TAMSIN FRANCESCA - JEWELLER

I have always made things, always built things with my hands. Jewellery making has been described as engineering on a tiny scale, which makes sense to me. I have always been fascinated with how objects fit together and work. Originally I trained as a costume designer, which didn’t always mean using fabric, but but did allow me to play with materials and experiment the textile techniques. I have a varied and winding path in the arts, starting in sculpture and model making, through costume for theatre and film, to metalsmithing and finally blending my skills and love of all things miniature into my unique jewellery style. 

And now in my core collections I use textile skill and goldsmithing skills together, the results being strong but very delicate looking pieces; it is amazing how far you can push metal so a piece can be very light, very detailed but have an inherent strength to it. I use 0.2 mm wire in silver and gold, which on its own is obviously fragile, but when worked, either crocheted, or mainly used in Torchon bobbin lace, becomes strong, almost springy.

My designs exploit the versatile flexibility of the gold, silver thread I use, which allows it to be twisted and manipulated into the most delicate forms, and yet retain its strength and durability to be worn everyday.