Hello...
Welcome to my wonderful world, where jewellery, textiles and needle crafts collide!
I’m Claire, the many hat wearing, creative driving force behind Suzanne Claire Jewellery…
I’ve probably confused you now, haven’t I....?!
Yes, I go by my middle name. A family tradition at the time, but don’t worry about getting it wrong, I’m more than familiar with being called both - in fact, Mr SCJ has called me Suzie
for well over a decade.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a jewellery addict yourself (or you’re wanting to buy for a jewellery addict), and either you’re an admirer of textiles, or you also have the bug and love the sensory aspect of sewing, knitting and/or crocheting.
I’d love to know?
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It’s been a passion of mine for…, well as long as I can remember, shaped from observing two generations of women - my Mum, her Mum, my Great Auntie and my Nana.
As with a lot of girls, my love of wearing jewellery started young too, however the jewellery making bug didn’t develop until my early 20’s after taking a short beginners course at Central Saint Martins, which lead to graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2008 with a BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design.
“My love for all things colourful and craft orientated blossomed during early childhood from observing two generations of women.
I was inspired as a child, from my Mum, her Mum, my Great Auntie and my Nana.
It was these same people who shaped my love of what today seems to be lost arts – sewing, knitting and other needle crafts.”
I’ve worked as a self-employed designer / maker of contemporary
jewellery ever since graduation.
For the past 6 years, I’ve been based at the edge of the Peak District
in the beautiful mill town of Bollington, Cheshire, which has a rich history of textile production.
I work around my young family - 2 girls and a doggy!
These non-traditional jewellery making techniques help to create my distinctive, signature style
Influenced by my picturesque, semi-rural, mill town home surroundings and travels further afield - from the decorative tiles of Spain and North Africa, to the lines and patterns in everyday settings hidden in plain sight.
There’s always one common theme at the heart of my creativity - textiles.
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​My flourishing interest of metal work left me torn between jewellery making and textile art. Through time and experimentation, the two disciplines merged resulting in my current textile inspired collections.
Using silver chain, wire and sheet as alternatives to thread, wool and fabric, I handcraft beautiful and tactile French knitted, crocheted, embroidered and woven jewellery.
Each piece is characterised by a slinky movement and feel on the skin, or is visually enlivened by the manipulation of the original surface texture.
Splashes of colour are added through semi precious beads and threads, giving each creation a playful quality.
My 6-year-old also thinks you should know - I have really curly hair...!