FROM her house in Bitterne Park, Carolyn Ford has been hammering away on her tool bench making unique silver jewellery to keep up with increased demand following lockdown.

“I’m trying to keep the noise down while my husband is on Teams calls,” Carolyn laughs.

The Solent University graduate set up Silverbird Designs in 2013 after doing a jewellery course and teaching herself further through books and YouTube.

“I’ve had a passion for arts and crafts for as long as I can remember and from an early age could always be found drawing, painting or model making. I worked as a graphic designer for ten years and loved it, but I decided to find a career that would better fit our young family’s life, yet still give me a creative outlet. What started as making jewellery for friends and family quickly turned into a business,” she said.

Silverbird Designs, a name inspired by the first pendant she created, offers unique and contemporary silver jewellery, that can be worn every day or for special occasions. Most of her inspiration for anything from pendants and necklaces to earrings and bracelets is from nature.

“Each jewellery piece starts life in my sketchbook. The sketch could become the outline of a design or an illustration that I can use to emboss onto a metal. I love using silver with accents of gold in my collections."

Since selling online on the new British artisan platform The British Craft House, Carolyn has really seen her business grow. “I was one of the first independent sellers on the site. Just after lockdown I noticed my sales increased considerably. More people buy from the comfort of their own home due to the current situation and jewellery, especially my bespoke options, seem a very popular gift."

Her local café in Bitterne Triangle also stocks her jewellery and Carolyn is passionate that – now more than ever before – it’s important to support local traders and buy independently.

“You know you are buying something made with love. Seven years on and I am still thrilled when I see someone wearing my jewellery. It is humbling to think that people want to buy what I make and it gives me great pleasure to package it up and send it to someone they love."

Next for Silverbird Designs is the arrival of a garden cabin workshop to secure peace in the house and longer term, Carolyn hopes to launch workshops so she can share her knowledge.

Visit thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/shop/silverbird-designs/