I am always on the lookout for new and fabulous fashion accessories to enhance my outfits. Handbags are my ‘ thing ‘ but coming a close second are earrings. They can light up your face, convey your mood and make a statement.They are often the first thing you notice about someone’s ensemble as you look at their face.
With a new collection called RAINFOREST. REEF. ROCK, Kelly Woodcroft’s upbringing in Far North Queensland has inspired her new jewellery range. Kelly is also a 90’s rock chick, so later influences are grunge bands of the 90’s. This makes for an eclectic range of covetable jewellery boasting something for every taste.
This proud Queenslander fittingly launched her range, which includes thunderbolts, on a stormy night in Brisbane. She Society, along with a raft of Brisbane’s fashion set, gathered at Fortitude Valley’s hip Iris Rooftop Bar to celebrate this artisan and her work.
We arrived at the wisteria covered bar and were warmly greeted by Kelly who is reminiscent of a cool Sarah Jessica Parker with her textured blonde lob, wearing a covetable black tulle skirt and pink top, along with her own bespoke earrings – Summer Storm. These earrings are hand drawn lightning bolt shaped earrings crafted in sterling silver and encrusted with diamonds.They are truly a statement piece which would find a happy home in any fashionista’s wardrobe. The well dressed crowd enjoyed champagne and canapés whilst browsing through Kelly’s bespoke collection.
Greeted by the striking Kath Rose, wearing pink tulle and French navy and the lovely Shelby Ackerman in cool black, I spied plenty of familiar faces in the crowd. Fashion doyenne Di Cant was a vision in gold and our own Aussie Iris, Suzanne, brought the colour in a striking Bonita Collective design. Culture Vulcha, Teresa Keleher, always has the most striking jewellery and artistically on point outfits and she delighted in a sheer black pussy bow shirt and colourful pants. I spied businessman and coffee guru Brendan Harris, beautiful radio announcer Robin Bailey, stylists Liz Golding and Anna Stokes Zerner and designers Gina Kim and the fabulous Lee Buchanan. Our own Queensland Lady, Linda Lola, fit the rock chick vibe wearing a metallic jumpsuit and Gucci belt. Blogger and influencer Emma from Brisbanista and I enjoyed catching up while learning more about Kelly’s unique vision for her brand.
About Kelly Woodcroft
Kelly is a former banker, wife and mum of two who decided to study jewellery design. As a new mum she was driven to design and fulfil her lifelong dream using her freshly minted jewellery certification. She took a leap of faith and followed her truth by beginning to create jewellery from the heart and soul. For Kelly life is about making a statement and her collections reflect this by being bold yet understated, beautiful yet edgy, sexy yet elegant. Kelly hand designs for confident women who choose to show their true sparkle and beauty to the world every day.
The 39 year old designer grew up in Cairns and Far North Queensland before moving to Brisbane. She describes her own style as, “ a little bit Kate Moss and a little bit Courtney Love. The grunge soundtrack from bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam was the soundtrack of my formative years.”
About the Collection
Kelly’s jewellery uses a beautiful blend of traditional jewellery techniques and cutting – edge technology to create stunning designs of premium quality. Her designs begin in the sketch phase with many being hand sketched. Kelly uses natural materials , luxury metals and semi – precious stones to create a cohesive seasonal palette. This first collection is a stunning homage to the wonders of nature juxtaposed to big city glamour.
Kelly creates her collection in a studio under her house, with up to nine hours spent on each piece. The collection RAINFOREST. REEF. ROCK. introduces such special pieces as Angel Fish, featuring Marquise Cabochon cut Mother of Pearl eye set on gold with a faceted Triangle Pyrite in Sterling Silver. For the cool rock chicks look no further than Summer Storm, Kelly’s hand – drawn lightning bolt earrings in sterling silver encrusted with petite diamonds. I loved the simplicity of form found in Ulysses and Lightning, sterling silver butterflies and lightning bolts. Showstoppers Bottlebrush , combine pink and orange beautifully with a pink stone and orange carnelian.The elegant Orchid are pretty as a picture with delicate silver flowers and rose quartz drops.
Although Kelly has had to re-think and change with the advent of COVID she was determined to share her love of great jewellery with her forward – fashion thinking clients. Whether it’s blinding Summer storms here in Queensland, reflecting tropical fish and native flora and fauna or a sold- out front row – Kelly offers you an enchanting window into her world through a shared love of bespoke beauty. Welcome to the world of fashion – RAINFOREST. REEF. ROCK.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
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