A Little Different, By Design

Meet Janie

I'm Janie, the designer and maker behind The Lucky Sixpence.

I create jewellery and hair adornments for people who like things a little different. Some of my designs are delicate and elegant, others are bold, dramatic and a little unexpected. I love both, and none are made to follow a trend.

I'm drawn to old treasures, unusual details and the possibilities hidden in things that have already lived a life. Sustainability isn't something I've added to my business. It's part of how I live, and it shapes everything I make.

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Where It All Began

My love of jewellery started when I was little. My mum sold Sarah Coventry jewellery, and I spent hours rummaging through her samples, all wrapped in soft green fabric inside a zipped case. The sparkling stones, colours and textures fascinated me. I loved dressing up and imagining who I could be.

I've always been a maker. Alongside my 17-year teaching career, I studied silversmithing for six years and tried just about every craft going, but jewellery was the one that stuck.

In 2010, I made my first headpiece for my own wedding, transforming a 1920s belt buckle I'd found in an antiques shop into something completely my own. Friends began asking me to make pieces for them, word spread, and The Lucky Sixpence grew from there.

After leaving teaching in 2018, I gained further experience in the jewellery industry before making The Lucky Sixpence my full-time focus in 2023.

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Old Treasures, New Stories

I love finding an unusual brooch, buckle or forgotten treasure and imagining who might have owned it and where it's been.

Sometimes it's the shape, colour or sparkle that catches my eye. Other times there's just a feeling about a piece, a certain magnetism that draws me to it. By reworking these treasures, I like to think I'm continuing their story and giving them another chapter.

This feels especially meaningful when I'm entrusted with sentimental jewellery. I believe objects can hold memories and energy, and transforming something that belonged to a loved one into something that can be worn and treasured again is a responsibility I never take lightly.

Alongside vintage finds, I work with surplus and destashed materials, locally sourced components, gemstones and pearls. Often, it's the materials themselves that inspire what I create.

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The Art of Making

I rarely begin with a sketch. My designs tend to develop intuitively, often starting with a particular material, shape or detail that sparks an idea. Once I'm at my workbench, I can lose myself in the process, letting each piece take shape as I work.

But there's a lot of thought and care behind that instinctive approach. My nan always said that the back of your sewing should look as good as the front, and that's something I've carried into my jewellery making.

I'm particular about how things are made, right down to the parts nobody sees. I want every piece to be beautifully finished, with discreet, secure construction and careful attention to how it feels and sits when worn. Whether I'm following my own imagination or bringing someone's bespoke ideas to life, I won't compromise on craftsmanship.