The Story So Far

Hello, I’m Lily, the designer and maker behind Lily Carmen Jewellery. I just wanted to share a bit about myself, how I got into jewellery making, and what I’m trying to achieve with my jewellery.

One of my greatest joys in life is crafting and making things by hand. Making was always in the background of my life growing up. I always drew and painted, especially as a teenager, and my mum is a knitter and tried to teach me several times as a child (it eventually stuck at 16!).

My mum also introduced me to sewing, which I fell in love with at university, eventually sewing my wedding dress in 2019. From sewing and knitting I developed a love of any and all crafts, determined to try everything, from crochet and embroidery to pottery and book binding. 

My interest in jewellery started around 2019, when I was really into mid-century fashion and design. I was drawn especially to jewellery that was a bit unconventional and fun, with bright colours, unusual materials and playful designs.

I first experimented with jewellery making using polymer clay in the early days of the pandemic, following some tutorials online and making some earrings for myself. I had a lot of fun with it, and enjoyed wearing my earrings as a conversation starter on the constant work video calls of 2020.

Some of my early polymer clay earrings

A couple of years later I found out about acrylic jewellery, and I was desperate to try it. I had loads of ideas for designs, and I was excited about it being a bit longer lasting and making more professional pieces than what I could achieve with clay.

I decided to make an investment in a laser cutter and start a small side business, selling nature inspired acrylic and wood earrings with fun, colourful designs.

My favourite acrylic pieces that I made for Lily J Makes

Over time, my design taste evolved, and I became more environmentally conscious. These two things drew me to try silversmithing, to make more understated, luxury pieces that would last a lifetime. Coincidentally I lived very close to one of the most accessible jewellery courses in the country! I joined a free further education course in working with silver and gold at London South East Colleges in September 2023. 

Immediately I was hooked! I was so surprised at how intuitive I found it to shape and cut the metal. The magic moment of seeing a piece come to life at the polishing machine was addictive and I couldn’t wait to make more!

The first pieces I made on my silversmithing college course

What I found though was a lot of the ideas I was having for designs couldn’t be made with silversmithing techniques alone, and that was when I found out about wax carving. As soon as I tried it I felt I’d found my “thing”. I found shaping the wax so absorbing and enjoyable, and when I got my first pieces back from the caster I almost couldn’t believe that I had made them! 

My first pieces cast in silver

In April 2024 I decided to launch Lily Carmen Jewellery. My goal is to bring a bit of magic into everyday life with handmade precious metal jewellery. I’m inspired by the beauty of nature, and use traditional craftsmanship to create beautiful, high quality jewellery. I want to make pieces that bring joy when you wear them and express your unique personality, with minimal environmental impact and quality materials that mean they'll last a lifetime.

My first collection of silver jewellery, Sylvana

I'm so excited about this new venture and I have so many ideas for pieces to come. I hope you'll join me in the journey - what would you like to see from me? I'd love to hear from you.