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Claire M Gilbert Jewellery Design
Website:
'@cmgjewellery
'@cmgjewellery
925 STERLING SILVER KNOT NECKLACE
FUSED SILVER EARRINGS
TWO TWIST STATEMENT EARRINGS
Biography
My mission is to design and create wearable, affordable and desirable silver pieces of jewellery for my old and new customers by attending local (primarily Leamington and Kenilworth) key events such as Art in the Park. I reach a wider audience with my online platform being Etsy.
My vision is to build on my local customer base by keeping up a good Leamington profile at select events plus building on my social media and Etsy shop. By continuing with my best selling current designs plus incorporating my new designs, I will keep my work fresh and up-to-date and desirable for my new and old client base. This also benefits my own mental health as creating new designs brings me so much joy.
inspiration
here are two paths for my inspiration.
I love working on organic pieces formed by pouring molten silver into cold water to produce my well known watercast pieces. I also reticulate pieces, a process of heating the silver several times, to work with the air and heat to cause rivets and uneven textures. I love the feeling of working with the elements to create unique and sometimes surprising pieces. I have a bark collection and a rose collection, working from my love of nature.
My structured side loves sleek, simple, geometric styles and I am inspired by shapes I see in everyday life such as architecture, or a kitchen appliance for example. It could be anything but I often get ideas from just observing everyday things.
medium
925 sterling silver sheet and wire is my main medium for my structured pieces and I work with 935 Argentium silver for my more organic and fused pieces although I have recently been working with 14ct gold filled wire which proved popular at the 2023 Christmas markets.
I rarely use gems as I like the simplicity and contemporary feel of silver on its own but I sometimes add freshwater cultured pearls to my watercast jewellery.
I design and create all of my jewellery by hand using traditional silversmithing tools and methods from my garden workshop in Leamington Spa.
This is my dream job that enables me to be mum, work from home and be my own boss for something I am so passionate about.