Meet the Maker: Sarah Hoare from Bird and Monkey

Sarah Hoare from Bird and Monkey came up with the concept for her signature jewellery collection when her niece drew a picture of a monster and she realised this could be a brilliant business idea: bespoke jewellery created for customers from their children’s drawings. As she explains: “Everyone has at least one precious drawing that ends up faded on the fridge or lost. I love the fact that I can transform these special memories into permanent keepsakes.” Alongside her collection of children’s art jewellery, Sarah also makes colourful resin pieces featuring plants and animals and has recently started to combine the two ranges, making custom pieces from children’s drawings in bright colour-blocked resin and silver. Sarah tells fellow Folksy seller and artist Carolyn Graham from Puffin Cove more about her jewellery and her inspirations…

Treat yourself to free delivery and 15% off all Sarah’s handmade jewellery. Use the discount code Maker18 when you check out (only valid for a limited time). Click here to shop Bird and Monkey Jewellery >

Everyone has at least one precious drawing that ends up faded on the fridge or lost. I love the fact that I can transform these special memories into permanent keepsakes.

Meet the maker creating jewellery from children’s drawings

How did you come up with the idea to design jewellery based on children’s drawings?
When I was studying for my jewellery degree we had a brief called Dragon’s Den, where we had to design and make a range of products and present it to the staff as a business plan. I had just had my first son and was stuck for an idea. My sister-in-law was visiting us to see the new tiny baby and her daughter drew me a picture of a monster. I realised that I could make the outline in metal wire and suddenly I had an idea for the project. I asked friends on Facebook if anyone had drawings they would like me to make into jewellery and the response was amazing. I presented my idea to the lecturers and they loved it too (I even got an A star!). I named my business Bird and Monkey after my daughter and new son.

children's drawings jewellery, children's drawings turned into jewellery, jewellery from children's drawings, Sarah Hoare, handmade jewellery, bird and monkey, bespoke jewellery, kids art jewellery,

A flying bear – made in sterling silver by Sarah from a drawing by one of her customer’s children

I love seeing the drawings that children have created, every one makes me smile. I have the best job in the world.

What do you love most about creating jewellery from children’s pictures and scribbles?
Everyone has at least one precious drawing that ends up faded on the fridge or lost. I love the fact that I can transform these special memories into permanent keepsakes. Every piece is unique to the customer – I work closely with them to ensure I capture the drawing in the way they had imagined and I feel that makes this kind of jewellery extra special. I love seeing the drawings that children have created, every one makes me smile. I have the best job in the world.

resin jewellery, resin jewellery making, british jewellers, jewellery from children's drawings, uk jewellery, sarah hoare, bird and monkey,

Colour planning with the closest thing to hand: her boys’ crayons!

My resin jewellery is a bit of a labour of love as each piece takes 20 or more hours each to complete

Can you tell us about your other range – your resin jewellery collection?
I’ve always loved colour and wanted to work out a way to incorporate colour into my work. That’s how I came up with my animal and plant themed jewellery made using coloured resins. These pieces are a bit of a labour of love as they take many hours to complete (around 20 or more hours each). Each piece is formed in silver, then I painstakingly apply hand-mixed coloured resins and cross my fingers crossed that my soldering is good and nothing leaks! After that, it’s lots and lots of polishing, usually in front of the telly when the kids are in bed.

children's drawings jewellery, jewellery from children's drawings, children's drawings turned into jewellery, Sarah Hoare, handmade jewellery, bird and monkey, bespoke jewellery, kids art jewellery, gold sun brooch,

A gold-plated sun pendant made from a child’s drawing

For my kids art jewellery, I work closely with my customers to ensure I capture the drawing in the way they had imagined. Every piece is unique to them.

How do you find working from home? Do you find it easy to discipline and motivate yourself? Do you have a set working routine?
I love working from home – I find it gives me the freedom to explore new ideas while working on orders. I do have a workshop (read shed) in my garden but it’s cold and big outdoor spiders live in it, plus the kitchen is where the kettle is so that’s where I do most of my work from. I usually do the school run and then get to work. I find it easy to motivate myself as I like to be busy doing something. If I’m not working on orders or doing admin I will be trying out new ideas and designs. Another advantage of working from home is that you can get quite a lot done when the kids go to bed, although I haven’t mastered the art of quiet hammering yet!

resin jewellery, sarah hoare, bird and monkey, UK jewellery,

Resin jewellery in the making on Sarah’s bench

I love your nature designs and the colours you use in your resin jewellery. Do your surroundings in North Wales inspire you?
My final pieces for my degree were inspired by walking in Wales. The countryside is so beautiful and varied I’m sure some of this seeps into my current designs.

children's drawings jewellery, children's drawings turned into jewellery, Sarah Hoare, handmade jewellery, bird and monkey, bespoke jewellery, kids art jewellery,

Jewellery making tools

One advantage of working from home is that you can get quite a lot done when the kids go to bed… although I haven’t mastered the art of quiet hammering yet!

