I've always loved making things, as a child my grandfather taught me to embroider, my great aunt taught me crochet and my mum taught me to knit on needles and on a knitting machine.
Over the years I've probably tried just about every craft ever invented (a bit of an exaggeration but you get my drift!!) but my love of metalworking really started in 1975, when I took a metalworking class at school. I absolutely loved it but at that time metalworking was not encouraged as a career and certainly not as a career for a 'girl'.
So having taken the responsible decision to take a job with a local bank my memories of my love for metalworking started to fade.
In 2005, I started making amulet bags, moved on to beaded jewellery, wire wrapping and chainmaille, lampworking (really not good at lampworking!!!) and fusing glass pendants.
Then miraculously after 25 yrs working in Finance and IT, I took up the torch again and the passion came flooding back. Since then I have hardly put it down. I love the way metal takes on a life of its own when it is bent, hammered and heated.
Although I am a SAHM of 2 very small children I always find time for my metalwork and love to try new techniques whenever I can.
4 comments:
Toni, your work is simply stunning and what a fascinating journey you have taken. I wish they had metalwork at school back in the Middle Ages - I would have loved it.
What a terrific post Toni - and my goodness your work is so beautiful.You do a great job of your photography too! Interesting to hear about how you came to do your craft. Yay for metalworking gals!!!
Thank you for this post Toni, it's lovely to hear people's stories of their makings. And lovely to see your gorgeous work too - I love the hammered metal - especially in the last pic.
:)
This is beautiful work. I remember doing metal work in high school & really enjoying it. Although my tragic attempts looked nothing like these gorgeous & intricate pieces!
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