In this week's episode, host Anna Campbell is joined by Vicky Barclay of Silver Snail Jewellery to talk about her journey from a high-pressure university career into jewellery making and business ownership through silver clay.
Vicky shares how discovering silver clay during a difficult period in her life gave her a creative outlet, a new direction and eventually a business. What started as a single workshop quickly grew into a passion, and then into a jewellery business built through craft fairs, community and continuous learning.
They discuss why silver clay is such an accessible and exciting medium, the realities of building a jewellery business, and the importance of investing in your skills and confidence. Vicky also shares her experience of the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay and how it helped her deepen her knowledge and build confidence in her work.
The conversation also explores the importance of visibility in business, and Vicky reflects on her experience of attending the Jewellers Visibility Retreat at Jewellers Academy Brighton, where she developed skills in photography, social media and marketing, and gained clarity on how to grow her business.
02:56: Vicky's life before jewellery and the stressful university career that led her to seek a creative outlet
04:37: Discovering silver clay for the first time and the moment it clicked for her
07:04: What silver clay is and why it's such an accessible medium
10:44: Realising silver clay was "her thing" and beginning her jewellery journey
13:35: How Silver Snail Jewellery started and building confidence through craft fairs
17:15: Deciding to leave her university job and focus on her jewellery business
25:24: Why Vicky enrolled on the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay
28:19: What she learned from the Diploma and the value of community
30:13: Vicky's experience of the Jewellers Visibility Retreat
37:19: The biggest lesson from the retreat: why you don't have to do everything yourself
Jewellers Visibility Retreat at Jewellers Academy Brighton https://www.jewellersacademybrighton.com/jewellers-visibility-retreat
Diploma in Silver Metal Clay https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-silver-metal-clay
Silver Snail Jewellery https://silversnailjewellery.co.uk/