Sunday 10 September 2017

Baked By Lou - Colourful Cooked Jewellery and Accessories - A Feature


Instagram has been a source of inspiration and a place of discovery for me since 2012.  It's probably the place that I discover most new brands these days.  I especially love handmade independents and when I find one I really love I get excited.  Well, if I'm honest, a bit obsessed.  I'm like that, I'll hold my hands up to it.

We all know I love clothes.  You may not know just how much I love jewellery and accessories too.  I love bold.  I love bright.  I love different.  When I stumbled across Baked By Lou, created by Louisa Mallett, earlier this year it was instant love.  I started off with a purchase of some earrings and I now own 5 pairs of earrings, a bangle, two pin badges and have another pair of earrings on the way.  My next purchase really must be a necklace!  It really is an obsession.  Lou should be scared really, because she's only across the water from me in lovely Cardiff.  If this obsession gets much worse I'll be swimming across the muddy channel to stalk and hound her for more funky fimo!

Baked By Lou Ceramic Painted Vase Pot
Ceramic painted vase/pot £40.
Once you see what Lou creates, I won't need to convince you any further.  I'm sure you'll love her creations too, but, for the sake of appearing more professional and a bit less mad, I thought I'd ask Lou a few questions about her business.  So, at this point, I'll hand over to Lou and you can breath a sigh of relief!

Baked By Lou Statement Ring Polymer Clay Fimo Jewellery
Statement Ring £10
Me "Louisa, What lead you to making your baked creations?  And how long have you been doing so?"

Lou "I'm a real fledgling business at the moment! I set up Baked by Lou as a business in January but it was in the planning a few months before. Surrounded my amazing friends following their creative dreams, I've been very inspired. I finished by degree in Art Practice (A combination of Fine Art and Art History) many moons ago in 2009 and have always thought of myself as pretty creative, but only recently got the guts to put myself out there and sell my pieces! A refresher evening course in ceramics are what led me to making jewellery in clay and it was my super whiz hubby who came up with the pun name. No I don't make cakes!"

Baked By Lou Statement Necklace Polymer Clay Fimo Jewellery
Statement Necklace £19
Me "Seems crazy to me that Baked By Lou has only been "live" since January.. So, do you have a "day job" as well?"

Lou "I'm a trainer by day and I deliver workshops to higher level apprentices in Business and Customer Service. Honestly, I was too scared after uni to be a practicing artist...I don't really feel it prepared me enough for that which is a shame. I went down the path of teaching and never looked back. I think both passions are working well together and I use a lot of creativity in my day job! I always think that everything happens for a reason and this was the direction I was meant to go and only now the time has begun right for Baked by Lou."

Baked By Lou Ring Holder Ceramic Polymer Clay Fimo Jewellery
Ring Holder/Cone £11 
Me "I'm not surprised you felt like that after uni.  I know I didn't have the confidence to follow my creative side professionally when I was younger, even after studies.. But, now you've made that leap, what are your plans for Baked By Lou? Any exciting secrets you can hint at?"

Lou "​No super secrets in the pipe line, but I really would love to practice and play using some of the patterns I paint on my ceramics and jewellery and perhaps get them turned into fabric or prints. There's so many ideas in my head! Firstly though, I'd like to get as polished as I can be with my current materials, learn more about making my own glazes perhaps, as I love that the creative process is always one where you learn something new all the time. I'd also like to see my goodies in more shops so people can see them in real life!"

Baked By Lou Long Statement Dangle Earrings
Long Dangle Earrings 
Me "You're a sensible thing, aren't you! But cool too, anyone can see that by looking at your creations and style! Have you always been creative? Do you have any other big passions in your life?"

Lou "I'm crazy cat lady number one... We recently moved house which has made me very quickly realise I have a lot to learn about gardening too, so that's my newest passion! I love charity and car-boot sale shopping and finding vintage gems for my home. Between me and my hubby, our house is more of museum than anything"


Me "Crazy cat lady.. I know quite a few people who tell me they are crazy cat ladies! Well, I'd like to finish by asking again about the future for Baked By Lou.  Specifically, would you consider doing a collaboration?  And if so, one what kind of project? Clothing design? A collection of ceramics?"

Lou "I am always up for anything like this! I've done one with my good friend Jade Fisher where she designed a cool rock chick card and I created badges for the lapel which I sell at markets. My friend and I @fizzgoespop are always talking and making crafty things. I'm also up for print making or a big mural and would love to have someone by my side with that! I could deliver workshops too as this combines by day job and Baked by Lou."

Me "Thank you so much Lou.  Personally, I can't wait to see what you come up with in the future.  I'm already obsessed with your work and building up a nice collection of jewelry BAKED BY LOU!! Ha."

I can't recommend checking out Louisa's brilliant store enough.  You can buy online via Etsy, follow on Instagram and if you live in the Cardiff area, she often does fairs and the like.  Do give her a follow.

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