Mead Moon handcrafted jewellery

Way back when I was at school I used to make and sell perspex bangles and pendants, but then nothing in the jewellery arena until a few years ago when I wanted a moonstone and silver bracelet, but could not find any that I liked, so started to make my own beaded charm bracelets with silver, moonstones, pearls, gemstone beads and crystals, for me and my friends, who seemed to like them

About five years ago I discovered chainmaille. Chainmaille has a fascinating history and is so adaptable, with enough different weaves to keep me going for many years yet, but I also enjoy using other techniques, like beading and metal working.

After being made redundant last year I decided to start my own business designing and making jewellery, so Mead Moon was born in March this year. Since then I have been on PMC and silversmithing courses to improve my skills and also like to try out all the techniques that members of this forum describe, like patinating with boiled eggs, and salt water etching (copper patination with salt & ammonia will be next).

My style hasn't quite settled down yet, but I am passionate about ancient Egypt and like to use materials that the ancients did, like Lapis lazuli, turquoise and carnelian. Nature is also a major influence; in particular, the many shapes and varieties of leaves, and the history/mythology of sacred plants. Although silver is my first and abiding love, due to its cost I have been using other metals recently: copper for bangles/pendants/rings, aluminium, copper, niobium, titanium and stainless steel for chainmaille.

I don't have any space for a dedicated work area, so use the spare bedroom as an office (I sleep on the floor when visitors stay overnight), maille and bead in the living room, store tools and work with PMC/polymer clay in the dining room, and solder/hammer/file/saw/drill/use the kiln in the kitchen on a Workmate which folds up when not being used.