Laura Handford
i. I work as a silversmith
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ii. I do this creative work because it feeds my spirit AND pays my bills. I am so blessed to have a lifestyle of making, creating, dreaming, and offering the results to others!
ii. I do this creative work because it feeds my spirit AND pays my bills. I am so blessed to have a lifestyle of making, creating, dreaming, and offering the results to others!
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iii. Personal qualities that help me in my work are imagination, creativity, intuition.
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iii. Personal qualities that help me in my work are imagination, creativity, intuition.
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iv. The greatest challenges around doing this work are the machinations of running a business challenges me most, from ordering supplies to marketing myself and the creations. I am in my happy place when I can simply make established designs and play with new ideas.
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v. Creative childhood hobbies
My earliest creations were usually with fibre. Crocheting, finger knitting, sewing, braiding. As a teen I was drawn to fashion and clothing, often altering and redesigning my clothes. As a young adult, my crocheting skills were explored as I designed and crocheted all sorts of clothing: bikinis, vests, corsets,belts, hats, gloves and a variety of bags. I also began learning the ancient art of candle making during this time.
My earliest creations were usually with fibre. Crocheting, finger knitting, sewing, braiding. As a teen I was drawn to fashion and clothing, often altering and redesigning my clothes. As a young adult, my crocheting skills were explored as I designed and crocheted all sorts of clothing: bikinis, vests, corsets,belts, hats, gloves and a variety of bags. I also began learning the ancient art of candle making during this time.
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vi. Other creators who inspire you
Nearly every creative person or artist in most mediums inspires me. From the ancient to the modern. From Mother Nature to manmade architecture. Often the glimpse of a curve on the horizon, or the movement of a leaf as the wind blows, a flash of a wedding band on a long married woman’s hand, or the whimsy of a child’s drawing will trigger the creative process. All these and much more have inspired my work.
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Nearly every creative person or artist in most mediums inspires me. From the ancient to the modern. From Mother Nature to manmade architecture. Often the glimpse of a curve on the horizon, or the movement of a leaf as the wind blows, a flash of a wedding band on a long married woman’s hand, or the whimsy of a child’s drawing will trigger the creative process. All these and much more have inspired my work.
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vii. Training that has helped me succeed in this career
I studied and trained with Lindsay Godfrey on Mudge Island in 1998. This was a 1yr immersion into the world of silversmithing and fibre art. It was a very special year and I embraced the lifestyle like fish in water!
I studied and trained with Lindsay Godfrey on Mudge Island in 1998. This was a 1yr immersion into the world of silversmithing and fibre art. It was a very special year and I embraced the lifestyle like fish in water!
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viii. The biggest myth about this type of work is the glamour. There is a mystique or glamour around a finished piece of jewellery that often extends to maker(which I love !). The dirty truth is well, that it is dirty work!! Cuts, burns, and filed down fingernails, polishing compound dust, silver dust, gold dust, toxic chemicals, blood, sweat and tears are often part of the alchemy of each piece I make!
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ix. If you want to work in my field, I suggest that you enjoy working with your hands and tools.
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x. A professional goal I have for the future.
To teach and share this work.
To teach and share this work.
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xi. If you want to see my work, go to moonshine studio
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www.creatorsvancouver.com
