About Dotty Beads

My name is Janis and I started making my own jewellery almost on a whim two years ago when I realised how easy it was! I had been to a couple of workshops and very quickly after learning basic skills, I was soon making all sorts. People began to ask me where I bought my necklaces and when I told them I’d made them myself – they were stunned! I can clearly remember the ooo’s and ahhh’s. The next thing I knew, I was being asked to make pieces for my friends and family. I was surprised at such interest and decided that I wanted to share my knowledge and experienced gained so far, and the simplest way of doing this was to hold workshops.

For me, the greatest joy of running the workshops is seeing the excitement and pride in peoples faces as they leave, clutching the creations tightly in the their hand. I can remember my own pride having completed a particular necklace made with wire spirals. My husband couldn’t believe I’d made it myself. There is always something new to learn when making jewellery and I still love to go to workshops myself. I find it’s very therapeutic and calming – getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a couple of hours. And wire work is something that I will take into the Dotty Beads workshops soon, too. I’m always looking for fresh ideas for myself, and think it’s important to try to keep up-to-date with trends too and am constantly on the look-out for exciting new beads to share (or not, sometimes!).  I’ve perfected French knitting with wire, crocheting with beads, making sun catchers, Christmas bits and bobs, as well as the usual threaded necklaces, charm bracelets, ‘bling’ rings, memory wire bracelets, ear-rings – the list goes on!

It fascinates me, having created a particular item, or being with other people, how very different each design is. Not only is it peoples likes and dislikes, but how colours are put together, or which bead has gone with which bead – I never fail to be amazed. And how many times I start a project with an idea in mind, but by the time I have finished I end up with something completely different to the original design. Jewellery-making is a very fluid craft – nothing is right, nothing is wrong. This is why I’ll never get bored and will constantly want to share and encourage others to take a dip into their own creativity!