My bead making adventure started on Murano, during the summer of 2007. There was all this amazing glass, but sadly, there was a mistake with my bank, and so our long week-end there was hampered by minimum cash, and only very few beads in my possession when I returned to the UK.
Once returned, I booked myself on a one-day course with Mike Poole. I’d already done two years of silver-smithing at evening college, and the one-day course was just intended to satisfy my curiosity – I can’t remember how often during that day I said that I wasn’t intending to order any equipment.
The drive home took two hours – I ordered my equipment two hours and 15 minutes after the course ended.
Luckily for me, I started maternity leave not long after I bought my set-up, which gave me half a year to play, and a baby into the bargain. I quickly moved into sculptural beads, mainly roses and butterflies.
In 2009, I started experimenting with interchangeable jewellery, screw-on ring and pendant tops, and I developed my own sterling silver interchangeable system in 2010. In summer 2010, when university cuts meant redundancy from my day job, I took the plunge and became what I suppose is a ‘full time glass artist’. The additional time at the torch was used to make a move into sculpture as well as beads, and I now combine both, as and when time allows.
I now regularly teach glass bead making, sell my work via websites and galleries, and in 2011 won Silver in the Craft & Design Selected Awards. My work is slowly moving towards incorporating my love of words, and I often use poetry on my beads, via a ceramic transfer process. My sculptural work is also influenced by words and by the possibilities of light and shadow.
Websites:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlecastledesigns
http://www.facebook.com/littlecastledesigns
Twitter: sabinelittle