Roley - Master Jeweller
Roley isn't what you would expect for a fine jeweller. Dressed down permanently, usually jeans and t-shirt, her approach to jewellery is that it is all about the jewellery. She loves colour and this is reflected in her work, not her clothes. She loves to push the boundaries in her work, using stones that normally wouldn`t be seen by the average person.
When a teenager (all those years ago), Roley embarked on her jewellery journey, starting in a tech course, then a part-time job, then after a two year wait, finally an apprenticeship. Although her passion was always for the obscure and contemporary styles, she decided to learn the traditional methods of jewellery manufacturing so she could do both.
After qualifying in 1994, she worked in a few different places trying to find where she fitted and didn`t have much luck. In 1997, she set up her first workshop in a tiny shed in her Granddad`s garden. In 1999, Roley set out on her own and worked from her shed relying on word-of-mouth commissions to get her dream off the ground. The move to Devonport in March 2000, saw the next stage of this journey. Opening up Frame and Forge with Janet, there wasn't even enough money to buy a glass jewellery cabinet!
The evolution of Lode reflects the evolution of the jewellery we make today. As Lode became established, Roley was able to “play” more with her work. She discovered she has an ability to listen to people, hear their stories and translate that into her work. This holistic approach to her work has developed into exhibitions about our beautiful New Zealand landscapes.
Roley loves the customer interaction when working on a memorial design or a family history piece. But her favourite time is often on a Sunday...the doors are shut, a talking book is playing loudly and free of interruption she is head down creating a new piece for the gallery.
Borderline obsessive, Roley lives for her work. When not working, she likes to pretend she is an athlete and go running, regardless of many medical practitioners advising her that this is not a good idea. She has found over the years that cooking is a good way to relax at the end of the day, which seems to undo all the good the running might have done! Roley is passionate about the property owned in the Hokianga and dreams of living there one day with the workshop set in amongst the native bush and the abundant birdlife.
