Jewellers Academy Podcast Jessica Rose

In this week's episode, Jess chats to Kelly Twigg, a jeweller known for her sea glass jewellery and active presence on Instagram. Kelly discusses her journey from a Navy career to becoming a self-employed jewellery maker. Kelly's Instagram success, boasting over 30,000 followers, is attributed to her authentic and engaging approach, sharing not just her work but also personal aspects of her life, which resonates with her audience. She emphasizes the value of community and genuine connections over merely using Instagram as a marketing tool. Kelly has enrolled on the Diploma in Silver Jewellery starting in September 2024. She talks about why she make this choice, despite being an established jeweller, so she can practice and hone her skills.
 
Kelly on Instagram
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In this bonus podcast episode, Jess interviews Alexandra, an Advanced Diploma graduate and jeweller who runs her own business called Von W Jewellery. Alexandra specializes in creating fine jewellery pieces using gold and diamonds, employing an experimental technique of melting diamonds into gold. She shares her journey, starting from her early experiences in silversmithing and her advanced studies on the Jewellers Academy Diploma courses, which equipped her with the skills to work with precious materials.
Alexandra also talks about her passion for gold and how she alloys her own metals to control the colour and properties of her jewellery. Alexandra is passionate about experimenting with materials and techniques to push the boundaries of traditional jewellery design, ensuring her pieces really resonate with her customers.
Alexandra is an alumni from our Advanced Jewellery Diploma. Find out more about our Jewellery Diploma courses
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diplomas
 
Von W Jeweller website
Alex on Instagram
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In this week's episode, Jess chats with Sima Vaziry, a talented metal clay jeweller whose work has been sold through the British Museum for over a decade, and who is the final jeweller to appear in the Handmade Jewellers series. The discussion focuses on how Sima uses her craft to support various charities, highlighting her involvement with Afghan Aid and other initiatives.
She shares how her journey began with creating pieces for charity events, which led to significant opportunities, including collaborations with the British Museum and other high-profile organizations. Sima elaborates on her work with artisans in conflict regions through Turquoise Mountain, a charity supported by King Charles, aimed at preserving traditional crafts. She describes her efforts to teach artisans new techniques and help them adapt their materials to international standards, thus enabling them to sustain their livelihoods. 
 
Sima on Instagram 
Sima's website
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In this week's episode, Jess chats with Iain Sainsbury, who is the featured jeweller in the fourth episode of the Handmade Jewellers series and who recently got accepted to showcase his work at Goldsmith North, a prestigious fair for jewellers. Ian shares his journey of applying to the fair, highlighting the challenges and decisions involved. He emphasizes the importance of having a platform where people can physically engage with his jewellery, which led him to apply to Goldsmith North. Iain describes the application process, which includes submitting a form, providing photographs of his work, and crafting an artist statement. He stresses the significance of high-quality images in presenting his collection effectively. Additionally, Iain discusses the mental hurdles of vulnerability and perfectionism that come with putting oneself out there as an artist, reflecting on his own experiences and growth in the process.
 
Iain's website
Iain on Instagram
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In this week's episode, Jess chats with Ange B, a jeweller who makes architectural style jewellery and who features in the third episode of Handmade Jewellers. Ange discusses her journey into working with gold in her jewellery business and explains how she transitioned from working mainly in silver to incorporating gold into her designs. Initially hesitant due to ethical concerns about gold plating, Ange eventually began using recycled gold, starting with a collection featuring mixed metals and gradually adding more gold pieces to her existing collections.
She describes her experiences working with 9 and 14-carat gold, emphasizing the learning curve and the importance of maintaining her ethical principles in her business practices. Ange's approach highlights a gradual and thoughtful integration of gold into her jewellery line, driven by customer demand and personal growth in her craft.
Ange on Instagram
Ange's website
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In this week's episode, Jess chats to Susannah King. Susannah is featured in episode 2 of The Handmade Jewellers, premiering this week on Thursday 2nd May ay 8pm BST. This week we're sharing a previous podcast recording with her from 2023. Susannah is a fourth generation jeweller and talks about her background in repairing jewellery and how she has built her jewellery business and a community on social media just waiting for her collections to be released, even selling out a collection in two minutes.
 
Susannah's website
Susannah on Instagram
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