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Well this is me..most of the time rushing around, but this photo sums it up! Here I am pugging clay with my beautiful daughter that helps me keep my feet on the ground.
My life changed 6 years ago when I had the stupid idea to buy the Artshed and move it into the next phase of its life.
I had 2 children under 6 and a crazy creative business to run with no experience of running a business. I had to pull all my creativity, management and accountancy skills together which almost felt like all the work I had done previously was ultimately for this purpose.
I tell you what, it hasn’t been easy but with the help of my wonderful mum, super supportive husband (and carpenter for all the jobs at Artshed) and my amazing team, we’ve developed a creative hub that the local community come to relax and I LOVE IT! (especially all the pugging jokes)
Starting my love for art at school, I went to Ware college to study Art GNVQ and Foundation level, where I fell in love with textile art and I started to make silver jewellery. I went onto Norwich School of Art and Design to get my degree. This propelled me into my first job at the Disney Store Head office in London to train to be a fashion buyer.
Coming back to Hertford, I moved to an amazing local fashion wholesale company Flyers PLC. I spent an amazing 10 years setting up a buying team and landing myself the creative directer position, travelling the world, designing and buying large qtys for their shops and all the big fashion retailers for brands like Ben Sherman, French Connection, Converse and Firetrap. I loved it but when I had my first child I felt the travelling was too much. Having always made silver jewellery as a hobby since college, I decided to see if I could make it a business.. “Jewellery Rocks London” was launched and lots of personalised handmade jewellery was made, including a special commission for Spice Girl Emma Bunton.
Since i’ve had Artshed Arts my jewellery making has had to slow down, with a hubby, 2 kids a dog, 2 cats and 13 chickens I have a lot going!
I teach our Tuesday morning ceramics class and love developing my own throwing and hand-building designs in my spare time.
Craft is my life, i love it, i live it and i breathe it.
It’s my car, my inspiration and the thing that gets me exciting about being alive.
I hope you enjoy coming to Artshed Arts as much as I enjoy seeing people come in and feeling like they can take time out for theirselves, its time to talk and create with like minded people, its mindfulness, its medicine, its what we all need in our life x
(if you are interested in my jewellery, please contact me debbiemason@jewelleryrockslondon.co.uk)
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