Meet Jewellery By Silvana
This week’s featured maker is jeweller Silvana, whose quirky, characterful pieces are as individual as the animals that often inspire them. From her bright yellow garden studio in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Silvana transforms sterling silver, copper, brass, pewter, gemstones – and even old biscuit tins and pre-decimal coins – into jewellery that’s full of personality and charm. Sheep, capybaras, aardvarks, meerkats and more have all made an appearance on her bench, alongside classic designs with a playful twist. With a background in libraries, charities and community work, and now with her retired husband and toy poodle Zuzu by her side, Silvana has built a creative business rooted in joy, humour and originality. We caught up with her to talk about her journey, inspirations and the pleasure of making jewellery that always stands out from the flock.
Tell us a bit about your background and how/why you started your creative business.
My life has come full circle and I love the way it’s turned out for the end of my “career”. I started out with art college, but having been led to believe I was really something at school, when I got into the big league, I realised I wasn’t that special. I put my sensible head back on and went back to my original idea – getting a degree and working as a Librarian in Local Government for many years. I loved running the housebound library service but when my back gave in after too many book-wielding, van-with-no-power-steering years, I went on to work for Age Concern, again with elderly and disabled people.
Then I made a wrong move and went back into libraries but in a Chemical corporation – I so hated it! So then I moved back into the charity sector to organise information in a disability helpline, where I gradually reduced hours. At that time, I also started a silversmithing course, the best decision in years, it was like a duck to water, and I loved every minute of it. I still go on lots of courses to brush up or learn new techniques with different materials, so I have added enamelling, silver clay, anodising aluminium, casting and pewter etching and casting to my repertoire along the way.
I progressed from working from the back of the dark and dingy garage, to a rebuilt conservatory, made to my specifications so that the glass and the walls are where I want them and painted yellow so it always feels bright and cheerful even when it’s miserable outside.
When the jewellery bookings became too much to handle with working part-time as well, I gave it all up and now concentrate solely on the jewellery, ably assisted by my now retired husband Mike (my donkey at the craft fairs as I still can’t lift; as well as my studio technician, very handy to have an ex-engineer!) and my inspiration, my toy poodle Zuzu.
I’m based in Ashton-in-Makerfield which is a very convenient little town. It’s officially Greater Manchester, in the old county of Lancashire (which we always use on our address) and very near the intersection of the M6 and the East Lancs Road, basically where Cheshire and Merseyside also meet. Very convenient for my frequent visits to local craft fairs, covering all 4 counties.
What do you make and how would you describe your style?
Quirky and individual. I make jewellery from sterling silver, copper, brass, pewter, glass, gemstones, as well as upcycling coins, biscuit tins and cutlery. I also flame paint copper. I do some classic designs but my niche is animal and quirky items.
What inspires your work?
Anything and everything! Usually when I can’t sleep at 3am, all sort of ideas can appear, and I have a notepad and pen by the bed if anything exciting pops up! More often than not, it will be various aspects of nature, particularly animals – I have been known to make capybara, aardvark, ferrets, meerkat…. And TOTALLY ignoring ANYTHING an influencer suggests.
Tell us about your creative process
Thought, then put thoughts on paper, then google for photos, especially if it’s something that needs an anatomical check (how do the humps sit on a camel and where are the knobbles on their legs?) Then it’s draw on a sticky on the metal and pierce round it. Might leave it alone for a bit and work on other pieces. I never know how long an individual piece takes to make as the bench will have half-finished bits everywhere – some just pierced, some part soldered, some ready for filing or cleaning or polishing.
What’s your workspace or studio like?
It was a leaky conservatory that was only ever used to dry washing! Had it knocked down and replaced with a more studio-like structure, lots of light and bright colours, overlooking the garden. I seem to live in there, along with the office in the house that it’s attached to.
What’s your favourite thing to make – and why?
Sheep! Once upon a time they were the most popular design I made, so much so, to make them all individual besides making them in different combos of silver, brass and copper, I did mum&baby, jumping and knitting needle versions as well as giving them all a name and providing a little adoption certificate with each one. You don’t buy my sheep, you pay an adoption fee!
What’s something people might not know about your craft or the skills involved?
I only use coins that are pre-decimal, i.e. they are no longer in circulation. It is illegal to deface the monarch’s head on any coin that is currently in use.
What does creativity mean to you?
Being an individual with ideas of my own. It means being fired up with ideas, not wanting to wait to get started and enjoying every minute of putting whatever it is together in whatever way springs to mind.
What does Christmas look like for you?
Watching “It’s A Wonderful Life” on the TV with a box of chocolates and some tissues – sitting on the settee with my dog Zuzu. She is named after the little girl in the film who says at the end, “every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” Sad but true!
Which three Folksy shops are you buying from this Christmas?
Do you have any festive products you’d like us to highlight?
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about starting a creative business?
Don’t waste your time and energy trying to do your own tax returns when you haven’t got the head for it and just gives you stress. Set the money aside and let someone do it for you who knows what they’re doing – an accountant sorts in hours what you might not manage in days, weeks and phone calls to helplines!
What is a quote you live by?
The happiest and most successful person works all year round doing what (s)he would otherwise do on (her)his summer vacation. – Mark Twain
Previous Featured Maker – Twisted By The Sea
To find out more about Jennie head to her Folksy shop, or to see more of our featured makers head here.
