CLOUDS, rainbows, ribbons, grass, even a horse’s tail have proven to be creative inspiration for Highlands jeweller Vicki Ioannou.
The end result is an impressive and varied selection of one-off jewellery pieces that have attracted the interest of people both in Australia and overseas.
Ms Ioannou of Vix Jewellery has been looking outside the square for her unique, handcrafted, custom-made jewellery for the past eight years.
She said she had been artistic since childhood, but had pushed her creativity to one side while working in the corporate world for several years in Sydney.
“I decided I wanted to break out of my corporate life and looked to a career that was totally different - something that enabled me to creatively express myself.”
It was a decision that led her to learn more about jewellery making, a skill that soon developed into a new career opportunity.
Ms Ioannou said she realised she had ignored her creative streak for many years.
“But eventually it comes back and takes over,” she said.
“It can be a very messy job, but I love what I do.
“I love the creative process, I love the end result and I love the appreciation I receive from people who know they have a genuine original.”
Ms Ioannou said she relished the opportunity to make pieces for people that were unique and had their own personality.
This has included specially designed wedding, engagement and eternity rings for people looking for something different and totally original.
Her aim is to create jewellery that stands out in the crowd.
“I make every item from scratch and each piece has its own inspiration - there are no moulds used for mass production,” she said.
“I’m happy to incorporate the concepts of a client with my own ideas to create something special, but I also love to draw on my own visions.
“My inspirations generally come from nature, animals and indigenous Australia and while the pieces are usually made from gold or silver I often incorporate a variety of other materials such as polished stones, coral, pearls and organics such as old ivory.
“I also make some unvarnished copper jewellery pieces for a niche market.”
Ms Ioannou said that while she specialised in more delicate jewellery she was known to make chunkier pieces.
“I especially like making rings, because they are small, but easily noticeable and you can be really creative with them,” she said.
“There is an opportunity to make something amazing in a very small package and people looking for a new piece of jewellery often tend to look for a ring.
“I also like making neck rings, but these are something that need to be designed personally to suit the shape of each individual’s neck.
“One of my favourite pieces of jewellery is a neck ring I made for myself that was inspired by ribbon.”
Ms Ioannou said the greatest reward for her work was the appreciation she received from people when she made a jewellery piece specifically for them such as a wedding ring.
“I’m offering personal service all the way and people value that and the uniqueness of their jewellery,” she said.
Ms Ioannou originally sold much of her jewellery through markets in North Sydney, but her growing collection of original pieces are now showcased at The Milk Factory, Bowral, and Berrima Galleries.
Details about her creations are also available on the website www.vixjewellery.com.
Email a friend