DaWanda Backstage

hi everyone!

DaWanda has successfully relaunched! It has a fantastic new look, and lots of fresh new additions to the platform for you to check out. In DaWanda Pinboards we have a special editorial section with exciting themes to guide you to some of the best products. You can also take a look at the Trends developing on DaWanda, and contribute your own individual style! 

Visit the new DaWanda today and get to know the new site!

To continue with our feature on DaWanda sellers, I would like to introduce you to Laura Bradshaw, who runs her jewellery boutique store Stitch and Silver on DaWanda, featuring a collection of fabric and silver jewellery inspired by childhood memorabilia and a magpie obsession for found objects.

Assorted Ring Bracelet by Stitch and Silver

When did you start Stitch and Silver?

I’ve been going for about two years now I think, it’s all so far in the past I can’t really remember! I come from a textile background, I studied textiles but not jewellery. All the jewellery is taught, once I left university I thought, hm this is what I wanna do. Everything is inspired by fabric.

Do you remember the first piece you ever made?

The first piece of jewellery I ever made was when i was 13 in first year at school. I took part in the young entrepreneurs competition which I seem to remember was a nationwide thing in all secondary schools in Ireland. I set up a jewellery business called Mini Madness and I made brooches from match sticks, felt, and varnish, to create small ‘families’ of people. I made customised brooches of my friend’s families, including small felt cats and dogs….

Did you come from a creative background? 

Yes very much so, my mum in fact has just started a business that we’ve also put on DaWanda, Planet Purple Kids. She was a set designer and costume designer in the theatre for years, and my granny owns a big knitwear business and was one of the first Irish people to export knitwear that wasn’t aran jumpers. She was the first Irish knitwear company to export to Macy’s something other than aran jumpers.

Impression Fine Silver Circle Studs by Stitch and Silver

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces for Stitch and Silver? 

My newest range is all inspired by recycling things and using up old fabrics. Mainly due to the vast quantity of fabrics that I collect that have been sitting there. It’s all trying to think about reusing things and being able to customise things s that you have jewellery pieces that incorporate your favourite fabrics. Like when you have a dress that you love and you grow out of it, but you don’t want to throw it away because you love the fabric. So it’s using those ideas to give it a new lease of life. I love fabric!

What is the best part about running your own business?

The best part about running my own business is that I can get up when I feel like (I am not an early riser, though I do work in the evenings). Also, no office politics and pretending to like people you dont!!! It’s also lovely to meet your customers at craft fairs and events.

Do you have a favourite designer at the moment?

I dont have a favourate designer, truthfully there are just too many good ones. I have always admired Matesse’s work with colour and pattern, I think jewellery from the Netherlands and Germany has a great edge to it, I love the whole asthetics of the British punk period… I love the rich fabrics and sari designs from India….. i could go on!!

Felt and Button brooches by Stitch and Silver 

(Made using antique and modern beads and buttons and incorporating recycled felts and threads).
                         

                         
Is inspiration an instantaneous moment for you, or is it a slower more thought out process?

Inspiration is a funny thing, I very very rarely plan an item, I will get an idea in my head, ie for a certian length, size or shape, and then just start making… this way i think my work is constantly evolving, each new piece changes slightly with my mood, and with what seems right… I am the kind of person who just jumps in and starts making, excited to see what i finish up with!!!!

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently I’m trying to get a wedding range ready to get more products on DaWanda for people to see, and trying to develop this wedding range further, which is hard.

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Thanks alot to Laura for her time and great interview. Visit Stitch and Silver today and browse her beautiful collection of work!

See you over on DaWanda!