Sarah Louise Payne

Sarah Louise Payne

Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2009 Beading Contest

Finalist

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Peterborough, England

Describe your artistic style.
My style is simple wearable pieces that can be enjoyed by every woman, irrespective of age or size. As a 'curvy lady' myself I like jewelry that can be 'seen!'

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Color. It is all about the color, and how it makes you feel when you wear a piece. A strong color choice will make you stand out in a crowd.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
I love big bold cabochons and gemstones. The sense of such age in a profound pleasure. And the colors of jade, lapis lazuli, and garnets really 'pop.'

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Midnight Dream

What inspired this design?
The color of the stones reminded me of the night sky, and I dreamt about the piece for weeks before I made it. I wanted it to be a real statement piece with some 'weight,' which is why I didn't mount in on a chain or a tube of peyote like I usually would, but went for a strong beaded chain instead.

How did it come together?
This piece developed over 3 months. I beaded the cabochons and played with the layout until I found something that felt right. It took 3 months and a few sleepless nights to decide how best to set it.

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I have been beading for 2 years on and off. I have only produced a small scale work often in tubular herringbone. Midnight dreams is my second large scale piece and use of cabochons. The first cabochon was beaded in March for a friend's birthday.

Who introduced you to beading?
I needed a creative outlet that I could o on a small scale. I found a bead and button magazine in my local newspaper and was hooked.

Do you have an artistic background?
By day I am a software trainer, by night a creative dynamo! M work is mainly in textured textiles where I like to introduce beads as an embellishment. Jewelry lets me take jewelry to another stage.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and BeadsĀ®?
From the amazing ads on the back of bead and button magazines.

What other hobbies do you have?
Textile embroidery, needle felting, quilting.

Do you belong to any beading societies or beading groups?
No. I work away from home so keeping up with groups is very difficult.

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
It gives me balance. I have technically demanding and stressful job which takes me away from home. Beading is something I can take with me into hotel rooms and helps me relax.

If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I have only sold one piece and that was through an embroiders guild. So far my work is purely for gifts for those I love. As I make each piece I think about the recipient and add a little love to it.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Keep trying all the new techniques you can. Then you can start to develop them into your own style. If you don't like it, put it in a box for awhile and come back to it. You can then use it as a further source of inspiration.