I've always been making things for as long as I can remember, but never really had the self-belief to develop my skills and focus on one craft, until a few years ago, when I was going through a difficult time in my personal life. Apart from everything else, lack of money became an issue and , being unable to buy new 'stuff' I started scouring charity shops for things I could use to make something 'new'. So with the beads and other bits of jewellery I bought I would make new pieces for me to wear (& cheer myself up!). To my amazement my friends and colleagues loved them and asked where I bought them from and being astonished when I said that I'd made them myself. After making jewellery for friends and family, an idea slowly formed in my mind that I could maybe make more and maybe sell them at local markets. So this is what I did... but I soon grew a little bit dissatified with just using ready-made component parts and beads and just assembling them into necklaces, earrings and bracelet. I realised that I would have to actually start making the majority of component parts if I really wanted to design original and unique pieces of jewellery.

That's when I started learning about silversmithing and it turned out to be one of my best ideas - and the birth of DormouseDesigns . Being self-taught has been a bit of a challenge at times (and I got the scars to show for it!), but it also has allowed me to experiment and develop my techniques by trial and error. I have now reached a stage where I feel that my finished designs come close to my original ideas. I love the colour of natural gemstones and contrast that with my handcrafted pieces of sterling silver. The pieces that best incorporate this (& my personal favourites at the moment) are my cluster bracelets which i make in a variety of colourful stone beads and which all fasten with giant toggle clasps to make them a little bit unusual...and quirky!