Six years ago, as Jillian Ritchie was leaving hospital, she visited a bead store with her mother.
鈥淚 just went into the store and kind of fell in love with it. I started to make jewelry and just really enjoyed it,鈥� Ritchie says. 鈥淲hen I first started I didn鈥檛 really know what I was doing,鈥� she laughs.
Initially the jewelry she made was just for herself but, after a long learning process spanning several years, she became a self-taught, skilled jewelry maker specializing in delicate work using semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and gold chains.
She sold her creations to the public for the first time at a local Christmas fair, but in spring of 2010, when her mother heard about the Squamish Farmers鈥� Market, they thought it would be a great place to set up a stand. She鈥檚 now a regular at the market with her booth, Delight Designs.鈥淚 do all different kinds of jewelry, including bracelets, earrings and necklaces,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 also like to use a lot of different gemstones and colours.
鈥淩ight now, I really like working with druzy. It鈥檚 a type of sparkly gemstone that comes in a lot of different colours. I didn鈥檛 even know about it until a year or two ago, but it鈥檚 really become more popular.鈥�
It鈥檚 been quite a journey up to this point, though, including her diagnosis almost 20 years ago of mitochondrial myopathy, a metabolic muscle disease.
鈥淏efore my illness I was very into sports. When I got sick, jewelry became a creative outlet for me and was something I could spend my time doing,鈥� Ritchie explains.
鈥淲hen I first started, I never expected to be doing it as a business. I just wanted something to be positive about. But I fell in love with it and went from there.
鈥淚 love being able to go out to suppliers, find all these amazing stones and chains鈥� and make whatever I want with them, combining them in ways that make them even prettier.鈥�
She also takes great pleasure from others鈥� enjoyment of her designs. 鈥淚 like to see people with my jewelry. I think jewelry makes you happy 鈥� it鈥檚 uplifting, and I like that aspect of it.鈥�
Ritchie can鈥檛 always be at the stand all day, so her mother has been a huge support. 鈥淢y mom really helps me and does most of my stands,鈥� she explains. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been amazing鈥� a huge, huge help.鈥�
Ritchie enjoys creating all the jewelry. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice being able to focus on something. It helps me stay positive and be creative and useful, and feel like I鈥檓 accomplishing something,鈥� she says. Delight Designs will be at Squamish Farmers鈥� Market towards the end of January and beginning of February.
