Get to Know Guest Designer Ellie Gallagher in Celebration of her Birthday!

Guest designer Ellie Gallagher has recently celebrated her 40th birthday, and we celebrated with her during her birthday show on Friday 26th July! We thought today was the perfect chance to get to know Ellie more, so we've asked her a bunch of jewellery related questions so you can! Take a read below.

What inspired you to start making jewellery, and how did you begin your journey with JewelleryMaker?

I actually bought a jewellery-making kit when I finished a very stressful job I had in the city. I didn’t know at the time it would become anything more than something to pass the time whilst I looked for other work. Then, one day, I was channel-hopping and came across JewelleryMaker! Not only did they have everything I would need to take my hobby further, but it also meant I was able to work with gorgeous gemstones too!

Can you share a memorable moment or project from your time at JewelleryMaker that stands out to you?

My Phoenix/Peacock I made for BNG! One of the most complex and memorable pieces I’ve made for sure!

If you could turn any everyday object into a piece of jewellery, what would it be and how would you design it?

I think turning clocks into jewellery would be fun! So many components that would lend themselves to making something really steampunk style!

Can you talk about a piece of jewellery that you're particularly proud of creating and why it means so much to you?

My large Tree of Life designs are by far one of the most requested and created pieces I’ve made. I remember seeing the design for the first time and feeling a real connection to it.

What materials and techniques have you enjoyed working with the most throughout your career?

I love wire work and creating intricate pieces using gemstones; however, I also love to make knotted pieces like meditation malas, as that speaks to me on a mindfulness level too.

How has the jewellery-making community at JewelleryMaker influenced your work and creative process?

Finding JM and being inspired by the wonderful designers on the show really helped to influence my work. It helped me to try techniques that I would never have thought of pursuing otherwise.

What’s your favourite jewellery-making tool or gadget, and why do you love it?

Apart from my hands and general tools, I really love my Xuron pliers, in both needle nose and flush cutters, as they are so precise.

What advice would you give to aspiring jewellery makers who are just starting out?

Start simple. Making a cute pair of earrings using a headpin and an ear wire can make you feel like you’ve really achieved something beautiful in a short time, which is great for your confidence. And practice! Practice might not make perfect, but when you get going and keep trying something, you will find a way that works best for you.

If you could design a piece of jewellery for any historical figure, who would it be and what would you create?

I would love to create something really classic but avant-garde for someone to wear on the red carpet.

Have you ever designed a piece that you loved so much you couldn’t part with it?

I do this all the time 🤣🤦‍♀️ Often, I keep the first version of something I’m making in a new design to wear and see what others think, and also to see how durable and practical the design is. I think the piece I love most that I did this with is this piece.

Thanks so much to Ellie for answering our questions, we hope you had a fabulous birthday!

Until next time jewellery makers,

-JM