Happy Friday Friends!
Today is the start of something new! A fortnightly series showcasing some of the awesome Mum’s who are not just raising fab families but who are also in business for themselves. Every fortnight I’ll share a cuppa (so to speak) with an awesome Mum and learn a bit more about the face behind the business. Personally I am always intrigued and in awe by those running businesses – the how, the why. I firmly believe that “when you support small business, you’re supporting a dream”. So join us each fortnight as we support each other; as we support a dream!
Kick starting off our ‘Shop Small, Support Local’ series we have the lovely Lori from SilverStone Jewellery joining us. Now I am going to come clean and say it now SilverStone Jewellery is a business close to my heart, because for as long as I have known SilverStone Jewellery (which is as long as they have been in business); I have known Lori and her family for longer, much longer. My whole life in fact, this probably has something to do with the fact that her family is my family 🙂 That being said I am thrilled to have recently joined the SilverStone Jewellery family as a Brand Ambassador and look forward to sharing more of this gorgeous jewellery with you all. Now grab a cuppa, sit down and find out about this fellow Mum and her gorgeous business – I promise you won’t be disappointed <3
For those of you who don’t know SilverStone Jewellery is a family run jewellery manufacturing business located in Auckland’s North Shore. Their beautiful Stirling silver jewellery is available both online and at their studio. From rings to earrings; bracelets to pendants their is something stunning for everyone. They even make beautiful baby bangles – a lovely keepsake which is sure to be cherished forever. Prefer Gold to Silver then get in touch and have a piece made just for you by their very own Jeweller. Head on over to their website to have a look, but don’t forget to come back 🙂
Tell us a bit about yourself , Lori
Hi, my name is Lori and as with many women I wear many different hats – sometimes more than one at a time! I’m a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter. I’m also Director of SilverStone Jewellery, a company I founded 14 years ago with my husband, Alex.
Where did the name SilverStone Jewellery come from?
We started the business in 2003 when our daughters were just one year old (we’re still not entirely sure why we thought this was a good time to start a business!).
We brainstormed a bunch of different names, including ‘Java’, where Alex is from, and ‘Batu’, which means ‘stone’ in Indonesian and also happens to be a favourite town of ours – it was where we spent our honeymoon! Batu stuck, but we translated it to English and, as our range is mostly sterling silver, we combined it with ‘silver’: SilverStone.
What made you decide to start your own business?
Alex had been designing and creating jewellery for 30 years and had always dreamed of having his own business. After having twins I didn’t really want to go back into full-time work in the corporate world, so we acted on our vision and went into business.
The early years were crazy, trying to get the business up and running in between caring for the twins. Thankfully, things are much easier now!
What’s your favourite part about what you do?
I’m a people person. My favourite part of the job is meeting people and seeing a woman’s face light up when she finds a piece of jewellery that she loves and makes her feel like a million dollars.
A lot of the women I meet have sacrificed certain luxuries like makeup and jewellery in the name of motherhood (usually due to financial reasons or time constraints). I love, love, LOVE seeing women like this rediscover their beauty and find new appreciation for themselves when they try on a pendant or a pair of earrings.
Short answer: the social side of the business!
Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery? What is it?
I could never choose! There are just SO many that I love. I love colour but I also love the understated beauty of plain silver. I have to wear earrings every day or I feel naked, so I’d have to say that earrings are my favourite type of jewellery, but there’s no way I could single out a particular pair!
When you’re not working on your business, what do you find yourself doing?
Reading, walking on the beach, visiting my mum, going to the movies, spending time with family, hanging out with my friends, shopping, going for coffee. Maybe too much !
A lot of my readers are Mums who will spend on their children but forget about themselves, do you have any pearls of wisdom for them.
Wear earrings and lipstick every day! I know it sounds superficial, but it only takes a couple of minutes and it honestly makes you feel so much better. Even if the only people you see all day come up to your knees, you still look and feel fantastic!
I also think it’s a great idea to spend at least some of your little one’s napping time (if there is napping time!) on something just for you. Have a cup of coffee, read a couple pages of your book, call a friend or just lie in the grass and look at the clouds. It’s so easy to spend every minute doing chores – then the kids wake up again and you’re back on the clock.
Finally, SLOW DOWN (I know everyone says this, but it’s still true). My twins grew up in a the blink of an eye, and somehow they’re already teenagers!
Thank you for joining us and kicking off our new series, Lori. ‘Wear earrings and lipstick’, love your advice because when you look fantastic you definitely feel good, even if the rest of your day turns pear-shaped. Don’t forget to pop on over to SilverStone Jewellery and have a look at all their gorgeous pieces, (you may want to grab another coffee!!!!); because, how gorgeous are those ‘Long Stem Pearl Earrings’ above? They have recently been added to my jewellery collection and I couldn’t be more in love with them. To me they are all sorts of pretty and are the perfect everyday earring, they can be worn everywhere and you always feel a little bit dressed up, a little bit special. Make sure you are following us on because come 8pm tonight I have a pair of these beauties to giveaway!
**Congratulations to Andrea Little – you have won yourself these gorgeous earrings. Please email or PM me to arrange delievry of your prize** To enter to WIN yourself or someone you love these gorgeous Long Stemmed Pearl Earrings, simply COMMENT below. Pop on over to – like and comment for extra entries. Don’t forget to like ! Giveaway closes Friday 10th March, 8pm NZT. Terms and Conditions available here. Open to New Zealand residents only. Good luck!
I am honoured to be the first business featured in this fabulous new blog, “Shop Small, Support Local” blog that Lydia has written. As always her blog is informative, insightful and entertaining. Good luck to everyone for the upcoming competition. Thanks from a busy business owner and Mum.
This is a fantastic first “Shop Small, Support Local” article. I have purchased several beautiful pieces from Lori and Alex. My heart still does a flutter when I put them on. I just love my Silverstone Jewellry and will definately be purchasing more in the future. Alex has also resized some rings for me too. I live quite close to Lori and I’m thrilled to have discovered them in my neighborhood
Hi Shone 🙂
I love to hear about your fluttering heart! Thanks for your lovely comments, good luck in the competition, the pearl earrings would make a great addition to your collection. Cheers, Lori
Great advice! Love silver jewellery, but worn the same pair of hoops for 5 years! These earrings are gorgeous
Good luck in the competition then, sounds like it might be time for change.
Love all your jewellery it’s stunning ♡♡ awesome advise to Thankyou
Hi Jess, thanks so much, I think it’s great to take time out from our busy lives and give ourselves a wee pat on the back sometimes – all us Mums do an awful lot!
These are beautiful!
It’s great to find out about small businesses run by local Mum’s. I’m totally in awe that Lori started this (alongside hubby) with 1yr old twins!!!
Cute earrings!
Thanks for you comment Nicola, it was totally nutty that first year (or 2 or 3…) I often wondered what on earth possessed me to think it was a good idea, baby brain maybe? Still busy now with a houseful (it seems) of teenagers and different challenges to face, but I do feel proud that we are still going!
What a beautiful article and wow well done, starting a business with a one year olds is an achievement in its self and being successful for over 13 years is amazing, These earrings are stunning as all of your jewellery is. I especially love the baby bracelets <3 <3
Thanks so much, Lydia write so well, all her blogs are great to read. The baby bangles are really pretty and yet very sturdy! Good luck in the competition for the earrings.
I think I may need to finally invest in some lipstick! 😜 Your jewellery is beautiful! My late uncle was a jeweller and as a child I wanted to be one just like him 🙂
Thank you so much for picking me as your winner! What a thrill! XXX