CLAIRE SMITH CLOUDY LEMONADE — featured seller handmadeseller . com
— FEBRUARY 2021
Indeed , in 2019 Claire and her husband gathered up everything they owned , their 3-year old and 2-month old , and moved from Milton Keynes in England to Moffat , Scotland . “ We fell in love with Scotland over 15 years ago and vowed we ’ d eventually move here .”
Her husband was starting a new job and Claire was busy setting up a new nursery for her children . But she didn ’ t just sit idly by .
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Claire was working on the plans for a new business venture . “ I sat patiently in the background just waiting for my time . Fit to burst with ideas , my business was just waiting to be born .” With space for a studio in her new home , she was ready to make it happen .
A WINDING PATH “ I ’ ve always been creative and loved making anything with my hands ,” Claire recalls . “ Creating takes me to a place nothing else does . I switch off , zone out , and feel truly peaceful . I think it ’ s what a lot of people experience when exercising , unfortunately , I never got those endorphins !”
When Claire ’ s maternity leave ended , she started trying out every craft imaginable . She wanted to bring her creativity into focus and for that , she needed to find the right outlet . “ Felting , arm knitting , sewing , you name it , I ’ ve probably tried it . But it wasn ’ t until I
took a jewelry-making course that I felt truly addicted . This was it . I had created pieces in silver . They were good , they were wearable , and I was so proud of myself . I was hooked .”
HONING THE CRAFT Claire had never made anything with silver before and certainly had no experience with a blowtorch and the other required tools for handcrafting silver jewelry . “ After taking a day course , I took an evening one too . Pregnant with my second child , people were a little bemused at the lady working around
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