DawnGillDesigns

In 2014 I was fortunate enough to opt for voluntary redundancy from a job that I had truly loved for nearly 20 years. It was hard, and took quite some time to come to terms with what felt like a bereavement, but it also was a great opportunity.

How often do we get a chance to start over in our forties after all? So, I took 6 months off, attended an evening class, spent time with family and caught up on some of the big jobs round the house. Then in the November I launched a small jewellery business. I have always made jewellery for myself, but mostly it had been simple wire work. I’d also wanted to go to university to study silversmithing, but it was just too costly when I was a teenager; so here, finally was my chance.

Since then I’ve been practicing and learning new techniques, regularly send my work for formal hallmarking with the London Assay Office and have quite active Facebook, Instagram, Twitter accounts as well as my little shops on Etsy, Folksy and my website, all under @DawnGillDesigns. I’ve discovered even more inspiring people through these and use this blog to document anything exciting that I’ve discovered, the semi-formal challenges I participate in (2020 is #MakeARingAMonth).

You can contact me using the form on this blog, direct via email (DawnGillDesigns@gmail.com) or by messaging me through any of the aforementioned accounts. Devon is famously rubbish for connectivity though, so despite having all these on my phone, I may not be able to respond til I get back home