This week in our Meet the Jeweller series, we have the pleasure of chatting to Fiona, the maker and designer behind Molly Moo Jewels.
What first drew you to jewellery making, and what were some of your earliest creations like?
I started creating jewellery about 13 years ago, just a hobby, I loved jewellery and wanted to create bits for myself and family, but soon set myself up on Etsy. The more I got into it, the more I loved it, people started wanting my work, I was getting commissions and it started to pay the bills. So, I took the plunge and made it my full time job.
You’ve described yourself as a true “one woman show” - designer, photographer, packer and post lady! How do you balance all those roles?
I have my workload pretty streamlined now, I create in the morning when the light is good (hopefully, anyway, I live in the UK!). I like to make a small collection over the week and then shoot it all in one go, and then load onto my websites. The packing side comes at the end of the day, I actually enjoy this side of my process, I find it quite therapeutic and the thought of someone opening one of my boxes gives me such joy. I am so grateful for every order that I receive when I think out of all of the jewellers out there and they chose me, it is very humbling.
Where do you find your gemstones, and what makes a stone call out to you?
I source my gemstones from al over the world. There is such a wide variety of stones and I love them all, but, my favourites are boulder opals, turquoise and tourmalines. My opals are from a lovely lady in Australia, I am simply obsessed with them, the kaleidoscope of colours and their complete uniqueness, as no two opals are the same which makes them so magical. Needless to say, I have a very large hoard in my studio!
Many of your pieces feel organic and natural — what inspires those forms and textures?
I love to wear jewellery that is a bit 'off', by this I mean, not quite round, more organically shaped, not too shiny, quirky I guess, so this rubs off into my own work.
My inspiration comes from various places, nature of course, the intricate details of plants and animals for shape, colour and texture, ancient designs particularly from the Roman Empire, Frida Kahlo, clouds, water, the list is endless.
What’s the most challenging part of turning a design from concept into reality?
Getting a piece from the drawing board (I don't sketch however) to the finished article is, for me, virtually impossible, I always end up changing my mind along the way, tweak a bit here and there, until I am happy. I actually really love this way of working, unless of course I have a commission and have to stick to the story line.
What tool or material in your workshop could you never do without?
Working with metals requires lots of tools, so, sorry I can't just pick one, I need them all, my hammer, my saw, my torch ...
How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired when working solo?
I don't often loose motivation. I love my job. I am so grateful to be able to call this my full time gig.
Thank you so much to Fiona for taking the time to speak with us! Visit the Molly Moo jewels website here and keep up to date with Fiona's work on Instagram.
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