Meet the Tipperary jeweller turning Irish mussel shells into gorgeous statement drop earrings

Tipperary-based jewellery designer Gillian Gubbins sits down with

Tipperary-based jewellery designer Gillian Gubbins sits down with Tipperary Live to discuss her sustainable jewellery company, GG Designs.

“I started creating jewellery only a few years ago, I’ve always been interested in art,” says Gillian.

“When I left school I ended up doing a PLC in art and then studied in the Crawford Art College in Cork. When I left college in my early 20's, I turned my back completely on my creative life and travelled and worked in various different jobs for many years.

"I then spent about ten years working in jewellery retail and when my first child started primary school I decided to return to college. I then went on to study jewellery design and metalsmithing a few years later,” she explains.

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“Sitting down and learning how to draw designs from templates was amazing,” says Gillian who credits the jewellery making course as having helped ignite her passion for creating her own jewellery brand.

Speaking about how she developed her business, Gillian explains that it really began during the covid-19 epidemic in 2020.

“GG designs looked very different before covid. I started making personalised frames, things like baby names and family trees, weddings and milestone birthdays, in the years before covid. During covid all the parties stopped, there was suddenly no occasions that people were celebrating with physical gifts and it slowed right down.

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“I was at home going mad like we all were and asked myself what else can I do? I looked back at the skills I already had and the materials that were already there for me and I started making my jewellery,” says Gillian.

SUSTAINABILITY

Gillian began her business by experimenting with mussel shells, and slowly started creating more sustainable pieces of jewellery for GG Designs. She soon transformed ordinary Irish mussel shells into gorgeous statement drop earrings which can be seen in the photos. As well as earrings, Gillian also makes trinket trays, which are created using scallop shells.

“We have family in Rosslare and I source the scallop shells from Kilmore Quay there. When the meat is taken out of the shells they usually crush them up and use them as fertiliser for farming but I get hold of some and clean them, sterilise them and create my lovely trinket trays with them.

“I try to not create any more waste with my jewellery, I don’t want to add to the problems the world already has. I used what was already there to create my jewellery, things like mussel shells, fabrics I already had, even clothes I already had I would cut up,” says Gillian.

Gillian explains that she moved from using just mussel shells to experimenting with leather to vary her designs, due to the fact that shells are not easily adaptable and can only stay one size.

“With the leather, I wanted to figure out a way that it would again be sustainable, so I source all of my leather from handbag manufacturers.

"It’s all brand new and genuine leather but they are just the offcuts from the handbag making process. It’s exciting because you never really know what you’re going to get with them either, it’s exciting. I can play around with the leather designs a lot more, they’re more varied,” she explains.

INSPIRATION

“For me I get inspiration from fabrics, colour and materials like the mussel shells, oyster shells and leather. It’s all about trying to use what’s already out there.

"I get a lot of inspiration from charity shops too, I go to them a lot and could get a lot of inspiration just from looking at one top that I find. With the leather there’s a lot of play with the materials involved beforehand and that’s the fun part.”

WORKSHOPS

Gillian also runs workshops where people can learn how to make a beautiful piece of sustainable jewellery in a fun and engaging class.

Those who attend can gain valuable knowledge and skills that they can then use to create their very own jewellery. The workshops are also suitable for all levels and materials are provided.

“They’re so much fun, there’s always a lot of playing around with materials at these workshops. A lot of trial and error,” says Gillian.

WEBSITE

Gillian sells her jewellery designs through her website gillyggdesigns.com where you can currently find her earrings, rings, necklaces, ornaments and trinket trays.

“I go to the Ballymaloe fair every year with my designs too. I also did a showcase in the RDS in Dublin in January of this year, thanks to the enterprise office in Clonmel.

"It was brilliant and meant I got into some shops around the country. As a result of the showcase one shop that ordered some of my jewellery was the Chester Beatty in Dublin Castle and that’s been phenomenal for me. It’s just been unbelievable,” says Gillian.

CHRISTMAS

Gillian explains that she’s making some new pieces of jewellery that are Christmas inspired and says that colour is very important when it comes to Christmas.

“I trade every year at the Galway Oyster Festival and I take home the native Irish oyster shells from there and turn them into Christmas decorations too,” says Gillian.

Gillian’s designs are a brilliant gift idea this Christmas, and Gillian explains why they suit a multitude of people in our lives.

“There’s something for everyone there and you just have to look at who my models are to see that. My models are my 20-year-old daughter and my own mother, whose age I won’t give away.

"I think my designs look great on both of them. Even if you’re not into fashion, I have framed gifts too which are a lovely option for people’s homes.”

Her jewellery makes great gifts for anyone visiting Ireland that wants something unique to buy as a reminder of their visit.

“Tourists love the Irish mussel shell earrings, they’re from the Irish coast, they’re sustainable and so easy to bring home, they don’t take up any room,” explains Gillian.

All earrings are designed and handmade by Gillian and are sustainably made, extremely lightweight and truly unique. “They’re extremely comfortable and can be worn all day,” Gillian says.

As each piece is handmade Gillian asks that customers ordering from her website allow 5-7 days for items to arrive. Gillian's designs can be viewed and bought from her website gillyggdesigns.com, on Instagram at gillyggdesigns or on Facebook as GG Designs.

Prices of Gillian's jewellery collections range from €10-€45.