Silver solver

JEWELLERY: Being made redundant prompted Una Griffin to set up her own business

UNA GRIFFIN SELLSbeautiful, funky sterling silver jewellery she imports from Mexico – from her front room in Ranelagh, Dublin 4. Prices are keen as she has no overheads, and the single mum is finally following her dream.

“It was being made redundant earlier this year that made me think, things are so bad, I may as well give this a shot. I have always loved jewellery, since I was given a jewellery-making set when I was about seven. I have been tinkering away since, but never tried to make a living from it.”

She took €3,000 from her post-office savings account and took off to Mexico to buy silver, with little more information about how to do it than she had gleaned from some Google searching. A week away, a journey up dirt-tracks to mining villages three hours outside Mexico city, and a bit of luck later, she had what she wanted: samples of beautiful, funky, John Rocha-esque silver jewellery and beads she knew she loved and hoped others would, too.

She set up a stall in her kitchen one evening and invited friends, and their friends, for an evening of wine and silver, and the pieces “flew out the door”.

Almost all of the pieces are sterling silver – and so last forever, in and out of the shower – and are akin to the kind of work you would expect to find in Designyard or Kilkenny Design.

The pieces include: rings with funky, bright blown glass “stones” in silver plate, the least expensive costing €12; silver beaded and agate bracelets costing between €30 and €35; and chunky but sophisticated silver rings at €45. She also has simple pendants and necklaces – some of which can be worn a number of lengths and ways depending on how they are fixed around the neck – for between €60 and €135.

She has converted her front room into a shop, with display cabinets, a sales desk and a business name – Lovu. "Well, it's the return of the cottage industry isn't it?," she says with a laugh. Kitty Holland

Lovu is at 19 Cherryfield Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 (Tuesday to Thursday, 9.30am-2pm and Tuesday, 6-8pm). www.lovu.ie