Made in Scotland: Aubin Jewellery
Our Made in Scotland blog this month features the incredibly talented Aubin Stewart, founder of Aubin Jewellery. Aubin takes scavenged objects, pre-made plastics and waste materials to create beautiful, colourful and contemporary jewellery. We first came across Aubin’s delightful designs in our previous Made in Scotland Blog when we interviewed Fiona from Camban Studios. Fiona praised Aubin’s playful take on jewellery design and her re-use of existing materials. After checking out Aubin for ourselves we agreed entirely and couldn’t wait to find out more about her inspiration and techniques for making this unique, eye catching and colourful jewellery that we happen to think pairs rather well with Scottish made knitwear! Read on to find out more!
Aubin Stewart
Can you tell us how your business got started?
Following completing a degree in jewellery design at DJCAD in 2000, I worked in the jewellery trade for over 10 years before really delving into designing my own collections. It’s been a really gradual process for me, starting at my kitchen table in 2012 to now having my own creative studio within a community of makers at Deemouth Artists Studios in Aberdeen.
Made in Scotland: Aubin Jewellery
Where do you look for inspiration when you are designing new products?
I see the beauty in everyday things, from the colour palette of the tubs of ice cream in the supermarket to the geometric structures of a children’s playpark, I enjoy seeking out inspiration in mundane things. I collect found objects from the beach or the street sometimes for inspiration and sometimes I use them directly in my work. I am always taking pictures to record colour palettes, form and patterns that inspire me and I love a rake round a second hand or junk shop.
Made in Scotland: Aubin Jewellery
Can you tell us a bit more about how you make your products?
I often use found materials, or repurpose materials in a way where I need to make new discoveries about how a particular material will respond to being manipulated. This means my process usually involves lots of experimentation and material testing initially to see how a material will respond to being cut, pierced or drilled in a way that I can make is usable without any unwanted distortion. For example, at the moment I am using Formica which I veneer onto various types of wood given to me by a luthier (guitar maker) each with their own character and hardness. I do really love a crisp finish whether I am using wood, found plastic or metal, so my process usually involves lots of filing and sanding!
Made in Scotland: Aubin Jewellery
What are your most popular products and which are your own favourites?
Earrings are definitely my most popular designs, the materials I work with are normally quite light in terms of weight, therefore if you want to go big they feel really comfortable on the lobes and don’t drag on your ears. I am a big fan of comfort when it comes to anything that I wear and try to think about this a lot when I am making jewellery, it has to be easy to wear and comfortable as well as reflecting your own personal style and I do love a BIG EARRING!
Cullen and the Moray Coast
If you had to pick one place in Scotland to recommend that people visit, where would it be?
A family favourite of ours is exploring the Moray Coast, the climate is warmer than the harsh north east, making swimming in the sea a highlight for us and the sunsets are incredible. Anywhere up there is great but I recommend Cullen, a firm favourite of ours. It is a really pretty place, has a great beach, ice cream of course and lots of second hand shops for such a wee place.
Forget Me Not Vase by Mhairi McBeath
Which other Scottish Makers do you love to recommend?
Mhairi McBeath Designs, a recent graduate of Grays School of Art where I teach part time and a fellow studio buddy at Deemouth Studios. I really enjoy her ceramic objects and homeware pieces due to her playful use of form, colour palette and surface pattern. I’ve already started collecting her pieces!
Thanks so much to Aubin for sharing with us about her gorgeous pictures. Make sure to check out Aubin Jewellery on their Website, Facebook and Instagram – to help plan your upcoming gifts, whether for others or for yourself!