The Desert Designs name came about by chance,

In 2012  we moved to a more remote area of Western Australia,  we had been living in a rural wheat belt town in WA since 1997.

My partner and I bought the post office in Mount Magnet, Western Australia, a town approximately 7 hours from Perth and about 4 hours from the coast, pretty much in a straight line inland from Geraldton, a fairly arid area on the edge of the desert. 

I love the flora and fauna of the Australian bush and that is where my inspirations for jewellery and painting come from.

I have won two 1st prize art awards since 2012 one for a water colour and pastel painting at the Boyup Brook Arts Festival and the second one in 2017 for jewellery at the Dalwallinu Arts Festival.       I have also received a "Highly Commended" for a pendant and ear ring set at the Dalwallinu Arts Festival inn 2019

I have been painting and producing pottery and ceramic pieces for more than 30 years, and during that time I have taught classes in painting and ceramics,

I ventured into jewellery making purely by accident,  in 2014 the arts group in Mount Magnet received a grant to hold a 3 day bead making workshop,

 in polymer clay,  with artisan tutor Debbie Crothers, I couldn't have planned a better introduction to working with polymer clay,

I loved it from the minute I started working with it, and Deb is just so inspiring. 

I found that the liquid clay allowed me to virtually paint with clay, I started producing pieces inspired by my surroundings and incorporating ochre,

locally found gold nuggets and freshwater pearls into my pieces,

with demand growing for my work I registered the Desert Designs name in 2017 and I have started an online shop.

Also in 2017 I did my 1st course in metal clay with Pam Annesley, this opened up a whole new world again, and in 2021 I became accredited to teach in Aussie Metal Clay.

A lot of the jewellery I make is commissioned for individual customers who want that "something special" gift.

Every piece is individually unique and entirely hand made by me. 

 

Jade