2. The journey begins

Following on from the ‘Welcome to DeCoot’ journal entries, I thought some background about myself would be in order, for you to get to know me a little as well. So then with the interests of politeness in mind I feel that introductions ought to be made. My name is Timothy Coode, the principle individual, or character, behind DeCoot.

Why jewelry, and how did I end up in jewelry?
We begin this journey in jewelry by attending an evening class, or night school, at the tender age of fourteen, or at least, I think I was fourteen. First in Weybridge, Surrey, England, and later on in Richmond. The area of north east Surrey and south west London where I grew up.

Luckily for me my parents had recognized an aptitude of mine for making small objects from projects that arrived home from school. I have a strong suspicion that they also noticed that I wasn’t doing particularly well academically and steered me in the direction of jewelry.

Anyways, I kept up my evening classes for a couple of years, which was kept very very quiet from school friends for fear of ridicule. In case they thought I was doing something effeminate or, not suitably manly or some such, and am not entirely sure why this was? Also in this particular teenage boys mind, thought that making jewelry would get me onto the all important path of meeting more girls.

In due course my evening classes eventually led to the Sir John Cass school of art pre-apprenticeship jewelry course which was suggested by my original Weybridge tutor. Needless to say my school careers advice knew nothing about the Sir John Cass school or art, or much about anything else really apart from the standard fob off, yes yes, go to Esher college, or…umm…Epsom art school maybe?

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