Jeweller wins National Youth award
Young spark Sophie Divett has burst into the jewellery scene winning an award and claiming a finalist position at this year’s Etsy awards.
A jewellery designer has kickstarted her career after winning a Waikato award.
Sophie Divett, 26, had her work displayed at ArtsPost in Hamilton after winning a National Youth Art award, run by the Waikato Society of Arts.
She won this year’s Dr Michael Merriman 3D award for a brooch entitled Permutation #5.
She was also a finalist in this year’s Etsy Australia and New Zealand awards.
The Wellington-based “self taught” jewellery designer has a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design and is half way through a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Jewellery Design) at Whitireia in Wellington.
The former hobby progressed into a business and she is starting to see it pay off, with the award win helping to increase sales.
“I have an alarm that goes off at 9:30pm each night, which means it’s time to stop working,” she said.
Divett said her inspiration comes from a love of nature, with her pieces reflecting the sea and forest.
She said she uses ethically sourced materials with her ring being sent to a casting company which uses conflict-free sterling silver.
“I’ve just recently became a qualified diamond buyer for conflict-free diamonds,” she said.
Divett has advice for other budding creatives.
“Prepare yourself for a lot of hard work! A business is really easy to start, but if you want to see it successful you need to really want it to happen. Seeing all of that hard work starting to pay off is the best feeling ever, though. If you want to do it, do it.”
