Background

I'm half Japanese and half English, my mother is from the north part of the mainland, my father is from Winchester in the UK. Although I was born in Co. Cork Ireland, we moved to Japan when I was 2, then to the UK when I was 13. During our time in Japan, we travelled to India and Thailand and spent a lot of time in those places as a family, and then later I travelled to there on my own as an adult too.

My parents are potters, we lived in Kasama which has been a home for
pottery and potters in Japan for centuries, which meant growing up in a heavily creative environment. I'm sure that seeing my parents, my friends parents and the people around me making a living from their creativity and craft has influenced me to become a jewellery designer and crafts person.

I spent a lot of time travelling to different countries for the early part of my adult life. I studied jewellery making and metal smithing in Tasco ( Mexico ), which is where I did my most formal training. And since then I have built up my creative business, I opened my studio /store in Ashburton in 2013, we will be coming into the 10th year this summer which is exciting.

We ( as a business ) recently teamed up with Peace Direct to donate a portion of our sales to support their international charity dedicated to stopping wars, one person at a time. In conflict zones around the world, they support local people to stop violence and build long term peace.

I'm proud to create beautiful pieces and have a positive impact on the world. I feel safe in the knowledge that our jewellery does not come at a cost to those creating it or the environment.

I'm committed to reducing the impact that manufacturing luxury goods has on our planet. Every piece of my jewellery is handcrafted and ethically sourced using either 100% recycled silver from a Fairtrade refiner in the UK or Single Mine Origin (SMO) gold. The gemstones and diamonds are sourced from Fairtrade mines.

I understand my actions have an impact on the world, therefore my desire  is to support and sustain others in a positive way where I can, giving me a deeper purpose by helping shape a positive future.

I now live on Dartmoor in Devon with my family and I am a regular drinker of OMGTea. We have a small coffee machine in the studio and we love to have a matcha latte for our mid afternoon break.

The OMGTea 60 Second Interview

1. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

I would curl up on a comfy sofa in front of a wood burning stove in my
comfy clothes with a blanket and good book and spend the day reading and
snacking on delicious food!

2. Who’s the person you’d most like to share a cup of matcha with and why?

My Father - He still lives in Japan, so we haven't been able to visit him for the past couple of years due to the pandemic, I miss him a great deal. I feel that time is the most precious thing in life, and to share a cup of Matcha means sharing ones time too.

3. How has a failure or apparent failure set you up for later success?

Failure is the best teacher! It's the best opportunity to learn and grow. I think no experience is a waste f you can learn from it.

4. In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

I completely stopped drinking when I became pregnant with our little one
six years ago. It transformed my ability to focus, build confidence and feel good about myself and what I'm doing.

5. What is the best piece of advice you could give someone?

I don't know where it comes from, but I love the quote " life is an experiment " ( it might be Ghandi ), and I'd love to pass this on as a piece of advice. Play, try things, experiment and build experiences. The experiences you have will shape you as a person. So be mindful of the choices you make.

6. What would you sing at Karaoke night?

Love on Top by Beyoncé