I love Sjegan, Fragment Designs Handcrafted Jewellery by Sarah Jane Egan. It's such a fantastic shop filled with gorgeous jewelry.
Everything in this shop is so pretty, original and accessible.
Sarah makes both silver and gold jewelry. And She has a wedding band collection that's absolutely stunning.
There's something for everyone in this shop as Sarah's jewelry can be worn by men, women and children.
I've asked Sarah a few questions to find out more about her and her shop.
1) How does Wales come back in your work?
Wales is a really really beautiful place to live, with green and nature everywhere. Even the cities are full of parks! Without a doubt this prevalence of nature has a bearing on my work, I use a lot of Oak, Ash, and Fern leaf textures which are the trees I see around me. More specifically my dinosaur range came directly out of a part time job I had in the National Museum Geology dept.
2) What about the country inspires you?
The green, the trees, the fact that if I'm having a rubbish day I can go for a 5 minute walk and see the amazing Caerphilly castle and feel like a child in a fairytale ...the people aren't half bad either.
3) Where have you learned your craft?
I am mostly self taught. I started in Dublin with a few intro to jewellery making classes in a bead shop and then my Dad signed me up for a weekend silversmithing course. As soon as I heard the satisfying quench noise of hot metal in water I was hooked! I did a few other courses, a week here, a day there and I got some tools and a lot of books and played and had fun.
4) What is your favourite place in Wales?
The castles! They make me feel like I'm in a fairytale. If I have to pick a castle probably Caerphilly castle for grandeur and scale, but Castle Coch for the jaw dropping effect of walking into the court yard and feeling like you're in a medieval movie....That's two places but I'm not picking just one!
5) What should people who don’t know the country definitely know about Wales?
There are castles everywhere, lovely people, amazing scenery and some of the beaches are absolutely stunning. And luckily the weather is better than you expect, or at least it is coming from Dublin!
6) I would love to read more about you and your Etsy shop if you’d like to add this information as well.
I'm originally Irish, living in Wales almost 6 years now. Myself and my fiancé moved here to study teaching, which I did that for a year and a half in Cardiff before my health problems put a stop to it. Even before I left Dublin I wanted to make something of my jewellery, but it was very much just a hobby. I set up a bench and while I was teaching, on the rare occasion I had some free time I would go play on my bench. For years I have had some back problems and while teaching I was stressed and it wasn't really something I was enjoying, so the pain became worse, I was having trouble walking up stairs due to a disc issue in my lower back and coming home crying with pounding headaches from my neck pain. I was on a lot of painkillers and eventually I got signed off sick somewhat indefinitely. I had at this stage had a few sales on etsy; 4 or 5, and it didn't feel it was fair to mess my students around, so I handed in my notice and said its now or never. It was pretty terrifying especially since my fiancé was also unemployed at the time, but it didn't feel like I had an option. Luckily he got a job, and I got a few hours part time in the National Museum which I could just about manage pain wise. With the stress of teaching gone, my pain started to get better, I threw myself into yoga and reading about pain management and found that with regular breaks I could actually get stuff done and have a life. The jewellery became my main focus, it allowed me to do something I loved, and also to take the breaks I needed. I changed my diet, veggie and dairy free and I managed to get off all the pain pills. I had been routinely taking 12 a day, now I occasionally take one or two on a bad day, I can go weeks without popping a pill. My shop kept growing and growing, and I got a great Physio (Karen Fuller) and I was able to start doing some offline stuff too, I got involved in pop ups, Made in Britain in Bristol for example. I stopped needing to work in the museum, I did keep it up for a while as a social thing but it became that I was too busy with my jewellery to do that. Last May we moved house to Caerphilly from Cardiff and I have more room and a garden and the business and me are going from strength to strength. I'm really really excited to get a shed built, power up my kiln and start my glass work again! And my wedding is (finally) planned for the start of next month. I will of course be making my own rings :)
I think these rings are gorgeous, I love everything in Sarah's shop.
