about lou
I started making rings at fifteen, bending old spoons in a shed on the farm. I liked working out what I could make from a bit of metal, and kept going from there.
How it started
It started with a spoon.
Learning as I wentRead moreRead less
I taught myself as I went, making mistakes and trying again until I understood what had gone wrong. The spoon rings led me into other ways of making jewellery. I've always been interested in the older techniques and wanted to learn them for myself.
I'm Lou
I started Lou Jewellery and still spend a lot of my time designing and making, particularly custom pieces and new work.
Drawings and ideasRead moreRead less
Most ideas start in my sketchbook or with a technique I want to learn. I like old engraving patterns and rings with a bit of weight to them. A custom piece might start with a conversation instead.
The team
I work with a small team here in Adelaide.
TullyRead moreRead less
Tully handles the 3D printing, helps keep custom jobs moving through the studio and organises shipping when the pieces are finished.
CharlieRead moreRead less
Charlie is a bench jeweller and works alongside me making the jewellery.
PookRead moreRead less
Pook is my best mate. We grew up together, and he's helped with the business since Year 10, when I was sixteen. He started with packaging, then sanding and polishing, and now handles the whole finishing process.
He knows when a piece is ready to leave the workshop, and he's known me long enough to tell me when it needs more work.
EricRead moreRead less
Eric edits the workshop footage into the films we share.
How we make it
Some pieces start with a drawing, others need digital work and 3D printing. We use traditional techniques and newer tools, depending on the design.
Working with specialistsRead moreRead less
We also work with setters, engravers and other specialists where a piece calls for it. The work moves between them and the team in our Adelaide studio.