About Sooz Jewels ...

My name is Sue Doran, a self-taught artisan. I handcraft jewellery designed by myself in my studio at home using a variety of techniques; I am part silversmith, part beader, part handicrafts, part beadmaker ... part mad.

Sooz Jewels was born out of Arcturus Jewellery, a business which my sister and I started three years ago in order to market our wedding and special occasion jewellery and tiaras.

Cambridge Art & Craft Market

I have been making jewellery for as long as I can remember on an amateur basis but turned professional shortly after Christmas 2004 when my sister and I started selling jewellery at a festive craft market in Nottingham. This was so successful, we decided to try to make a go of it on a permanent basis. We got a stall on Cambridge's famous Art & Craft market. At first I kept my day job, only making jewellery for the stall in evenings. After only a year, I was down to working two days a week for my former employer and shortly after that I became full time.

In January 2008, Sharon and I split Arcturus Jewellery into two businesses. It's all quite amicable, we haven't fallen out! The two businesses continue to be closely associated.

My new stall, Sooz Jewels, commenced trading in January 2008 from All Saints Garden Art & Craft market and will be there every Saturday throughout the year. The new stall will reflect my changing interests. I am continuing to refine my lampworking skills and making my own beads; the Arcturus stall is full up so there really was no more room!

My sister, Sharon, is continuing to sell her beautiful tiaras and jewellery as Arcturus Jewellery albeit on a separate stall. Many of the products we developed together compliment each other beautifully so don't just look for matching items on this site, visit Arcturus Jewellery too!

I am self taught in everything using books, demonstration videos and DVDs, the generous advice and tips from other artists, a lifetime of experience and the care and attention that comes with loving what I do and cherishing the items that I make - it's really hard to part with some of the one-off customised designs!

I am a member of GBUK, the society for glass beadmakers and an active contributor of the Frit Happens forum. I am also registered as a Self Representing Artist Jewellery Designer (number 1708), the SRAJD website contains details of many jewellery designers who genuinely hand make all their items.