Jewellery making passion turns to business success

By Rowena Chin, owner and founder of RO Design Jewellery

A health problem eight years ago made me think of a new work direction. That's what happens when you spend 18 days in hospital with nothing to do but think. My health prevented me from playing sport for a couple of years so I was gutted.

I realised I didn't have any craft activities that I enjoyed doing so I was on the search for something non-active to take up. Upon doing a jewellery making class with a group of friends, I fell in love with designing and being creative with beads. I couldn't sleep because ideas kept churning through my head.

I had never really been into wearing jewellery until a friend bought me a pendant necklace to wear with jeans and a simple white tshirt. Whenever I wore that necklace I would get so many compliments. With my newfound love of designing jewellery I thought I could make people look and feel great by designing beautiful jewellery for them to wear. 

Armed with my background in accounting and advice from a friend to "GO FOR IT...what have you got to lose?", I launched RO Design Jewellery, working from home.

With two school aged children, working from home gives me the flexibility to be there for them for after school activities, helping them with homework and doing parent help.  All the while allowing me to still use my brain creatively. 

I design and make exquisite unique pieces of jewellery from Swarovski Crystals, freshwater pearls and semi-precious stone. I have taken over the spare room and have made it my workroom and I can go and design whenever I feel inspired.  Before an event, you will see me in there till midnight making new designs. 

When I started the business  I took my jewellery to parties and into workplaces to sell which worked really well but I was finding I was out in the evenings and weekends.  Being my own business, I changed the direction a little and now concentrate on one-off events and selling online but I still do the odd jewellery party.  I can also schedule in events when it suits me and the family. 

Technology has played a part in allowing me to fit more in a day than when I was working in the office.  I am writing this while I sit and wait at my daughters ballet practice.

Work/life balance, you can fit it all in as long as you prioritise and think of ways to use your time productively and just Go For It.

If you'd like to check out Rowena's jewellery for yourself visit RO Design Jewellery.