About Simone Walsh:
Handmade jewellery designer & maker
All of my handmade jewellery is designed and made by me in my studio in the beautiful Adelaide hills in South Australia, but is purchased by people all over Australia and the world.
My jewellery is created using high quality materials and metalwork techniques.
Most of the precious metals I use in my handmade jewellery are recycled and I aim to run an eco-friendly and sustainable business.
You can learn more about me and what I'm up to by visiting my blog or by following me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
Celebrating 20 years!
Amazingly enough, in 2012 I'm celebrating the 20th year of making jewellery!
History
My interest in making jewellery began in the early 1990s when I was intrigued by a simple wire-work piece of jewellery I encountered and decided to work out how it was constructed. Soon enough I was hooked!
After initially teaching myself to make very simple jewellery, I began studying full time at a technical college in 1994 in order to learn to create much more complex metalwork jewellery.
I later undertook a visual arts degree (majoring in jewellery and metal) at Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney. Learn more about my qualifications.
I have been in business since the late '90s and first started selling my handmade jewellery online in 2006.
I have also participated in a number of exhibitions over the years, showing both contemporary jewellery and small sculptural objects.
My handmade jewellery
I aim to create beautiful jewellery for those who appreciate quality handmade goods - and especially contemporary handmade jewellery. Read about why buying handmade is a great thing to do.
Each piece in my jewellery collection is designed and handmade by me personally.
All pieces are formed, soldered, etched, etc. in my studio rather than simply being assembled from all mass-produced components.
No two pieces of truly handmade jewellery will be identical and most of my pieces will generally feature some evidence of having been worked on by hand - something I hope wearers of my jewellery will value.
My jewellery is all made using quality materials including sterling silver, gold, gemstones and more. Most of the precious metal I use is recycled.
I use metalwork techniques to create my jewellery, using skills which have been polished by years of education and practice. My favourite techniques include intricate saw-piercing and etching work.
In my designs I'm most often inspired by pattern and ornament, but also of details in nature. I particularly enjoy combining both elements in my work.
My jewellery shop
My handmade jewellery collection is generally added to around twice a year, usually with distinct ranges of work, but new designs can be created an added at any time.
Subscribe to the new jewellery feed in my shop or keep an eye on my blog for news about new work.
My own handmade jewellery shop has prices in Australian dollars and worldwide delivery.
I also sell through a small number of online venue outlets, such as Dawanda and Etsy. View the full list of my online shops.
In addition my work can be found through a limited number of offline retail outlets including Urban Cow Studios in Adelaide, Breathing Colours Gallery in Sydney, Curious Oyster in Melbourne and the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
Ethical and sustainable jewellery
I seek to make my indie design business as eco-friendly and as socially responsible as I can.
I do this in a number of ways, but in particular, the bulk of the precious metals that I use come from recycled sources.
Read my environment and ethics statement to learn more.
You can also make a donation towards offsetting the carbon for your purchases in my handmade jewellery shop.
Qualifications
I have the following qualifications:
- Bachelor of Visual Arts, Jewellery & Object Design major - Sydney College of the Arts – University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Graduated in 2000.
- Advanced Diploma of Applied & Visual art, Jewellery major - North Adelaide School of Art – TAFE (Technical & Further Education), Adelaide, Australia. Deferred after 12 months in 1995 to travel.
- Certificate in Applied & Visual Art, Jewellery major - Onkaparinga Institute of TAFE (Technical & Further Education), Adelaide, Australia. Completed in 1994, Most Outstanding Jewellery Student of 1994.
I also have a Graduate Diploma in Internet Studies, Design major from Curtin University, Australia.
Artworks and object making
Along with the wearable jewellery I sell, throughout my career I have also created a diverse array of artwork/exhibition pieces, some of which are more sculptural.
View photographs of this work and see the exhibitions I have participated in over the years.
This work is more conceptual in nature and has ranged from a stainless steel mesh dress, to a cast glass shoe, to an annodised aluminium bra, to a choker made of tracing paper ... and lots more.
Some of this work explores ideas such as sentimentality and notions of possession, the relationship of ornament and the body, the relationship between nature and culture - and more.
Currently my time for creating such works is very limited, but I hope to return to it when time permits.
