The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

the memories she holds.” ‘An Engagement Ring’ was a Celtic inspired ring in 18-carat gold with a gor- geous faceted garnet while the ‘Golden Nugget’ was a 24-karat gold nugget “ that needed a home to be worn in.” When she’s not working, Alison likes to relax by doing DIY around the house, gardening and going for walks. When she is designing, she works directly with the metal rather than sketching or constructing her designs. Her favourite material is 18-karat gold which she says is “the most exquisite material with extraor- dinary properties” and diamonds. At the moment she is working on a new collection using 18-karat gold and briolette diamonds. She would also like to pass on her skills to other people and set out some benches and classes to do this. She recently participated in a project for Turquoise Mountain Foundation teaching jewellery skills to a group of women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia who now each have their own designer-maker businesses. For aspiring jewellery designers, she would tell them to “learn about the materials you wish to have made into your work. It is essential to know what you are dealing with.” Back in London since 2005, Alison is based at Cockpit Arts in Holborn where she continues to make work for private collectors and teach students in her ded- icated workshop. “I find it very rewarding to enable students to realise their designs and ideas.” Her classes are aimed at both complete beginners and those who already have some experience of jewellery making. Her classes are kept to a maximum of three students so that she can give each individual as much one-to-one tuition as possible. www.alisonflandersstudio.co.uk bite jewellery