About Bowerbird Jewellery!

Amanda, Founder of Bowerbird Jewellery at her studio desk, wearing a William Morris statement necklace of her own creation
Amanda, founder of Bowerbird Jewellery in her studio, 2022.

My hobby as a teenager, making beaded chokers to wear to High School has now blossomed into my small business, creating unusual bespoke jewellery and accessories as Bowerbird Jewellery!

My jewellery style is eclectic ranging from silver and copper pieces to plastic found on local Cornish beaches.  I am inspired by anything and everything: Nature – from plants to animals and the natural landscape, history, historic buildings, my passion for literature like Jane Austen or art movements like Arts and Crafts, William Morris through to the geometric lines of Art Deco and the sinuous curves of Art Nouveau.

Primarily self-taught, I also use a range of high quality glass seed beads, shaped beads, Swarovski Crystals as well as Czech Preciosa firepolished faceted beads to create wonderfully textured beaded jewellery.

I also love to design and create mixed media jewellery and utilise all sorts of craft products like shrink plastic, Jewel Enamal or UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) and Gilding wax.  My passion for nature and vintage can form to create jewellery – such as creating silicone moulds from found objects and vintage buttons, fossils and keys to produce unique items of jewellery for people who are unique, original and like to make a statement with their jewellery – definitely something different from the High Street Norm!

I also incorporate semi-precious gemstones, handmade polymer clay beads or sometimes found objects such as sea glass or rusty bolts and I also create Japanese Kumihimo braided jewellery and crochet jewellery too!  I have successfully completed Grade 1 of the Diploma for Precious Metal Clay and a City & Guilds level 2 diploma in Traditional Silversmithing & Jewellery at Truro College.

I am a member of the Bead Society of Great Britain and my jewellery has been featured in national and international Bead/Jewellery magazines.  One of my more complex pieces ‘Sea Necklace’ was included for exhibition at the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery.

large pearl focal pendant with cream and blue seed bead necklace strap
Sea Necklace, copyright Amanda Crago 2010

I sell my work in a variety of places within the UK and online.  I occasionally sell at in-person craft markets, currently at Tregullas Barn, Lizard village, one Saturday a month and at Discovery Market, Falmouth on Events Square outside the National Maritime Museum on certain Fridays (currently 4th and 25th August 2023) 10am – 5pm.

You can see my work at:

My new online shop! Yes, I’ve opened my own online shop, just a small selection at the moment.

Winifred & Mabel, 31 Molesworth Street, Wadebridge, Cornwall. A fantastic collection of handmade gifts and home décor/furniture from artisans all around Cornwall.

Winterbourne House and Gardens – a beautiful Arts and Crafts style house within the grounds of the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston. They stock a wonderful collection of my Morris inspired patterns in fabric button jewellery.

My Folksy online shop – Folksy is a UK Based online marketplace dedicated to Designer Makers based in the UK and handmade items! Here you will find most of my jewellery collections available to purchase.

My Etsy Online shop – Etsy is an American based marketplace also dedicated to Designer Makers and sells handmade items or supplies – for people working all over the world!

Sometimes, I take different jewellery to my in-person markets I attend, so if you can’t find what you’ve spotted on my market stall, please contact me here.

I was also commissioned by a local design company to create a bead netting section for the interactive display of the Royal Cornwall Museum’s new Egyptian Ancient Civilisation Gallery in 2012. The museum now uses this beaded piece as part of their handling collection for school visits!

Egyptian bead netting example at Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
Egyptian bead netting example at Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro

Cheers,

Amanda Crago