This is South African jewellery in every sense – made in, made by and made of South Africa.
I never used to wear jewellery depicting South Africa when I lived there, because it was all around me – in the air I breathed, in everything I saw and felt. I used to, however, wear ethnic jewellery – beaded, embroidered and soldered.
Now that I live far from Africa I have it with me every day in the form of charms for my Nomination bracelets, and a gold pendant in the shape of Africa, bought for me by my then-husband in the Kruger National Park.
This is probably why I love the jewellery made by Vikki of Lola and Cash on Etsy. Her work is brilliant and very reasonably priced indeed.
She really creates lovely depictions of Africa, South Africa (and other parts of the world), in both silver and gold. She also does animals!
She writes:
Secretly scratching in mom’s jewellery box when I was little, the idea to be a jeweller popped into my head. Still curious at 22, I took a few night classes & discovered I was a real natural. So I blew my savings on the equipment & spent the next few years teaching myself further while selling to friends and boutiques here & there.
My love for the unconventional, quirky & unlikely is what drives me to daydream fresh designs. Then time sitting at my bench is where the hands-on inventor in me takes over; ideas evolve & rarely come out as originally dreamed.
I appreciate jewellery that demands attention & makes an unexpected statement – but also love a bit of cuteness & whimsy – so prefer to not stick with one look, but rather be experimental & mix things up – so one day a touch of edgy rockability & boho-chic the next, looking to the future & lending from the past, then all rolled into one for a truly eclectic look!
All jewellery is handmade at my home studio in Cape Town, South Africa. After 8 months on Etsy, I made the decision to quit my day job… So now.. Playing with my tools IS my day job & I am loving every minute of it!
My hands love to keep busy, get dirty & make shiny things. That, added with the satisfaction & pride at making something from scratch is what keeps me going. It also makes me happy to know that, doing what I love, people love what I do… and if not, a girl can never have too much jewellery!
❤
Vikki
follow me on Instagram : LolaAndCash
join me on FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/LolaAndCash
*Lola&Cash* is named after Lola my love – the sausage dog bursting with character, energy & attitude in my logo! Cash is her big brother of ‘indeterminate breed’…
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