My home is in Buckinghamshire, (UK) and the name ‘Jazzy Lily’ was thought up by one of my daughters to describe someone who wears bright or outrageous clothes.  So, now that I make bright and outrageous jewellery, ‘Pauline Holt Jewellery’ doesn't sound very exciting.  
And so, ‘Jazzy Lily’ it is!

However, whilst glass beadmaking and jewellery are my passions, they do not pay the bills and so, from Monday to Friday, I am a Finance Manager for a large retail chain.

Many moons ago, when I was just 18, I worked for a jeweller in the centre of Manchester and I loved it.  I enjoyed every aspect of it - dressing the windows and trying to analyse how much more could be sold using eye catching displays. In fact it was the most enjoyable job I have ever had.  So much so, that I decided to attend evening classes in order to learn all about gemology and eventually I passed my diploma and become a member of the National Association of Goldsmiths. 

I have always been passionate about colour, and the prospect of creating something of my own in such a wonderful material as glass, with a range of such vibrant colours, proved quite challenging and invigorating.

I signed up for a course straight away.  I bought a book about making glass beads, went home and read the book from cover to cover.  I poured over the beautiful photographs and wondered if I could ever manage to make a plain round bead, let alone a well designed one containing vivid colours and patterns like those shown in the book.

In December 1998  I enrolled as a delegate on a  course run by Diana East.  She gave me so much help and encouragement and she is now one of my closest friends.  When I think back to the beginning, how frightened I was then - just lighting the propane and oxygen torch was scary!  This huge flame shot out and I could not believe the noise.  But like everything else, once you get used to it, it’s OK.  Now of course it has become second nature and not scary at all.

Whilst attending the course I bought all the equipment.  Scared or not, I was going to master this.

I also bought a shed in which to work.  I said I was passionate about colour and a garden shed is a bit boring, not the sort of working space ‘Jazzy Lily’ was happy in!  So, I decorated the shed to look like a Caribbean beach hut both inside and out, complete with an imitation thatched roof.  My husband who is used to my crazy ideas was a bit horrified when I asked him to help me thatch the roof, not really sure what the neighbours might think.  Mind you, it has become something of a talking point and everyone who visits the house has to see the shed. My Shed 

I have to admit that it is a little on the small side and space is a premium, but I have room for all of my glass, lots of drawer space for enamel powders and silver leaf and a place for all of my tools.  The tools for glass beadmaking are fairly basic and one does not really need anything too complicated.  You will need a lampworking torch that burns propane and oxygen. I also have a small kiln in the shed for annealing purposes.  Both these items conspire to keep me cosy and warm in the winter and red hot in the summer - even with the shed door wide open!

Once one starts working with glass, one is quick to  realise that the possibilities are endless.

Since that first course back in 1997 and my determination to improve technique, I have attended numerous courses (many in the USA) and had tuition from renowned American glass Beadmakers such as Kate Drew–Wilkinson  Kate Fowle and Nancy Tobey, to mention but a few. 

Glass beadmaking in the UK is a relatively new artform.  Until some five years ago it was almost impossible to buy the necessary equipment, let alone find someone to teach you.  In the United States however, it is a big business and virtually every State has its own glass beadmaking society.

In September 1999, along with six other other glass artists, I founded Glass Beadmakers UK, the only society of its kind in Britain.  We now have over 100 members and our objective is to share information and skills whilst encouraging more and more people to take up the art and make them aware of what lampworking entails.  Of course, because I work in Finance I naturally became the treasurer, but I am also the web master for our web site. www.gbuk.org

I teach beadmaking at Plowden & Thompson's workshop in Stourbridge fairly regularly and I enjoy the beginners classes most of all.  Just to see their faces when they make their first bead is still a thrill. Please email for details of class dates and costs - you won't regret it!