Q&A WITH KATHRYN MAULE OF KALEDO HANDMADE JEWELLERY 

- MADE IN SCOTLAND SERIES  

Posted by James King on Apr 07, 2016 - Jewellery of Scotland

We recently spoke to Kathryn Maule of Kaledo Handmade Jewellery in the latest of our Made in Scotland Q&A Series. A passionate and skilled designer, Kathryn told us about her journey from chemistry student to full-time jewellery designer, as well as describing her design process and inspirations. Read on for a fascinating insight into the world of art and design.

You have been creating things since you were little. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to making jewellery and how you reached the point where you could do it for a living?

I studied Engineering at University and graduated with a degree in Chemistry. That sounds mad, but I could never quite make up my mind what I wanted to do. I’ve always been a maker and am happiest when I’m busy creating something. It’s always been there, part of my DNA, but for some reason, I never thought of it as a career choice.

After graduation I left Scotland to work in research and then manufacturing but it always felt like there was something missing. In a search for my next creative project, I started buying old run down properties, doing them up and selling them on. Having a huge blank canvas was a buzz and seeing an old property brought back to life was incredibly satisfying but it was really hard work.

It eventually turned into a second job and I had to make a decision. Keep a guaranteed income or take the riskier route. I chose the latter and gave up my day job. In my spare time I was still creating and had discovered a love of metal while using wire to support my clay sculptures. I loved the way metal could be easily manipulated into different shapes, either by hand, hammer or fire. I started sculpting in metal which then led me to learning silver smithing and jewellery making.

The next few years I continued renovating properties and making jewellery for friends and family before I finally realised that I was no longer tied to a job in a particular area. I immediately set the wheels in motion and moved back to Scotland. By this time I had savings and a husband who supported my decision but no job and lots of spare time on my hands.

This was my turning point and it wasn’t long before I had a workshop set up in my spare room and a website set up for selling my jewellery. I’ve never looked back since and I thank my lucky stars that I now spend my days doing something I really love.

A beautiful moon and star pendant handcrafted by Kathryn Maule

What is a typical day like for you?

I do an hour of yoga before anything else. It really helps me to focus and keeps away the aches and pains from sitting at a workbench all day. I have breakfast and respond to emails. I also update my online shop, adding any new items of jewellery, and do some marketing and promotion. I have to stay disciplined with this part of my day as it would be very easy for me to get out of bed and go straight to my workshop in my jammies if I allowed myself.

Once in my workshop I can have several orders at various stages awaiting attention, so I could be designing a new piece, cutting out, soldering, setting stones, polishing or packing. I always have new creations on the go too which I work on whenever I have spare time.

Early evenings I photograph and edit any finished pieces and try to tidy up the workshop for the following day. I try to stop around 6:00pm to get on with life outside of creating but sometimes the creative juices just keep flowing and the urge to make never stops so it can often be much later than this.

How would you best describe the style and inspiration of the jewellery that you make?

An eclectic mix from traditional to contemporary with a bit of whimsy and magic thrown in for good measure. Basically, wherever my creation takes me. Elements of nature, spirit, music and love feature heavily in my designs.

I’m inspired by everything around me but in particular the night sky, the oceans, woodland and wildlife of our wonderful planet. I’m a bit of a hippie at heart and love rustic, boho, tribal and ethnic design. I am also a big fan of natural gemstones which add a hint of colour and good vibrations.

Photography by K.Maule

Loch Sheil, part of the beautiful Scottish countryside that inspires Kathryn's work

Which items of jewellery that you have made are you most proud of and why? 

It changes all the time with each new piece I create, I love little details that a customer can connect with and form their own story. My favourites just now are the ‘treasures of the ocean’ pendant, a custom order inspired by a Waterboys song and the cosmic connections pendant.

The beautiful colours of the natural gemstones against either oxidised or polished sterling silver in ‘the treasures of the ocean’ pendant is stunning and takes you beneath the ocean waves to another world full of colour and magic.

Treasures of the Ocean

The musical pendant ‘when words fail music speaks’ has the words of the song ‘How long will I love you’ hand stamped onto the back. This was designed after speaking to the customer at length. It was a gift for his wife and it did make her cry when she saw it.....for the right reasons of course. Finally as a star gazer and dreamer, I love the unusual shape, the detail and beautiful purple amethyst gemstone in the cosmic connections pendant.

What does creating a new piece of jewellery involve from conception of the initial design to completion of the item sold in your store?

I always have a sketchbook beside me and am constantly scribbling down ideas. The cogs never stop turning so I have thousands of sketches ready and waiting. Once I have chosen a design to work on, I will spend several hours drawing it in detail until I am completely happy with it. If it includes gemstones I choose the best gemstone by colour, shape or energy to compliment the design. I then print the design to the required size and use this as a template for cutting out the main piece.

Texture or words can be added at this stage, using either a hammer, rolling mill or design stamps. Other elements of the design are cut out and formed and along with any gemstone settings, everything is set in place and soldered to the main piece. The metal is filthy at this point from the flame of the torch and requires cleaning in a pickle solution.

Once clean the polishing process begins which involves several stages and depends on whether the piece will be highly polished, satin or oxidised finish. Gemstones are then set in place before a final polish. It is then hung on the chain and photographed.

Photos are processed and added to the website along with a new description and price. If it’s a custom piece then I work closely with the customer throughout the process finding out what they like and what their interests are and putting ideas together in order to design a unique piece of jewellery just for them.

Photography by K. Maule 

"I’m inspired by everything in our natural environment."

Which other creative people do you admire and why?

There are so many it’s difficult to choose but off the top of my head I love the work of Robin Wight from Fantasywire. I love a bit of mischief, so his wire fairy sculptures really appeal to me. They are detailed, life like and full of fun. Josey P of Japeyart her highland cows and other animals just come to life on the canvas. They are full of character, expression, movement and colour...art that makes me smile every time I see it. Precious metal clay jewellery artists Terry Kovalcik and Gordon Uyehara, both have an incredible eye for detail and finally Nick Hubbard. I love the personality, humour and quirkiness of his designs.

You mention on your store bio that you love walking in the hills and forests of Scotland. Can you tell us about what makes Scotland special for you?

I love living in Glasgow. It’s full of fantastic people with a great sense of humour, great music, architecture, art and fabulous food but within half an hour I can be at the side of a loch surrounded by mountains and fantastic scenery and wildlife. The best of both worlds and appreciated a whole lot more after working away for so many years.

Photography by K. Maule

The Old Man of Storr in Skye

Apart from other jewellery, what inspires you to create?

The feeling I get when I see something I have sketched on paper come to life in the form of a piece of jewellery. The smile or glowing feedback from a customer who is over the moon with a piece that I have created for them and the thought of a piece of jewellery that I made by hand travelling the globe...I have many customers from the USA, Australia and Europe, but mainly I’m inspired by everything in our natural environment. I go to nature often to rebalance and am just drawn towards creating pieces that represent nature and remind me of how everything in the universe is connected.

More beautiful jewellery

What advice would you give to somebody who wanted to make their living in a creative field?

Go into it with your eyes open, It is not the easy option, but well worth it.

Promote what you do at every opportunity. Getting your name out into the world is hard work but the time spent here will pay off and allow you to continue on your creative path.

A big thanks to Kathryn for taking the time to answer our questions. Remember to check out her page on Etsy where you will find a diverse range of beautifully-designed jewellery. You can also find her on Facebook.