Entrepreneur of the week
Soul Creations
A beyond-talented and skilled jeweller, Mary Ross has been in the business of making and designing the most wonderfully striking jewellery in the Lowveld since the early 2000s.
Using a variety of sparkling gemstones and precious metals such as silver, gold and even platinum, Ross boasts an eclectic collection of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces she has made with her mother Maria Gouws, and more recently, her two sons, Aiden and Allan.
Born and bred in the Lowveld, Ross grew up on a cattle farm in the Barberton Valley until her father passed away and she and her mother moved to Kaapsehoop, where she has lived ever since.
Ross said her business journey started in 2001.
“An old jeweller living in Mbombela, who specialised in gemstones and crystal jewellery, passed away and I was fortunately able to purchase her old equipment,” said Ross.
“When my first son was born, I began making jewellery from home. During that time I realised how much I enjoyed the creativity and the process of working with individual clients on custom orders,”
|she said.
“Since then, both my sons Aiden and Allan have joined the business, allowing us to offer more services, such as CAD Design [digital jewellery design for the purpose of manufacturing a physical product] and gift engraving.”
Ross and her family use silver, gold and platinum to make their jewellery, and will also use brass and copper when necessary.
“We also make stabilised wood and gemstone composite rings with precious metal liners.”
She said she is currently saving to purchase a laser engraver.
“We will also be launching a website under the name Cosmic Creations next year,” she said.