MEET KATIE, THE DESIGNER/MAKER
“Curiosity about life in all aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.”
-Leo Burnett
Do you like your jewellery to be a bit different, quirky even?
Are you someone who likes to choose handmade pieces?
Are you curious about the story behind the jewellery you choose?
Do you like to know a little about the designer/maker?
Then Original Strands will have something for you!
I’m Katie Woollett, the designer and creator of “Original Strands”. I design and make a range of Irish contemporary handmade jewellery which includes a variety of chain necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets and rings in five distinctive collections. With its unusual angles, rings that taper with gems off-centre, and earrings that are inverted, my jewellery aims to evoke curiosity! Everything is made in my Dublin studio. (See My Collections page).
I am a member of the Design and Craft Council of Ireland.
In my past career as a psychotherapist I built relationships based on trust, as people shared their life stories and feelings with me. I asked them to take a leap of faith into the unknown and trust that something new could emerge. I reflected back on what I heard and read between the lines, (unconscious communication), to allow the possibility of further understanding.
Now I want my jewellery to tell you something about me and how I see and experience the world; that I enjoy the irregular, the inverted, the quirky, the different, the offside aspect of life. I want to build that same trust, between you the customer, and myself, that allows us to communicate through Jewellery that comes from within, through that creative spark of an idea that I translate into a new piece of jewellery. I love to explore and experiment with textures, balance and position in space. As I leap into the unknown,I put a part of myself on view, and have to trust that you will instinctively understand and enjoy what I am communicating through the jewellery that emerges.
With my background , I am particularly interested in this movement between our inner and outer worlds, what draws us to one piece of jewellery over another. Does it remind us of something or someone, does it make us feel a certain way when we wear it. Do we think about this at all, or do we just know that we love it! This is what drives me, because I believe it is important that every piece of jewellery we wear should be meaningful and loved!
MY INSPIRATION
My inspiration is drawn from the angles of architecture and our urban environment, and the curves in nature. This is represented by the interplay of movement, textures and combinations of the precious metals and gems I use in my innovative, original and individual pieces. Many of these are one of a kind, and I love to experiment with space , balance and opposites.
It is important to me to create a brand that is sustainable and ethical. My materials are obtained from reputable dealers and I aim to use only ethically sourced materials and recycled packaging.
PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY
INVITATION
I invite you to browse my shop, leaving traditional expectations at the door, and see which of the pieces you are drawn to, either for yourself or as a gift for a special person in your life. You may be surprised!
