Devon Today Page 68-69 22/05/2008

Fashion

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After leaving New Zealand to start a new life with her English husband in Devon, Ruth Smallwood uncovered a gem of a business idea, writes Louise Thomas

T

he vast, open landscape of New Zealand might seem a world away from the built-up streets where 33-year-old Ruth Smallwood now finds herself. But for New Zealander Ruth, this inner-city maze has literally been paved with gold, silver and every other precious metal you can think of. Ruth has turned little more than an over-sized cupboard in Plymouth into her own hand-crafted jewellery-making workshop, the Little Reds Jewellery Bench. In just four months, Little Reds — a nickname given to auburn-haired Ruth and her twin sister as children — has been commissioned to produce exquisite, bespoke jewellery for every special occasion, and Ruth’s collections are being sold by stores across Devon. “I wanted to set up my own business so that I could get my creative designs going,” Ruth said. “I have always had the backing of another jeweller so it was quite a big step for me confidence-wise to know that I was capable of doing it on my own.” Ruth makes each piece of jewellery by hand using precious metals and gemstones, and unless she is asked to produce identical items for bridesmaids, for example, no two commissioned pieces are the same. “People come to you because they know they are going to get something different,” she said. Ruth qualified in manufacturing jewellery in 1997 after a four-year apprenticeship in New Zealand. A year later, she left to backpack around Britain, where she worked for the prestigious Hamilton & Inches of Edinburgh, commissioning and repairing jewellery. After two years she joined a flotilla sailing company in Greece and met Craig, an Englishman working as an engineer and skipper. In 2006 they married in New Zealand and moved to the UK, where they’ve set up home in a converted barn in the South Hams. Ruth said: “We were both raised on farms

and are very much sea people as well so this area has so much to offer. I had never been to Plymouth before.” But with Craig finding a job with Wessex Yachts and Ruth realising the potential to set up her own business, it seemed like the perfect area. “Having the countryside and sea around us is a major thing for us and Plymouth seems such an up-and-coming place,” Ruth said. With the help of Craig and his family, it took Ruth just a week to set up her jewellery-making and repairs workshop in Coxside. It has taken more time to raise the profile of her work, but slowly her name is being recognised. Ruth said: “My friends joke that I’m the ‘stealth jeweller’; they say ‘there’s the jeweller but don’t tell anybody’. I do have a problem with pushing myself.” Ruth works with her customers on a one-to-one basis to design their perfect pieces of jewellery. She then puts the designs on paper before creating each piece by hand. “The metal becomes harder as you work it and it gets a lot stronger,” Ruth said. “Each metal has quite a different way that you work with it.” A basic piece of jewellery can take Ruth under an hour to make, with more elaborate designs taking up to five days. She makes rings, bangles, pendants and tiaras, and has a men’s range, with prices from around £40 up to tens of thousands, depending on the gemstones used. She also repairs and restores jewellery. “I like to be creative and am passionate about how jewellery is made,” she said. As well as her commissioned pieces, Ruth has a range of jewellery at Jewellery By Design in Tiverton. Her work is also being taken by Brownston Gallery in Modbury and a couple of shops in the South Hams. Ruth said: “I’d like to be known for good-quality work, both in manufacturing and my repairs.” Details: www.littleredsjewellerybench.com.

S T O R E

and girls from birth to 10 years.

Jellycats ! 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday

Uttam Kids !

Tel: 01837 53800 Email: [email protected]

Cecilie Westh !

19 Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1AN

Buy Online Now:

Phister & Philina !

www.rantandragekids.com

Lizzie Shirt !

13, Bridge House, Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon Tel: 01837 659300

29, Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon Tel: 01837 659005

opening hours Mon-Sat 9.30-5.00 or by appointment

‘I like to be creative and am passionate about how jewellery is made,’ says Ruth Smallwood

LEAF STREET 53 MAGDALEN ROAD EXETER

01392 253307 www.leafstreet.co.uk

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68 devontoday June 2008

Hi Girls!! Thinking of buying a new outfit be it casual or dressy? Feeling lost about which direction to follow? Well come off the High Street and into Okehampton where you will find ANGEL in two stores with over twenty labels and friendly knowledgeable staff to help you find that something different. New or Present Customers we look forward to welcoming you Amanda & Angela

Courtenay Street Newton Abbot 01626 333444 www.austins-uk.com