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Tina Dunne jewellery

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Paua shell and sterling silver

In thinking about my life I could say a few things that describe me. I'm not talking about my life as a wife and mother which has been an amazing journey but about who I am. I would say I'm a singer, I love exploring vocal sounds and singing spontaneously, there is nothing more exciting! I am also a psychotherapist and part of being a therapist is about being ok with not knowing where the therapy is heading, being curious about what is there rather than afraid, it helps when building a relationship. I also love being around natural materials such as silver, stone, shell, wood etc. I cannot explain it but a handful of raw paua shell creates a feeling of being connected. It is this longing to connect with nature, people and God that energises me as a singer, a therapist and more lately a jewellery maker. I don't see myself as a great jewellery maker, it's more that I love the journey it takes me on. 

I love working with silver. I love the feel of the silver wire as I push and pull it into shapes. I have a passion for creating spirals with the wire. The Spiral feels quite symbolic to me, as I turn the wire I feel like I am on a journey that is going somewhere important. It feels like I am creating the pathway, turning it how I want it to go whilst at the same time following a pathway that someone else is leading me on, like I'm not alone. It's a comforting feeling.  

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Sterling silver and natural stone

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One tired old pair of Earrings transformed into two new pairs

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I also love change. I have moved many times in my life and loved the, sometimes painful, growth that change brings. If I go too long without change I start to feel less inspired and more dull within myself. I think that is because change challenges settled ways of thinking within me and pushes for new thinking and responses to adapt to the new situation and I feel more alive because of it. I love seeing old buses converted to libraries or containers converted to cafes. I love seeing old bikes, machinery or Belfast sinks converted to flower or veggie containers. It really excites me. I was recently given an old pair of earrings by a good friend of mine. They were huge with many pieces dangling from them. My friend had had them for years and wanted me to have them. I immediately saw what they could become and asked if I could break them up which she happily agreed to. They were very old and there was lots of rust on the stones from the metal that was used. I loved taking off all the old metal and taking it right back to the stone and building two fresh new pairs of earrings. It speaks to me of having to let go of the old sometimes in order to make room for the new.

More new from old

One of the countries I moved to when I was younger was New Zealand. I went with my husband and two boys and my daughter was born there. That is where I discovered paua shell. It is the most beautiful shell with amazing natural colours, no two pieces are the same. Ah New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud, thank you for your paua shell!  

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Sterling silver and Paua shell. 

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Sterling silver and natural stone

I was born and raised in Ireland, in a suburb of Dublin. That's where my singing started. We had regular music sessions when I was growing up. All my family are creative but one of my sisters is one of the most creative people I know. She has always believed in me and is the reason I started making jewellery, albeit late in life. You can take the woman out of Ireland but you cannot take the Celt out of the woman and it most definitely comes out in my work. 

I don't why I love Connemara marble so much. I think it's history for me as it is a famous gem in Ireland but the stone is gorgeous. There is such a variation of green colour, some quite dark and sophisticated with lighter green running through it. I love the feel of it and really enjoyed working with it too.  

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Connemara marble & Sterling silver

My jewellery is for sale in our online boutique. Please feel free to visit, our shop sign above will take you there.  

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