She studied an art foundation course along side a teachers training degree in the 1970s, but having finished the training decided teaching wasn’t for her.
Louise then got married and had her son and whilst he was growing up she worked on various projects including designing knitwear and tapestries.
Louise now works from a studio in her house designing and making jewellery, which is something she has always been interested in. Drawing on many years of working with textiles, she hand sews and hand knits pieces from new and vintage fabrics and wools, which she then lacquers for durability. These pieces are put together with flowers and balls which she hand knits on tiny knitting needles and flowers she makes from felt all enhanced with beads, pearls, buttons, crystals and old bits of jewellery all from a large collection accumulated over time. She has started to include transfers which she prints using images from old photographs and old postcards etc. These are strung on leather, knitted cord, ribbon and fabrics or combinations of each. Louise likes to recycle old things giving them a new lease of life. Her jewellery is very feminine and each piece is individually designed and made.
Louise's inspiration comes from her love of gardening, bright flower combinations and the colours in nature, particularly the sea and seashore. She uses a heart as a re-occurring shape as a symbol for life, flowers for their femininity and all the other bits and pieces carefully chosen to create a mood and interpretation of a "feel good" memory or scene such as a garden at different times of the day or season.
design © 2005 visual foundry