno D'Amicis. It was one of the saddest one's I saw there telling the story of poachers illegally selling them as pets to people in the West as there's a demand for them because they're so cute. On a side note the wonderful hand model in the photo is also wearing a couple of personalised rings I made (Thanks again for showing me around Kerrie Curzon! :D)

 

I also really love this chair display as you walk into the museum:

You can find out more about the exhibition at Brighton Museum here: Wildlife Photographer of The Year