Memorial Jewellery in South Wales

Memorial Jewellery in South Wales is for anyone wanting a way to remember a loved one who has passed away. I grew up in Monmouth and I began making keepsake and memorial jewellery in 2015. I started off offering necklaces with locks of hair and had several clients ask me to work with their loved ones’ hair and pets’ fur. Within a few weeks I was getting recommendations and was asked to create my first order with cremation ashes.

purple cremains bead, orchid purple resin sparkle mix
purple cremains bead, orchid purple resin sparkle mix

Cremation Ashes and Hair Jewellery
Working with customers to try and create pieces they wanted gave me a real sense of purpose. Back in those days there were no YouTube tutorials on working with ashes and hair, so I watched resin tutorials for hours a day learning techniques for adding glitter. Along with the glitters, mica powders and opalescent flakes it was a bit of a challenge but I taught myself to add cremation ashes.

In 2016 we moved back to Monmouth in South Wales. I had one of the small craft units in Bridges Community Centre and customers would bring cremation ashes, locks of hair and fur as well as breastmilk and umbilical cord pieces. After a while we bought a new house in Bristol and I worked from home again. During that time I started making YouTube tutorials teaching others how to make memorial and keepsake jewellery and started a second business selling all the supplies anyone could ever need to make the pieces themselves. I sell anything from a little DIY kit to make a lock of hair or ashes bead all the way up to business start-up kits costing thousands.

solid gold hair ring, red sparkle mix twisted band ring image mockup
solid gold hair ring, red sparkle mix twisted band ring

My new business, Keepsaker Supplies, quickly overtook w Tree of Opals and I began spending more time making tutorials and moulds, ring settings and little kits. Then in 2021 I ran out of room and decided to move back to Wales to be nearer to my mum. I found it really hard finding the right space for my two businesses because most of the shops were too big. I found a perfect little shop in Pillgwenlly but at first they didn’t want to rent it to me. “If you’re making jewellery, you’ll get broken into immediately!” and I was heartbroken. A week later I called back the estate agent and begged for his help finding something. I told him that I don’t keep jewellery on display and that all of my clients are by appointment only. He reconsidered and said he’d show me the original shop I was interested in.

Memorial Jewellery in South Wales

A month later I had the keys in my hand and hired a van to empty the workshop in Bristol. Moving my memorial jewellery business back to South Wales was the best thing I’ve ever done. Six months of commuting over from the house, we finally moved over to Newport as a family too. The local orders have started growing and now I have people coming from all over South Wales, the Forest of Dean and the South West to my studio for me to make their jewellery.

My YouTube Tutorials

4 thoughts on “Memorial Jewellery in South Wales

  1. Hi , I was just curious if you are able to make bracelets or necklaces containing dog hair instead of ashes ? Unfortunately my childhood dog passed away late last year and I want something to keep with me all the time so ha always with me.
    Thanks

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