Origins

I began working with metals during a really difficult time in my life where I struggled with my mental health, mid-life hormonal changes and a demanding job in biotechnology. I left my near 20-year scientific career behind feeling massive guilt and loss of identity along with it.

My husband, Richie, taught me to weld and I began being creative with scrap metals available in abundance in his industrial workshop, home of BSSB Design Ltd. My interest grew steadily until some great mates bought me a gift voucher to have a go at making silver jewellery and the passion rapidly evolved.

As well as a mindful calm from the metal working, I was actively learning again, applying scientific principles while being creative. The process of forming new connections in metals seemed to coincide on a spiritual level with me making new connections of my own, if that makes sense? I think I previously struggled to marry together science and spirituality. It’s only in recent years I’ve come to realise that they’re essentially the same thing; a search for meaning.

Metalworking has created an opportunity for Richie and I to do what we’d often talked about in our youth; working together in a space of our own. We’ve built a space to learn and create in; some wonderful friends have helped furnish it with an old jeweller’s bench and some tools. I’ve been able to further skill up in the Jewellery Quarter thanks to the support of Heritage Crafts and I’m having a great time experimenting in my own lab again; this time without a white coat!

I still feel a bit lost and confused at times (I think maybe lots of us do?!) about myself and my future, particularly as my biological experiences with my hormones are proving to be a challenging ride! Peri-menopausal years are often nick-named “Second Spring”; this gave me some hope I would reconnect with myself and find a sense of purpose and identity again. It might sound a bit cliched but I decided to name Second Spring because my own journey through it sort of mirrors the new connections and re-purposing I’m doing in a metal based medium. I hope you enjoy my craft as much as I love the experience of designing and making meaningful things with my hands.

My journey goes on……

Thanks for being a part of it :)