Bead buddies (From Living Northeast)

Bead buddies

11:21am Saturday 18th April 2009 in

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Charlotte Percival talks to two jewellery designers with a passion for fairtrade and fairies.

WHEN two friends visited a palmist for an insight into their future, they had no idea it would lead to a new business venture. But for Jennifer Chadwick, 25, and Cate Flanagan, 29, it proved the push they needed to set up their online jewellery shop, Sebille.

Sebille is an old English word meaning “fairy”

and embraces their passion for pretty jewellery, ethical materials and the mythical properties of stones and crystals.

They make the jewellery themselves, using unique beads such as tiny silver nuggets made by Karen Hill Tribe villagers in Thailand and recycled coke-bottle beads from Indonesia.

They also like Swarovski crystals and stones such as rose quartz and laborodite, because of their healing properties.

Jennifer says the pair first discussed working together over a hot chocolate in York’s El Piano restaurant. “At that point we knew we were both creative and were working separately on other projects. We are both really into alternative therapies and crystal healing and we do tarot readings,” she says. “We went to a palmist together and we were discussing making jewellery on the train on the way there and the palmist asked us if we’d ever thought of going into business together. We had done some designs each and had taken them on the train to show to each other and it really clicked into place.”

To get inspiration, they cut out pictures of clothes from magazines and began designing jewellery to go with them. Then Cate set up a studio at her home in York.

They also joined York School of Jewellery, in Hospital Fields Road, to learn silversmith techniques, and began sourcing fair-trade beads and stones through the contacts they made.

Much of their jewellery is associated with powers such as love, attraction or protection. For example, ametrine is a mixture of amethyst and citrine, said to cheer you up and boost your confidence. Rose quartz, a stone from the heart, is meant to attract love, while aquamarine, a stone of the sea, is soothing and peaceful.

“We are quite earthy people and try to use recycled things and most of our packaging is recycled,”

said Jennifer. “A lot of our fair-trade beads are hand-made from recycled glass or seeds.”

Sebille’s silver-nugget bracelet, a string of silver beads made by the Karen Hill Tribe in Thailand, is one of the most popular pieces. The girls also make a necklace strung with beads made from bodhi seeds in Male, Indonesia. Traditionally, the beads are used by monks to help them meditate.

Their range of tiaras and wedding jewellery is popular, too. “Somebody asked if we could make a tiara, because they are so expensive,” said Cate.

“They asked if we could come up with something and we did. In summer, all we did was tiaras and hair combs.”

An amethyst-and-crystal hair comb, a freshwater- pearl-and-white-crystal tiara, a green-jade tiara and pearl hairpins are just a few of Sebille’s wedding designs, and are all available to buy on the website.

So far, most of their business has been done through word of mouth, although they have started to hold jewellery parties too.

“We don’t have to make things up just because we think they’re going to sell – we can put the money towards buying good stock,” says Cate.

“We’re just pleased that what started as a hobby has turned into something that people seem to like.”

■ sebille.co.uk