Meet The Maker: Corinne

Hi! I’m Corinne, the maker behind A Silver Circle. Creativity has always been a huge part of my life, though it took me a while to find the medium that felt like home. In high school, I started playing around with wire, which led to a love of metal and jewellery making. For years, it was just a hobby, but eventually, I took the plunge and turned my passion into a business — and A Silver Circle was born!

My love for metalwork grew as I refined my skills at the University of Sydney, where I also explored Ceramics. Glass had been calling to me for a while, but it wasn’t until the pandemic gave me the time and space to dive in. Since then, I’ve hit the ground running and haven’t looked back!

I draw inspiration from many places. The landscapes and nature of the Southern Highlands, where I live, are a great inspiration in my work (as seen in Landscape Sun Catchers). I also love architecture and history, reimagining classic shapes in a contemporary way. Sometimes, the materials themselves guide me — whether it’s a particular texture or a colour that deserves to take centre stage.

My creative process is a bit like a cloudy sky. At first, the final design isn’t fully clear, but as I work through the stages, the clouds start to lift. I begin with sketching and experimenting, then refine the design through prototyping and adjustments. Once I’m happy with a piece, I test it — jewellery gets worn for a few weeks to check durability, and glass pieces I live with in my studio for a few weeks before I am certain to go ahead with.

Despite the simplicity of my designs, each piece goes through a lot of refining. My motto is: How much can I remove before the piece loses its essence? This process ensures my work remains timeless, intentional, and well-balanced. Each piece is handmade with care, love, and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship.

Sustainability is an important part of my practice. I use recycled sterling silver in my jewellery and melt down all my scrap to minimise waste. My packaging is paper-based and fully recyclable. When it comes to glass, I work with both new and reclaimed materials, keeping every offcut and finding creative ways to use even the smallest pieces.

My work is for anyone who loves unique, handmade items—pieces that become part of everyday life, whether worn or displayed in the home.

No two days look the same for me! I tend to batch my tasks, so I’ll have dedicated computer days for emails, social media, website updates, and newsletters. Then, there are making days spent at my jewellery bench or working on stained glass. Finally, I have workshop days, where I get to inspire others to explore their own creativity and discover what they’re capable of making.

Creativity can be elusive, but I’ve found that constantly learning and stepping slightly outside my comfort zone keeps the spark alive. Batching my work also helps me stay in a creative flow in the studio.

Of course, I couldn’t do it all without my studio assistant—Cedar, my Border Collie! She takes her job very seriously as the official greeter for all workshop participants and provides moral support throughout. She’s also a pro at interrupting my workflow with a well-timed nudge or an impossibly cute face. On stressful days, she’s the best reminder to take a breath (and maybe a walk).

This year, I’m excited to launch my 8-week term classes, starting in February! I love term teaching because it allows me to watch students grow in confidence and skill. I also have some new glass wall pieces in the design stage that I can’t wait to bring to life.

Thanks for being here and supporting handmade! If you’d like to stay updated on new collections, workshops, and behind-the-scenes peeks, be sure to follow along on social media or sign up for my newsletter.

At Home among the Gumtrees

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been four years since I traded the trendy streets of Sydney’s Inner West for the tranquil embrace of the Southern Highlands. Back in 2020, in the midst of a global upheaval, I made a decision that would transform my life in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. Leaving the city behind, I sought a tree change, a move that promised more space, a slower pace, and a life closer to nature.

One of the most immediate and striking benefits of moving to the Southern Highlands was the space. I love that even the simple trip to get groceries boasts views of rolling green hills, cows and horses. Gone is the hustle and bustle of city life, the insane traffic and busyness.
The slower pace of life has been a balm for my soul. Now, my mornings start with watching the sunrise and my days are at a pace that feels more in tune with nature and my own well-being.

One of the greatest joys of my tree change has been the impact on my beloved dog, Cedar. Being a Border Collie, her heritage is of the Scottish Border lands (and so is mine) and she loves the crisp colder air. Here, Cedar has the freedom to roam and explore, and have many daily adventures around the area.

Another significant advantage of this move has been the ability to create my own studio at home. My Marrickville studio was in the industrial area so my outlook was just more buildings. Here, I’ve been able to set up a studio that not only caters to my professional needs but also inspires creativity. The studio overlooks the garden, has natural light and filled with fairy lights and colour to make my days feel inspired, happy and productive.

Of course, no change comes without its challenges. One of the hardest parts of moving to the Southern Highlands has been the distance from family and friends. While the city’s hustle and bustle are far behind me, so too are the impromptu coffee dates and quick catch-ups with loved ones. Maintaining these relationships now requires more planning and effort, and there are times when the physical distance feels like an emotional distance too.

The Southern Highlands, while rich in natural beauty, doesn’t offer the same level of activity as Sydney. The cultural events, diverse dining experiences, and endless entertainment options of the city are things I miss. The local community, while warm and welcoming, is smaller and doesn’t always have the same level of diversity or shared interests that I was accustomed to in the city. This has been a bit of an adjustment, and there are days when I long for the variety and vibrancy that urban life offers.

Despite these challenges, the tree change has been a deeply rewarding experience. It has taught me the value of slowing down, of finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, and of creating a space that truly feels like home. I’ve learned to appreciate the beauty of a quiet moment, the satisfaction of attempting to grow things (our chilli plant is great!), and the joy of watching Cedar play in the open air.

