I’m Tsedey, the maker behind Elelta Bijoux. My name means “Springtime” in Amharic, the language of Ethiopia — a name that mirrors the spirit behind everything I create: growth, change, and the quiet beauty of nature.

 

My journey into jewellery-making began in 2002, when I took evening classes at East Berkshire College. What started as a creative outlet soon grew into a true passion. 

 

In 2014, my husband Gareth and I decided to leave our day jobs behind and move to France, where we opened a small craft shop and workshop. There, surrounded by nature, I continued to develop my silversmithing skills and found a style that felt truly my own.

 

Through the seasons, I explored working with vibrant enamels, resin-encased woven fabrics, and carefully selected semiprecious stones. For special commissions, I also have the joy of creating in gold. When the pandemic closed our shop, I turned to silk painting — inspired once again by the colours, shapes, and textures that have always fuelled my jewellery designs. Silk scarves and hand-painted cards soon became a natural extension of my creative world.

 

In 2023, we returned to the UK and settled in Buckingham to be closer to family. Since then, I’ve enjoyed reconnecting with a local creative community — taking part in markets, exhibiting at Bucks Art Weeks 2024, and looking forward to participating again in Bucks Art Weeks 2025. A special highlight has been displaying a collection of jewellery at the Obsidian Art Gallery, inspired by the enchanting illustrations of Ed Org.

 

Today, working from my home studio, I continue to learn new techniques, share my skill through teaching, design and make jewellery that captures the changing seasons and the textures of the natural world that truly inspire my work.