Materials and Craftsmanship

Materials & Craftsmanship

Jewellery materials

I use high-quality materials that meet EU standards. Whenever possible, I source materials from Finnish suppliers, but as not everything I need is available locally, I also work with trusted suppliers elsewhere in Europe, mainly in Italy and France.

All materials used in each piece are always specified individually in the product description.

Glass beads

Most of the larger glass beads I use come from the Czech Republic, a country renowned for its long-standing expertise in glassmaking. This includes, among others, Preciosa beads.

Smaller glass beads, such as Miyuki and Toho seed beads, are of Japanese origin.

Occasionally, I also use glass beads from India and China, mainly to access specific colours that are otherwise difficult to find.

Gemstone beads

Gemstones come in every colour imaginable. I source gemstone beads and cabochons from Finland, elsewhere in Europe, and from suppliers overseas. In many cases, however, the original source of the stones is in the Far East.

Due to the long and complex supply chains involved, the exact origin of gemstone beads is often impossible to determine, and for this reason their ethical provenance cannot be fully traced.

Freshwater pearls

Freshwater pearls are genuine cultured pearls, ranging in shape from classic round to wonderfully organic forms. Pearls may also be dyed.

I prefer to use pearls in their natural shades, either undyed or dyed in tones that remain as close to natural as possible.

Crystal beads

The sparkle in my jewellery comes from crystal beads by Swarovski (see below), Preciosa, Aurora Crystal, or from high-quality in-house crystal brands offered by my material suppliers.

During 2023, Swarovski discontinued and restricted the sale of crystal components to jewellery makers and small businesses without a direct agreement with the brand. Some former official Swarovski partners now offer their own crystal brands, manufactured in Austria in a similar way to Swarovski crystals.

These alternative crystals follow Swarovski’s system in terms of numbering, colours and quality. Once my small existing Swarovski stock is used up, I will transition fully to these brands.

Vintage materials

From time to time, I also use genuine vintage materials in my jewellery. Among my finds from autumn 2023 are European glass components manufactured in the 1950s, bringing a distinctive touch of old-world glamour to the designs.

Sterling silver, vermeil, gold-filled, stainless steel and other EU-compliant jewellery metals

All metals in this category are sourced from Europe.

Any metal that comes into direct contact with the skin is always one of the following:

  • Sterling silver (925)
    Suitable for many people who experience allergic reactions to base metals.

  • Vermeil
    Sterling silver plated with a layer of gold of at least 10 carats.

  • Gold-filled jewellery metal
    An EU-compliant base metal bonded with a thicker-than-usual layer of gold.

  • Stainless steel (316 or 304)
    Well suited also for those who are sensitive to other non-precious metals.

Metal components that do not come into contact with the skin may include silver-plated jewellery metal, bronze or copper.

The exact metal used is always specified in the product information.

Cabochons

Cabochons are flat, undrilled components often used as the focal point of a piece. The cabochons I use are individually selected and made from gemstone, crystal, glass or porcelain. They may also be fabric-covered or made from various natural compounds.

The only material I deliberately avoid in cabochons is plastic.

Textiles

I also use various textiles and ribbons in my jewellery, including cotton fabrics, brocades and soutache braids. I aim to choose materials with minimal or no synthetic fibres.

These materials are mainly sourced from European suppliers, particularly in the UK, France and Italy.

Threads used in bead embroidery

For my beaded and embroidered jewellery, I use FireLine thread manufactured in the USA. Its core material, Dyneema, is known as one of the strongest fibres in the world and is made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

This fibre is used in applications such as sports equipment, protective clothing and offshore or aviation cargo nets. In FireLine, the fibre is heat-treated and twisted into an eight-strand, strong and non-stretch thread that has proven particularly suitable for bead embroidery.

For finishing soutache jewellery, I use Japanese Miyuki nylon thread.

Packaging materials

Your order is shipped as a small parcel that fits through a letterbox, packed either in a cotton jewellery pouch or a small cardboard jewellery box.

Packaging materials are chosen with environmental considerations in mind whenever possible.

A note on jewellery-making techniques

Embroidered jewellery

At present, most jewellery in the webshop is made using various hand-embroidery techniques, stitched bead by bead in my atelier. Each piece is created using time-intensive methods, which means the number of available items is always limited.

Every piece is truly individual. While the same design may be available in different colours, the piece you order is exactly the one shown in the product photographs.

In the future, the shop will also feature small made-to-order jewellery series.

Silver-wrapped jewellery

This technique is mainly used for necklaces and bracelets, where beads are connected using sterling silver wire. Silver may naturally darken over time, but its shine can be restored with gentle cleaning using a commercially available silver polish.

I recommend storing silver jewellery between uses in the acid-free pouch or box provided with your order.

In some cases, I also use gold-filled wire, which consists of an EU-compliant base metal bonded with a thicker layer of gold. With proper care — protected storage and avoidance of strong chemicals such as perfumes or hairsprays — gold-filled jewellery is highly durable.

Soutache jewellery

Soutache jewellery represents a highly regarded form of craftsmanship worldwide. These pieces are layered, decorative and require many hours of work to complete.

Depending on personal style, soutache jewellery can be worn both in everyday life and on special occasions. The technique is based on a narrow braid, securely stitched at the centre, made from materials such as cotton, linen or viscose. I personally favour materials that are as natural as possible.

Soutache braid allows for the creation of ornamental patterns, either on its own or combined with beads. Typically, the centre of the piece features a cabochon, around which the soutache braid is carefully stitched.

The back of the jewellery, which during construction may contain braid ends and support materials, is neatly finished with a sturdy textile backing, securely sewn into place.