‘Tis the season where everything sparkles! Check out these local creators of lovely jewellery and funky accessories:
Ratbag Jewellery (formerly Silver and Cold)
Kachiri is the founder and one-woman operation, based on the Gold Coast, a self-taught jeweller who makes every single piece by hand, from scratch, in her home studio from recycled sterling silver and solid gold. There is a ‘ready to ship’ section on her website if you’re looking to find a gift on a tight timeframe, and she also offers jewellery certificates. I have quite a collection of Ratbag / Silver and Cold jewllery and I love them – they are high quality and have held up beautifully for years (with many more to come!)
Artists/animators Emma and Tom run Fox and Cactus out of their home and exclusively design all the products. Their earrings and charms are fab, but they also have a HUGE range of washi tapes, stickers, notepads, and other stationery items. A lot of Fox and Cactus work is inspired by pop culture and there are themed collections throughout the year.
A small team create wire and enamel jewelry and wire wall hangings. All pieces are handcrafted in a studio in the Noosa Hinterland and the copper is cut by hand, so every piece is different.
Shannan is the designer and creator behind Birdee and Star, and her designs are bold and fun. I also like that she has a focus on sustainability, using eco-resin when she can and packaging in recycled and eco-friendly materials.
Kate and Lee-Anne make Elka Pretties, and their Christmas collection of acrylic earrings is bright and delightful! All of the elements of their pretties are also sourced in Australia, from hypoallergenic earring posts to the laser cutting of their designs.
A silversmith, fossicker and lapidary artist creating artisanal sterling silver jewellery in Coorparoo. Check out Hannah’s Instagram to see her work, and you can find her at many markets around Brisbane.
129 La Trobe Tce, Paddington
Bursting with an eclectic range of jewellery, accessories, and homewares, Thousand Island Dressing is a great go-to gift spot. Their flagship store in Paddington feels part store, part art gallery – a great place to wander and to find something unique for a loved one (or yourself. Or both!). You can also shop online via the website.
A boutique brand created by Clare Spelta – starting in 2015 painting portraits and selling nursery art prints, Bon Maxie is now known for earring holders and accessory storage, cross-body bags, and mini wallets to keep your life a bit more organised. Bon Maxie products are designed in Australia but some elements are manufactured overseas – more info on their FAQ page.
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