201. Ribbon Rings Going Viral - Last year I nearly gave up my business… Now it’s stronger than ever - with Anna Sweet from This Story Jewellery

208. 'The most inspiring thing I've ever done in my life' Meet Sara Arnold, student on the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay

In this week's episode, Jess chats with Sara Arnold, a student in the inaugural year of the diploma in silver metal clay. Sara shares her journey into jewellery making, which began when she repaired a beaded necklace from Egypt. Her passion grew, leading her to explore silversmithing and eventually discover metal clay during the lockdown. She expresses her enthusiasm for the diploma, highlighting the new techniques and challenges she faced, which significantly improved her craftsmanship.

Sara details her positive experiences with the diploma, mentioning how it provided her with essential tools and techniques she wasn't previously aware of, enhancing her jewellery making skills. She also values the camaraderie with fellow students and the insights gained from expert mentors on the silver metal clay diploma.

Sara on Instagram

Sara's website

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207. Building a following on Instagram as a jeweller, why I'm joining the silver diploma with Kelly Twigg

In this week's episode, Jess chats to Kelly Twigg, a jeweller known for her sea glass jewellery and active presence on Instagram. Kelly discusses her journey from a Navy career to becoming a self-employed jewellery maker. Kelly's Instagram success, boasting over 30,000 followers, is attributed to her authentic and engaging approach, sharing not just her work but also personal aspects of her life, which resonates with her audience. She emphasizes the value of community and genuine connections over merely using Instagram as a marketing tool. Kelly has enrolled on the Diploma in Silver Jewellery starting in September 2024. She talks about why she make this choice, despite being an established jeweller, so she can practice and hone her skills.

Kelly on Instagram

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206. Experiments with Melting Gold over Diamonds with Alexandra Widdern - Advanced Jewellery Diploma Alumni

In this bonus podcast episode, Jess interviews Alexandra, an Advanced Diploma graduate and jeweller who runs her own business called Von W Jewellery. Alexandra specializes in creating fine jewellery pieces using gold and diamonds, employing an experimental technique of melting diamonds into gold. She shares her journey, starting from her early experiences in silversmithing and her advanced studies on the Jewellers Academy Diploma courses, which equipped her with the skills to work with precious materials.

Alexandra also talks about her passion for gold and how she alloys her own metals to control the colour and properties of her jewellery. Alexandra is passionate about experimenting with materials and techniques to push the boundaries of traditional jewellery design, ensuring her pieces really resonate with her customers.

Von W Jeweller website

Alex on Instagram

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205. Selling Jewellery in The British Museum for over 10 Years - Sima Vaziry

In this week's episode, Jess chats with Sima Vaziry, a talented metal clay jeweller whose work has been sold through the British Museum for over a decade, and who is the final jeweller to appear in the Handmade Jewellers series. The discussion focuses on how Sima uses her craft to support various charities, highlighting her involvement with Afghan Aid and other initiatives.

She shares how her journey began with creating pieces for charity events, which led to significant opportunities, including collaborations with the British Museum and other high-profile organizations.Sima elaborates on her work with artisans in conflict regions through Turquoise Mountain, a charity supported by King Charles, aimed at preserving traditional crafts. She describes her efforts to teach artisans new techniques and help them adapt their materials to international standards, thus enabling them to sustain their livelihoods.

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204. My Process of Getting into Goldsmiths North Fair - with Iain Sainsbury

In this week's episode, Jess chats with Iain Sainsbury, who is the featured jeweller in the fourth episode of the Handmade Jewellers series and who recently got accepted to showcase his work at Goldsmith North, a prestigious fair for jewellers. Ian shares his journey of applying to the fair, highlighting the challenges and decisions involved. He emphasizes the importance of having a platform where people can physically engage with his jewellery, which led him to apply to Goldsmith North. Iain describes the application process, which includes submitting a form, providing photographs of his work, and crafting an artist statement. He stresses the significance of high-quality images in presenting his collection effectively. Additionally, Iain discusses the mental hurdles of vulnerability and perfectionism that come with putting oneself out there as an artist, reflecting on his own experiences and growth in the process.

Iain's website

Iain on Instagram

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