A gem of an idea
P.E.I. jewelry maker turns what was a meditation practice into a business at the urging of her sister
When Janey Gough first began making jewelry, it was intended as a meditative practice. She had just moved home to P.E.I. after becoming sick while living abroad and was looking for something calming. Aromatherapy really helped her to relax during this time, and so Gough became very interested in using lava rock, which is porous and can be infused with essential oils.
From there Gough branched out into adding gemstones which are associated with different healing properties.
Then her creations started receiving interest when she began gifting and later selling to family and friends.
“Once my sister took stock of my ever-growing pile of rocks, she strongarmed me into my first market, and Hidden Gems has only grown from there,” said Gough.
So, rather than falling into a creative makery business, Gough said it’s more accurate to say her sister pushed her into.
The results have been worth it. Created in her home in Montrose, western P.E.I., Gough now operates her business, Hidden Gems, from Charlottetown. For over a year, she has focused on creating jewelry using lava rock and semi-precious gemstones, more commonly referred to as crystals. With them, she creates bracelets, anklets, and more recently earrings and necklaces.
NOT A STRETCH
Putting together a creative business like this was not a far stretch for Gough.
“I am lucky to say that my family is quite creative, and my artistic side was supported from a young age.”
Gough began with pencil, moving on to charcoal, watercolours and eventually started using what she called a very exciting but intimidating set of oil colours passed down from her grandfather. Fine arts classes in university then helped her to hone some of her artistic skills and also exposed her to other mediums which she now employs.
“I never anticipated expanding into designing or creating jewelry, but the joy of self-expression that comes with creating remains the same no matter the medium used,” she said.
When it came to learning to make her jewelry, Gough began by talking to other creators, watching videos and reading. The most effective method of learning for her, however, was by making mistakes.
Making jewelry can be a fairly simple endeavour, but to make lasting, high-quality pieces is not necessarily easy; it requires a thorough understanding of the quality of materials you would like to use, how they interact with each other and their environment, as well as design, precision and skill to create, said Gough.
So, she spent a lot of time exploring adhesives, elastics, metals and other materials before settling on what would help her achieve a combination of the quality and aesthetic she would be happy to sell.
Sourcing materials has been one of the most challenging aspects of this adventure, she said. While crystals are found easily enough online or in local shops, finding natural stones that come with verification requires further research. Because the quality of stones is integral to what she offers, over time Gough has found a few trusted establishments within Canada that she purchases from.
Since starting to work with metals, Gough has moved away from goldplated to gold-filled pieces, which do not tarnish or fade under normal conditions. This, too, has been a learning experience in finding a trusted supplier.
POPULAR ITEM
Out of everything she makes, she said her most popular items are the lava rock bracelets, which come in both black and white. While she offers many different combinations of crystals paired with the lava rock, people enjoy them for their ability to hold oils, she says.
Inspiration for future pieces comes from many venues. One is exploring pieces that she is interested in or attracted to and finding ways to make them her own. Another is seeing what crystals are available from her suppliers as this can fluctuate and seeing if there are any stones or shapes that inspire a design. Many times, seeing a uniquely shaped or colored crystal is enough to inspire creation.
FUTURE PLAN
Having explored different styles of bracelets and anklets, Gough’s future plan is to focus on necklaces and earrings. She would love to create intricate pieces so that she can offer Islanders unique jewelry that can’t be found in a store.
Besides her own creations, she also does quite a few custom orders, which she says are always fun to undertake. Oftentimes this means working with new materials or pieces which helps her to grow, and it is also enjoyable to collaborate with someone, designing and creating something specifically for them.
Another joy for many vendors, said Gough, is finding out whether their creations travel.
Starting out in little Montrose, she says she did not expect any pieces to leave the Island. Since selling out of shops and at markets, however, she has sent pieces across North and South America. Last year, she made a return trip to St. Kitts and Nevis, the country where she had previously been living in, giving her the opportunity to share pieces with friends and former students.
LEFT TO WEEKENDS
Back in P.E.I., Gough is still an elementary teacher and so jewelry making is often left to the weekends when she can slow down, sit with her materials and play around.
To view work from or to make a purchase, Hidden Gems can be found online at hiddengemspei.square.site, although she says many of the pieces she sells are unique and therefore are not stocked.
Otherwise, her pieces can be found out of Inca Glow in Summerside, Flipp’n Vintage in Alberton and will be coming to Charlottetown this spring. She can also be found on Facebook and Instagram under the same name.