For our latest Swanky Seller Spotlight we find out more about jewellery designer and creator Rios Rocks.
SM: How did you start your business and what led you to this career path?
RR: I have always ‘crafted’ in some way. In my younger, poorer days, making all my clothes was the only way to have a trendy wardrobe. Over the years I have done upholstery, dried flowers, soft furnishings, crochet and a lot of other things as a one off as needs dictated. A couple of years ago I was looking for a piece of jewellery to finish off an evening dress and I couldn’t find anything I either liked or could afford. Browsing through the extensive range of craft magazines as you do, I saw on a front cover a necklace, that with a bit of tweeking I really liked. As the make of the month I thought , “ I could do that” so I did. I have always loved jewellery of any sort but never considered making it before, and after a few false starts I had my Sterling Silver Chainmaille, Swarovski Crystal and Jet necklace, I still have it, the seed was sewn.
SM: Who and/or what inspires your designs?
RR: A lot of the time, the stone or bead. I work mainly in Sterling Silver, Artisan Lampwork, Semi-precious stones and Pearls. I love Rob Johnsons Lampwork, it’s not ‘girly’ but there are feminine aspects to much of it. He uses a lot of silver in his beads, they are organic and strong, inspired by nature which fits in with my love of Mother Natures bounty of Semi-precious stones too.
Sometimes it’s a shape, a line, a colour mix, even a mood or feeling. The sun is shining brightly so you feel you want to make bright, happy summery pieces. A day at the beach might inspire something in blue and white. A good party, well depends on the party !!!
SM: How do you go about coming up with new designs?
RR: Often I sketch. I always have a note book in my bag. As a full time furniture and product designer it’s a natural medium for me. From original concept to finished article can be a dozen ideas or just the one. The Lampwork Focal I have used in my Ice Flow Necklace, I had for ages. I adore it and I wanted to do it justice. It took lots of scribbles and even some changes during the making and I love the finished item. The catalyst for me was the acquisition of some colbalt Sea Glass beads, again from Rob, and the design was complete.
SM: Describe your working environment, what surrounds you, how do you work?
RR: I work in our smallest bedroom. Fortunately the components are small, I just have a lot of them. I am reasonably organised and tidy, and they are stored and catalogued in a series of bead storage boxes with the semi-precious stones and Pearls in stacks of A4 paper trays on a shelf above my bench. I acquired a case that looks as if it was a sample case for a salesman and was full of plastic tubes with click on caps and most of my findings are stored in there.
I have music, various, depending on my mood, and scented Soya Candles from David at the Candle Cavern. Lovely eco candles of cinnamon and orange, not overpowering but giving a delicate aroma. Beautiful smells are important to me, I wear perfume every single day. If on the odd occasion I am in a rush and forget the automatic sprtiz I have to seek out a Boots and get a free sample to tide me over!
The most important thing is my magnifying lamp unfortunately, the eyes are not what they used to be. I like to check every wire wrap for neat ends to make sure they are finished perfectly so they won’t scratch the wearer.
SM: What would be your perfect home? Where would it be and what would you put in it?
Assuming money and practicalities no problem, it would be a custom Huf Haus, one of those magnificent timber framed and glass constructions from Germany. It would have to have an enclosed courtyard at it centre, the house wrapping around it so all the rooms open onto it. It would be an upside down house with the main living and master rooms on the first floor with balconies all around. The house would be set overlooking the sea and surrounded by woodland. Far enough from neighbours to be totally private, but not isolated.
The interior would be contemporary but not minimalist. Comfort is paramount, timber floors, stone worktops in the kitchen, marble in the bathrooms offset by large soft seating and big double sided open fires between living areas. Curtains would not be necessary as all the glass would be one-way, you see out, others don’t see in, so fabrics would be for the look and feel rather than as a practical application. I would incorporate every possible energy saving device and eco friendly process to run the home.
There would have to be spaces for Art, bronze sculptures, paintings, classic furniture pieces and the lighting to be a combination of atmospheric and practical. Access to music everywhere. It goes without saying I would have a totally customised workshop.
SM: What is your favourite product from your collection?
RR: At the moment it would have to be the Northern Lights Necklace. I would love to have one for myself but as I don’t repeat a design I will have to make it in different stones. I would hate for my clients to meet someone else with exactly the same necklace on, so I won’t even make a duplicate for me.
SM: Putting you on the spot, what is your favourite Swanky Maison product, other than from your collection and why?
RR: The Tangled Contour Vase set by Timea Sido. I loved this from the moment I saw it. Great combination of beauty and practicality. You don’t have to use them as a vase they can just be ornamental.
SM: Finally, what do you have in store for us in the future, are you working on any new designs/products our readers might be interested in?
RR: I want to learn to silversmith. With a book of designs I can’t make at the at the moment, I set myself up with a bench and all the basic kit, but I haven’t got the time to teach myself. I have decided I will take one of Flux and Flames excellent short courses as soon as I can afford the time and money, just to get the basics. As a designer I am very visual and just need someone to show me a process in a practical way for me to then do it, and I’m up and running.
I also want to use far more of the beautiful Sea Glass beads also made by Rob Johnson. They look so plain by comparison to all his other work but when you get close to them you see the detail, the bubbles and natural inclusions. I love the romance of sea glass, imagining where it came from, how it got to the sea to be tumbled and churned with the stones and sand to be etched and smoothes and thrown up again on a beach, maybe a world away from its origins, to be found by someone and made once again into a thing of beauty. Recycling at its very best.
For more fabulous designs view our full collection of unique handmade jewellery.