Garden Studio Tour, Jewellery Making & Packaging With Little Black Cat Jewellery

Kirsty from Little Black Cat joins us for 'A Day In The Life Of A Jeweller', sharing an insight into her working day. Join Kirsty on a garden studio tour, meet her furry friends, watch behind the scenes of being at the bench and learn more about life and running a small business with chronic illness.

Not only do we get a peek into Kirsty's day, but she has also kindly brought us a new tutorial that combines metalsmithing and beading to create lovely silver earring drops. Combining various techniques including forming metal, sawing, soldering, polishing and wire wrapping. We hope you love it and it gives you the inspiration to make your own version!

Find out more about Kirsty's story and see her beautiful handmade jewellery designs below, as well as her Day In The Life video and tutorial.

Hi Kirsty, tell us how your love for jewellery making began!

I’ve been collecting gemstones and seashells since I was a toddler, always loving the shapes and colours, textures and feel of them. I can still never leave a beach without pebbles in my pockets! Our annual family holiday to Devon always included at least 2 trips to the rock shop in Brixham, just so that I could add to my collection, along with trips to Totnes for the handmade jewellery stalls that I loved. I never had a way to use the pieces I collected, so they lived in a box, hidden away.

My jewellery journey actually began with a severe bout glandular fever, back in 2004. I was so severely ill with it, that I collapsed at my job in environmental science while trying to push through the illness. I spent the next 2 years bed and housebound with what was eventually diagnosed as the debilitating chronic illness, M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. ME sapped my energy, my health and my happiness, it completely changed my life, and I began to suffer from depression and anxiety.

I was finally referred to a private specialist, who helped me no end, and referred me on to a local hospital running a program for M.E patients, where I had access to support. During this time, a wonderful Occupational Therapist recommended that I try a creative hobby, something to keep me occupied while I was unable to work, to keep my mind active and to help me feel a sense of achievement. As an avid jewellery lover, and gemstone collector, I didn’t have to think too hard to choose what to try! I was soon using wire wrapping my gem collection!

So, in 2006, I started to create my own jewellery. Starting with a cheap kit that I’d purchased from the local supermarket, I started to find my new hobby addictive! I could purchase my beads online, which was perfect for someone stuck indoors. The beads began to build up, as did the tools, and I started to sell my pieces online. I named my business after my little black cat, Tigger, who stuck by my side throughout my illness and loved playing with my jewellery wire!

My health began to improve, and I managed a slow return to part time work whilst still making jewellery. After many years of struggling with criticism at work for taking much needed sick days, and being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia too, I left to pursue my dreams of running my own business earlier this year.

How would you describe your jewellery in 3 words?

Contemporary, meaningful, sparkly!

Tell us about your beautiful shed studio in your garden and any top tips for making it your own.

I’ve been lucky enough to have my workshop/studio/the shed- (whichever you prefer!) for 3 years now! I still can’t quite believe it! It’s been my solace during Covid! Insulation is definitely a lifesaver- as are my halogen heater and fan! I wanted to fill my work space with things that make me smile when I see them- from lots of fairy lights (I love fairy lights!!) to kitty ornaments, positive slogan signs, and Nifflers from the Fantastic Beasts movies! I just wanted a space that felt like my own, that had my personality stamped all over it so I felt at home, fun and relaxed. I chose a pale purple for the walls to keep the space feeling light and airy, and got the biggest door and windows available, so that I could let as much natural light in as possible, and look out over our garden. Any space you work in has to make you feel happy and relaxed, it has to be a place that you want to be in, that makes you smile as soon as you open the door.

How does having chronic illness effect your working day?

