Hello and welcome to my website. Exciting news for all those folk who have followed me as the editor of  Beads & Beyond and Making Jewellery magazines. I’m currently in the process of designing and publishing my own crafting magazine. This is a very exciting time for me and with the help of a brilliant website designer we will launch our product in March 2012. This magazine is designed for the jewellery, fashion and sewing crafter but will be packed with much more information and practical advice then any hard copy magazine can offer. What’s even more exciting is that it will be inexpensive to advertise in or to subscribe to. With the world wide economic slump, spending £5 on a magazine is a luxury many of us can no longer afford. Subscribers may down load projects for free and will be entitled to special shopping discounts and entry to fab competitions every month! For our advertisers no longer will there be hefty fees for getting your products noticed. Banners, shopping pages and direct links to your shop will be on offer at rates that you won’t believe possible! So stay tuned and keep in touch, this is one magazine that you won’t want to miss out on. Cheers Joan

Hi, it’s been a year since I updated my website. 2010 wasn’t the best year I’ve experienced in my life but it did have just has many highs as lows. After a six month break from work, I am back in the UK, fit and well with a head full of creative ideas that I am looking forward to implementing into my jewellery and art projects. My workshop booking list is already full for March, so if you’re looking for a class in jewellery making, PMC , mixed medium [lampwork and fine silver] or creative sewing, please email as soon as possible. I am currently taking bookings for May and June.

My new book Creative Lampwork has been published. Please visit Amazon to check it out. If you’re new to lampwork this practical book is sure to point you in the right direction for becoming involved in this fantastic artistic skill. My dear friend and colleague Lesley Rands has covered all the technical step by steps and several talented artists contributed projects that are inspirational as well as practical. I consider myself very privileged to have been able to work with such talented and generous artists.

I am still focused on decorating lampwork beads and slumped beads with fine silver. In the next few days I’ll upload new images of the pendants and beads that I have been making. Over the past few months I have also been enjoying doing some collaborative work with Lesley Rands. Her beads are such a joy to work with, the quality and shape are perfect for enhancing with fine silver.

Stay in touch and please visit me on face book where we can all share our latest ideas and interests.

Warm Regards – Joan

Hi, I hope your new year has taken off to a good start. My good news for 2010 has been that I have been given a new 6 month contract to keep on my studio at Model House! From here I will be continuing my sewing and jewellery classes and writing my two new books. My lampwork book is really starting to take shape and the projects contributed by the talented artists that I’m working with are absolutely stunning. Lesley Rands has proved to be a brilliant support and her technical step by steps for the ‘Know How’ section are exceptional. I consider myself very fortunate to be working with such a focused and artistic woman. I hope that in Spring 2011 you’ll see my book and go ‘WOW! I want to get into the flame and melt some glass’. The book will be visually beautiful, inspiring as well as practical.

For anyone wanting a taster lesson in precious metal clay I am running a class in my studio, [Model House, Llantrisant Wales]
on the 22nd and 23 rd of Feb. Please give me a call or email me as spaces are limited. Phone: 0754 225753

Cheers Joan

I’m starting the new year with a view to getting back into my jewelley and sewing classes. I’ll be available for classes starting the 25th of January. This year I am exploring glass fushion and decorating the glass with fine silver clay. Basic Jewellery classes, wirework and fine silver are all still on offer as is general sewing and machine embroidery techniques. My current new venture of working with glass and fine silver is really exciting. The proto types are just out of the kiln and I am very pleased with the results. My other focus this year is to travel and see more of the UK and Europe. I will be visiting jewellery makers and galleries throughout with view of expanding my skills and perhaps writing another book. My current lampwork book, is well on it’s way and I am so greatful for all the help I am being given by the talented lampwork artists who are contributing to the techniques and projects. Here’s to a creative 2010.

Warm regards, Joan

It’s been awhile since I’ve been into my site. I’ve been busy working on my next issue of Making Jewellery. It’s hard to believe that it’s just over a year since I first commenced developing and then editing. I was hoping to have had a little more free time to teach but with the magazine and the new book that I’ve just commenced authoring – Masters of Glass – (the book is focused on lampwork bead techniques and step by step projects will be contributed by some leading UK and international artists), I’ve been strapped for time. Having said that I’ve had some time to make some jewellery and I’ve been enjoying melting glass and then encasing it in PMC fine silver. The finished pieces are free form and the most interesting thing to note is that the clear glass that I melt at the torch, turns pink or yellow when it’s refired with the silver. This fuming effect is very pretty and I’m pleased with the results. If you’d like to learn more about this process or if you’re keen to learn how to link beads to make unusual and bespoke jewellery, give me a call a drop me an email. Over the next couple of months I will be working more often in my studio in Wales and I am offering 1 to 1 or small group classes. Cheers Joan