A little glimpse of my day at the new studio

The spring and summer has been very exciting time for me as I moved to a new studio in the vibrant and lively Cork city's MacCurtain street. Just by opening my window (and I now have plenty of those!) I can hear the city buzzing and murmuring (what a lovely word!!) below.
​The happy feeling of going to work every morning as I'm walking right thru the city center and absorbing the morning sun and the smell of freshly baked bread from the English Market is such a perfect energy boost first thing in the morning!
Once I arrive after climbing up to the top floor I'm already without even putting down my work bag checking my numerous studio plants and making sure they are all as happy as I am.

Yes, I had to mention the plants. There are gazillions of them! They really do increase your productivity, creativity and best of all purify the air around you. Oh and they look absolutely beautiful too! 

 
​I then go around, after finally putting down my bag, switching on lights which I hardly need as the space is so bright with natural light pouring in thru the windows. The beauty of being on the top floor is that there are windows facing both north and south so I get to enjoy endless flood of light and gorgeous views of the city and the rolling hills beyond (and spying the people in the offices cross the street..)

I might not have anybody calling in first thing in the morning but I make sure all my display light are on as seeing all my jewellery shining under the warm glowy lights just make me smile. If any of you have ever crawled on the floor and put your head under a Christmas tree you know what I'm talking about... I get to feel that every day! 

I'll then have my first of many cups of coffee. I believe coffee making is one of those things that you have to take very seriously so I take my time letting the roughly ground coffee brew while switching on equipment and checking my torch and tidying my bench. I was 11 years old when I started to drink coffee so I would like to think I've had plenty of time to perfect the making of it. They say that Italians are the coffee experts not knowing that us Finns actually drink more of it than any other nation in the world! Needless to say I'm always eager to offer a cup of coffee to my visitors. For the tea drinkers out there I do make a nice cup of Barry's tea too as it's definitely something that I've learned to love in the past 16 years here in Ireland.  ​

​It's then time to move on to the bench and the waving of hammers, files, pliers and spraying of gold dust can start. This is the fun part of having a plain piece of precious metal and manipulating and seeing it being turned into a beautiful new design. The very best part of it all is when a customer is collecting their new piece of jewellery. The anticipation and excitement of both of us is in a funny way daunting but such a joyful and lovely experience.

I've heard beautiful stories from my customers about how this very piece of jewellery is so special and sentimental for them. Just to mention a few I've had children's names being engraved inside rings, lockets with personal messages, ring designs reminding the couple of how they met, a late father's wedding ring turned into a pendant for a grieving daughter and creating a film strip patterned wedding band for a very talented filmmaker who's incredible work brought tears to my very own eyes.
I've shared tears and laughter with the people who have visited me in my old place and I'm so looking forward to meeting with new customers and to hear their stories and of course catching up with the old ones in my new den. 

I'm busy planning an official opening later on once you have hopefully all had a little summer break to recharge the batteries. In the meantime don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to visit my little urban jungle studio to talk jewellery or just to say hi!
Watch this space for the opening event date, you don't want to miss a chance to celebrate over a glass of bubbly and catching up with the other jewellery enthusiasts. I will also have some new pieces of jewellery to show and extra special offers on the day. I might even put together a few goody bags for the first quests! 
Don't forget to sign up for our mailing list (below) for your very own invitation.

Love,
​Hanna