I have a different routine to a lot of people as due to the ME and Fibro, I really struggle with my sleep. So I tend to do my admin in the morning while I’m more tired, and then move onto my design and making process in the afternoons. I use meditation throughout the day to help with my energy levels, they give me a bit of a recharge through the day so that I can keep going. I also try to stick to a routine each day, as this helps me manage my health much better- so similar wake and sleep times, meditation times etc. And I have to be really careful not to overdo it and give myself a flare up, which leads to an increase in my symptoms. If I do too much, or get too stressed, it can really impact my health. I’m not very good as resting, I love to be busy and doing things, so I do have to check in with myself a lot to keep myself well. I often get Cog Fog, so I tend to write everything down so I know exactly what I’m doing- having a planner has really helped! I’m still pretty terrible at having days off- I have to physically leave the house, or I’ll find a job to do!

Tell us about your team - and by that we mean your beautiful cats!

Ahh, my gorgeous kitties! Sadly I lost the aforementioned Tigger, the original little black cat about 7 years ago now. But there was very much space in my heart for a furry double act! So we adopted Rosie and Bertie from our local animal rescue! Black cats are so often overlooked, and I was determined that we would take harder to home kitties. We actually went to the rescue with a mind to take Rosie and her last remaining kitten (she’d been found in a Tesco carpark in a cardboard box with her 4 kittens on Christmas Eve, being only approx. 6 months old herself!) But someone had already taken the kitten, and left Rosie behind- so she was definitely coming home with us! Whilst in the cat enclosure, a tall black cat decided he wanted to be friends, so Bertie found himself coming home too! We only know that he was found as a stray.

They’re both completely different cats- from personality to looks! Rosie is stubborn, full of mischief, easy going, nosey, happy around anyone. She’s also short, dinky and fluffy! Bertie is clingy, timid, vocal, daft, and a real cuddle monster- he gets separation anxiety! He’s tall and slim and very sleek!

They both love to come into my studio for a visit- Bertie has his own bed, as he’s not too keen on the machine noises, and likes to feel safe, whereas Rosie likes to use my windows as a cat flap and flies through with no warning, generally making me jump! She also loves to sit on whatever I’m working on!

Both love Dreamies! (and are *slightly* spoilt!)

We love your branding! What was your experience like working on this?

Oh thank you! I was extremely lucky with my branding, a friend with a small local business was after someone to make a logo for to get their name out there. I had my name already from Tigger, and my previous ‘branding’ (just a photo of an amethyst necklace!) to go with. I knew it had to include a black cat, and preferably purple, as amethyst is my birthstone and favourite gemstone. Gemma came back to me with a selection of fantastic designs, and I chose my favourite! Just this past year, it’s had a little revamp- it was ‘The Little Black Cat’ and has now become ‘Little Black Cat Jewellery’ to match my website, with more grown up fonts to suit my style as I’ve grown and changed direction. Gemma provided me with the new logo in multiple formats- including a purple outline cat to be printed onto my black jewellery boxes! The basic logo is still the same as my original- I didn’t want to lose my black cat and purple gem!

Your photography is beautiful, any top tips for the perfect shot?

Thank you so much! Photography is something I’ve really struggled with throughout making jewellery! It’s not easy at all! I used to use my mobile, which gave great shots, but couldn’t quite deal with the tiny details I needed, so I now have a Nikon D3500 DSLR, with a macro lens that I picked up second hand. I’d always recommend a tripod- I get the shakes a lot with the M.E and Fibro, so not having to worry about that is great! Also, a light box to give a nice diffused light and reduce shadows. Always have a play around, get to know your camera, and your favourite shots and photography style. I love a good prop or two, but there is such a thing as too many props- let your jewellery be the focus!

What’s one technique you’d love to try next?

I’ve just had my first go at sand casting! I was terrified at first, but I actually really enjoyed it while I was doing it! I made a solid silver dice for a friend- it wasn’t the easiest of makes! I can’t wait to have some fun with that and get lots of organic shapes cast as charms and pendants! I followed Kim Thomson’s tutorial available to watch on Kernowcraft’s website - it was so helpful, and easy to follow! The possibilities are endless!

Top 3 Kernowcraft products and why!

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