HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER
10 July 2003
Just plastic fantastic
Lindley designer Julie Ann Seaman makes jewellery
from old scrubbing brushes and knitting needles. JENNY PARKIN talked
to her
JULlE Ann Seaman is on a mission - to make jewellery fun.
The 31-year-old designer, who lives in Lindley, trained in traditional
jewellery making in Dundee. But she got bored with ordinary gold
and silver, and began to work in plastic. She says: "It's only recently
that people have been able to see the value and workmanship of plastic
jewellery.
"I use Perspex acrylic, layering up colours such as orange, yellow,
turquoise and red, and carving into it."
Julie, who comes from Leeds, has also taken great influence from
her travels to India and Nepal in her work. And her imagination
is often sparked by more humdrum things. Julie says: "I love to
recycle old, coloured knitting needles in my work, and wood.
"I went to Wilkinson's and bought lots of scrubbing brushes, to
use the bristles."
Julie moved to her home in Savile Road to be nearer to her studio
at Dean Clough, Halifax.
Pieces from latest collection, Fur And Feather, are on show and
for sale at Kath Libbert Jewellery, Salt's Mill, Saltaire, Bradford,
until August 31. Julie is one of 13 jewellers to be featured in
the Great Yorkshire Talent exhibition, which moved to the Great
Yorkshire Show at Harrogate this week.
People who attended voted for their favourite pieces - and Julie's
came joint second, hence the rosette she's wearing.
Participants were asked to take inspiration from the show when they
designed their collections. Julie, who teaches part time at Leeds
Art College, says: "Lots of people had cattle and horses in mind
but I concentrated on pigeons, chickens and rabbits. "I've made
earrings in the shape of carrots. "I wanted to have a bit of fun,
it's good to bring humour into jewellery."
