Rosanna Clare Gethin

After working as a Design & Technology teacher for the last 10 years, I have taken the leap of faith to make my living from being a designer and maker of leather bags and accessories. After a year out to complete a Masters in Textile Design, I developed a range of jewellery and accessories made primarily from offcuts of wood and leather. My designs are mostly influenced by geometric shapes and patterns but many pieces are dictated by the nature of the shape, size or form of the material available. I also take inspiration from living in Switzerland for the last two years, being surrounded by beautiful views of lakes and mountains. I have developed skills in sewing and general resourcefulness to make a beautiful item out of something that would otherwise be thrown away. I particularly enjoys transforming old leather objects into new products. All of my work is lovingly handmade, by me, from start to finish. Whilst some pieces are replicated, no two will ever be the same, making each one unique. Recently I have started to run leather craft workshops to share my knowledge and love of making with others. This has allowed me to utilise my teaching skills but with small groups of adults rather than a class of 30 teenagers, which is rather refreshing!