Mara Designs - From the Sea
"Mara" is the irish word for the sea: as a passionate scuba diver, I get a lot of inspiration from my time on the water. The waters around Ireland are some of the most spectacular and rich diving spots in the world, full of interesting rock formations, walls of stunning jewel anenomies and teeming with characterful fish. I love that through my work, I can give the wearer of my pieces some of the peace and joy I experience underwater.
Mission
I want to give my customers jewellery that's playful and eye-catching while still being comfortable and light to wear!
I absolutely LOVE colour and texture, both in jewellery and in painting, so a lot of my pieces have textures applied to them to give them depth and a tactile element and change how they catch the light. In terms of colour, I'm obsessed with the silver /gold combination....I think it looks really chic and the range of colours available from the Titanium is endlessly fascinating. I've also done a lot of enamelling in the past and I may go back to enamelling for a future collection - watch this space!
About the maker
I'm a qualified Mechanical Engineer and worked as an Engineer for 25 years, both in Ireland and the UK. But in 2021, I made the decision to turn jewellery making into a career. So I left my job, signed up for a full-time jewellery making course and haven't looked back!
I now work from my home close to the Nire Valley in rural County Waterford, creating my jewellery and running my business. I sell online and in the Tudor Artisan Hub in Carric on Suir as well as various craft markets - follow me on Instagram or Facebook to get updated on markets!.
Handmade
Each piece of jewelry I create is meticulously handcrafted in my workshop in County Waterford. The process of transforming a design from paper to a wearable piece of art is truly a passion of mine. There's something incredibly fulfilling about bringing a concept to life that enhances the natural beauty of the wearer.
Many of my designs begin as flat sheets of metal, but I love adding dimension through shaping and hammering. I'm especially drawn to how textures interact with light, which is why I use a variety of techniques—such as hammers, punches, texturing mops, and the roll mill—to give each piece depth and movement.
Color plays an essential role in my work, and this is where my love for Titanium comes in. Its stunning range of blues and purples is captivating, and while working with this metal is challenging, the rich colors and lustrous finish make it worth every bit of effort.
In addition to metalwork, gemstones and pearls also feature in many of my designs. While most of my collection is crafted in silver, I also create stunning pieces in gold, offering a wide range of options to suit every taste.