Interview with Rachel Lucie Jewellery Designs

Interview with Rachel Lucie of Rachel Lucie Jewellery Designs

Ces Creatively Asks :
Rachel how did you feel about it when you first found out your gorgeous Victorian Sweetheart jewellery had in part inspired The Light Direction novel series and is actually featured throughout the story as well as appearing on the cover?

Rachel Replies :
To be honest, I couldn’t really believe it at first! You had tweeted with a link to my bracelet saying you loved it and dropping hints to your husband to buy it, all very flattering, obviously. Then, when you contacted me to say that the necklace and bracelet that Jay bought for you had inspired your book, I was completely delighted! So amazed and excited and happy about it!

Ces Creatively Asks :
Have you enjoyed creating the bespoke limited edition jewellery that I commissioned for future The Light Direction promotional prizes?

Rachel Replies :
Yes, it’s always a pleasure to make something special for a client, and this was no exception. The chance to make something exclusive, as prizes for The Light Direction was a great honour.

Ces Creatively Asks :
Please tell us the concept behind your original creation of The Victorian Sweetheart range.

Rachel Replies :
As often happens, I often feel drawn to particular combinations of beads. I get a feel for the look and style these little combinations and make and bring them together in ways I feel compliment each other. The red hearts were set off so well with the tiny peridot and the pearls, I felt I had to make something. I had a feeling that they created a very vintage effect, and imagined a romantic Victorian betrothal gift. The Victorian Sweeheart gift set, in turn, was the inspiration behind the whole Vintage Wedding Jewellery Collection.

I couldn’t believe it when you told me more about how they are used in the story, it seemed to echo my own inspiration! It is just brilliant and I am so happy to be involved in some way as The Light Direction is a fabulous project and I am really looking forward to reading and recommending the book series.

Ces Creatively Asks :
So how long have you been creating jewellery for, Rachel, and how did you get into it?

Rachel Replies :
I first started in 2008, whilst being a stay-at-home-mum. I decided to use some birthday money I had been given to buy myself some expensive jewellery as a real treat, but I couldn’t find what I wanted. I have always been drawn to silver jewellery, and love semi-precious beads, too.

The styles available just weren’t ‘me’ and I decided I would try to make my own! Within a month I was totally captivated and wanted to keep creating, even being driven to make designs that were not my own taste. That was when I realised this is what I wanted to do, and decided to make it happen.

Ces Creatively Asks :
Please tell us a little bit more about you and your business.

Rachel Replies :
I never really had a plan for my life or career, growing up. I left my degree unfinished and worked in bars and then call centres for 10 years. Myself and my partner moving around quite a bit, and I finally realised the call centre environment was not where I wanted to be. I became part time at work to finish off the final year of my degree with the Open University.

We were also trying for children at the time, and low and behold, I became pregnant right at the beginning of that 9 months of study! I was also doing 2 courses at work at this time! With exams postponed to the next autumn, as my son was due at the same time, I finally my degree when he was 1.

My partner and I decided that I would be a stay-at-home mum hopefully until the kids were at school. When my daughter was born 2 years later, I think the years at home propelled me into doing something for myself, and to be creative at last.

I’ve always been very artistic, and also very interested in all kinds of the creative arts and design, but I was never driven to create, until I discovered designing jewellery. My business as an independent designer has educated me in so many ways.

I am a one-woman-show, so have taught myself everything from the jewellery, photography and editing, graphic design, website design (including basic coding), social media presence, blogging, and business skills. I have loved learning all these skills! Through the internet, and living in creative Hebden Bridge, I have become part of a diverse creative community, and met many inspiring and helpful people.

I exhibited at the British Craft Trade Fair this year for the first time, and was featured in Vogue last year. I sell in galleries and online, and am really delighted with the success I have had from my self-made business so far.

Ces Creatively Asks :
I would also like to ask you to share a few of your other favourite jewellery designs with us.

Acanthus Earrings:
Green amethyst and ruby wire-wrapped silver earrings.
I was really inspired by the stones themselves for these earrings. I just love pale green amethyst, and love the way it contrasts to the rough rubies. It felt a very Victorian feel, and I had a vision of the William Morris Acanthus pattern in the design process. From my Luxe Collection, full of precious stones, rolled gold designs and luxury!

Juniper Bracelet:
Amethyst and pyrite oxidized sterling silver bracelet. I really wanted to use antiqued silver with amethyst for this design, and loved the combination with pyrite. As part of the Inspired Collection, it’s eclectic, and free, just like my design process here.

Forget Me Not Earrings:
Blue Lace Agate & Iolite sterling silver earrings. The whole Botanica Collection is inspired by flowers, which have been a big influence this year. I love botanical drawings, and the way flowers are used in art. I saw how these 2 nature blue stones really amplified their colours when put together and loved it. It screamed ‘forget me not’ to me!

Santorini Necklace:
White agate, turquoise and amethyst. Another big theme this year for me has been the sea, everything about the sea! Songs of the Sea Collection uses lots of aqua tones and influences from mythology to The Ancient Mariner. I loved the white and turquoise and purple together, which really spoke of the Mediterranean, and the beautiful church on Santorini.

Love Necklace:
Freshwater pearl and sterling silver wire-wrapped necklace
This necklace is pure romance! I designed it as part of my Forever Pearl Collection, with the bride in mind. Just about pearls and delicate wire-wrapping, with tiny Swarovski crystals, this has proved a popular design.

Name : Rachel Lucie Johns
Business name : Rachel Lucie Jewellery Designs
URL : www.rachellucie.co.uk
Email : mail@rachellucie.co.uk
Contact tel : 07970 889925
Twitter name : @rachellucie
Established : 2008
Location : Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

Did you find our first interview with Rachel Lucie interesting? Do you like the bespoke The Light Direction jewellery? Remember you will have the chance to win some of this exclusive jewellery from us soon. Please follow us on twitter @light_direction and join us on facebook to be one of the first to find out about chances to #WIN Please spare a moment to comment below, I really appreciate your support! Thanks, Ces Creatively.