Creating Crystal Jewellery With Jessica From 'Roses & Whiskey'
Today we chat to Jessica from 'Roses & Whiskey' all about her stunning handmade crystal jewellery! Jessica is a self taught jeweller, where she learnt techniques through free online resources such as Kernowcraft's jewellery making tutorials and by watching YouTube videos. Jessica works full time on her designs from her home studio, focusing mainly on healing crystal jewellery. We hear all about how Jessica uses crystals in both her personal life and within her designs, as well as finding out more about her design processes along with top tips for fellow jewellers.
Hi Jess, tell us how you discovered jewellery making
It’s actually something I always imagined doing because of how much I love jewellery but never pursued anything. I was regularly carrying healing crystals around with me and wanted to find a way to wear them instead of carrying them. I bought some wire to wrap around some crystals and it went from there.
Full time or part time?
I am essentially full time but I still work one day a week from a small new age shop. This shop was where I first purchased my crystals to start making jewellery with so it feels like a lovely karmic circle to be working there now too. They sell handmade jewellery too so I feel like it constantly keeps my jewellery brain going.
"I decorate my home and work station areas in high vibrating crystals. Anything to keep the energy around me clear and relaxed..."
Where did your interest in crystals come from and how do you use them in everyday life?
My own personal battle with anxiety actually. Something I’ve suffered with as a child and as an adult I really wanted to find a way to help self soothe those anxious tendencies. I can’t remember exactly how but I think I started reading about them and their powerful healing properties and the love affair went from there. I had them in my pockets, down my bra and in my bag. They were everywhere. Now I’ve learnt so much more about them I realise I don’t need to wear every crystal that fits my need. I trust my intuition and every morning I pick my crystal for the day that’s going to help me get through it. I have made pendants out of most of my crystals so will typically wear it but for the ones I don’t, it gets popped into my bra or pocket – somewhere I can easily grab it throughout the day and hold it when the anxiety is coming. I also decorate my home and work station areas in high vibrating crystals. Anything to keep the energy around me clear and relaxed.
What is your favourite design?
It’s such a simple design out of all the pieces I make but I think the raw cut crystal rings I make are my favourite. I think because when I started making jewellery – this was my dream piece to make.
I wanted a ring that would hug a vibrant raw piece of mother nature with thick chunky silver claws. I had seen delicate claws on a lot of natural stone pieces but I wanted it to be heavy and strong. It’s by far the hardest thing I’ve learnt to make and only after 18 months of making them continuously did I become super confident with the design.
Describe your jewellery in 3 words!
Raw, colourful and healing.
"Crystals are natural. Every single piece is a different shape, a different tone of colour and has a different meaning. No two pieces I make are ever the same..."
Show us your workspace! How do you make it your own?
I know to some people my workspace may seem very busy but for me, it is my corner of heaven. My mind is stimulated by colour, vibrancy and things that make me feel happy and like me. I have an ethereal soul so a lot of crystals and quotes in that area.
Frida Kahlo is a huge inspiration to me so I have a lot of her images about and nature. Plants are brilliant for mental health so I have them all around me. Every morning I do a desk cleanse with some Palo Santo and I always burn some essential oils to keep my area really zen.
What's one thing you wished you knew before starting a jewellery business?
How much of my personal time I would give up to have my own business. It wasn’t in the plans – I only started making jewellery as a personal hobby – so it was a shock to the system at first but as time went on I’ve learnt to manage my time better now so I don’t feel I’m working 24/7.
What's your favourite thing about using crystals in your designs?
That crystals are natural. Every single piece is a different shape, a different tone of colour and has a different meaning. No two pieces I make are ever the same, not to mention these stones have helped so many people, in the same ways they have helped me.
"I Googled how to make what I thought were the most basic things and went from there..."
Read Our Jewellery Making Business Tips
In this section of our jewellery making blog, we will guide you through the ins and outs of marketing and selling your own handmade jewellery.
We share everything you need to know about the business of jewellery making to make sure you feel confident about getting started.
Whether you want to learn more about branding, top marketing tips to get your jewellery out there or how to up your photography game - you'll find advice and guidance to help you.
Want to hear from jewellers? We're thrilled to have so many jewellers choose us for their jewellery making supplies - read our 'Meet The Jeweller' interviews with customers who are running successful handmade businesses, sharing their stories and top tips for success.
Rough or polished stones?
Always rough stones for me.
What are your goals for the year?
My goal for this year is to learn lost wax casting. With the current climate, it will be another self-teaching process. I also want to release a lot more one-off limited pieces.
How do you come up with new product ideas?
