I’ve just popped out to pick up the second batch of my four elements jewellery.
Nosing round their lovely Todmorden studio, I thought it would be nice to introduce you to the nice folks who make them.
Here they are! That’s Laura on the left, and her partner Paul on the right:

Like me, they live on a narrowboat moored in Todmorden (which is how I know them – for a while we were neighbours.)
Together, they run two companies, Firedragon Pewter, and Firedragon Games. At Firedragon Pewter, Paul casts beautiful jewellery with a pagan feel – moongazing hares, green men, pentacles and shawl pins, as well as a set of Norse runes. Take a look!
Then at Firedragon Games, they design and build resin and pewter scenery and props for tabletop gaming (think World of Warcraft and the Games Workshop scene.)
I’m not a gamer myself, but I’m pretty tempted by a pack of skulls and some severed hands…
All of this takes place at their large, airy studio at Quality Works, Todmorden.

How the four elements jewellery is made
Here are the bars of pewter, ready to be melted down:

And the ‘silver spoon’ for pouring molten metal:

Here’s the rubber cast in which my pendants are made (…alongside a few other interesting things!)

And the pendant as it comes out of the kiln, before being buffed and drilled (this one could be an air pendant, or an earth, depending on where the hole is drilled):

And here’s where Laura threads up the pendants and packages orders:

I’m so glad I was able to find someone local – and friends, to boot – to help create my jewellery. Paul and Laura are such great people to work with, and it’s a simple pleasure to text in my order, and then wander along the canal to pick it up when it’s done.
If you’re a gaming geek, look out for the Firedragon Games Kickstarter which is coming soon!
Meanwhile here they are, the four elements pendants which I designed, and Paul and Laura lovingly made for me:

I’m a 30-something writer, artist, tarot reader, and perpetual explorer of the space between thought, feeling, and action.
I believe that spirituality and ritual are for everybody. I’m about the journey, in all of its messy, non-linear, chaotic iterations. I am excited by anticapitalist business and living with my whole entire self present. I use tarot cards to bring forth hidden truth, and ritual to affirm my commitment, over and over, to my ever-shifting path.
Thanks for sharing this! I love the fact that these wonderful craftspeople were your boat neighbours, too. The canals truly are magical!
Hehe, they are! I should go on my boat to pick up my order next time 😀
Super Cute! And local. I like. And have my eye on a Fire.
Thanks Melissa! xxxxxxxx
Well well, I’ve got some stuff that Paul made when they were at Grumpys Mill! Including a beautiful green man doorknocker!
Hi Willow! Fancy seeing you here 🙂
They have the green man doorknocker at the door to their studio – it’s beautiful!