About Desert Designs
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