Every crown starts with an idea, although the route from that first idea to the finished piece is rarely straightforward. The Greenwood Crown developed slowly, through experimenting with different components, laying them out together and gradually finding the arrangement that felt right.
Inspired by ancient forests
The original inspiration came from ancient forests and the rich, immersive worlds created by J. R. R. Tolkien.
I wanted to make something that felt magical and connected to nature, while still having a majestic quality. I wasn’t trying to copy a particular plant or tree exactly. Instead, I wanted to capture the feeling of an old woodland, with layers of foliage, curling branches and small details waiting to be discovered.
That idea gave me a starting point, but I didn’t begin with a finished design already mapped out.
Letting the design develop
I started by testing individual branches and central decorative pieces. I sketched some ideas, placed beads onto the drawings and made sample components to see how the shapes and colours worked together.
Some of these early tests became part of the final crown, while others helped me understand what needed to change. A component can look right on paper but feel quite different once it has been made in wire and beads.
The size of the beads, the length of a branch and even a small change in spacing can affect the overall shape. Much of the design therefore developed through making, looking and adjusting rather than following a fixed plan.
Choosing the colours
The colours were chosen from those commonly found in nature.
Different shades of green reminded me of ferns and woodland foliage, while the warmer gold and bronze tones suggested acorns and leaves changing on the trees. I wanted the colours to feel varied but still as though they naturally belonged together.
I gathered glass pearls, seed beads and faceted crystals in different shades, sizes and finishes. The pearls add a softer glow, while the crystals catch small flashes of light. Combining them helped give the crown depth without making every part look the same.
Finding the right materials was a slow part of the process. I spent time comparing colours and sourcing beads in the sizes and finishes I needed. Sometimes the right bead was not the most obvious choice on its own, but worked perfectly when placed alongside the others.
Making each component separately
Every decorative part of The Greenwood Crown was made separately before being added to the base.
Using coloured jewellery wire, I formed the leaf-like loops, delicate branches and more detailed central pieces one at a time. Some elements needed to be repeated several times, but because they were shaped by hand, no two were completely identical.
This stage required patience. A large number of small components had to be prepared before I could properly judge how the full crown might look.
As the collection grew, I laid the pieces out in front of me and tried different arrangements. There wasn’t a precise formula for knowing when I had made enough. Eventually, I simply reached a point where the balance felt right and the components seemed ready to be brought together.
Bringing everything together
Once I was happy with the arrangement, the separate elements were mounted onto the base of the crown.
The base is made from very strong, durable copper wire, giving the crown a secure structure beneath the decorative beadwork. My friend Amanda greatly helped me during this final stage, carefully mounting the branches and other components onto the copper-wire band.
Together, we considered the position of each element and how the crown looked from different angles. It needed to feel full and detailed without losing its overall shape or becoming unbalanced when worn.
Finally, the base and attachment points were wrapped with embroidery thread. This helps hold everything securely in place while giving the band a softer, more comfortable and neatly finished surface.
Taking the time it needed
The initial designing and making of The Greenwood Crown took place over approximately three or four weeks.
That wasn’t continuous construction time. A great deal of the process involved thinking, testing different ideas and sourcing materials in the right colours and sizes. I tend to spend quite a lot of time pondering a design before deciding on the next step.
I don’t see that time as separate from making the crown. It is part of the process. Allowing an idea time to develop often leads to choices I might not have made if I had tried to rush towards the finished piece.
The finished crown
The completed Greenwood Crown retains the branching shapes and layered colours that came from those first woodland ideas. I hope that when someone wears it, they feel something magical, connected to nature and quietly majestic.
When another Greenwood Crown is made to order, I follow the same overall design. However, there will always be small handmade variations in the curves, spacing and arrangement of its components.
For me, that is part of the charm. Nothing made by hand is ever quite the same, so every Greenwood Crown will be recognisable while still being individually its own.