At Hand Made Yorkshire, we want to introduced to you our artists, crafters
and designer makers, their wonderful work and where you can find them.This weeks Meet the Maker is brought to you by the lovely Andrea Johnson owner and designer maker at Kipple Traders based in Darlington
Andrea designs and makes naturally inspired fine silver jewellery.
Here's what she told me.
How long have you been a designer
maker?
18 months
How did you become a designer/maker?
I taught science in a secondary
school for 17 years and felt my life was passing me by and my children were
growing up without me. I used to design
and make all my own jewellery when I was a teenager and still had all my old
tools and beads. During a bout of depression my partner suggested I take up
jewellery making again. At the time I
had been going to pottery workshops as part of the Durham Exchange so we looked
into working with PMC, bought a kiln and some moulds to get started, my partner
has become a dab hand at casting leaves in silver. I mostly have enjoyed working with silver wire and glass beads,
and hope someday to use the kiln to make my own beads. Who’d have thought that something that I
used to enjoy 20 years ago, still brings me so much joy today.
How did you choose your business
name and what’s the meaning behind it?
KippleTraders was supposed to be
the name for our start-up business, the one that we make all the mistakes with
and then, when we have learnt what to do (and more importantly, what not to
do!) we would change over to our proper name!
I’m still making mistakes!
Do you run your business full
time or balance another job as well?
I still tutor privately in
client’s homes and I mark GCSE papers for AQA but mostly I’m a Mum which is
exactly the way I wanted it. I no
longer say to my kids “I’ll be in in a minute, after I’ve marked these books”. We haven’t got two pennies to rub together
but we are happy – phew!
How do you make time for it all?
I have a loving a supporting
long-term partner of 17 years – that makes me sound really old! We never did get married, maybe we can find
the time now though!
What’s your favourite thing about
running your business?
Keeping my own hours and meeting new people. Woops, that’s two things I’ll merge them seamlessly into one – meeting new people in my own time!
Keeping my own hours and meeting new people. Woops, that’s two things I’ll merge them seamlessly into one – meeting new people in my own time!
Of all the things you’ve ever made, which has been your favourite?
I love my spiral rings as they
look so elegant, they go with everything and I’ve never seen them anywhere
else.
Describe your business in three
words?
Inspired Silver Jewellery
I have a love hate relationship with?
Facebook!
I love?
My life!
I ignore?
People who say ‘don’t you think
it is time to get a proper job!
What inspires you?
Working with the metal itself –
what shape do you want to be today?!
Where can you be found
Tel: 07886869641
Maybe I should write something in
there!
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kippletraders/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/kibbletraders
Folksy: https://folksy.com/shops/KibbleTraders
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/kibbletraders
Folksy: https://folksy.com/shops/KibbleTraders
Pinterest:
https://uk.pinterest.com/andie7735/
A big thanks you to Andrea for your detailed and informative interview.
I love your nature inspired jewellery.
A big thanks you to Andrea for your detailed and informative interview.
I love your nature inspired jewellery.
