About Me       

 

My name is Elaine Thornton; I live in Dunstable, Bedfordshire which is approx. 30/40 miles north of London. I have been making jewellery now for over 18 years (I can't remember the exact amount of time, it was a long time ago anyway!) and started selling my work in July 2006. I am self taught and I got started by using the step by step tutorials from bead catalogues and books at that time.

Over many years I have taken a number of art and craft courses at local colleges and have numerous 'strings to my bow' they include Decorative Paint Effects/Techniques, Stained Glass, 3D Design, Welding and I completed my Art & Design Foundation Diploma in 2003. It covered many aspects of Art & Design but I found I loved large scale abstract sculpture, metal and wire being the main materials I felt happy using. On this course the designer in me prevailed and so after completing the course these elements featured heavily in my decision on what I wanted to do next, as I was unable to carry on with my studies at that time. I fell back into making jewellery as these elements were very necessary for where this has lead me to, today. 

 

A few years ago now I took a course in Jewellery Design which included silversmithing techniques, I do want to include some of these techniques in my work in the future, but for now I am happy with my style which is constantly evolving into what you see in my current work, with more new ideas in the early stages of  design.

Colour plays a crucial role in all my designs, along with Line, Shapes and Organic/natural images and influences. I love non-uniformity or asymmetrical styles and the need to balance my jewellery using this style is sometimes challenging, it is becoming a popular trend on the high street especially with the vintage look which seems to be 'in' this season.

 

Lampwork bead making is my new passion, after having a lesson in March 2008 with British Lampwork artist Sally Carver or better known as Red Hot Sal www.redhotsal.co.uk

I set up a Hot Head torch in my workshop and off I went on my new adventure into glass. I am enjoying the ride but I now have difficulty trying to split my time between my jewellery and bead making so as you can imagine my days can be rather full, as I do hold down a part-time day job as well!

 

Major Achievements....

A major goal for me was to purchase my own kiln and eventually upgrade my torch to a dual fuel set up as my Hot Head torch is only a single fuel torch. 

In June this year 2010 I finally purchased my new Cricket Torch and Oxygen Concentrator (Oxy Con) and with the purchase of my little blue Paragon SC2 kiln last year this completes my goal!  My Cricket has a much hotter and cleaner flame helped by the Oxy Con which supplies the oxygen for this type of torch, this will aid me in my desire for larger beadmaking.

 

 

 

During 2009 I created tutorials for Beads & Beyond Magazine a UK jewellery making publication which I did enjoy the challenge but I no longer write for.  I may well do this again in the future maybe for a different magazine as the UK now has 4 jewellery making publications which is great as in the past we had to rely on American publications for inspiration.

 

 

I have also held in the past basic jewellery making workshops for beginners and with my local bead group Busy Buzzy Beaders, I continue to teach beginners and I will post dates for future events on my Tuition Page.  

I have been considering starting up my Jewellery Making Parties again and will be hosting children's and adult parties for those living around my area who would like a party with a difference. I will be willing to travel a certain distance but that will depend on where you live and whether I will need to include travelling expenses, please check out my Tuition page for more details.

 

That's about it from me, I hope you enjoy browsing my site and if you don't see something you want or that isn't quite right for you, please don't hesitate to contact me for a commission.

Thank you for popping in and please come back again soon....

Elaine