So I have a confession to make. I love jewellery, it’s not an obsession where I madly purchase everything I see but it’s been a passion that has slowly been simmering in the back of my mind. I’ve been lucky enough to have traveled to many places like Thailand, Singapore and Dubai and purchased some amazing pieces which one day I will pass onto my daughters. And this is where it kind of begins. Gold and silver is a huge part of our culture (Turkish Cypriot/Turkish). Our grandmothers and many generations before have often saved many pieces of fine jewellery so that they can hand these over to the next generation. I have a special ring with a beautiful pink gem that was given to me by my late grandmother which was something she had picked up from the bazaars she had visited in Egypt when she was a young girl.

Meeting my husband in Turkey has broadened and intensified my love for our traditional pieces of jewellery. The evil eye charm for example. You will not find a Turkish home without it. It’s become such a statement that it’s recognised immediately. It’s meaning so simple “to protect us from all evil”.

I remember my husband taking me to the bazaars in istanbul and telling me not to speak because the price would double almost immediately, little did he know that they were too smart, they knew I was foreign just by the way I dressed. So we would trail from one stall and shop to another, everyone trying to entice you with their gifts, gold that glistened in the sun, turquoise gems that were the brightest of blues, sterling silver earrings that just were exquisite in design. I wanted them all! It was so thrilling just being there and seeing all the hand crafted gems set into rings and necklaces, I was overwhelmed and I could feel all my senses heightened by being surrounded by all this beauty. I wanted more, I wanted to be part of the creation!