Meet The Kernowcraft Team

Hannah: Managing Director

Kernowcraft has been handed down over three generations, making Hannah the heart of Kernowcraft and the team. Hannah ensures everything is running smoothly and throws herself into helping every part of the business - whether that's helping our Buying team source new products, responding to customer queries or coming up with exciting ways to show off our wonderful product range.

What are you most proud of?

My team, they really care about doing a great job for our customers. The lovely feedback we regularly receive from our customers makes it all worth it.

What's a new hobby you're loving right now?

At the weekends I'm usually out enjoying the Cornish coast with my two dogs. But aside from creative and diy house projects,  I've recently really enjoyed rediscovering yoga after going on a retreat. 

Cabochons or faceted stones?

I think it really depends on the stone, but the contrast of both cuts in a single piece of jewellery can be really nice. I do love a sparkles of a faceted stone in a ring, but some stones like opal and turquoise (which are both favourites) usually work better cut as cabochons.

Elaine: Customer Service

Elaine manages our amazing sales team, ensuring that everything in the studio is organised and often brings in tasty homemade treats to keep us going! Elaine has a wealth of knowledge and experience in jewellery making as well as our vast product range, so she is always on hand to chat with you and help with any queries or problems you may have. Even when we're not sure about something - we can always rely on Elaine to have the answer!

What's your go-to bake?

Lemon cake with homemade lemon curd.

What's your favourite jewellery making soundtrack?

Definitely a calming easy listening playlist including tracks from Roo Panes and the Old Sea Brigade.

Favourite jewellery making technique you're loving right now?

Into wire work with patinas using freeform stones – I’m enjoying the challenge of working on a design around an abstract shape.

Sarah: Customer Service

Sarah is a friendly voice at the end of the phone, ready to help you in your jewellery making journey. Sarah loves picking orders and especially enjoys reading your special requests and choosing the very best gemstones and supplies for your upcoming projects. Fun fact, Sarah's last name is Goldsmith - how fitting!

Statement or minimal?

Minimal

Favourite piece of jewellery you've ever made?

A silver bangle that I made at my first silversmithing course. I was working in a corporate job at the time so to do something completely different was a real tonic. I couldn’t actually believe I’d managed to make something good enough to wear!

Coffee or tea?

Always tea, especially after a good stomp along the coast path.

Kathryn: Buyer

Kathryn sources the very best products for your designs, she is head quality checker making sure every tiny gemstone, finding and tool meets our required high standards. Kathryn can always be relied upon across the team and often helps come up with new ways to show off our products and come up with design ideas to inspire you.

Favourite bird you've spotted in the Kernowcraft garden?

As a keen birdwatcher and lover of all things nature, I quite often spend my lunchtimes looking out for anything interesting in the Kernowcraft garden! I have seen lots of birds and wildlife in the garden, all lovely and great to see, so it's quite hard to pick a favourite! I think that one of my favourite birds has to be a Fieldfare. They are only winter visitors to Cornwall, but when it's cold they sometimes come to the garden to enjoy the windfall apples from our tree together with lots of other birds. It's lovely watching them all.

Your go-to jewellery making book?

I have to confess that I do own quite a few jewellery making books! But I would have to say that the Jewellery Making: A Complete Course For Beginners by Jinks McGrath would be my book for anything silversmithing and Magical Metal Clay Jewellery - Sue Heaser for anything metal clay. They are both really good books with lots of helpful information.

How many rings are you wearing right now?

Hmmm, yes I do wear quite a lot of rings!! As I am writing this I am wearing 10 rings, 3 of them I have made, and the other 7 all have sentimental value, as does most of the other jewellery that I wear.

Stanya: Marketing

Stanya is an important part of the marketing team and is always excited to share new content for you and wonderful ways you can use our gemstone and supplies. Stanya brings you your weekly dose of jewellery making inspiration to your inbox while also connecting with you all on social media where you'll often find her giving you a peek inside our gemstone drawers and lots of behind the scenes action!

Favourite dog walk in Cornwall?

Wheal Coates near St. Agnes. You can walk the coastal path down to Chapel Porth beach and stop in the cafe for their famous hedgehog ice cream.

What gemstone are you drawn to most and why?

Aquamarine - its colour reminds me of the ocean which also has a very calming effect.

Tell us about your very first handmade jewellery creation!

It was a pair of pearl stud earrings which I made when I first joined Kernowcraft. It didn't require much skill but it definitely brought joy and sparked an interest in learning more complicated techniques!