Sonny Bailey-Aird - Make What You Love - from Personal Trainer to Thriving Goldsmith (podcast episode)
On this week's podcast, I am joined by jeweller Sonny Bailey-Aird. You may know Sonny as a contestant on All That Glitters, the jewellery competition show on the BBC. Sonny is a self-taught goldsmith who runs his own business and creates one-of-a-kind pieces of fine jewellery. Sonny talks about his journey to becoming a jeweller via being a personal trainer, his experiences on All That Glitters, his advice to jewellers just starting out and much more.
Ep052. Sonny Bailey-Aird - Make What You Love - from Personal Trainer to Thriving Goldsmith (podcast episode)
With Sonny Bailey-Aird
On this week's podcast, I am joined by jeweller Sonny Bailey-Aird. You may know Sonny as a contestant on All That Glitters, the jewellery competition show on the BBC.
Sonny is a self-taught goldsmith who runs his own business and creates one-of-a-kind pieces of fine jewellery. Sonny talks about his journey to becoming a jeweller via being a personal trainer, his experiences on All That Glitters, his advice to jewellers just starting out and much more.
EPISODE RECAP
Can you tell us about your jewellery and how you came to be a jeweller? (1:29)
You decided to give jewellery a try - are there any resources that you learnt from? (3:47)
Did you make jewellery at home? (7:27)
What were some of the first pieces you sold? (8:31)
You were chosen to be on All That Glitters, what was that experience like? (10:45)
Did your making skills improve when you were on the show? (12:16)
What was your favourite piece that you made on the show? (14:58)
Did you have a piece that was the most challenging for you? (15:58)
Have you always had the same style or did it develop over time? (17:47)
You work a lot with gemstones. Are there any stones that are your favorite to work with? (21:34)
You had a little one fairly recently. How do you manage your working life now? (23:18)
Do you have any role models? (27:06)
What is next for your jewellery business? (29:26)
What advice would you give to a jeweller who is just starting out? (32:43)
Where can we find you online? (36:00)
ABOUT SONNY
“Within my work, I love to focus on symmetry, textures and I always try to have the word regal in my mind when designing pieces! Each piece is one of one and handmade from gold grain. I melt gold and fabricate each component, I’m a fan of process and do every stage of the piece from the mount making to the setting. Jewellery is the perfect thing to mark a moment in time, be it birthday, wedding or anniversary and it’s a privilege to be able to be the maker behind the piece that’s chosen to mark such an occasion!”
Rings photographed are copyright Sonny Bailey-Aird 2021, from the Rudy 2021 collection
RESOURCES
Find Jewellers Academy on Instagram and Facebook
Thanks so much for listening.
CaN I ASK A FAVOUR ..
I would really appreciate your support! If you enjoy what we do then it would mean the world to me if you would take a moment to give it a lovely 5-star review on the podcast app you use. It helps get the word out and reviews really help new people discover us. It would mean such a lot. Oh and don’t forget to subscribe to it on your favourite podcast app so that you don’t miss an episode.
Thank you so much,
With love
Jess x
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Kim Styles, All That Glitters podcast interview