Artisan jeweller Laura Vernon juggles workshop life and motherhood

Today we’re talking to Laura Vernon from Louy Magroos, who makes handcrafted jewellery inspired by 1920s Art Deco designs.

Working from a spare bedroom of her home, she juggles full-time jewellery making with the needs of being a mom to her young daughter (and dog!).

Check out the full interview below, and be sure to check out her website (www.louymagroos.com) and Etsy store (LouyMagroos) to learn more about her work. You can also follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

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What do you make? What do you consider your best or favorite work?

I make modern classic jewellery with a nod to Art Deco period. I use clean, bold geometric lines to form the basis of timeless, easy-to-wear jewellery that I hope becomes a firm favourite.

I also enjoy thoughtfully personalising jewellery to mark special milestones in people’s lives, whether that be weddings, births, or “thinking of you” gifts.

Tell us about your workshop

My workshop is set up in a spare bedroom in our house. It’s the size of a small double bedroom and I can just about fit all of my tools in it (at a squeeze, with very little room left for me and my dog Bruce to move around!).

We moved into our house 4 years ago and although the whole house needed renovating this was the room we started on.

It is perfectly set up for me. I have a small desk where I do my admin work, as well as packing and wrapping orders. I have a work bench that I made with my dad about 10 years ago that is designed just for me and is pretty much bomb proof.

Then I have a short run of kitchen counter where I have a number of other tools I use when I’m making jewellery.

How long have you been doing your craft? Who taught you or where did you learn?

I trained to become a silversmith at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, graduating in 2008 (I just realised that means I’ve been learning for 15 years now) and have been making jewellery ever since.

Initially I did this alongside a part-time job, but I slowly managed to build my business up and went full time jewellery making around 2011.

I have done a number of courses since university but mostly I find out how to do things through trial and error, and with the help of a great network of other fantastic jewellery makers that I keep in touch with regularly.

Any advice for beginners to your craft?

Play!

Honestly the best way to learn is to give it a go. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or fail, it’s the best way to learn. Just try again!

If you can find a good local class then wonderful, but don’t worry too much about making something perfect on that course — learn the process, soak up all the knowledge you can, and then when you practice you can let your creativity run wild.

I find when I put too much pressure on myself to get it right the first time I often don’t push my creativity far enough.

And if you want to get into jewellery, get ready to spend all your money on shiny pretty things that you aren’t quite sure that you are going to use — and don’t get me started on all the tools you will lust after!

What inspires you?

My work is heavily influenced by Art Deco and geometric shapes, but nothing inspires me more than getting outside in nature.

If I am stuck or need to get out of my busy mind then a walk with my dog Bruce is sure to help.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I now run the business alongside being a mum to my little girl. It is not always easy to juggle workshop life and motherhood, but there is nothing better than showing her something I have made and her telling me it is pretty.

She is desperate to be allowed to play with the big tools in my workshop and I hope to teach her jewellery and silversmithing as she grows.

Having my workshop at home gives me the ability to be around much more and juggle both parts of my life much easier, although making jewellery while a baby naps in the next room isn’t as easy as I first thought.

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Check out Laura’s website (www.louymagroos.com), Etsy store (LouyMagroos), or Notonthehighstreet page to learn more about her work. You can also follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.