Designer of the month

Each month we're going to introduce you to some of our favourite up and coming local designers and artists from in and around Birmingham.  You may remember the amazing laser cut collar tips Fran wore to the recent cosmopolitan blog awards?  We collaborated with the amazing Working Clasp to create those beauties and today we've got the brains behind the whole operation Rebecca Cowley in to talk to us about her designs, inspirations and what the future holds for Working Clasp.
Rebecca is a graduate of the interdisciplinary textile design course at UWE and found a real love of using laser cutting and etching technologies to produce affordable perspex jewellery of her own designs.  Culturally symbolic silhouettes are often utilised to make witty statement pieces.  By picking out more abstract sections of her drawings she creates fusions of form and pattern giving her pieces a real individuality.  We've managed to get a little interview with the woman herself...with some characteristically abstract answers!

How would you describe Working Clasp?
A light hearted, tongue in cheek approach to adornment.

What led you to start making jewellery?
I discovered laser cutters at my University and was fascinated by the potential for transformation of recycled materials into precious objects.  Shit to good in seconds.

What are you inspired by?
The light in darkness.  The boiling freeze of a hot tap of emotion.  Birdsong.  The everyday revelations of life.  Teahab.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A mermaid.

What's next for Working Clasp?
I am intrigued by the meaning stored in treasured objects, the memories they evoke.  I want to utilise laser cutting to develop a means of displaying precious images and fragments in a brash and contradictory manner.  I like the idea of juxtaposition in jewellery.  I want to create a vehicle for intangible thoughts of the wearer to be expressed.

Top Fives

Places
Venice
New York
In a fit of hysteria
Womens weaving centre, Louang Prabang
Top of the apple tree in my parents back garden

Artists/Designers
Vivienne Westwood
Rebecca Horn
Grayson Perry
Alexander Mcqueen
Reuben Ramos Balsa

Books/films
Only Forward: Michael Marshall Smith
Momo: Michael Ende
The Tremaster Cycle: Matthew Barney
Charlie and the chocolate factory (the original)
The Princess Bride

Things
Blu tac
Curry
Fleecy socks
Disgusting rings
Bargains

You can check out Working Clasps current designs on her Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/WORKINGCLASP, her Folksy shop http://folksy.com/shops/WORKINGCLASP, and Bigcartelhttp://www.workingclasp.bigcartel.com/  and she's currently stocked in The Dutty shop in bustling Stokes Croft, The Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol and Armadillo in Birmingham, Kings Heath.  She is currently working on new designs combining various materials such as veneers, vinyls and fabrics and will have a range of new pieces at the MAC Christmas fair on the 14th and 15th December, so if you're in the area it's definitely worth checking out for some extra special Christmas gifts. (You can catch us there on the 14th also!)