Floridian in Folkestone!

Hi everyone!

My name is keiara and I'm a native Floridian.  I originally relocated to Ashford, Kent in 2005 but moved to Folkestone in 2006 and have been here ever since.  I am a lampwork glass artist and I specialize in sculptural beads and jewellery including cupcakes, cats, owls and lots of holiday cuteness   I have found it incredibly hard to adjust especially since I moved here to marry a British citizen but we got divorced last year.  Since I have established my business here (even though it's mostly online) I really didn't want to leave.. so I stayed!  This has been EXTREMELY stressful and I'd love to meet other American expats

Hope everyone has a nice holiday season!

keiara

Hi Keiara,

Welcome to UK-Y! Your work sounds cute - do you have a website?

Thanks   I have my personal website:  www.bykeiara.co.uk [nofollow] and I also have an Etsy shop:  www.bykeiara.etsy.com [nofollow]

x

awww the marmite kitten is too cute!

haha, thanks 

Hi Keiara!
I'm currently in central Florida (native) and I'll be making my move to Edinburgh next summer.  I too make jewelry (wire/sheet metal).  Can I ask, did you bring tools with you from home?  I'm contemplating bringing my 'wares, but I'm not sure on costs (shipping, extra luggage, etc).  How's the bead/jewelry supply/shop market in the UK (that you've seen)?

Welcome to the site!
I love your shop too btw!

Hiya

Thanks so much!  Actually, I was a paralegal before I moved to the UK so I only started purchasing jewellery-craft items after I moved here!  For my particular craft, I do purchase most things in the UK although there are certain tools that I've imported from the US.  If you're interested in a more educated opinion, I would suggest joining a UK forum dedicated to the type of jewellery-craft you create as they'll probably know a lot more   I order most of my Sterling silver from either Palmer Metals or Cookson Gold so you can always hit up those websites to compare prices to the sites you currently use.  I don't order a lot, though, so I don't generally shop around for the lowest of prices. 

I hope your move goes smoothly and you enjoy your new home!  Whereabouts in central FL?  I lived in Tampa, Clearwater, Kissimmee and Dunedin over the years.  I grew up in south Florida (Ft Lauderdale) but lived in central Florida for 11 years

Happy Holidays!

x

Hi!

Thanks for all of the info.  I've had a "side" business for sometime, but had to give it up the past year due to my school/work schedule.  I've just begun creating again, and want to keep it up.  However, since I've been collecting beads and tools for years now, I have a substantial (and pricey) collection.  I can't imagine not making anything for the three years (at least) I'll be in Scotland, so I'm considering what I should do.  Thanks for the tips, though.  I appreciate it!

I live in Lake Wales...it's in the center of the state.  I'm pretty much an hour from Tampa and an hour from Orlando. 

Happy holidays to you too, and I hope we can speak more!
Stephanie

Hi Stephanie 

You're very welcome.  When I moved to the UK, I sent about 6 large boxes of belongings and brought two large suitcases plus a big carry-on bag.. and that's it!  I sold everything else    It was VERY hard to do that (I had purple velvet couches.. I mean, how can I part with those?!) but it was simply too expensive to ship everything.  Still, I think I paid about $200 or so to ship a HUGE box of my dishes which was quite heavy so it would probably be worth it for you to ship your tools.  The shipping option I took was the least expensive but it also took roughly 6 weeks for the boxes to arrive so keep that in mind!!  The last boxes I sent about a month before I left yet they didn't arrive until I was already living there for a few weeks   

Hope it all works out for you!  Happy New Year

 
Wow...I love your jewelry.
Simply Amazing.

Hi Stephanie 

You're very welcome.  When I moved to the UK, I sent about 6 large boxes of belongings and brought two large suitcases plus a big carry-on bag.. and that's it!  I sold everything else    It was VERY hard to do that (I had purple velvet couches.. I mean, how can I part with those?!) but it was simply too expensive to ship everything.  Still, I think I paid about $200 or so to ship a HUGE box of my dishes which was quite heavy so it would probably be worth it for you to ship your tools.  The shipping option I took was the least expensive but it also took roughly 6 weeks for the boxes to arrive so keep that in mind!!  The last boxes I sent about a month before I left yet they didn't arrive until I was already living there for a few weeks   

Hope it all works out for you!  Happy New Year

The shipping of boxes is the route I think I'm going to take as well as large suitcases.   I only have two items that I would love to take with me that I got from Pier One... but not sure how to move it.  Thanks for the info

Hi Stephanie 

You're very welcome.  When I moved to the UK, I sent about 6 large boxes of belongings and brought two large suitcases plus a big carry-on bag.. and that's it!  I sold everything else    It was VERY hard to do that (I had purple velvet couches.. I mean, how can I part with those?!) but it was simply too expensive to ship everything.  Still, I think I paid about $200 or so to ship a HUGE box of my dishes which was quite heavy so it would probably be worth it for you to ship your tools.  The shipping option I took was the least expensive but it also took roughly 6 weeks for the boxes to arrive so keep that in mind!!  The last boxes I sent about a month before I left yet they didn't arrive until I was already living there for a few weeks   

Hope it all works out for you!  Happy New Year

Hi Keiara!
Many thanks for your words of wisdom.  I have decided that the years of my careful choosing of materials/beads/tools and the like is too precious for me to give up, so I will be taking them with me.  I just started a beading group at the library where I work.  I am scanning inspirations from beading magazines, and then donating them to the group.  I'm also culling through my enormous collection of beads to donate as well, so I'm only taking my essentials!   However, I'm not sure how much jewelry constructing I will be doing with a PhD in the works, but I refuse to spend 3 years without my pretties!