Honestly – on the go, very very late at night. I get imagery stuck in my head, and then I somehow want to make a ring that matches that imagery. I keep thinking about it until usually one night when I'm making an order I get a light bulb moment to try something. When I made my Helios ring, I couldn’t get the image of the sacred heart out of my head. I had the black onyx hearts for months before I suddenly came up with that idea.
What resources did you use to learn jewellery making?
Kernowcraft’s tutorials and YouTube. I Googled how to make what I thought were the most basic things and went from there. I originally signed up for a small evening course to learn to silversmith, but after 3 weeks our teacher stopped coming and I had learnt basically nothing so really did have to start from scratch on my own. The internet is incredible and your blog really helped me learn new techniques with confidence.
"Go slow!!!! This is the biggest piece of advice I can give. Don’t rush the setting of it, even if it takes an hour, take your time..."
Crystals are tricky to set! What top tips would you give to someone wanting to give it a go?
Don’t be scared, they’re tougher than they look. Make sure you pick a nice strong piece if it is a natural crystal you’re using. Go slow!!!! This is the biggest piece of advice I can give. Don’t rush the setting of it, even if it takes an hour, take your time.
What are your top 3 Kernowcraft products?
Gemstones & Crystals
Your whole stone/crystal range. Absolutely stunning quality pieces in both your raw crystals and polished/faceted stones.
Settings & Mounts
These are fantastic for when you don’t have the physical time to make them from scratch yourself. They’re also brilliant for beginners to use.
Chains
Such beautiful quality and a huge amount of choice. Finishes off any handmade pendant perfectly.
Also in this section:
- Chatting To Truro College Exhibition Winner, Caitlin Haughton
- Mixed metals, textures and being inspired by outdoors with Lucy Spink Jewellery
- Magical Metal Clay, Love of Nature and Gems With Beaded Magpie
- Talking Wax Carving, Texturing & Otherwordly Jewellery With Zoë From Brother Banquo And Queen
- Talking Gold And Sand Casting With Billie Ellen Designs
- Meet The Jeweller: Talking Opal Obsession with Jenny from Sea Surf Rocks
- Chatting To Truro College Exhibition Silversmith Winner, Olivia English
- Day In The Life Of Cornish Eco Jeweller Sarah Drew Jewellery
- Wax Carving, Metal Clay & Coastal Designs With Rockpool Jewellery
- Colourful Jewels, Cornish Inspiration & Ring Love With Marsha Drew
- Chatting Unique Nature Inspired Designs & Intricate Sawing With HISO
- Anxiety Jewellery & Favourite Gems With Rozen Jewellery
- Day In The Life Of A Jeweller With Gretel's Metals
- Sea Glass, Healing Gemstones & Cornish Coastal Inspiration With Ula Jewellery
- ‘A Heart of Gold’ Jewellery Collaboration, Raising Awareness of Heart Disease in Women
- Stone Setting, Diamonds & Jewellery Design With Goldsmith Sonia Cheadle
- Magical Metal Clay, Nature & Gems With Susan Studd
- Chatting To Truro College Exhibition Silversmith Winner, Esther Moore
- Handmade Jewellery Inspired By Japanese Heritage & Philosophy With Kumiko
- Creating Unique Jewellery Collections With Gem Lark Jewellery
- Crystal Jewellery With Jessica From 'Roses & Whiskey'
- Statement Crystal Jewellery With FIRENZA
- Electroplating & Crystals With Studio Roan
- Chatting Beading & Wirework With Author & Tutor Sara Withers
- A Day In The Life With Soul Purpose Jewellery
- Meet Jeweller, Tutor & Author Anastasia Young
- A Day In The Life Of A Jeweller With Basia From Stardust Mine Jewellery
- Meet The Jeweller, Author & Tutor Jinks McGrath
- Meet The Maker Transforming Coins & Scrap Metal Into Fun Characters
- Behind the Scenes At The Jewellers Retreat - An Interview With Jessica Rose
- Combining Skills Of Illustration & Metalsmithing With The Sylvan Smith
- Magical & Whimsical Jewellery With Manom Jewellery
- How To Work With Gemstones As A Jeweller With Gemmologist Sally Spencer
- Sea Glass, Personalisation & Christian Jewellery With Jordan Lily
- Chatting Beads, Etsy & Social Media With Emma From Evren Blue
- Garden Studio Tour, Jewellery Making & Packaging With Little Black Cat Jewellery
- Jewellery Inspired By Cornwall, Magic & Myth With Gemheaven Jewellery
- Sand Casting Silver Cockle Shells & Nature Inspired Jewellery With Anna Davenport
- Day In The Life Of Running A Sea Glass Jewellery Business With Created By Niki
- Leo + Elk On Running A Family Business During A Pandemic
- A Day In The Life Of A Jeweller: Finding Normality Again With Kim Thomson
- Gemstone, Body Positivity & Black Lives Matter Designs With 'Jewellery By Eilatan'
- Meet The 'All That Glitters' Contestants Of Series 1
- Briolette Jewellery, Etsy & Learning With Ocean & Earth Jewellery
- What's Inside A Travelling Jeweller's Briefcase?
