About Desert Designs Art

The Desert Designs Art name came 

about by chance

In 2012 we moved to a more remote area of Western Australia; we had been living in a rural wheat belt town in WA since 1997.

My partner and I bought the post office in Mount Magnet, Western Australia, a town approximately 7 hours from Perth and about 4 hours inland from Geraldton, an arid area on the edge of the desert.

I love the flora and fauna of the Australian bush and that is where my inspirations for jewellery and painting come from.

In 2012 I won the Boyup Brook Arts Festival works on paper award and in 2017 I won the Dalwallinu Arts Festival jewellery category.    

In 2019 & 2021 the Dalwallinu Arts Festival awarded me “High Commendations" for jewellery and polymer art, I have also exhibited at Cossack and Cervantes arts festivals.

I have been painting and producing pottery and ceramic pieces for more than 30 years, and during that time I have taught classes in painting and ceramics.

I ventured into jewellery making purely by accident, in 2014 the arts group in Mount Magnet received a grant to hold a 3-day bead making workshop, in polymer clay, with artisan tutor Debbie Crothers. I couldn't have planned a better introduction to working with polymer clay, I loved it from the minute I started working with it, and Deb is just so inspiring.

I found that the liquid clay allowed me to virtually paint with clay, I started producing pieces inspired by my surroundings and incorporating ochre, locally found gold nuggets and freshwater pearls into my pieces,

with demand growing for my work, I registered the Desert Designs Art name in 2017 and started an online shop.

I did my 1st course in metal clay with Pam Annesley, in 2017, this opened even more possibilities.

I started teaching polymer classes in 2019.

In 2021 I became accredited to teach metal clay techniques with Aussie Metal Clay, in both base metals and silver. AMC is my preferred choice of clay and is Aussie made in NSW, I try to source all my findings and wires from Australian businesses. When you buy my products, you help to support other Australian small businesses.

I have since furthered my accreditation with Aussie Metal Clay and became a level 3 teacher.

A lot of my jewellery is commissioned for individual customers who want that "something special" gift.

Every piece is individually unique and entirely hand made by me.

 

Jade