When Lorna came to the studio for her Design, Cut and Create day, she had no fixed plan — just an interest in exploring how laser-cut design might feed into her millinery work.
But after seeing trays of jewellery hardware, acrylic samples and half-finished prototypes, she decided she fancied making something for herself instead.
From idea to design
Lorna gravitated towards the matte acrylics and architectural shapes straight away. We spent a bit of time playing with colour combinations and sketching out how the forms she had in mind might work as jewellery.
Over the next few hours (with a break for homemade soup, naturally), she created four rings, a necklace and a pair of earrings — each one completely her own design.
Exploring form and movement
What I loved most was how Lorna thought about the way the pieces interact with the body. We talked about how shapes bend and curve, how earrings can move up or across the ear rather than straight down, and how a ring could stretch across three fingers without losing comfort.
She took to the process straight away — part design, part problem-solving, part creative play.
Why Design, Cut and Create days exist
These sessions are exactly why I launched the Design, Cut and Create days in the first place. Creativity needs protected time — space to play, test, and make mistakes without rushing.
By the end of the day, Lorna left with a small collection of her own handmade jewellery and a fresh set of ideas for future millinery pieces.
Fancy a day in the studio?
If you’d like to join me for your own Design, Cut and Create session, I offer one-to-one or two-person days in my Peak District studio.
I’m also planning to open these up for the home education community — design and technology can be tricky to deliver at home, and these sessions are a great way to get hands-on experience with real materials and tools.
Get in touch to book your day or find out more.