1. Hello Anna! Tell us a little about yourself. 

   I was born and bred in Cape Town. I was fortunate to have a very creative mother, and an environmentalist for a father. This meant that I led a very varied life, from ballet performances to walks in the bush, from lace making to Namibian diamond fields. As you can imagine, I was allowed to explore my creative side through art, music and dance, as well as develop a love for nature. I suppose this background meant that there was no way I could not continue to do something creative when I grew up.

2. That sounds way more interesting than most of our afterschool activities! How did you end up starting your own jewellery range?
   After doing art at school, I studied jewellery design at Stellenbosch University - a 4 year honours degree. Then, I won a scholarship to do a Masters in Design at the Richemont’s school of design, The Creative Academy, in Milan. I spent a year learning about luxury design, and even got a 3 month internship in Chloé's leather department. Feeling the need to travel a bit, I worked and lived in London and Sydney for the next two years. In 2010 I came back to Cape Town to set up SMITH Jewellery.
    
    
3. Wow - after ricocheting around the globe, you must have experienced so many different things. Where do you get your inspiration from?

   At the risk of sounding corny, I really am influenced by anything around me. As I mentioned before, I grew up with a wide range of interests - this has led to me producing many different collections for both my male and female ranges. Having said this, I inevitably find inspiration in any jewellery, fashion, architecture from 3000BC to the 1900s - basically any old cultures.

4. We can actually see that a lot in your ranges at the moment - you have some very tribal influences, as well as more delicate pieces. Tell us a little more about the things SMITH makes?

   I design jewellery for both men and women. I specialise in silver jewellery, but lately have been using more brass and copper (which I then gold or rose gold plate) as well. I try to create easy-to-wear, conversational jewellery. My women’s ranges are bold, beautiful and lightweight, while my men’s ranges harp back to the Victorian gentleman with a more humorous tilt. Everything I design is then hand made - this ensure that no two pieces are the same.

5. Variety being the spice of life. Speaking of which - Will Smith, Maggie Smith, or Patti Smith?

   Definitely Maggie Smith - wise, humorous and feisty!

We couldn’t agree more - Downton’s Dowager Countess is our spirit animal. You can find fun and feisty jewellery in the SMITH Hello Pretty store, and get in touch on Facebook and Twitter.

1. Hello Robyne! Tell us a little about yourself. 

   Hello hello! My story goes back a few years. My passion for jewellery started when I was just a little one. My mum owned jewellery and accessories shops in Natal, and I spent my childhood behind the counter ringing up sales -loved the clicky buttons on the till! Some might say child labour, I just call it starting young! 
   After school I tried out a few different interests and passions, and was in the fashion industry for a few years doing make-up artistry and hairstyling. In my spare time I did jewellery and painting hobby classes, and at the age of 23 decided jewellery was my calling, so back to school for me! 

2. And from there, how did HIWTHI happen? 

   "Home is where the heart is" started out as my final year theme. I put my exhibition on Facebook for friends and family to see what I had been working on all year, and from that a budding business was born.

3. So your business is actually barely a year old? Amazing! How do you find inspiration for your pieces?

   I love that I am passionate about what I do, and that keeps me ‘topped up’. I’ve become obsessed with dogs, in particular my sausage Lucy, they are the best kind of housemate! Pretty quiet and happy all the time! 

4. Hm, wondering if it would be possible to swap some of my teammates for sausage dogs. (Kidding guys, kidding…) So, tell us what’s special about the things that HIWTHI makes?

   Well, for starters, each one is handmade with love! <3 
   I think my products and my brand incapsulate me as a person - I deal with each client personally and build a relationship with every one. My brand definitely has that ‘let your heart feel at home’ feeling. I love making people feel comfortable buying jewellery, and more importantly, buying jewellery online without ever having seen the piece. I also enjoy working with clients on their designs and making their jewellery dreams come to life.

5. We think we know the answer to this one already, but, cats or dogs?

   DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS!!!!!

   So, we’re thinking you might be a dog person, but we really can’t be sure….One thing we are sure about, though, is how much we love her jewellery. Get yours from the Home Is Where The Heart Is Hello Pretty store, and get in touch on Facebook.

Now that the secret’s out, I’m guessing you want to know how to enter, right? Here’s how:

1. Like Secrets Unearthed on Facebook
2. Leave a comment on this post telling us which piece is your favourite.
3. Get an extra vote when you share this post and tag us on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Secrets Unearthed draws inspiration from nature to create pretty pieces you’ll love. Check out our interview with Gina here.

1. Hello Gina! Tell us a little about yourself.

   I grew up in Zimbabwe and had a fantastic childhood - horse-riding, fishing, and camping by the Zambezi river with my family. My earliest creative memories were painting elephants in Zimbabwe and fishing boats in Mozambique. My parents always framed my paintings, and I was encouraged to express myself creatively from an early age. I moved to Cape Town when I was 18 and started a degree in Fine Art at UCT; and on the side I started an evening course in jewellery design. I loved it, enrolled to do the full diploma, and never looked back.

