Meet The Member - Sarah of Heulwen Lewis Bespoke Jewellery
Heulwen Lewis Bespoke Jewellery
We caught up with our member Sarah to talk all things creative, and find out about her journey as a jewellery maker.
Hi Sarah, for those that don’t know you, please tell us about your love of all things creative.
Since I was little, I have always loved art and making things! From creating paper shoes for my dolls, threading beads with my nan, painting portraits and landscapes with my Grampa, to making little miniature items when I was in college.
I had no idea which creative path I was going to go down, and even took a creative arts course at university. Through further exploration, I eventually specialised in jewellery! From there, my love for the jewellery and all things bespoke manifested, and I haven’t looked back since!
What year did you begin Heulwen Lewis Bespoke Jewellery? Was the name important to you?
I officially began Heulwen Lewis Bespoke in 2017! We are 6 years old this month! The name for my business came easily, I had always wanted to use my Welsh roots, and as Heulwen is both my middle name and means Sunshine, I felt it was perfect.
I want my jewellery to always brighten and by wearing something that they love and has sentimental memories they will hopefully bring a smile to their face every day.
What five things should your clients bear in mind when they come to you to design a bespoke piece?
What’s their budget? - This can be vague, but I can design anything, so knowing what they realistically want to spend, I can design accordingly. I also like to give options which are under, on and maybe slightly above, so that everyone can see the possibilities.
What would they wear most? / What do you need? - For instance, some people only wear one pair of earrings or necklace, which they are unlikely to change, so maybe considering a bracelet would be better suited.
Who are they designing for? - From themselves to a loved one, I like to find out and get to know as much as possible about each and every client. I want to know what they love, what they don’t, what pieces they are likely to choose in a store/online, what their favourite colour may be, are they quirky, do they like contemporary or vintage?
Finger size? - I know this isn’t always possible to know, but if the piece we are designing is for a loved one, bringing in an item of jewellery that I can measure will help massively. However, I always expect a resize when it’s a proposal/gift.
Do you have any jewellery, diamonds or gemstones we can upcycle? - I love trying to keep things as sustainable and affordable as possible, so having a hunt through your jewellery box and bringing in anything you may not wear is a great way to upcycle. It can also bring in real sentiment to your pieces.
However, this isn’t a must, as I can source whatever we may need, but it’s always worth a rummage!
How do you think an item of bespoke jewellery makes people feel and what makes a piece of jewellery special for you?
Every bespoke jewellery piece goes on a journey, it’s about the client, their needs, and desires. When a client comes to the studio, it tends to be for a particular occasion or a remodel. Each piece evokes good, happy memories, whether that the occasion or loved ones.
Do you have a favourite jewellery design story?
I don’t think I do; I love each journey and each design in their individual way. I genuinely adore getting to know my clients as much as designing the jewellery!
You make some excellent points about ‘sustainable jewellery’ in your blog. What do your clients need to know about recycling existing jewellery into a new design?
When recycling jewellery, we can create anything you desire, below are just a few ‘need to know’ pointers.
Metals: when melting your jewellery to make a new item, all your pieces need to be of the same carat and colour (9ct, 14ct, 18ct etc). For instance, we can’t mix whites with yellows, and I don’t recommend mixing metals carats, such as 9ct and 18ct as it will devalue the gold.
ALL stones can be used, it doesn’t have to be precious, if it means something to you, we can design with it.
Your new jewellery piece keeps the value of your existing piece and some! As in, the fee for your new piece will not reflect what your piece is worth, it will actually be worth a lot more!
How do you find inspiration for your designs?
Inspiration is solely the client. I can usually get a feel for the client’s vision pretty quickly, but this is due to asking a lot of questions. I also adore a mood board, but this isn’t a must.
What is on the horizon for Heulwen Lewis Bespoke Jewellery?
Heulwen Lewis Bespoke is in the middle of a mini rebrand and launching a very bespoke, sentimental, and unique bridal collection! Watch this space!!
When you have any downtime, where are your local favourite hotspots?
I live in Berkhamsted and one of my favourite things is walking into town with my pup (Alfie) via the canal to have a coffee. There are a few dog-friendly places, so I mix it up when we’re there! If in Harpenden, it’s all about Brads and Dills, Pudding Stop or a walk around Rothamsted Estate.