Have you ever used your own children’s drawings for you designs?
I have made one of my eldest son’s scribbles (on the kitchen wall) into a brooch. He has just started drawing people, so I’m hoping to get a good one to make into jewellery soon.

An octopus and two owls on Sarah’s jewellery making bench

Making jewellery from children’s artwork is something that I am passionate about doing.

What’s the funniest drawing you’ve been given to make into a piece of jewellery?
Interpreting kids’ drawings is so much fun, sometimes I have to decide if all the lines are intended to be in the finished piece. On one piece I made I’d followed most of the picture, however I decided that the little squiggle between the legs was probably meant to be left off, when I sent the client a photo of the piece before finishing he pointed out the missing squiggle and asked me to include it, as it was an important part of the drawing that always made him and his wife laugh. Whenever I think about this piece it makes me chuckle.

resin jewellery, resin jewellery making, british jewellers, uk jewellery, sarah hoare, bird and monkey, jewellery from children's drawings

Resin jewellery in bright shades

I always try to wear a piece of my jewellery wherever I go. That’s the good thing about being a jeweller: you can be a walking advert for your own products!

Do you have a preference as to which type of jewellery you like to make?
I love working with sterling silver and I really enjoy making brooches or pins as I feel they are versatile and can be wore with various outfits. Pins are also one of the items I make that are unisex, which is something I enjoy being able to offer.

One of Sarah’s bird brooches ready to be filled with resin

Each resin piece is formed in silver, then I painstakingly apply hand-mixed coloured resins and cross my fingers crossed that my soldering is good and nothing leaks!

Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery you’ve made and do you wear your own designs?
I don’t think I have a favourite piece of jewellery as it changes so often. I always try to wear a piece of my jewellery wherever I go. That’s the good thing about being a jeweller: you can be a walking advert for your own products!

resin jewellery, sarah hoare, bird and monkey, UK jewellery, jewellery from children's drawings,

Resin jewellery from a child’s drawing – a new addition to Sarah’s range

I recently created a piece from a child’s artwork using resin. Branching out into this new method was very exciting and something I hope to explore more in the future.

Do you have any plans to make different products in the future?
I’m constantly trying new designs. Making jewellery from children’s artwork is something that I am passionate about doing. I’ve recently created a piece from a child’s artwork using resin, which is a technique I hadn’t before used for children’s drawings. Branching out into this new method was very exciting and something I hope to explore more in the future. I’ve always wanted to make larger sculptural pieces, perhaps for public spaces such as schools or play parks, but I would need a workspace slightly larger than my kitchen for that!

A tiny bird ring on Sarah’s bench waiting for its colour

Congratulations on winning the Small Business Sunday award. How did it feel when you won? What was it like meeting Theo Paphitis?
Winning the Small Business Sunday Award was a great feeling – being recognised for something that you do is so rewarding. I loved meeting Theo Paphitis. He is such a genuine person and hearing his speech at the Small Business conference was inspiring due to his passion and faith in small businesses.

Sarah Hoare being presented with the Small Business Sunday Award by Theo Paphitis

Winning the Small Business Sunday Award was a great feeling – being recognised for something that you do is so rewarding.

Where do you sell your work? Is it mainly internet based?
I sell my jewellery online through Folksy. As each piece is based on an individual child’s drawing, every order is bespoke which means it’s hard to sell my children’s collection at fairs or shows because I don’t hold any stock.

resin jewellery, resin jewellery making, british jewellers, uk jewellery, sarah hoare, bird and monkey,

Rainbow coloured resins

My new resin jewellery range isn’t bespoke in the same way, although it can be personalised, which means I will be able to create resin pieces for craft markets, so going forward I would love to build up sufficient stock of this range to exhibit at a fair or show. Apparently there are only 24 hours in a day though (now that’s just inconvenient!).