2. Bitten by the jewellery bug! How did Secrets Unearthed end up happening?

   After a few years working in various jewellery shops I thought ”Feel the fear and do it anyway,” and decided to start my own range. So, one holiday in Mozambique, after a few Rum and Raspberrys (Ed. note: We asked for the recipe, obviously. It’s Tipo Tinto rum and raspberry Sparletta. You’re welcome.), my family and I started brainstorming and came up with the name Secrets Unearthed…All minerals and gemstones are from the earth, and hold potential to become a beautiful piece of jewellery - they just need to be unearthed and created.

3. That’s very true. So, what inspires you? (Other than those R&Rs!)

   I love so many things: My amazing family and  gorgeous husband, creating beautiful jewellery, running in nature with my two huskies, wine tasting with my friends, dark chocolate, horse riding, pottery, mushing (husky sledding) on the beach…I could go on! Just absolutely loving life! 

4. Wait, you can mush on sand?! Guess I know what I’m doing this weekend. Tell us about the pieces we can find in the Secrets Unearthed range?

   Secrets Unearthed is influenced by animals and nature. I love making birds, and custom-making peoples’ pets. I have even done an alpaca range for an alpaca stud farm!  I am crazy about turquoise, and have always worn lots of turquoise as it is meant to protect horse riders. I also love working with old bits of porcelain and adding organic elements like flowers, birds, and animals. I am busy working on a new range for summer - I have amazing new gemstones and porcelain goodies coming soon!

5. We can’t wait! So, do you have any secrets of your own?

   I am a huge believer in the Laws of Attraction and really bring it into my business. I am a complete vision board and dream journal junkie. I am also a believer in crystal healing, and I know that laughing, running, and yoga will always be the best medicine. 

From downward dogs to R&Rs - you can see the result of Gina’s inspirations in the Secrets Unearthed Hello Pretty store, and get in touch on Facebook and Twitter.

P.S. Can you keep a secret? Well, so can we - you’ll have to come back on Monday to find out what it is!

Products shown:
Brass leaf dangling earrings
Silver crown cut-out earrings
Delicate folded sterling silver bracelet
Wood ring with heart cut-out
Silver crown cut out pendant
 

1. Hello Jackie! Tell us a little about yourself.
   From an early age, I always loved doing creative things with my hands, and collected things like different shapes, sizes, and colours of leaves, or made collages of pictures or found objects that inspired me.
   When I left school I went to Stellenbosch University to study BComm (Management Sciences). However I soon realised that this wasn’t my passion and that I was meant to be in a designing and creating environment. So after just 4 months I quit my studies and took the leap of faith, and enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts degree in Creative Jewellery and Metal Design at Stellenbosch University, graduating in December 2009. I have never looked back since. I am so lucky to have found my passion in jewellery design and manufacturing and that I can persue my creative talent as a career. After all, I was born to be a creative.
    
2. And from there, how did Jam Jewellery happen?
   Soon after completing my studies I started working at a jewellery design company, but my feet soon became itchy and I wanted to stretch my wings over the waters. So in 2011 I went to Germany for an internship at a jewellery company and worked for a while at a goldsmith’s. However, I soon longed to start my own brand and so at the end of 2011 I returned to my home turf and started working on my lifelong dream of establishing my own brand.
   For the duration of 2012 I worked under my jewellery brand called “Hahn Jewellery”. I was invited together with 2 other international jewellery designers to showcase my jewellery in Berlin in October 2012. However, I decided that I needed a quirky, fun and creative brand that I can take to markets, online shops and festivals, a brand that people will remember, like, enjoy and can relate to.   
   So finally the birth of Jam Jewellery happened at the end of January 2013 and we are going full steam ahead and loving every moment! And we are here to stay…
    
3. Your pieces have a lot of different styles - so, do you get inspiration from a lot of different sources?
   I love nature! Most of my inspiration comes from nature, I just love the organic feel of it, especially things like: shells, seed pods, underwater sea life, mushrooms, leaves, textured surfaces…but also found objects, like anything rusted or that has paint is peeling off, makes me super happy and excited ( I still want to do a range like this!). I also get a lot of my inspiration from industrial design such as lampshades, or interesting design in homeware, décor, and anything with an organic feel to it. Three of my favourite artists of all time are Gaudi, Mucha and Hundertwasser Haus. Their work is very organic and has a lot of interesting and intricate patterns and textures that puts my creative juices on a buzzzzz.
   Apart from jewellery, one of my all time favourite things that I like is to travel. I love just walking all by myself in ancient cities and exploring every church, interesting building, market and alleyway. My other favourite pastime is to walk or climb a mountain when I can, and to go scuba diving when I have the chance. However, when I can’t do those, I will settle for an Italian ice cream date with my boyfriend in Stellenbosch and pretend we are somewhere in Europe.
    
4. And when you’re not climbing/diving/exploring/eating ice cream, you make pretty jewellery! Tell us about Jam Jewellery?
   Jam Jewellery specialises in designing and making of any kind of jewellery in various metals and materials such as: Wood, leather, and semiprecious stones. Our main focus is to custom design and manufacture engagement rings and private commissions, and also to design and produce our own unique jewellery range specially for the Jam Jewellery brand.
5. Last question - what’s your favourite thing to put jam on?
   On a warm freshly baked scone with some cream!

Ooh, we could murder a scone with some jam right now. You can check out more from Jam Jewellery in her Hello Pretty store, and get in touch on Facebook and Twitter. Also, if you check back with us on Monday, we might just be giving away one of the stunning pieces featured in this post.