B. Goodbun BA
Although I have taken an interest in craft and
design for many years, working on patchwork and
appliqu窠decorative boxes and knitted
textiles, it
wasn't until I started making jewellery, some 10
years ago, that I realised Id found the craft/art that
was right for me. I am mainly self-taught and
initially I used glass beads but I soon realised that
gemstone beads, fossils and minerals were more
interesting.
As my knowledge and experience of different
techniques and materials has developed and
increased, I find that the jewellery I make has
diversified into several distinct styles.
Taking many small pieces and making them into a
complete item of jewellery has always been very
attractive. This is evident in my Geode Range, in
which I use specimens of fossil, shell and minerals
that might otherwise only be seen in display
cabinets. Also my 2nd Time Around collection,
which utilises old and broken necklaces, earrings,
brooches and other bits and pieces, combined with
vintage beads to make a new, uniquely individual
piece of jewellery.
From the Geode Range, I developed the idea of
incorporating minerals found in the United
Kingdom, Jet from Whitby, Ammonites from Dorset
and Somerset and Agates from the Scottish Borders
for instance. Some, like Blue John from Derbyshire
and Cotham Marble from Bristol, are unique to the
British Isles.
Underpinning these designs is colour. I cannot
resist the pull of putting one colour with another in
as many combinations as possible. This is
demonstrated in my strung jewellery where colour
is the dominant element. And now I find Im almost
back to where I started, using glass. The amazing
variety of colour found in glass and dichroic glass
are, quite simply, stunning. Fused glass is a new
venture and I hope, with practise and experiment,
to develop my own particular style.
And the Made by Me? I attend a lot of Craft Fairs
and I soon became fed up with the very frequent
question; Do you make this? So I decided to call
myself, made by me, and answer the question
once and for all. But I still get asked!
I can be found at several Craft Fairs during the
year, mainly in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and
Hampshire and I have a permanent display in the
craft area at the rear of Antiques & Crafts on High,
87, High Street, Oxford.