Jeweller with heart of gold launches plus size brand
A LEEDS-based entrepreneur who left the corporate world behind to become a jeweller has launched the first bespoke, plus-size jewellery brand after being made redundant from Asda this year.
49-year-old Lisa Prudhoe has been forging handmade jewellery for six years and has now launched her online business selling unique Stirling silver pieces.
Hjarta – which means heart in Swedish – offers a range of unique wares including unusual necklaces inspired by nature, matching father and son cufflinks and motivational bracelets.
Lisa said: “My friends and family planted the seed saying I think you should do this as a full time job. I saw being made redundant as an opportunity to give it a try and thought if I don’t do it now I never will.
“I’d always planned on doing something later in life but I decided to take the leap of faith while I had some money to support me.”
Having lost her mum at 18, Lisa has always been determined to make her mother proud and live by her motto.
“She always said don’t be afraid to try anything – you can do anything that you want to do, just don’t forget to pick yourself up if it knocks you down.
“Now, if somebody says to me I don’t think you’ll be able to do that, that’s my red flag to say well watch me.”
Lisa wanted to find something she could do for herself and found that due to having larger hands than most, she couldn’t find the right size bangles or rings on the high street.
“I’m nearly 6ft tall and although I look like my mum, I’ve got my dad’s big hands but I love jewellery and I love sparkly things so I thought maybe that’s a way of getting creativity back in my life.”
After enrolling in a 6-week beginner course and forging her own rings as an outlet to relieve stress, Lisa was inspired and wanted to help others who, just like her, struggled to find jewellery that fit.
“I want customers to have something unique to them and because I make everything with love and by hand, no two pieces are the same.”
All of Lisa’s pieces are made-to-order and are designed and forges at her workshop located in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The brand also offers a bespoke service where customers can come to Lisa with a design or idea that she will then create especially for them.
She now plans to “continue to share the Hjarta love” so that anyone who purchases a product, becomes part of the “Hjarta family”. The entrepreneur also intends to open up a creative space in Yorkshire, serving as a coffee shop, bar, jewellery store and workshop all in one.
She added: “The end goal is to combine jewellery making with jewellery teaching so using my training and development background to run classes for people who were in the same position I was in 2010 or people who think they’re not creative and can’t do it and I’ll show them that they can.”
