Having a dressmaker as a mother and an embroiderer for a grandmother, I grew up with a lot of artistic inspiration around me and I was always encouraged by both of them from a young age to take part in arts and crafts. Some of my fondest childhood memories were playing in Mum’s old button box, playing with off-cuts of fabric from the garment she was making and watching Grannie sew and bead her latest embroidered creation.

Through early high school I used my spare time making beaded jewellery which I could sell at craft markets on the weekends. I have always had an interest in making jewellery since then, and in year 10 I took part in work experience with a contemporary jeweller. The insight into the jewellery trade set me on the path of wanting a career as a jeweller. In VCE, I elected to do as many art subjects as possible and completed my study with Art, Studio Art and Visual Communications.

After finishing high school I was accepted into the Jewellery Engineering course at NMIT in 2008 where I learnt the basic techniques of making and crafting fine jewellery. Since joining Abrecht Bird I have completed my four year apprenticeship to become a qualified manufacturing jeweller in 2016 and through doing so have partaken in a number of jewellery competitions and been fortunate enough to win apprentice of the year three years in a row.

My love and appreciation of jewellery has only grown since and I find it so satisfying starting with a sketch on a piece of paper and a bar of gold profile wire and moulding and shaping it into something beautiful that someone will feel pride in wearing. There is nothing better than seeing the pleasure and appreciation of your work in the client’s eyes when they see their new hand made jewellery piece for the first time.

Having a family background in the jewelley industry going back through to my great grandfather owning the largest manufacturing jewellery company ‘The House of Hawke’ and the ties between my family and the Abrecht family, I feel proud to be part of the trade and welcomed into the Abrecht Bird company and family. I’ve enjoyed meeting our clients over the years and look forward to helping you at Abrecht Bird in the future.