How many beginnings have you had? When you began to talk? To walk? To write? When you started school, had a first relationship, toed the line at a race?
I'm sure you've had more beginnings than you can count but they will all have been important; adding them all together can be part of the foundation of your identity.
Over the last few years I can recall two of the biggest beginnings that I've had. The first; the Marathon des Sables 2022. A 250km race through the Sahara Desert carrying everything you need with you. Was I crazy to even think about doing this - oh my goodness! The hours of training, running at all hours, the kit, the packing, the sponsorship! Every second was worth it and shaped me, shifting my personality to become tougher and stronger (and making seven new friends who are part of me forever).
The second new beginning? The one that lead me here... well that was picking up a book in my local library about silver clay! Oh silver clay - how I love thee! It's amazing stuff. Fine silver 'dust' held together with an organic binder that you burn off with a torch. Once you've fired your shape you're left with beautiful fine silver. From experimenting with silver clay I dove into silver smithing 'proper' and from there I got really brave and signed up for the Jewellers Academy Diploma in Silver. This was a BIG step. And a costly one if it wasn't what I wanted it to be. But - hooray! It has been worth every penny so far! The course has:
taught me how to take my jewellery to a high and glossy finish.
tube and flush set gorgeous stones.
work with gold! This has been my favourite so far.
This website is also a new beginning of sorts - and a way to show my metal work off to the world. I say show off my metal work... that's because I rarely want to sell it... but needs must!
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