Wellington jewellery designer Roseanne Ward’s enthusiasm for what she does is infectious. “I’ve been manufacturing for fourteen years and I love it! I make my own jewellery from home and sell throughout the country in galleries and stores as well as on Felt. A new avenue that I’ve just started is teaching people to make. I’m loving passing on my skills and knowledge and watching students of all ages light up as they complete their first piece of jewellery.”
She feels very strongly about what jewellery is about. “It’s important part of who you are. You can express yourself through it and it can make you happy, and be intimate and special.”
What do you make?
Anything and everything! I enjoy the concept of making jewellery and manipulating metal. I like to push the eye to see other angles and contours that can be a little different and challenging. I like my jewellery to be statement pieces; talking pieces that speak volumes on their own.
How did you get into your craft?
I fell into it! I went for a interview at a retail jewellery outlet store and they turned me down (I may have been too friendly and forward to sell!) but they mentioned a manufacturing jeweller close by that was looking for a apprentice. I had just come out of a diploma of visual arts and liked to express art in a physical manner so I thought I’d inquire – turns out it came naturally to me!
Do you have formal training or qualifications in your craft?
I started a full bench apprenticeship back in 1999 (that’s four years, or eight thousand bench hours). I’ve been manufacturing fourteen years this year!
Your favourite materials, tools and processes?
I mainly work in silver nowadays, but I do also love working in 18ct red gold, a personal fav! I also love any forming or forging of metal and interpretive work, trying to push limits and design aspects.
What inspires you?
Laughter, life, nature, family… I’m a hugely family-orientated person and have a very warm and supporting family. Laughter is also highly important for the mind and how I design – because if you can’t laugh about life and what it hands you, you may as well cry!
Is there a philosophy behind your work?
I view jewellery as an extension of one’s personality and I love making a piece that is perfect for the individual. All my jewellery is handmade with precious metals and stones; it’s really about the owner of the jewellery and interpreting their wants.
Describe your workspace: Chaos! But I know where everything is most the time…
Five words that describe your mind: Active, spongy, crazy, creative and excitable.
Your favorite feedback from a customer:
Tears are usually a good sign in jewellery – that means it’s perfect! A “Thank you!” is all I love truly.
What are you currently listening to?
I’m all over the place depending on what I’m making – I adapt my music to what I’m producing. It can range from Adele to Fleetwood Mac or Led Zep, INXS to DMX!
What is your favourite childhood book?
I’m a Wizard of Oz girl… my dream as a child was to go to Oz.
Your hero/heroine? My Dad.
How about a favourite quote?
“Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” From Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass… wouldn’t it be nice?
Do you have any pets?
I have a chocolate Labrador called Hershey who loves my workshop in the sunshine and a kitten called Hammy.
If you were a crafty superhero, what would your name and superpower be?
Everything and Anything Girl, and it would be that I could work at the speed of light! Just so I can get done everything I need to get done.
Roseanne has very kindly offered one lucky winning Felt customer the choice of either a pair of her sterling silver “Pod” earrings or one of her sterling silver “Beaten” rings. Tell us what you like about Roseanne’s work, or how it inspires you, in the comments section below and you’ll be entered into the draw to win one of these beautiful prizes. The winner will be drawn on Friday 24 May. The draw is open to New Zealand residents only.
What beautiful work, Roseanne – tactile, organic and original. No wonder you get tears from your customers…
Wow, what beautiful jewellery. I love its organic quality and how it doesn’t look mass produced, but still looks perfectly formed. I think that the textures that you achieve with your silverwork are amazing!
Beautiful pieces. The combination of simplicity, detail and uniqness makes me want to touch them. I would love to own one of your little treasures.
What a fantastic way to find your craft and career!
Your pod jewellery is so unique and eye catching. The contrast between the textures on the pieces is really beautiful.
Roseanne your work has that je ne sais quoi appeal about it. Fab
Drool! Love the contrast between smooth and textured, light and dark. Love, love, love the earrings…like little mushrooms. Fab that you are sharing your talent with other to help them create beautiful things too.
