Handmade affordable jewellery using semi precious stones and beads, recycled beads and charms.
My name is Vicki Wainwright and I live in Long Ditton, Surrey and I have a passion for jewellery. I started Hope Jewellery in lockdown as my business in events came to a halt due to the pandemic. I was struggling to occupy my time and keep my spirits up so I thought about what I would be interested to do as a hobby and potentially as a future business. So I decided to book onto a silver making course. I found a perfect course in Shoreditch in London but the course was cancelled twice due to the lockdowns. January was the turning point. I knew I had to find something stimulating to do whilst I waited for the course to start up again.
My daughter was home from University and she suggested we order some crystals, beads, wires and chains off the internet and have a go at making our own jewellery. So we did just that. It soon became an obsession and I have just not stopped making jewellery. My daughter has now gone back to University but she helps me promote the pieces I make.
My main pieces are short charm necklaces, long pendants, earrings and bracelets. I use a mixture of new and old beads and charms to create new and very wearable pieces. Using books and the internet as a reference I am learning and experimenting all the time. I wish there were more hours in the day!
I work with wire and semi precious stones, beads and silver plated charms. I try and find new and different charms to add to necklaces to keep up with younger trends as well as catering for all tastes in other pieces that I make. So I pretty much cover all ages ranges. I make things that I would buy and wear myself. I look at old necklaces I’ve bought in the past and experiment to recreate them but adding my own style. I have found useful suppliers and through a bit of trial and error I now know where to buy good quality tools and materials to make sure my pieces are of good quality.
All of the jewellery pieces I make are affordable and make great gifts to suit all budgets.
I finally joined the silver making jewellery workshop course in London in March 2021 and loved it so much I booked onto a second course. I am learning all about the processes and techniques involved in working with silver and I hope to add sterling silver designs to my range in the near future. I already have several projects on the go.
Scan it Scan the QR code to be taken to our page on the UKCraftFairs site.