GODIVA BOUTIQUE: Designer Q & A : Alexis Southam Jewellery

Alexis Southam is a local Edinburgh designer that has been selling her beautifully designed and crafted jewellery pieces with Godiva for a few years now. Working mainly with quality sterling silver, Alexis has started a new range of work based on birds all hand-drawn onto frosted plastic. Alexis's work is all hand made in her studio and is a perfect gift for someone or a treat for yourself.

She took the time recently to answer our Q&A and here is her responses.

Alexis Studio

Hello, I am …Alexis of Alexis Southam Jewellery

When I am creating my typical day involves ……… starting with a large cup of tea and a check of the to-do list, then I spend a lot of time at my workbench making new pieces. Some days I also have to magic up a photography studio in my living room to take photos of new jewellery.

If a beautiful day is calling me outside, I like to visit the Edinburgh botanic gardens, it’s a great place to do some sketching and jotting down of ideas for future designs.

I also have to find time to do the not so creative things, like paperwork, emails, keeping track of online shops, packaging up online sales and taking them to the post office.

When I am not designing and creating I am………….I love exploring Scotland and am happy as Larry when in the woods, so I can always be persuaded to take a camping trip, these trips quite often double up as inspiration for my jewellery anyway. I also enjoy escaping into a good film.

I get inspiration from …………… the natural world around me like so many artists and designers do. Plant and animal themes run strongly through my work and I often only have to step out into my own garden to be inspired, but I’m also inspired by what I see around me in Edinburgh, like the decorative architectural elements of the old town buildings.

Being an independent designer is important to me because………I get immense satisfaction crafting a piece from beginning to end. I have complete control over the whole process and I put my heart and soul into creating a piece. Its the best reward in the world to see someone responding to that and enjoying a piece of jewellery that I have created. Jewellery can be a very emotional purchase and a favourite item can be worn for many years and even passed on to the next generation.

It’s quite exciting to take a flat piece of silver and transform it into something beautiful that could hold such meaning for someone and last forever.

My greatest achievement so far is ………………After many years of self-doubt I took the leap and gave up the security of my full time job to focus completely on my jewellery business. It was the best decision I ever made.

I cannot live without………………my piercing saw, it’s my favourite tool and the one I use the most to create my designs. Also my laptop, working on my own all day every day means my computer is my connection to the outside world and allows me access to a strong creative community.......Jaffa cakes are also high on my ‘can’t live without’ list.

My favourite thing I have ever bought or found is ……… I recently bought a ukelele and its my favourite purchase at the moment. I’m not very good at playing it yet but its a great instrument to pick up and have a practice on when I have a spare five minutes.