Roseanne, your jewellery is just gorgeous!
I love the clean lines and the way that the designs just speak for themselves. I also imagine that most of these pieces would look great when dressed up or down – which (as the mum of a very busy 14-month-old) is a pretty important consideration!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspirations with us – these pieces have inspired me that I can have a little one and still wear something special for myself 🙂
Really eyecatching earrings that make an everyday outfit special and also compliment special occasion clothes too.
Knowing they have been locally made enhances their appeal, and they feel as good as they look.
The kind of earrings that would make me a happy girl (HINT TO MY HUSBAND!)
Awesome work. Love the beaten ring!
Love your work, obviously passionate about what you do and it shows. Beautiful jewellery!
The designs are simple yet make a statement without being too over the top. Gorgeous designs and well crafted, I would love to have some of your jewellery to call my own!
ahhhh gorgeous! I love how you use contrasts in your pieces – smooth with rough, dark with light. Congratulations on some lovely work.
I love your simple designs. They have an earthen yet sophisticated appeal. Beautiful work 🙂
Love your work, simple but so elegant (I am sure not simple to make)
I love the simplicity of your jewellery. Beautiful, simple, original. Perfect.
I think your earrings and other jewellery are absolutely stunning – a bit outside the box but still beautiful! 🙂
How lovely – I’ve just started to learn how to make jewellery using silver and this is a wonderful inspiration 🙂
I love the texture of the earrings and the use of silver.
So lovely to see a glipse of your creative world Roseanne. I too would be super keen to learn more about your classes so be sure to keep us posted!!! Your work is stunning.
Great to see a REAL manufacturing jeweller, there are so many people who play at it, and those of us that live it xx loved your write up, you sound lie you are on the same planet as me! all the best x
beautiful work, stunning …. also lovely to discover another creative person with the same name!
Lovely work, Roseanne is a true craftsperson. The pod earrings are my favourite.
Beautiful work! I love the different reflections from the “beaten” ring.
I’m excited that you’re teaching your craft to beginners 😀
What I was getting at Janne was the fact that many people are trying to pass off imported items as being ” Hand Crafted ” by them.
I would also like to pass comment on Ross Heywood’s patronising and derogatory comment above.
I have always appreciated that Felt is ‘inclusive’ rather than ‘exclusive’, a selling platform for many crafters and artisans working within their own particular skills, abilities and means.
Let’s keep it that way – there is room for al!
Lovely, lovely work, Roseanne. Thank you for sharing your story.
Your work is so lovely Roseanne. I really enjoyed reading your story and getting a peek into the training, design, and evident devotion behind each piece you make.
Roseanne made my engagement and wedding rings along with my husbands wedding ring while completing her aprenticeship 12 years ago. I still to this day love them as much as the day I received them. For my 40th birthday this year Roseanne replaced the dimond from my mothers engagement ring to mine as mine was not real, she then replaced my mums with a new dimond, this was so special to me as my mums engagement ring is 46 years old. This shows her passion and love for what she does, and means to people.
Wow.. love your work. Congratulations, you have mastered an amazing skill!
Don’t put it on your wish list. Just buy it.
Absolutely love your work Roseanne, thanks for the glimpse into your crafty world! I’ve had your Silver Pod Necklace on my wishlist/favourites since you listed it – I love the black oxidised look with silver – it is so gorgeous. Hearing that you have started to teach your craft excites me, I’ll keep an ear out for classes!
Gorgeous work, Roseanne! So simple and bold. I love the contours and indentations on the beaten rings especially – really classic pieces <3
Nice to see another jeweler on Felt actually making their own work from scratch.
It is time that people on felt who are actually making their own work
get some recognition with sales as apposed to all those selling hand over fist
imported junk metal trinkets and settings with a pretty picture glued under some
resin. Keep up the good work Roseanne.
Beautiful work, totally love & I hope you go further with your talented gift, will happily pass on your name to many friends, keep up the hard work making your beautiful jewellery