I’ve done it again haven’t I! I’ve neglected my blog since last March!! A lot has happened since then though, so I’m not going to give myself a hard time over it! I won’t bore you with any personal stuff (well, I might one day, but not yet), but work wise, there’s been a pretty major development…

Back in July, following a lovely big restart grant from Forest Of Dean District Council, I opened “The Studio” - my brand new teaching space at Taurus Crafts in Gloucestershire.

Many of you will already know that I’ve been hiding away in a little studio, just big enough for three (me and my wedding ring couples) at Taurus Crafts for a couple of years now. I’ve been repeatedly asked though about running more jewellery workshops for more people at a time…and now I can!

“The Studio” is the place to come to learn all things jewellery making!

From a platinum engagement ring to some simple silver stud earrings, The Studio is now open and offering a whole host of couples and group jewellery making workshops and private tuition, run by me and various fantastic guest tutors. As well as the workshops, if you already have some jewellery making skills, you can just “rent-a-bench” for as long as you need to use it.

As part of my “guest” tutor package (please do get in touch if you’d like to be one!) I’ll be interviewing and writing blogs about each of them and their work, but I thought maybe it would be a good idea to kick that off by interviewing myself!!

Guest Blog - Me! (Anna Mcloughlin - ethical goldsmith)

What made you decide to become a gold/silver/metal smith?

I’ve always wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember (we’re talking 2 or 3 years old here). There was a small waiver during my early teens when I “considered” becoming a vet, but that didn’t last long and I soon returned to my true passion.

When I was 16, I went to a careers fair, and stumbled across a stand from what was then Birmingham Polytechnic with information about courses in jewellery design. Well, that was it really. Something just clicked at that point! By that tine I was actually able to start, “Birmingham Poly” had become the Univerity of Central England, and the HND course I’d be looking at was now BA(Hons) in Jewellery and Silversmithing…the rest is history!

What’s on your bench right now?

I’ve just finished setting the last stone into an 18ct gold wedding ring, that was made by the client on a wedding ring workshop here a few weeks ago. I also made her engagement ring and she wanted to add an extra stone to complement the ones she already has. The wedding had to be cancelled due to the pandemic and I don’t think the couple have any plans for a new date as yet, but at least they’ll be able to feel proud “looking” at the fantastic rings that they both made!

What’s your favourite thing to make/work with and why?

This changes, but at the moment, I’m loving working in platinum, especially when I get to recycle it. I just love the whole process of donning my funky welding goggles, then turning an unworn piece into a molten white hot “blob” before then slowly making it into something beautiful. I really very humbling to think that something I’ve recycled from a piece of metal that might be 100 years old, will still be around for another 100 (or more) years to come!

What’s your least favourite thing to make/work with and why?

I love the “look” of them, but these days it’s probably opals. Back in my college days it was pewter. Both for much the same reason in that they are just way too soft and easy to break!

Any big plans for the future?

I’ve just opened my new teaching space - The Studio, so I’m looking forward to welcoming lots of guest tutors and students, as well as hopefully being able to offer volunteering and perhaps one day even paid opportunities to some of the people with learning difficulties that are supported here at Taurus Crafts by Camphill Village Trust. In my days as a secondary school teacher, this was really my main interest, so I’m hoping I can continue to inspire and pass on some of my skills.

What do you like to do when you’re not making?

Apart from catching up on sleep, I do enjoy just spending time outside in nature with my family. As my children have become teenagers, its getting a bit more difficult to coax them away from their screens, but I do still manage it sometimes!