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Handcrafted in Bristol, Shared at the Cirencester Vintage & Artisan Market

Mila -the artist behind Freak Like Me standing behind a stand at the Cirencester Corn Hall Vintage and Artisan Market. The stand is displaying many leather and gemstone bracelets, handcrafted in Bristol, UK.

Last Sunday we packed up our leather bracelets, carefully selected gemstones and, of course, a good supply of coffee, and headed to the Vintage & Artisan Market in Cirencester.

And what a lovely day it was.

Cirencester has that rare blend of heritage and independent spirit – the kind of place where craftsmanship is noticed and conversations matter. From the moment the market opened, there was a gentle but steady flow of vintage enthusiasts, thoughtful shoppers and Sunday wanderers, all taking their time to explore something handmade and considered.

It felt like exactly the right setting for Freak Like Me.

We spent much of the day talking about gemstones – how each one is sourced, why every cabochon is entirely unique, and how our interchangeable design allows you to build a piece that grows with you. Watching customers try different leather colours, swap gemstones, and hold them up to the light to see the depth and inclusions is always a privilege.

There’s a quiet moment when someone finds “the one”. That never loses its magic.

It was also a pleasure to meet those who had discovered us online and were seeing the work in person for the first time. Feeling the weight of the leather and the texture of the stone brings a different understanding – something tactile and personal.

And then there were returning customers adding another stone to their collection. That means more than anything. It suggests these pieces are being worn, lived with and valued – not as passing trends, but as something lasting.

Days like Cirencester remind us why we began: to create honest, handcrafted jewellery that celebrates individuality and thoughtful making.

If you stopped by, thank you.
And if you’re still thinking about a particular piece, we’d love to welcome you online.

Mila x

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Silver Jewellery Making Workshops in Cornwall | Arvor and Mor

A workshop participant cutting an oval shape from silver metal clay on the Silver Metal Clay Beginners Jewellery Workshop

Silver Jewellery Making Workshops with Arvor and Mor

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make your own silver jewellery? My silver jewellery making workshops are designed to give you a relaxed, hands-on introduction to working with silver metal clay, whether you are completely new to jewellery making or looking to build on existing skills.

My own jewellery journey began at a workshop very much like these. It was the first time I worked with silver metal clay, creating simple, unique pieces by hand. That single day opened the door to a creative path that has become a huge part of my life. Now, I love sharing those skills and helping others discover the joy of making jewellery they truly love.

Silver metal clay (Art Clay Silver) is a wonderful material to work with, especially for beginners. It requires very few tools and is ideal for creating jewellery at home, making it an accessible and rewarding way to learn silversmithing techniques.

What you will learn

In my silver jewellery workshops, held in Cornwall near Helston, you will learn the basics of working with Art Clay Silver and create your own finished silver jewellery to take home. Workshops are suitable for complete beginners as well as those who have used silver clay before or attended other workshops.

You will be guided through each stage of the process, including:

  • Moulding and shaping silver metal clay
  • Cutting and texturing your designs
  • Adding gemstones or copper ball details
  • Firing your silver jewellery
  • Finishing and polishing techniques

All workshops are taught in a friendly, supportive environment, with plenty of one-to-one guidance throughout the session. By the end of the workshop, you will not only have beautiful handmade jewellery but also the confidence to continue creating.

Continuing your jewellery making journey

You will also have the option to purchase a silver metal clay starter kit at a reduced price. This includes everything you need to continue making jewellery at home, including the silver. In addition, you will receive a special discount code giving you 15% off future silver metal clay purchases.

To find out more about upcoming silver jewellery workshops, please explore the workshop listings here on The British Craft House website. If you have any questions at all, I am always happy to help — just get in touch.

G x

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It’s that time of year

Three wooden jewellery stands on a market stall on top of a black table cloth. Each stand has two or three silver necklaces on them and there are fairy lights in front of the stands

I can’t believe that in two days I’ll have my last market of the year! Where has the time gone?  I have to admit I do really enjoy doing the in person markets.  Over the past couple of years I have had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of other small business owners local to me.  There’s always a lovely atmosphere and sense of camaraderie amongst the stall holders.  Thankfully this last one is indoors as the one I did last week was outdoors and absolutely freezing!!! It was the Christmas light switch on a Bourne Hall in Ewell and they had laid on a brilliant afternoon and evening of live music, entertainers and a bar.  

