If you’re one of my lovely newsletter subscribers, then you’ll already know that I’ve made the decision to get a full-time job. It’s very exciting but not without a huge change for my business going forwards, so here’s a few more details.

This year the CWU is holding strikes which may affect how quickly I’m able to get parcels of jewellery to you in the run up to the end of the year.

From the 1st of September 2022 the price of my jewellery will be increasing. As you'll no doubt know, prices are increasing everywhere. Food is costing more and energy bills are eye wateringly high.

These beautiful landscape wedding rings were created for a couple who have a very interesting story. Luckily they were happy for me to share some of that with you.

I discovered a lot about myself and creativity whilst I was in Finland and I’ve been reflecting on my experience for 6 months now. It’s taken me a lot longer to process the experience than I expected. It's still ongoing and I’m enjoying learning about myself and my creativity.

All the details of my markets and events in 2022.

At the start of the year I went to the Fair Luxury meeting of 2021 pledgers, reviewing the year and I’ve been thinking, since then, about what to pledge for 2022.

I started 2021 in Glasgow - we moved to the Southside in March just before the first Lockdown. We thought moving there would be fun; we’d be closer to our friends, able to enjoy the thriving café scene, it’d be easy to nip into town for dinner or a cinema trip, even popping through to Edinburgh for the day to visit friends. Well, we were very wrong.

Have you been watching the new competition style jewellery show on BBC 2, All That Glitters? If so, you’ll have seen the Bespoke challenge. This is where a client comes in with a bespoke jewellery brief and asks for something special to be made as a (usually) surprise gift for them to give to a loved one or friend.

In January I was one of the first 50 businesses to take the Fair Luxury Pledge. I've pledged to plant 1 tree for every order over £100.

My residency walks in the 2nd week were a little more irregular as I had less new places within my radius to explore.

I was awarded a bursary to do a 2 week “at home” residency by VACMAs through Highlife Highland and Creative Scotland to explore sculptural jewellery using jewellers wax.

I'm now officially an award winning jewellery designer. I got funding from the VACMAs by Highlands and Western Isles.

Well Brexit happened didn’t it, during a global pandemic; that’s fun! I don’t fully understand the implications of Brexit for my business yet. I mean generally, across the board, with suppliers, metal prices etc as I’ve never lived outside of the EU.

You might remember a couple of years ago I made this awesome Edinburgh skyline bangle including Murrayfield stadium and a scattering of diamonds. This year I was asked to make a bangle for her mother, something special and completely personalised for a big birthday.

As you'll probably know if you've been following me for a while; I make a fair number of wedding rings each year and 2018 was no exception! After speaking at the Ethical Making conference in March 2018. I wanted to make some Fairtrade wedding rings!

I've been making jewellery for a decade and a half, in that time I've made a lot of partnership, engagement, and wedding rings. I've met a lot of people getting married, having civil partnerships or having their own commitment celebrations. I’ve made a lot of rings for people who have never worn jewellery before.

I was asked to speak about my ethical making journey at the Incorporation of Goldsmiths event "It's In Our Hands - One Year On, Ethical Making Symposium" what follows here is an adaptation of what I said in case you missed it, written so it's easier to read.

I love the challenge of making things that are a little different from my usual landscape pieces, and this commission for gemstone stacking rings was very different indeed!