Six years ago, as Jillian Ritchie was leaving hospital, she visited a bead store with her mother.
“I just went into the store and kind of fell in love with it. I started to make jewelry and just really enjoyed it,” Ritchie says. “When I first started I didn’t really know what I was doing,” she laughs.
Initially the jewelry she made was just for herself but, after a long learning process spanning several years, she became a self-taught, skilled jewelry maker specializing in delicate work using semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and gold chains.
She sold her creations to the public for the first time at a local Christmas fair, but in spring of 2010, when her mother heard about the Squamish Farmers’ Market, they thought it would be a great place to set up a stand. She’s now a regular at the market with her booth, Delight Designs.“I do all different kinds of jewelry, including bracelets, earrings and necklaces,” she says. “I also like to use a lot of different gemstones and colours.
“Right now, I really like working with druzy. It’s a type of sparkly gemstone that comes in a lot of different colours. I didn’t even know about it until a year or two ago, but it’s really become more popular.”
It’s been quite a journey up to this point, though, including her diagnosis almost 20 years ago of mitochondrial myopathy, a metabolic muscle disease.
“Before my illness I was very into sports. When I got sick, jewelry became a creative outlet for me and was something I could spend my time doing,” Ritchie explains.
“When I first started, I never expected to be doing it as a business. I just wanted something to be positive about. But I fell in love with it and went from there.
“I love being able to go out to suppliers, find all these amazing stones and chains… and make whatever I want with them, combining them in ways that make them even prettier.”
She also takes great pleasure from others’ enjoyment of her designs. “I like to see people with my jewelry. I think jewelry makes you happy – it’s uplifting, and I like that aspect of it.”
Ritchie can’t always be at the stand all day, so her mother has been a huge support. “My mom really helps me and does most of my stands,” she explains. “She’s been amazing… a huge, huge help.”
Ritchie enjoys creating all the jewelry. “It’s nice being able to focus on something. It helps me stay positive and be creative and useful, and feel like I’m accomplishing something,” she says. Delight Designs will be at Squamish Farmers’ Market towards the end of January and beginning of February.
