My journey in things handmade was triggered years ago when I was a child. I’ve always enjoyed making things, and started making and selling jewellery after one of my Mum’s friends bought me a kit when I was aged about 11. I went on to have a little jewellery enterprise going at school – my PE teacher even sold my jewellery in the staffroom for me!
Despite my little side hustle, I managed to do alright at school and went on to sixth form college and university and got a ‘proper’ job in the software industry. But even then I couldn’t quite give up the ‘making’ addiction and studied silversmithing at night school. Eventually, after having my first little boy in 2006, the beads were properly resurrected and I was making and selling my jewellery again. Before long, my partner bought me an oven for Christmas (how romantic!). In fact, the oven turned out to be a small kiln to make dichroic glass jewellery. One thing led to another and I wanted to make bigger and bigger pieces so I’ve since upgraded to a larger kiln (and a designated studio).
I’ve spent the last 18 years or so designing and making increasingly more glass than jewellery and decided to set up a web page so that I can sell my work online. I still occasionally make jewellery pieces too (and still have stacks of beads!) so do keep an eye out for them both online and at my regular stall at Winchester Art Market every month (3rd Sunday of the month) – keep an eye on the Where You Can Find Me section of my home page.
My business is run from my small studio at home in Hampshire…hence the name ‘StudioZo’!
Please enjoy looking around the site and please do come and say hello if you are ever in Winchester (sometimes on the 1st, and usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month)….or follow me on social media – look me up on Facebook or instagram.