I walked out of my corporate world 7 years ago. It was time to do something that made me happy again. I’ve always loved being creative. Making and doing from a very young age. I studied Art and Design throughout School and College, then ceramics and Glassware for my Degree at De Montfort University. And there it stopped. I needed to earn money and so then spent the next 15 years mostly doing something I disliked. I walked out, then spent 18 months travelling the world. I started to feel like me again. Inspired by everything around me. The long bus journeys gave me time to think, plan and get used to having no money.
I returned buzzing, eager to get my new life underway. Initially, I moved to Bristol, I loved the creative buzz. I studied jewellery at Bristol School of Art. Then I moved to Uppingham to run a small contemporary jewellery gallery. This gave me a huge insight into running my own business and time to practice my jewellery making skills. 3 years ago, I moved to Northamptonshire where I met my future husband to be at the age of 37. Straight away, I invested every penny I had and more into opening my own contemporary jewellery gallery. BOO gallery. www.boo.uk.com. I’m in an old calving shed, which is tiny but full of charm and character set in the most breathtaking grounds of Castle Ashby. It is here that I stock my work and work with approximately 40 different talented makers from the UK and beyond.
Within the shop, I have my workbench where you can find me making throughout the day. In June 2015, I celebrate 3 years of trading. It has been the busiest 3 years of my life. I’ve struggled, I’ve learnt, I’ve cried, I’ve been penniless, I’ve worked damn hard…and I’ve had a baby. It has probably been the most productive and enjoyable years yet!
It is here that our NEW range, Guess How Much I Love You jewellery was also born. Internationally known bronze sculptor David Meredith and I have been great friends since school days. We both share a passion for wildlife and hares, so I suggested a collaboration.
We started on the hare range towards the end of 2014. We immediately had great response and it was proving popular. A few of our customers recited the Internationally known phrases…Guess How Much I Love You, and I Love You to the Moon and back, as it reminded them of the well loved Book, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jarem.
This gave me a thought… I contacted Walker books in America. Within a matter of weeks, David and I went to a meeting at Walker books in London where the book is published and left with a huge smile on our faces as we went off to celebrate with champagne. We are now the official License holders to produce Guess How Much I love You jewellery. So excited. The Guess How Much I Love You story is about father and son hares expressing their love for each other.
It’s a beautiful story and a huge success around the world selling over 28 million copies and written in 53 languages. This year will be the 20th Anniversary. There is a huge campaign underway to build the brand and the link with measuring and expressing Love. Our range is target market is adults buying for adults, children buying for adults and adults buying for children to grow with. Every piece is handcrafted and beautifully presented in a Guess How Much I Love You embossed box. It comes with a certificate of authenticity and a note from us, the makers. Our pieces are solid sterling silver or gold vermeil. Prices range from £90 – £240. Popular pieces are the necklace (£80) and the newly launched charm bracelet (£90) which you can add to over the years and personalise by using your own gold.
My favourite piece is the quirky moon gazing ring. People always comment when I’m wearing it. It’s the first of many ring designs to follow, including an engraved wedding ring. We are about to unveil our christening piece, which is the famous pose of the big nutbrown hare and little nutbrown hare gazing up to the moon. There will be a charm available too, which will be a limited edition. Our range is currently available at BOO gallery, online www.boo.uk.com and www.guesshowmuchiloveyoujewellery.com and several galleries in the UK and overseas.
We are excited to see how the range of jewellery grows over the next 12 months. If you are interested to see it or hear more about the extensive marketing plans for the brand then please contact myself Louise on 01604 696547 or, email me on sales @guesshowmuchiloveyoujewellery.com
