As working from home becomes the norm in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, our daily series Where I Work is exploring people’s unconventional desk setups.
So far we’ve gone inside a home office on a houseboat, seen how a working mum has set up her daughter with a mini desk of her own, and met a barefoot athlete who has no chairs in his home.
Today we’re in Stratford-upon-Avon to nose around the home working setup of Alice Hibbert, a jewellery designer and creator of the independent jewellery brand Alice Stewart Jewellery.
Alice hand-crafts all her pieces from her leafy garden studio, located in a shed at the back of her home.
Hey, Alice! Tell us about your jewellery brand.
In 2012 my love for nature and craftsmanship collided and Alice Stewart Jewellery was born.
I had a strong desire to create something designed to last forever, and to be part of the movement away from fast fashion.
Designing and creating original jewellery for nature lovers is my way of honouring and capturing the subtle qualities of the natural world, on a miniature scale. I aim to bring both artistry and attention to fine detail to my designs, which I craft by hand to give each piece unique character and charm.
The landscape surrounding my garden studio gives me endless inspiration as one season gives way to the next.
Where do you work?
I work in my home studio in the shed by the house I share with my husband Paul, nine-year-old house rabbit Biscuit, and rescue kitten Mumu.
My home studio mainly involves my workbench which is where each piece of my nature inspired jewellery is made.
My aim is to create really original handcrafted pieces; it’s the labour of love that’s been poured into them, in my eye’s that makes them totally unique and irreplaceable.
The tools I need to make each piece are kept in small drawers in my trusty wooden storage box on my workbench for easy access, as well as a simple wooden box I keep my larger tools organised in.
I think my favourite item in my studio is my vintage ladder. I fell in love with it on a trip to Devon with family last year in a tiny little antique shop, and knew it was what my studio was missing – it also makes a beautiful prop for fairs I sell my jewellery at.
Has coronavirus changed how you work?
Luckily my routine hasn’t changed too much due to coronavirus as I’ve been working from home for around four years now.
I obviously can’t make my weekly trips into the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter to use the jewellery trade services, as everyone has had to close and I’m now relying on buying supplies online for the time being.
What’s a day at work like for you?
I usually start with some form of movement, my once a day walk or some gentle yoga, then when I’m washed and dressed, I’ll have a nutritious breakfast and start my working day.
Usually at this point I have a look at my main job list and pick which is the most important task I want to work on for that day, which is likely to involve designing and creating in the studio.
After lunch I’ll check my emails after 3pm and reply to those that need my attention, as well as schedule in any social media posts that need to go out for the day.
I always end my working day with a catch up with my partner over a cup of tea around 6pm.
What are your personal rules for working from home?
I don’t work to a strict daily 9 to 5 schedule as I’ve found the ‘traditional’ workday doesn’t work well alongside when I’ve got the most energy, and my working style is much better suited to a more flexible working day.
I usually start work by 11am after a slower morning, and refer to a list of important jobs that need doing, picking one as my main focus each day.
I’ve also started making sure I intentionally check my emails from 3pm and no earlier, as it’s so easy to let replying to emails become the main focus of the day, which isn’t usually the best use of my time.
Have you come up against any challenges working from home?
My personality is well suited to working on my own; as a homebody and someone who doesn’t enjoy the drama of office politics, working from home is a great set-up for me.
It’s not always easy though. As I’m my own boss and a perfectionist, I can be harder on myself than I probably would be an employee, and learning to ‘switch off’ is one of my biggest challenges.
The one great thing about my studio being in the garden is it gives me a small ‘commute’ to work, so it helps me draw a line between home and work life.
What advice do you have for people new to working from home?
If you’re able to, try to carve out a space in your home that maybe isn’t the dining room table, but somewhere you can make your own little spot to get away from daily home life.
Having a separate space which you can close the door on at the end of the day, to give some balance between work and home life would be my number one tip!
Do you have a snazzy home-working setup you fancy showing off?
Get in touch by emailing Ellen.Scott@metro.co.uk to take part in Where I Work.
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/03/work-alice-jewellery-designer-working-stratford-upon-avon-12502143/?ITO=squid
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