The jewelry has been made with much love and attention and it shows.
I like this shop very much and am really happy I've discovered it.
Enjoy shopping! It's such a joy to look at Sarah's beautiful jewelry.
One of my readers will receive a fantastic prize.
This very lucky person will receive a set of five sterling silver bunny earrings. I love it and there are so many combinations that can be made with them. Good luck!
I will contact the winner via email. If I don't get a
reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my
giveaways are international.
the shapes
ReplyDeleteI like how cute the cut out designs are.
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ReplyDeleteI love the organic shapes and woodland designs, plus the star sign pieces are such a great idea too.
ReplyDeletedesign very originall and love the materials used
ReplyDeleteLove the shapes
ReplyDeleteIt's so different and the designs are fantastic. Not seen many like this. :) Absolutely stunning and would be a definite talking point when wearing it. :) If I am lucky enough to win jewellery (not that often) and someone comments (when I'm out and about) I always do a bit of PR but don't mention I won it, so not to be seem biased to say something nice. :)
ReplyDeleteThe pieces are so different. I love the dinosaur. Good luck with your weeding the next month will fly by.
ReplyDeleteThe british wildlife subjects and the detail in the engraving.
ReplyDeleteI love the natural themes of the pieces.
ReplyDeleteI love that they're all nature based and you can clearly tell what each one is.
ReplyDeleteThe designs are beautifully unique.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that some of them can be costumed by sending your own photos
ReplyDeleteGorgeous designs! And I can't believe you are only down the road from me! I'm in Rogerstone and my hubby works in Caerphilly! Small world. xx
ReplyDeleteI love it! It is cute, simple and artistic :)
ReplyDeleteI like how it manages to be cute without being too cutesie or childish. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteI like that the set is mismatched, so no matter which ones you wear it will look unique every time.
ReplyDeleteLove its simplicity.
ReplyDeleteit's real silver and natural inspired
ReplyDeleteI love everything is sterling silver and other materials that won't irritate my allergies! :D
ReplyDeleteMary Loki
I love the cute little animal designs and the uniqueness of it all!
ReplyDeleteI love that they use silver and the design of animals.
ReplyDeleteI like that they're so unique in the sets, so it's mixed & matched. Also that it's silver.
ReplyDeleteI like that the jewelry can be worn by men and women.
ReplyDeletethe simplicity and hand craftsmenship
ReplyDeleteit's original, and interesting, I love it!!
ReplyDeleteSilver is always beautiful, and animals&nature are wonderful source of inspiration :3 The animals seem to be in very lifelike positions even...
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely and stunning:)
ReplyDeletei love jewerly especially ring
ReplyDeleteVery cute, while still being classy. I really like their work!
ReplyDeleteThey're original
ReplyDeleteSo unusual - not often you see dinosaurs side by side with bunnies!
ReplyDeleteI love that most of the jewelry has animals one it.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that they are so small and the design is simple and original. Thanks for the giveaway! (Valentina -on the raffle)
ReplyDeleteThe sharp crispness of the cut outs in the design, I love the precise ness
ReplyDeleteI love the animal design
ReplyDeleteI love the type of designs she does - totally added the page to my favorites.
ReplyDeleteTheir design
ReplyDeleteWe have wild bunnies in our garden, so this reminds me of home.
ReplyDeleteI love the animal design.
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful animal designs.
ReplyDeleteI like that this jewelry is small an beautiful
ReplyDeleteI love bunnies! They were my first pets! xx
ReplyDeleteThe nature and constellation themes beautifully made.
ReplyDeleteI love how simple and original it all is
ReplyDeleteI love how everything is hand crafted, and the rose pendant is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt is uniquely exquisite and I have just the right mother-in-law to gift it to
ReplyDeleteEverything is so earthy & unique... I love handcrafted things!
ReplyDeleteEverything is so earthy & unique... I love handcrafted things!
ReplyDeleteVery unique and exquisite
ReplyDelete