Designer of the Month – Emma Roy
June’s Designer of the Month is Emma Roy. She is a designer who fell in love with jewellery making after taking a jewellery making course, who likes to work with silver clay and likes her pieces to have elements of nature and magic. Learn more about her, her background, what inspires her and what she thinks will be the next trend to take off with jewellery makers in this month’s Designer of the Month.
Let us know a bit about yourself, detailing your background, study and training in the jewellery making industry.
I have always had a love for jewellery and have been nicknamed the little magpie by my family and friends for as long as I can remember, for my attraction to all things sparkly!
In the Autumn of 2017, I started my journey into jewellery making, after the birth of my third child I decided I wanted to learn a new skill, so I went on a keepsake jewellery course. On this very course I discovered and fell in love with silver clay.
I began making keepsake jewellery for family and friends while I was learning about this new medium and exploring its potential. I then decided to venture into making my own designs, after being inspired by the natural world, and launched my own brand- Jewellery by Emma Roy.
In 2018 I wanted to expand my skill set further, in both jewellery making and in the behind the scenes of running a jewellery making business. I joined as a member to the Jewellers Academy. I have learned so very much through the academy. The ethos is very much community over competition and through the academy I have met the most amazingly supportive community.
Tell us about your work – are there any particular materials or techniques that you favour?
I absolutely adore working with Silver Clay, for me there is something so magical about the process of seeing an ambiguous lump of grey clay transform into something beautiful and shiny.
I have also quite recently discovered alcohol inks, as a way of adding a little colour to my pieces and love the end results.
How would you best describe your design style?
My style is quite whimsical, I like to have fun with my designs. With an element of magic and nature.
Where do you like to get your inspiration from for your pieces?
My jewellery is very much inspired by nature, folklore and fairy tales.
I have always had such a passion for the natural world. I feel very blessed to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty. This gorgeous countryside around me and my love of nature can be seen reflected in my designs.
I have also recently been inspired through my little girl who is now three and really being into fairies (they visit her every night and leave a little note under her pillow!) and magic. She has been my muse for my new enchanted collection, with little fairy houses hand sculpted from silver clay and a collection of little fairy wings.
Do you have a piece that you have made which you favour or are particularly proud of?
I am proud of my enchanted collection, inspired by my little girl’s love of magic, making this collection very close to my heart.
Each little fairy house is a one-of-a-kind piece, hand sculpted from silver clay with a little story behind each piece.
In the same collection are my little fairy wings and these are the first pieces where I introduced a splash of colour that have proved to have been really popular, especially as my customers can get involved with the design process and choose their own colour scheme.
What is the one item in your jewellery making workshop that you could not live without?
My kiln without question, it may have been one of my biggest investments, but I could not be without it. It makes such a difference to me when making lots of pieces.
What upcoming trends do you see being popular soon?
I have seen a shift in buyer behaviour. Rather than throw away fashion, with ever changing designs, I really believe consumers are looking for things that are more sustainable both in techniques and materials used, such as recycled materials like silver clay and reclaimed materials being of more importance.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt from your time in the jewellery making industry?
The most valuable lesson I have learned from my time in the jewellery making industry is the importance of community over competition. You are not alone!
Before I joined the Jewellers Academy, I had no idea of the incredible community and support that is out there for jewellers, as we do spend a lot of time working on our own this is so important.
During the Covid 19 lock-down this amazing support network was a real lifeline. Not only did the academy provide excellent courses to keep our skills up to date. The emotional support has been fantastic, from both the community of members as well the fantastic team at the academy.
Do you have any particular advice that you would give to up and coming jewellery designers, or someone interested in getting into jewellery making?
Go for it! Do not let self-doubt hold you back.
Joining the Jewellers Academy totally changed my viewpoint. They have been such an incredible support and it has really increased my confidence.
Also keep learning, no matter how much you know there is always more to learn.
Finally, time for a bit of fun in our quick-fire round!
Tell us your favourite…
Colour – Purple
Biscuit – Chocolate Digestive
Drink – Latte in the day and a nice glass of Rose in the evening occasionally
Place – The Netherlands
Animal – Cat
Gemstone – Blue Topaz
Food – My mum’s Sunday Roast!
Sport – I’m not really into sport
Film – Anything Disney at the moment with a three-year-old in the house!
City – Lovely Leiden in The Netherlands
Many thanks to Emma Roy for being our Designer of the Month this month and for sharing this information
Want to discover the work of other jewellery makers?
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source https://www.cooksongold.com/blog/designer-of-the-month/designer-of-the-month-emma-roy
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