My Story

A maker from the core, I have always understood the true value of the handmade. Taking the time to create using nothing other than some tools and your hands is a beautiful process. It can be all-absorbing, meditative, liberating, painstaking, and darn right wonderful. It is hard to quantify the immense satisfaction you feel when losing yourself in the process and how great it feels to share that joy by wearing or gifting something that is truly unique and personal.

My name is Claire Brooks, I am a contemporary jeweller who has built my practice around a mindful connection to the environment and sustainability. In February 2018, I will be opening a community jewellery teaching space from my beautiful workshop at Karma and Crow Café and Studio Collective, just west of Adelaide, and I need your help to buy tools.

Given my background in teaching and making jewellery, I understand the importance of designing a space where students can come to escape and comfortably explore their own sense of creativity. Embracing the already flourishing café and creative culture at Karma & Crow, the jewellery program will offer classes to members of the community whether they are an absolute beginner or a maker with more experience.

Your generous donation will help me set up a beautiful space where students can experience the joy and satisfaction of making jewellery by hand.

The beautifully rustic Karma & Crow Cafe and Studio Collective

Our workshop space is patiently waiting to be transformed. Photograph courtesy of Bianca Hoffrichter.

Be rewarded with my eternal gratitude and more

Let me tempt you with not only the knowledge that you are making an extremely positive impact on our community as well as my life as a maker, but also the fact that I have designed some brand, spanking new handmade jewellery to say a very big thank you. Whether you are looking for some beautifully hand crafted silver studs designed and made by my dear friend and talented designer, Laurence Coffrant, or have very special someone who would love an exquisite recycled diamond ring, I have you covered.

Not only am I offering a beautiful array of fine jewellery, the campaign is also the exclusive outlet for pre-release vouchers to my jewellery classes. The vouchers would make a perfect gift for someone who is in need of a creative outlet or could just be the part of your own creative journey.

Small and Large Earrings from my New Hundreds & Thousands Range are available in Rustic Blackened Copper or Duck Egg Blue. Photograph courtesy of Bianca Hoffrichter.

Super cute bar studs by my awesome friend, Laurence Coffrant. These tiny studs are the perfect treat for your ears and can be worn by themselves or clustered together for those who have multiple piercings. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

Get your hands on these stunning Porcelain Paper Cups made by none other than my extremely talented mother who works under the name of Mad Harriet. The cups are dishwasher safe and lovely to drink from. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

Also available are my silver Microscope Necklaces, Earrings and Studs. These guys feature either tiny freshwater pearls or Andamooka Opal Chips which move freely behind the glass lenses.

Why Teaching?

It has been a dream of mine for a number of years to live and dream jewellery making. I just can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I have been working incredibly hard to make this happen: rebranding and refining my collections, launching a new website and releasing a stunning new range of engagement rings using recycled diamonds and precious metals all while maintaining part time work. Opening a teaching space is another crucial step in the direction towards my ultimate goal of building a sustainable career doing something that I absolutely love.

Before moving to South Australia, I taught jewellery to university and Tafe students as well as local members of the community. To share my knowledge with others and see the creative transformations that my students make right before my eyes is a real privilege and something that I have dearly missed. Teaching and the conversations which happen within that creative space have always been a very important addition to my practice.

I have just started running classes from my jewellers bench at Karma & Crow but only have enough tools for one student. Raising these funds will allow me to expand my classes to teach six students.

Your generous donation will contribute to purchasing a range of quality tools and equipment to be exclusively used by my students. I have gone to great lengths to ensure that every tool is covered, right from the humblepair of pliers, through to beautiful jewellery polishing setup. 

How I will be spending your donations

Further expenses that are not included in the campaign such as annual insurance fees and promotional materials will be covered by my personal savings.

This project has been brewing for a number of years and my biggest hurdle has always been funding. I have planned extensively to ensure that I haven’t missed anything. Providing my campaign is a success, I am confident that the workshop will be a wonderful asset to Karma & Crow and our community.

Terms, Conditions & Care Instructions

Hundreds & Thousands – This reward is a lucky dip. Please specify your colour choice and a pair will be chosen at random from the collection. Oxidised Copper earrings are designed to have a rustic black look which will wear back to reveal more copper over time. To prolong the life of your blackened finish, avoid rubbing earrings together or against rough surfaces and keep them in their box when you aren’t wearing them.

Microscope range – Please take care to avoid getting your beautiful Microscope piece wet as they are not waterproof.

Classes – Workshops are suited to anyone over the age of 18 and will be filled on a first come first served basis. Class dates are yet to be confirmed but will begin in February, 2018 and take place regularly throughout the year providing minimum student numbers are met. All bookings are final, so please choose carefully. Should you be unable to attend your chosen class, a replacement student may attend with tutor’s permission.

Seven week classes are most likely to run on a Tuesday or Wednesday night and one day workshops are most likely to run on weekends. Dates and content of private and party classes are to be negotiated prior to commencement and final program will be decided by the tutor with consideration to timeframe, student’s abilities and brief. Full day classes will run for 6 hours with 45 minute lunch break and seven week classes will run for 3 hours, once a week.

A more comprehensive list of terms and conditions will be available online after the teaching space has launched.

Photographs courtesy of Perth Product Photography, Bianca Hoffrichter, Laurence Coffrant, Dale Glenny and all others were taken by yours truly.