Natla Jewellery Studio was founded by Stephanie Graham after she graduated from DJCAD. The profits from the sale of Steph’s jewellery are reinvested into her sister community interest company Dundee Community Craft. “Stemming from lived experiences of trauma, healing and recovery, Dundee Community Craft allows the opportunity to share how craft and design can be experienced as methods of healing and self-care.” Steph told us a lot about the workshops she runs through Dundee Community Craft and her exciting plans for the future to further their reach. It’s a wonderful initiative and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
On the day of the bowl making workshop, we were met outside and taken up to the studio - I’ve been in Wasps quite a few times but have zero sense of direction so have to say I was glad of this. We stepped into the studio which was a welcoming room filled with cosy fairy lights and the scent of incense. It’s such a light and bright space with big windows, and Steph has done such a fab job styling with vintage furniture and artworks which add heart to the interior.
Steph told us about her first experience of enamelling a bowl; how mindful and relaxing it was and how she wanted to spread this joy. She explained what we’d be doing and then we got to pick from two sizes of copper bowls - I picked the smaller of the two and Lyndsey went for the larger size.
First off, we had to sand the inside a little to make the surface more adhesive. We then began painting the first layer of white liquid enamel which was a very pleasing technique of brushing and twirling and pouring and repeating. Once it was fully coated the bowls were dried and then fired in the kiln. After cooling a little, we washed the bowls and repeated.
The white started to develop a fun texture which looked like ripples in the sea - though this made painting colour designs on a little trickier. I decided to just go for organic drips and splatters so I wouldn’t worry about trying to control the design. You could also let the colours dry and scrape some back which was a nice technique. Lyndsey went for a more considered approach and managed to paint a bold teal streak with geometric-inspired details - this definitely seemed more challenging but turned out great!
Once we were sure we were finished, the bowls were fired in the kiln again. It was time to add powdered enamel to the outside to stop it from tarnishing. After a final time in the kiln, our bowls looked like little Christmas puddings when upside down! We filed the edge to reveal a shiny border of copper and the bowls were complete.
It was a really gratifying process and such a chilled-out way to spend an afternoon. I love that we got some wee branded boxes to take our bowls home in too as it made them feel like more of a precious object to treasure.
If you’d like to book a workshop you can contact Steph direct, sessions are usually on Sundays from 12-2pm and cost £85 per person. You can also buy her beautiful jewellery online here.
@natlajewellerystudio
@dundeecommunitycraft
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