MY STORY | ronasbeadsaboard

MY STORY

As a qualified gemmologist my passion for gemstones inspired me to make my own range of bead jewellery. I love the variety of colours and shapes.

My path to taking this qualification was through working in a fabulous, family run, very high quality, antique jewellery shop in Reigate, Surrey. The owner was enthusiastic and interested in the jewellery and the gemstones. He already had his FGA but from the 1960’s, so was very encouraging to have a member of staff achieve a more up to date qualification. I definitely couldn’t have passed without his help. There was a lot of physics to understand about light and colour and a huge amount that needed memorising! The pass rate was 80%, making it a very highly respected qualification.

I passed in 1993 and keep in touch with changes. After qualifying, I learnt how to rethread pearls to a high professional standard. I have been doing rethread work for the trade ever since, which means the standard of finish for my jewellery is also high.

FROM GEMSTONE ENTHUSIAST TO ENTREPRENEUR

The main purpose was to learn how to identify gemstones in their settings, maybe a ring or a brooch, and to tell the difference between a real stone and a man-made simulated stone. There are lots of fakes on the market which obviously makes a difference to the value!

I have worked in jewellery retail for many years. My dream had always been to build a business making my own designs. I am always happiest when keeping my hands busy, previously by making silver jewellery at classes, dressmaking and upholstery.

I first started making the gemstone bead and pearl jewellery in 2005, when I was working locally in a jewellers’ that specialised in silver gemstone jewellery. The owner liked the necklaces I wore, asked me to make some for the shop and I’ve been making ever since!

BIG LIFE CHANGE

Then there was a big change in my life! I met someone new, who renewed my thoughts of living on a canal boat. I was actually born on a boat in Broxbourne on the River Lee. I had lived on boats for 9 years of my childhood and have done a lot of sailing, so I guess it’s in my blood.

In 2015 Alan and I decided we’d change our life by renting out our house in East Grinstead and buying a widebeam 60x10ft canal boat. Narrowboats are usually around 6ft10 wide and we thought a bit more space would suit us better. We thought we’d try it for a year which turned into 4 years!

READY FOR THE BOAT LIFE

Alan is very practical. Whilst I packed up the house getting rid of lots of ‘stuff’, he spent many weekends getting the boat ready for off-grid living with solar panels and a full 12v power supply from the battery bank. The boat was very smart with diesel heating, two bedrooms (one was my workshop as it had a built in work desk) and a lovely shower in the bathroom, which also had an automatic washing machine. Alan also adapted an engine crane to swing our 1000cc motorbike into the bow well! That gave us transport when needed. Most of our friends thought we were mad but we did it! We took the cat with us too. She adapted well and loved checking out each new mooring.

WORKSHOP ON BOARD

We didn’t have a fixed mooring as we wanted to travel around the country. We bought a continuous cruiser licence from the Canal and River Trust and shortly after converted it to a Roving Canal Trader licence. This allowed us to set up shop, trading from the outside of the boat, anywhere on the towpath side. The rules are boats have to move on after 14 days, except for more restricted moorings near the towns. Our water tank usually needed filling after 10 days anyway! You become very conscious of conserving water.

I loved designing and making necklaces, bracelets and earrings in my workshop on my wide beam canal boat. We travelled around the country on the canals and rivers, setting up the boat shop in busy spots. I joined the RCTA, who organised floating markets, by applying for an event licence and reserving moorings for us all. In some cases there were up to 17 boats! It was a lovely way to make new friends and meet people, as well as sell jewellery of course! Our focus for travelling became getting to the next market from April to November.

DIFFICULTIES

We did love the freedom of the life but it’s a hard life living on a boat. There is constant maintenance with many problems. A good day was when you got up in the morning and everything worked! A very close eye needed to be kept on the charge in the batteries, our only electricity supply. Fuel boats would pull alongside to deliver coal, diesel and toilet fluid. All boaters joke that travel plans rarely work out, you have to have a very flexible attitude. Maybe a lock had suffered boat damage or someone accidentally left lock paddles open and emptied a section of canal, all sorts of things!

ADVENTURE

We travelled widely in the South system. The length of the Grand Union, from London to Birmingham. The Regents Canal, onto the Lee Navigation through the East side of London, up to Hertfordshire. The Thames, from London to Oxford, including a scary but exhilarating trip out from Limehouse Basin into The City going under Tower Bridge! The beautiful Kennet and Avon from Reading through to Bath. The Wiltshire countryside and towns are so lovely. There are 6 white horses on the chalk slopes, visible from or near the canal! I had lots of long walks and the cat took up hunting. Not so good! However the cat only fell in once. She used to check the bank and gangplank, very carefully after that. Cats can actually swim very well although they hate it!

THE END OF THE BOAT LIFE

After 4 years living aboard and trading at organised boat markets, the time came to sell the boat and we moved back to the house. When we bought a wide boat we knew our travelling would be restricted as the locks through Birmingham and Northampton would be too narrow for us. We had travelled as far as we could on the Southern inland waterways. My partner now also had a business, moving canal boats on the waterways for people. The logistics of running 2 businesses became too difficult, whilst moving around ourselves.

I CAN NOW BE FOUND AT VARIOUS CRAFT FAIRS AND MARKETS

See my Events list for locations

Kind Words

" Thank you! The beautiful jewellery set has just arrived. As always it is stunning. Thank you so much!!! Xxxxx I love it! Caroline Xxx "

- CAROLINE

" Thank you so much for the lovely Trio of Freshwater Pearl Bracelets I have bought yesterday at the canal festival. Marie "

- MARIE

" Rona, that's kind of you to add an extender chain. Thank you. I absolutely love it. Haven't worn an anklet for years used to wear them loads! Fi xx "

- FI

" I was surprised by my boyfriend on my birthday when he gifted me this beautiful pearl bracelet. I was already impressed by it's picture on the website, but in person, it's even more stunning. I really feel that it is a high-quality piece of jewellery, and I love it. Thank you so much, Rona ❤️"

- ANETT