laura hounaM

Unique pieces of jewellery made using a variety of techniques including beading, wire work, crocheting and knitting with wire, silver work and using gemstones. All materials are sourced in limited amounts and many often have had a previous life.  All proceeds from  sales go to the charity Against Breast Cancer. 

I have a scientific background, after graduating in biology from university I worked as a research scientist and in quality control laboratories but have always been interested and admired all sort of crafts.

Part of the package of being born in Italy in the ‘50s is that as a child you learnt to sew, knit, embroider, crochet. Growing up in the ‘60s gave me a taste to use materials in a transgressive way. The oil crisis of the ‘70s encouraged my thriftiness. After that I was engrossed in my work but always had some knitting needles or crochet hook at hand.

My love for jewellery and hate for waste finally came together about 20 years ago, when I started to repair and restyle broken pieces of jewellery so they could be fit for sales in the charity shop where I was a volunteer, up-cycling even before the word was frequently used. That was the beginning of the never ending journey of learning new techniques, exploring new ideas and revisiting old ones.

I use materials sourced in limited amounts, sometimes brought back from my regular trips to Italy, sometimes donated to help me in the fundraising for Against Breast Cancer and often it had a previous life.  The inspiration comes from the materials I have available. They also dictate the techniques used. The thread that links my work is my love for colour and  a style classic in shapes and sizes, always easy to wear and easily affordable.