Catherine Allen - Jeweller

Catherine is a lampwork bead maker and silversmith. She creates creates glass beads and combines them with hand forged sterling silver to make unique pieces of jewellery. The beads are wound from melted glass in an intense flame and are individually shaped. They are then embellished in different ways - by adding fine silver to the surface, by etching them in acid for a matt feel or by rolling in crushed glass frit to add colour and texture. The beads are then annealed in a kiln to ensure durability and cleaned with a diamond drill bit before being strung.