I first started to make paper jewellery in the summer of 2020 when we were in the height of the Covid pandemic. There were sveral reasons for using paper as a medium: it is a cleaner and safer option to copper which was a big swaying point as I had just adopted a new kitten. The chemicals involved with patinising copper are too toxic and give off many lingering fumes. The thought of fine copper wires being swallowed by my litte furry friend were just so much of a worry too.
Life was so bleak at this time and we were all locked away in our houses instructed to ‘stay at home’. I live in a small apartment with my partner in the heart of the city and we have no garden. With no immediate access to any green space lockdown wasn’t easy for us. Living in the city our panoramic urban view is beautiful but there is little or no colour other than grey concrete or brick. The earthy brown tones of copper were just not doing it for me anymore – what I needed was an injection of colour and positivity! And that’s how and why I started my ventures into the vibrant fun pieces I design today.
One sunny day I put up some backdrop sheets in my kitchen near the large window to make use of the great natural light we have and I dug out my old Canon 650D. I wanted some shots of me wearing some designs that show true size and how the jewellery falls which I think is really important. (Incase anyone wonders, I always sanitise ear pins after I wear earrings so that when sold they reach the customer in tip top condition.)
The afternoon was so much fun! It had been ages since my partner and I had worked on a creative project together. However, having your boyfriend as your photographer does lead to hilarious bickering! I would be preoccupied by how flattering the results would be, while he tried to ensure I stayed in shot and the lighting was adequate!
It’s about time I invested in a camera upgrade and photography is something I’d really like to develop but for an impromptu photoshoot in a tiny kitchen I think these have turned out great!