The joys of trying to have outdoor stalls in the UK is that you can never predict the weather.  Two years ago, I was at an outdoor market in Ewell in August.  We had thunder, lightening, hailstones and rain.  The people in the local coffee shop felt so sorry for us they brought us all out mugs of hot chocolate.  Then at the same market in October that year, we were all in t-shirts wondering if we were going to go home with a tan!  Add in a small breeze and you’ll often see me chasing my stock down the road – I’m really not windproof.  And yet despite this they are still good fun.  Take last Saturday, I arrived at half past 2 to set up.  By 3pm I couldn’t feel my feet and by the time it finished at 7.30pm I was having trouble feeling my face.  Although there was a fabulous turnout (busier than last year), people weren’t spending as much which is a shame, but probably understandable given the budget had just been announced (but I won’t get started on that).  Despite all that I had an absolute blast! My lovely sister came along and helped me set up and treated me to a glass of prosecco and lovely almond slice.  We both had fun listening and dancing to the live music (partly to try and retain the feeling in our feet lol).  The other stall holders were a lot of fun and we had a right laugh all afternoon and evening.  

Saturday the 6th December I will be in Bourne Hall, Ewell, Epsom, Surrey from 10-2.

So onwards to the last in person market of the year and then to start planning next year!!

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Introducing myself and my handmade products

Woman smiling and holding a wine glass up to the camera

Hi, I thought I should probably introduce myself and tell you a little bit more about my business and how I started it.  For the past fourteen years, I’ve actually had a different business that I started from scratch, as a mobile dog groomer.  I bought my converted van and started up in August 2011.  At the time, I was desperate to get out of my teaching job at the local college.  My business took off far more than I ever thought it would.  However, by 2020 my van was starting to spend more time off the road and in the garage, so I decided that I really needed a second income, so that whilst the van was in the garage generating huge bills I could still be earning money.  That’s the downside to being self-employed, if you’re not working, you’re not earning.  On a weekend away in the New Forest (my favourite place on earth) with my lovely sister, she bought a lovely necklace for herself and bangle for me.  Both were silver, my bangle is set with a large amethyst (my birthstone), and her necklace was made of large, geometric, brightly coloured shapes.  It was those two pieces of jewellery that set me on this journey.  I found myself wondering if I could make something like them.

I did my research and found a course in silver clay with the lovely Emma Gordon and the Silver Clay School.  I did the free pendant challenge – and was absolutely hooked! So I signed up to her course and haven’t looked back.  I absolutely love working with the silver clay.  It can be worked, molded, cut and sculpted just like ordinary clay.  Then when I fire it – I still hand fire with a blow torch which adds a whole new level of excitement to the process as I quietly pray that I don’t burn down the kitchen lol – all the organic clay burns off leaving 99.9% pure, fine silver.

I also love the fact that the silver is recycled from the film and photography industry and there is absolutely no waste.  If it goes wrong during the first stage, I can just roll it up and start again.  If it goes wrong during the dry stage, I can just grind it into powder, add water and turn it into clay or clay paste.  If it goes wrong after I fire it (I have melted one or two pieces), I can send it off to one of my suppliers and they recycle it into sterling silver chains, earring posts, hooks and scrolls.

There is nothing like the feeling of someone liking something that I have designed and created enough to not only part with their hard earned money, but to actually wear it on their person.  It’s amazing and the joy of handmade is that every piece, even if the same design, is different and unique.

I have also now branched out into resin homeware and gifts, which is enormous, messy fun, but more about that in another blog.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you like my designs.

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Meet the Maker

Deborah and Archie

Hello and thank you for visiting and seeing a glimpse of my passion.

My love of making handcrafted jewellery started with a day course in Dorset creating silver rings and bangles and has continued ever since. I now create individual ‘one of a kind’ jewellery that is perfect for those who love organic, handmade silver and copper jewellery either to wear themselves or gift to friends and family.

All my pieces are designed and created in my little home studio in Berkshire, UK. I work with sterling silver, precious metal clay, copper and brass and add semi-precious gemstones, crystal and gemstone beads for a touch of sparkle and added interest. Each piece will be slightly different so you know you are receiving a truly handmade piece.

Texture is added to my work with hammers, metal stamps, etching, fusing and reticulation, fold forming and on occasions a rolling mill. I love creating simple, wearable jewellery suitable for any occasion. I take my inspiration from the world around me and often use real leaves, flowers, shells, lace, paper in my designs…anything really that has a texture and can be transferred to metal!

If you are buying for a gift I can ship direct to the recipient with the item gift wrapped and a short handwritten gift note added. Shipping within the UK is included.

All my jewellery complies with the UK hallmarking regulations and I have my own maker’s hallmark registered with the London Assay Office.

Click here to visit my store.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Deborah

Email: info@silverwavejewellery.com

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Meet Beverley

We love Beverley’s work.

She has combined her love of wood and its tactile qualities with that of colour and resin and copper clay to hand make unique pendants and rings!

