Materials

Bone
Usually the rear shin bones of cow are used which are sourced from my local butcher, this means that they aren't wasted once the meat has been used. It is also an unusual material to use for jewellery which makes it unique and it feels and looks fantastic!

For those of you who are not comfortable with the use of bone, I also use wood and soapstone which are both beautiful natural alternatives. Porcelain is now also available in a range of designs which is white but non-porous.

Wood
I sometimes use wood, but I do so only if it is given to me or found as I try to recycle as much as possible. Therefore, the types of wood I use vary and I may not always know what I will work with next which makes working with it interesting. If you would like to have something made in a specific kind of wood let me know and I'll see what I've got!

Soapstone
I have acquired some soapstone which is a very soft stone which can feel soapy to the touch - hence the name! It comes in a variety of colours and when polished has a beautiful shine. It can sometimes be a bit tricky to work with as it can be more brittle than bone, sometimes fracturing, it can have inconsistent density making shaping it difficult.

Porcelain
In the last couple of months I have started to explore porcelain as a medium which presents a set of entirely new challenges. It is enabling me to explore ways of creating jewellery that simply cannot be attained through carving by directly using nature, for instance I can now reveal to you the excitement I may experience over the texture of a leaf, shell or rock by simply impressing it into clay, I can now combine these textures of life with shapes I have carved enhancing their stories. Use colour in new and exciting ways.

No matter what material you choose for your piece of jewellery, it will come with a few tips on how to keep it looking great. They are all easy to care for but there are some simple things you can do to help it stay looking as good as they day you bought it.