I am lucky enough to be exhibiting in the beautiful St Mary's Church in the pretty village of Chalgrove, South Oxfordshire along with 10 other artists.
This is my first time participating in Artweeks although I have enjoyed being a visitor for many years. Currently I still work full time as a Speech & Language Therapist for a local charity, supporting adults with learning disability and autism. So making jewellery is a creative and therapeutic way to spend time when I am not at work.
I have been making jewellery for several years now and have, in the past attended courses in silversmithing and fused glass . Currently I am experimenting with fabrics and beads that are mostly recycled. I love to take apart old jewellery that is no longer worn or partly broken and give it a new lease of life. Both my mother and grandmother were seamstresses and in many of my pieces I have used buttons and materials from their cupboards . I enjoy the various colours and textures of the fabrics and the fact they can become a chunky piece of jewellery but are still light to wear.
I rarely use clasps in my jewellery because having arthritis myself, I find clasps very fiddly to do up.
Michelle