As I celebrate the fourth anniversary of this life-changing move, I am grateful for the journey and the lessons learned along the way. The Southern Highlands has given me a new perspective on life, one that is richer, more fulfilling, and deeply connected to the natural world. While I miss the convenience and excitement of the city, the peace and tranquility I’ve found here have made it all worthwhile.

Here’s to many more years of tree change, of embracing the seasons, and of finding contentment in the gentle ebb and flow of life in the countryside.

x Corinne and Cedar.

For the love of La Fleur

La Fleur has arrived! This design has been something that has been waiting to get out and has finally come to fruition.

La Fleur literally translates to ‘the flower’. The focus of the design was to use the Daisy motif as the basis for the design and through repetition and form create the design.

With inspiration in mandalas and the concentric patterns of the east combined with this very 70’s style Daisy, the design is new and interesting.

In the Mandala structure and the natural imagery, the design is like looking at a bouquet of flowers from above and the stone being the centre. That way you see it at full bloom every time.

As it’s Spring here, the transformation of the garden is always amazing to me. To see everything so bare and sparse to being rich with colour, reminds me to move forward and be ok with transformation within myself and bloom to my true potential.

Once the daisy mandala design was finalised, the next step was to choose the stones!

I went through many iterations as this design lends itself to many interpretations, but finally chose ones that complemented and enhanced the details to make a harmonious piece.

The final stones for the full collection being Amazonite, Ruby Zoisite and Unakite and an additional Amethyst and Rose Quartz for the Rings.

As most of you know here at ASC we are we love to make sure we have lots of sizes of rings for all of you individually sized people. The logistics of this can be challenging so making an adjustable ring was my mission.

With a substantial ring band to hold not only are large shape and stone but to also keep the tension so that you can have a strong, yet adjustable ring.

Another point of difference in the collection is the Necklace. By choosing to orientate the design, it gives a fresh look that makes it fun and easy to wear.

I hope you have enjoyed exploring the design process of this new collection. It is always an exciting time in the studio when a new collection is coming into being and I look forward to seeing you all wearing the La Fleur Collection!

xx Corinne

Glass Workshops Explained

The Glass Workshops are now in full swing, so I wanted to use this blog to dive into the process of the workshop so you know what to expect or for those who live too far away to attend to live vicariously!

STEP ONE: CHOICES

The hardest part in any workshop I teach is helping people make decisions! Haha! From the decisive to the decision paralysed, it’s a hard line to stick to in order to guide but not influence students.

The workshops have been designed with set patterns to ensure they are all achievable not only in the time frame but also in the ability of a beginner starting. Choosing the colours and patterns of your glass can really change the overall look of these simple designs and change the overall effect.

STEP TWO: BREAK SOME GLASS!

A lot of the time you hear about cutting glass, but we are actually scoring the glass with the lines of the pattern pieces then breaking. Glass is going to break how it wants to, not always how you want it to, it’s important to have a little practice to get the hang of it.

STEP THREE: GRINDING!

Once all the pieces are ready, it’s Grinding time! This is a bit like filing metal but with more noise, water and sharp edges! This step ensures your pattern fits together well and that all edges are smoothed ready for the next step. Once done, wash to remove all glass dust.

STEP FOUR: COPPER FOILING

We bring down the intensity for the next step as we are copper foiling. This step wraps a thin piece of copper around the glass and sticks to the sides, top and bottom of the glass. This will form to basis of our joins that will hold the piece together.

STEP FIVE: SOLDERING

The longest and most intense step is the soldering. Using a soldering iron, we melt the lead solder over all the copper foil to join all our pieces together. This can be tricky to get consistent lines but is so satisfying to see the metal melt!

STEP SIX: TO CAME OR NOT TO CAME

Once all our lines are done, we can choose to came wrap the piece or leave the edge. The came can hide some inconsistencies but at the same time can be a bit tricky to attach.

STEP SEVEN: FITTINGS

The last little soldering task can be a tricky one is to attach jump rings so that you can hang the piece.

STEP EIGHT: A GOOD SCRUB AND PATINA

Into a hot soapy bath to clean off the piece then it’s time to patina. Choosing to keep it silver like the solder or blacken it. Both have their benefits and can really enhance your design.

STEP NINE: WAX AND FINISH!

Once that is done and dry, a little wax polish to seal peice and enhance the patina. Then the last decision of the day is to choose a coloured ribbon to hang the piece and complete it!

I hope you have enjoying this detailed dive into the process of Glass Making Workshop. I hope to see you in the workshop soon to make one! If you have any questions regarding the workshops please feel free to reach out via email asilvercircledesign@gmail.com

FURTHER VIEWING: To see the available designs for the workshop, head to the Glass Pattern Page linked HERE.

Meet Cedar!

Meet the newest addition to the A Silver Circle team: Cedar! Let’s get to know a bit more about her!

Cedar is our beautiful Border Collie Puppy who was born in October (she’s a Libra!) and has been the cutest addition to the ASC studio since December. She is now almost 9 months old and ready to step up and take on some real responsibilities in the studio.

Cedar’s favourite things are off leash walks with mum, car rides with her head out the window and meeting every person we come across!

Cedar’s responsibilities here at ASC will now include:

Greeting People

Security

Team Moral

Distraction

Cuteness Overload

We hope you enjoy seeing Cedar in action with all her new responsibilities so be sure to follow along on our socials! @asilvercircle and @cheekycedar on Instagram!