Hello, I am Kate, the creator and maker of Kate Burton Designs. I have been making things with polymer clay for years (on and off since I was young). I’ve concentrated on it more in the last 10 years and I’ve been using it in my current form (for jewellery-making) since 2019. Kate Burton Designs has been running for two years as I had a different business model before that. I mainly stick to earrings, as they are my top sellers, however, I also make necklaces, bracelets and a small selection of trinket dishes, soap dishes and tea-light holders. My theme is nature, I love to make many of my designs look like semi-precious stones, or have a nature design on the clay.

I absolutely love what I do, every single design I make is different and when I use alcohol ink to create the semi-precious stones, it is so satisfying and just like stones, every single piece is different (even if the colours used are the same). I also love how many people ask what stone it is – this makes me so happy as it means I have achieved what I have set out to do!

Making jewellery can be labour intensive and my least favourite part it the aching neck and chiro visits to adjust my neck back to normal haha. There is a lot of looking down!

My days are really busy as I have two self-employed jobs, so when I am not making and promoting my jewellery, I am concentrating on the other job or looking after a grandchild or two. There is never a dull day (though I sometimes wish there was).

When I am working, I tend to work in complete silence as that helps me concentrate, but if I do fancy a bit of company, I pop on an audio book. Currently I am listening to Mama Still Got it, by Louise Boyce (it’s hilarious).

I love attending markets to sell my jewellery, it is such a lovely community thing to do and selling face-to-face is something you can’t beat. Meeting your customers and chatting to them about your makes is something you just can’t achieve online. The only downside is when it is cold, wet and windy  at an outside market – that can be a challenge.

I love all my jewellery, but as a delicate jewellery wearer myself, I prefer the slightly smaller, more delicate items I make. I have quite a lot of pairs of my own earrings unashamedly! And they are alllllll blue. It is my favourite colour!

Lastly, when I am not working, I love to relax in front of a good film, go for a walk or head to the beach (especially at tea time when we can stop at the chippy to grab dinner and then sit watching the water with our bag of chips)

www.kateburtondesigns.uk