We caught up with her to find out a bit more about her!

I am Beverley, of ‘Bevart designs’ I live in the beautiful Ribble Valley in Lancashire.

I will always be that artist that fell into making jewellery making and designing, many people have
said that my artwork would make lovely jewellery pieces, this got me thinking and I started
to create and work on this possibility. I made a few pieces and put them on display in my
studio… to my delight I sold a few, 12 months on I was accepted for a great art and craft
show called ‘Art in the Pen’. I took with me my framed artwork and my jewellery, I made
more sales than I thought possible.

Being encouraged by this I applied to sell on ‘The British
Craft House’ and was thrilled to be accepted. You can find my shop here! 

I have always taught art classes to adults sometimes with a crossover into craft making like
flower arranging, printmaking, card making etc.
I am inspired to create any art work including my jewellery by nature, the Japanese way of
Wabisabi, travel, and other artists, I love the work of Greyson Perry, Yayoi Kusama, there
are lots more!

I graduated from university in 2008 with a degree in fine art, with a friend and colleague we
wanted to still try and work together in a studio environment, we wanted to find a place
where we could provide affordable studio space for other artists. I am currently the proud
owner of ‘Atelier Arts’ an art studio collective with gallery and teaching space in Clitheroe
from here I sell my paintings, I teach art classes to adults including general art and life
drawing , I also teach art in Spain with partners ‘Caves of Dreams’ we provide a full all-
inclusive art holiday experience in Baza, the region of Andalucia.

What is the dream? The dream was always to own an art studio, the other is to be selling
my work more regularly, whether that’s jewellery or my paintings to build a following and to
become successful.

I am currently working from home and we have a workshop in the garage, so I can keep on
creating and making.

To relax and have fun I love to tap dance, I regularly take part in yoga, pilates and
meditation. I also love photography and to travel sketch and paint.

You can shop the collection here! https://staging.thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/shop/bevartdesigns/

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A Jeweller’s tale – Commission to Finished Product

Commissions come in many different forms, it could be something relatively simple such as taking one of my stock designs and making it in a specific size. Sometimes however, I may
be given an image of a piece of jewellery, perhaps with instructions to change some elements of the piece. Occasionally a client may have a piece of costume jewellery that they have become attached to but feel it is time to invest in a similar design in silver and real gems.  The most challenging commissions are often those where the client has a clear picture in their minds of what they want but no picture or product for me to work from. 

In my previous career I was a scientist working in Research and Development and so I like to approach problems in a logical way, to gather as much background information from the client as possible to help me understand the motivation behind the commission and so create the client’s dream.

When you understand why they aren’t simply going to the high street to buy a piece of jewellery, and what elements of the design are important to them you can begin to develop
ideas that may come close to that elusive design they have in their mind. Sometimes it is to replace a loved piece that has been lost or damaged beyond repair – here there may be photos that can help tremendously. Often they may simply want a unique item that no one else will have, or would like to incorporate a particular shape or gem that is special to them.

In the case of the commission for these earrings the lady wanted them to be big and bold to reflect her personality and she wanted them to be unique. By showing her some of my range of earrings I could determine her preferences. I could tell she was drawn to the circular items and liked the 3D aspect of many. She told me she loved shiny bright silver, didn’t like oxidised
or matt finishes but did like textured and planished effects. She also liked the contrast of mixed metals. I was beginning to build a picture of what was needed. Her final request was that due to arthritis in her fingers she needed easy to manipulate ear fittings but also secure so that she would not lose them. We discussed budget and we agreed based on this the metals would be
silver and copper and not the gold she had initially requested. 

I have not been blessed with drawing skills but I do sit most evenings sketching and always have a book and pen nearby. My sketches are not accurate representations of finished pieces but they do remind me of my thoughts and ideas and help me focus my ideas. My next step is to mock up designs cutting out paper and shapes to see how they look.

After sharing 3 pictures of ideas I had created using paper shapes with copper elements placed on them my client chose the one she liked the best and I was ready to order materials and get cracking.

It was then down to working with the silver and copper to cut, pattern, shape and form it into the components and then assemble the earrings. I ensured that the ear wires were easy to insert into the ear but included a hook on the back of the earrings to give extra security.

It’s a very satisfying feeling as you complete the polishing process and reveal the full beauty of the silver.  

Waiting for the customer’s response to their finished piece of jewellery is the hardest part of the whole process. Despite the early work you still ask yourself whether you understood their needs and have delivered against their expectations.

In the case of these earrings the first response was unrepeatable as it contained a little bad language.
“They are *******” she exclaimed, and clarified with “they are beautiful and just what I wanted”. Phew!! I can breathe again and get ready for my next challenge.