Harlewood Studio

How did Harlewood studio begin?

Harlewood Studio evolved when Sue Harle and life partner Brian Wood had completed a full time jewellery and silversmithing course at the “Jam Factory Workshops” in Adelaide.

They decided to combine surnames and creative talents and move to Queensland where their studio was born with our motto “Designed to be Different”

Sue: what led you to glass bead weaving ?

My love of colour and background in silversmithing and jewellery as well as in fashion, inevitably led to my passion for beading.

Sue: what are your favourite pieces ?

I love to create objects and jewellery with small, glass, Japanese cylinder and seed beads using ancient stitches such as peyote and brickstitch. They allow me to design and execute with precision the clean, abstract pieces with spirals and zig –zags often taking dimensional shapes . I am inspired by the Art- Deco period in particular and prefer a strong or monochromatic colour palette. The colours and finishes of the beads vary everytime they catch the light whether it be in sunlight or candlelight.

My beaded jewellery is designed to become “Your favourite pieces” to be worn everyday but special enough to take you through to the evening.

Brian: what is the inspiration behind your jewellery?

My love of music, science fiction and the quirky aspects of life combined with a dark sense of humour are representative of my individual style of jewellery.

I am passionate about the truly handmade, it makes the difference between Art and mass production and has an intrinsic value to most of us. Simply a creative gesture which gives shape to the imagination.

Brian: what type of materials do you prefer to use?

My main medium is sterling silver for its intrinsic properties. Where possible I like to combine it with recycled materials, circuit boards, LP records, vintage lino, and pretty much anything that speaks to me.

The jewellery I like to make usually has a message, either in the honesty and integrity of materials chosen or the form of the piece itself.