- Combining Sea Glass & Diamonds With Glasswing Jewellery
- Bohemian Luxe Handmade Jewellery With 'Feathers And Wings'
- Diamonds & Granulation With Milly Maunder
- Then & Now, Jewellery Through The Ages With Sam Stirrat
- Contemporary Engagement Rings With William White
- Designing An Engagement Ring With Guest Writer Sea Surf Rocks
- Meet The Jeweller & Author Of 'Soldering For Jewellers' Rebecca Skeels
- Jewellery Making Notebook Tour With Jasmine Butler
- Running A Handmade Jewellery Business During A Pandemic With 'Louy Magroos'
- Home Jewellery Studio Tour & Top Tips With Jodie Fern
- Let's Talk Business With Jeweller & Tutor, Karen Young
- Nature & Mental Health Jewellery With Lost Kove
- Meet The Jeweller Behind Hazey Designs
- Jewellery Making Storage Tour With Scruffy Dog Silver
- Meet The Beader Behind Dainty Rocks
- Jewellery Workshop Tour With Little Silver Star
- Mindful Gemstone Jewellery With The Sea Tree Company
- Let's Talk Sea Glass Jewellery With Sadie Jewellery
- Chatting Beads & Growing A Jewellery Business With Liz Lloyd
- Beading With Carolyn Anne Jewellery
- Jewellers Of Colour: Connecting BAME Jewellers In The Jewellery Industry
- Meet The Self-Taught Jeweller Behind Corzana
- Meet The Jeweller Behind The Messy Creative
- Handmade Button Jewellery With Crafty Little Koala
- Beautiful Gemstones For Beautiful Skin With Inlight Beauty
- Meet The Boho Jeweller Behind Moonsalt Jewellery
- Etsy Success & Personalisation With Little Homebird Jewellery
- How Jewellery Making Has Helped My Chronic Illness & Mental Health
- Jewellery Making With Nature's Treasures
- Meet Illustrator & Polymer Clay Jeweller, Nyassa Hinde
- Jewellery Trade Secrets With Metalsmith Society
- Sea Glass Jewellery & Launching A Business With Love Kernow
- Meet The Jeweller Behind London Jewellery School & Jewellers Academy
- Meet Stephen Goldsmith, Author Of Polishing & Finishing For Jewellers
- Resin, Flower & Gemstone Jewellery With Ellanor Aquitaine
- Meet The Jeweller Behind Trinkets By Moonlight
- Meet The Self-Taught Jeweller Behind Olivia Street Silver
- Personalised Handmade Jewellery With Ruby & Wonder
- Meet The Cosmic Jeweller, Vikki Hall
- Meet The Eco-Friendly Jeweller, Jemima Hurlock
- Meet The Cornish Jeweller, Thomas Matthews
- Beachcombing & Jewellery Making With Cornish Agates
- Festival & Boho Jewellery With Tegen
- Mokume Gane & Vessel Pendants With Nicola Bottono
- Meet The Jeweller Behind View Of The Sea
- Artists Residency With Jeweller, Jonathan Videgrain
- Meet The Jeweller & Gemstone Addict Behind Made By Oonagh
- Pre-Loved, Vintage Jewellery With Ella Masters
- Baker's Dozen Exhibition With Sarah Shelton-Palmer
- Meet The Jeweller, Tansy Wilson
- Celestial, Boho & Witchy Jewellery With Amber Wheatley Designs
- Let's Talk Metal Clay With Lisa Cain
- Meet The Jeweller Behind When Caitie Met Soda
- Make It Challenge: Recycling The Same Piece Of Silver For 100 Days
- Bespoke Engagement Rings With Blackacre
- Meet The Jeweller Behind Claire Howard Jewellery
- Meet The Jeweller Behind Award Winner Andrew Berry
- Meet The Nature Inspired Jeweller Behind Lima-Lima
- Creating An Opal Ring & Pendant With Little Joy Jewellery
- Jewellery Inspired By Your Home With Claire Halligan
- Award Winner Monique On Techniques & Cornish Inspiration
- Meet The Jeweller Jonathan Videgrain
- Meet The Jeweller Louella Jewellery
- Meet The Jeweller Behind Bijoux De Chagall
- Alternative Wedding Jewellery With Bloody Mary Metal
- Jeweller Chloe Michell Talks Working With Metal Clay, Tools and Inspiration
- Setting Up Your Work Bench With Jeweller Victoria Walker
- An Interview With NAJ Shortlisted Designer of the Year Sheila Kerr