Tania Jackson
Tania Jackson of Mooskin Jewels fuses gold, seashells, precious gems and pearls into fine jewellery pieces that beam with her organic geometric signature . A friend of A4D Founder Bettina over lifetimes.. Tania’s jewellery has a special place in our hearts and on our hands and ears.. forever ever!
What does mother mean to you?
Limitless love, life giving.
You have been working as a fine Jeweller for 25 years now.. How have your ideas grown? How and when did you first come to sit at a Jewellery bench? Talk to us ..
I first sat at the jeweller’s bench when I decided I wanted to make myself a cowrie shell ring, back in the mid 90's, in London. I got back to Australia and set to work.. I completed a number of short jewellery courses and set up a jeweller’s bench. This action has led to a life journey through the contemporary and traditional trade world of jewellery. I started making and selling at markets, stocking stores in Brisbane and Melbourne.
I decided I wanted to up my skill base and completed a 4-year apprenticeship, Certificate III Engineering with Robyn Wernicke of Small Space jewellery in North Fitzroy, Melbourne. The skills developed from working in the trade industry opened my world from making cowrie shells in silver to making claw set diamond rings in platinum.
What is your personal relationship with jewellery?
Jewellery connects me to people, it takes me straight to the heart of a person. Whether it be remodelling family heirlooms, getting together with a couple to design a ring to signify their commitment, or creating bold elegant shapes that my customers treasure forever. I feel absolutely honoured to be an important part of these meaningful moments in the human experience of adornment and ritual.
For what purpose do you create?
I create for many reasons but the main one that I am grateful for at the moment is when I sit at the bench to make, I find peace and calm and it helps everything make sense in this mad but beautiful world.
How do you find flow in your life as a mother, creator and business owner?
When I find it! Juggling teenage boys, 2 dogs, my husband, my mooskin brand and work (I work a 7-day fortnight for QLD jewellery brand Natasha Schweitzer) it’s fantastic! Blissful. However, occasionally I feel I spread myself a bit thin and the flow has a few rocks that need shifting!
Are your cycles of creativity changing with the Seasons?
My cycles in making evolve, rather than change.. some of my work has been in my range since day 1. It’s timeless. I'm definitely not a seasonal fashion person, I seriously don't care about the established fashion cycles.
How is colour significant for your work?
Colour is everything! From the stunning colours of gemstones to the shades of the different carats in gold. Getting colours right can absolutely make or break a piece a jewellery.
Who were you inspired by growing up? Who and/or what inspires you now?
My grandma, she was so steady and strong and Duran Duran of course! In my late teenager years my friend's mother was a well-known QLD jeweller (and still is) knowing that this was possible in a male dominated industry made the idea of becoming a jeweller as a career more real. My boss Marion Schweitzer, the head jeweller behind the Natasha Schweitzer brand was QLD's first female trade jeweller, she still works a 50-60 hour work week and is an absolute perfectionist in everything jewellery. I'm so incredibly lucky to work beside her, a true professional and inspiration. I am mainly inspired by the people in my life, from the people I work with to my friends and family. I find inspiration in all of their stories, on a personal level and a creative one.
Listening to?
Sweet Whirl..a Melbourne singer songwriter, she does a version of 'Have you ever seen the rain' that I love, and her song 'Weirdo' is right up my alley. I guess it's indie.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? How do you see the Mooskin brand evolving in the next few years?
My dogs literally get me out of bed every morning! We are lucky enough to live right by the Toohey forest in Brisbane so we start with a bush walk most mornings, that usually sets us up for a good day. An avocado, cinnamon and banana smoothie also get me going too.
I'm coming to a crossroads with my career/brand, my children will be finishing school in the next few years and becoming more independent. I have a few ideas I'd like to pursue.. it’s super exciting, but some evolution is on the horizon! Watch this space.