Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit the studio? Yes, you're very welcome to visit the studio.  However, the Silk Mill isn't generally open to the public so it will be necessary for you to pre-arrange an appointment to visit me.  I also run my bridal business from the studio and have frequent appointments with brides-to-be so I'm afraid I can't accommodate unexpected visits. If you'd like to visit the studio, please email me and we'll arrange a convenient time.

Do you hold Open Studio Events?  Since the pandemic, I am doing less events than I used to do and my studio is only available to visit by pre-arranged appointment.  Hopefully, this will change as things improve.  A group of the artists and makers at the Silk Mill put on regular craft events in the Gallery space to coincide with the annual Frome Festival in July and also at Christmas.  More info about these events can be found on my Events Page.  I sometimes take part in Somerset Arts Week depending on their program so please check my Events Page for more information about what's happening and where.

Colour Accurancy

Help! I need a more accurate colour match - as my jewellery is predominantly about colour, I try to mix my custom colours to a Pantone Equivalent colour reference.  As all computer monitors display colours differently, please be aware that the real life jewellery may appear a slightly different colour than shown on your screen. If you need a more accurate colour reference or you're trying to colour match, please contact me and I will send you the Pantone colour reference.  I have also worked towards colour matching with well known paint manufacturers such as Farrow and Ball and Fired Earth so, please do not hesitate to contact me if you're stuck with colour matching or need more accurate information.

Product Information and Environmental Policy - it is very important to me that my jewellery making has as minimal impact upon the envrionment as possible and I try very hard to make choices to ensure that I source and use recycled materials wherever I can, that I eliminate any waste by being as efficient as possible with my work processes and that I use local or UK based suppliers for my materials.

Gift Wrapping and Packaging - all of my jewellery is gift boxed and protected with tissue paper before placing inside a sturdy cardboard postal box.  My gift boxes, tissue, ribbon, stickers, postal boxes, labels and packaging tape are now made from fully recycled materials and, are all fully re-cyclable.  My business cards and all paper goods are either made fromm 100% recycled paper or 100% recycled t-shirts.  All of my packaging and promotional paper goods are produced in the UK 

Do you use recycled metals? More positive news about the recycled sterling silver as I am now able to source recycled sterling silver chains and findings such as earring scrolls so that's great new.  As of Summer 2022, all of my  jewellery is made with recycled sterling silver sheet, tube, wire, chain and findings. So that's all the silver! Hurrah! 

I have started to use brass for some of my designs and this is almost always a sutainable metal as it's just not ecomonic to produce new brass for industry and so the tube that I use for my ring settings is made from locally sourced recycled brass.

Any gold that I use in my designs is always recycled.

What brand of Polymer Clay do you use? I am currently using Fimo Professional , Sculpey Premo (made by Polyform USA) and Cernit polymer clays to make my jewellery,  Both Sculpey and Cernit had previously confirmed that their polymer clay was vegan and contained no animal products, however, this appears to be a matter of some uncertainty as a quick search of Google (2021) shows many posts saying that NONE of the polymer clays are vegan any more and that they ALL now have raw materials that MAY contain animal products.  This is not ideal.  Cernit - which is the clay I use the most of - have now said that their polymer clay IS vegan - here is a link to their FAQ page where they confirm that their clay is now certified vegan.  Fimo have advised that they don't use any animal based ingredients in their polymer clay but that they won't confirm that it is entirely vegan! Well, it either is or it isn't so that's as clear as mud.  From summer 2021 I have found it increasingly difficult to source Sculpey Premo clay so I have decided to use only Fimo professional and Cernit porcelain white clays and I am now mixing all of my colours using artists' pigments. Artists' pigments (all are either synthetic or natural plant pigments - I won't touch anything with animal products in it) go a long way so I think these are going to last for a very long time and they give me amazing scope to mix all sorts of incredible colours and finishes. You can read more about my use of pigments and colour mixing adventures in my Journal. 

The planet's welfare is a big concern but It's also important to me that no animals or people are harmed in the making of my jewellery and therefore, I will only use materials that are ethically manufactured and sourced. Polymer clay is a form of plastic but I always ensure that I never waste any clay - any unused clay can just be remixed into another colour and another design.  I even save any filings from my clay and mix it back into translucent or white clay to add colour and texture.  My finished beads are also very durable so should last you a very long time and, if you ever get fed up with them, just ask me to make them into something new! 

Resin Clay? What is it?  I use a brand of resin clay that is made in the UK by a company called Sylmasta.  Sylmasta have confirmed to me that their resin clay is vegan and does not contain any animal products.  I have chosen to use a resin clay rather than a liquid resin because it is less noxious and toxic than the liquid form.  I also never waste any clay in my jewellery making; with resin clay, I can mix up very small amounts of product and I just make smaller and smaller studs until it's all used up. There is no residue and nothing to throw away.