SCOTLAND’S original pop-up jewellery workshop, CARVE encourages participants to explore their inner creativity.
The pop-up was founded in 2015 by Scottish jewellers Kate Clifford and Katie Lees, who run the workshops alongside maintaining their full-time careers. Outside of CARVE, Clifford founded and continues to run Vanilla Ink, a jewellery school and studio located in The Hidden Lane in Glasgow. The school caters for everyone from absolute beginners to established jewellers and offers a variety of services including classes, a professional development programme and trade.
Lees established her career as a jewellery designer and maker, working under her eponymous label. Based in Glasgow, she works with her customers to produce a unique, statement piece that can be cherished for years to come. She also has a ready-to-wear range of reworked classics which can be personally tailored to create the perfect heirloom.
With years of experience between them, Clifford and Lees combined their skills to open CARVE, a jewellery design workshop.
The first CARVE was held in October 2015 in Glasgow and taught participants how to cut their own ring design out of jeweller’s wax. For the finishing touch, the duo combine the jewellery making experience with good food and drinks.
Since its launch, CARVE has become increasingly popular. Clifford and Lees have held workshops all across Scotland, from Inverness to Dumfries, and pop up in a different location each month. The pair have helped couples create their dream wedding bands and have also hosted birthday and hen parties.
Using wax-carving tools, Clifford and Lees guide participants through the techniques required to “carve” their very own design. Once created, the wax designs are sent to be cast in solid silver. The casts are then sent back to the CARVE studio in Glasgow and cleaned up before being finished as per the participants’ choosing. Once finished, the unique piece is then sent back to the very hands that carved it.
Recently expanding the business, Clifford and Lees launched CARVEProduction, a micro collection of rings made by them.
The collection was created in advance of their first workshop to inspire participants and give examples of what can be created within the two-hour CARVE experience. Following the collection’s popularity in workshops, the pair launched the range as a series of “ready-made” CARVE rings.
When creating the collection, Clifford and Lees turned to the public who voted on which rings should be put into production. Five designs were then selected and we’ve featured them here.
Each design is created by Clifford and Lees and are available in a range of sizes, ready-to-wear.
www.wearecarve.com
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