Materials I Use, Reducing Waste and My Carbon Footprint

I often get asked what I use to create the jewellery I make.  It's a very valid question given the different materials available from all over the world.  It's also important for me to be environmentally aware. 

Every supplier I use is UK based and a few are what I would call Local. 

I am based in Devon and I source materials from a lovely man at a bead shop just down the road, Warm Glass in Bristol, Kernowcraft in Cornwall and Cooksongold in Birmingham.  My furthest supplier is The Curious Gem Company all the way up in Edinburgh. 

I also support fellow artists, local small

businesses and my friends by buying what I can from them. 

Glass: Basic Glass COE 90 and Dichroic. 

Not only do I purchase glass from Bristol, I am also very conscious of waste. I therefore buy scrap glass from other glass artists to reduce waste and landfill. If someone makes big pieces of art and I can use the tiny pieces they don't, then I will.  

I am on a fused glass Facebook group and we often swap extra glass we may have with each other. It's a great to try different types of glass this way.  

Resin: I do not use resin in my jewellery, unless it is asked for by a client and only in making memorial jewellery using hair.

Gemstones: In some designs I use different gemstones.  Everyone I source is of good quality and from reliable and ethical suppliers.  

Silver: Sterling 925 and Fine 999 

None of my silver gets wasted. Even the tiniest off cut of wire is melted into balls and used to embellish my designs.  (it's also very therapeutic). The silver 'dust' created from me sawing is used within my glass designs. Amazingly it can react with some of the glass colours, creating the most stunning one off designs. 

Hallmark: In accordance with the Hallmarking Act (1973) I hallmark all items of silver over 7.78g in weight.  Items are sent to the Assay Office in London where they apply my hallmark with a lazer. 

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