Eleanor Makes Nice

My name is Eleanor James, and I like to make jewellery. You can find my shop here.

I had always found high street jewellery too gaudy, traditional jewellery too fussy, and set out to create the simple, unusual and practical jewellery I wanted to wear.

I find inspiration for my pieces in natural history collections, English folk music, and the wildlife and countryside that surrounds my home.

I make each piece entirely by hand – saw piercing sheet metal, drilling holes, soldering components and connecting pieces. My current range is entirely made to order, so there are no mass-production methods involved.

In 2009 I earned a BA in music composition with visual arts practices from Dartington College of Arts in Devon, where I specialised in the hammered dulcimer and folk harp.

Currently, I live back in my childhood home in rural Wiltshire. When I am not working at running my business, I attend local folk music sessions, explore the local countryside and make attempts at sewing & crochet.