Featured Maker: Lee Arthur

Mar 20, 2025

March: MEET THE MAKER

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Hello makers,

Today’s maker is local silversmith Lee Arthur from Pretty Birds Jewellery. Not only does Lee make beautiful, timeless sterling silver jewellery in her shed/studio, but she is also a life coach, one of the main organisers of Encraftment Market, and was one of the first people I met in the makers scene here in Ōtautahi Christchurch (Lee introduced to me The Kōwhai Collective, a local design store run by designers and makers).

I think Lee says it best when she says:

It’s a beautiful thing being a maker. Part of what drives us, I think, is the joy and pleasure we get in the joy and pleasure people get from our creations.

Here is Lee’s story.

How long have you been working as a maker or artist professionally or as an entrepreneur?

I put business legs on my "hobby" in 2010. My husband saw how many pieces I was making and said "You need to start selling those." My bet is that he's not the first partner to say that to a crafter! Back then I was making a very different style of jewellery to sterling silver and it sold like hot cakes but then that style trend waned so I started making more sterling silver jewellery, which is more timeless and suits my personal style better I think.

Did you switch careers from something more traditional to become a maker/artist? Can you give us a little about the path you have taken?

I was a Food Science Technician working in a lab to start with, then a Primary School teacher before teaching English in South Korea for three years. We came back from there when I was pregnant with my first child. By the time he was two I was bored and needed something adultish to do so I did a course at the Silversmiths Guild and have been dabbling ever since. I only really got intentional about running a business after my third child was born and I needed to do something that would let me stay at home with the kids. There were some quite long days there early on!

Do you experience imposter syndrome, and if so, how do you manage that?

I think it's really common to have imposter syndrome. I don't feel it so much now - I wonder if that's one of the perks of getting older? This is where I remind myself that my business is my business and my journey is my journey, knowing my style and my niche, and having an attitude of being supportive of other people's journeys. I've made decisions in my business to benefit me and my family and how much capacity I have and they're different from other people's decisions. I also remember that I've been silversmithing for 18 years now so that's got to count for something!

What are your most important values in making the work you do?

The integrity of the product. Making sure it is something I'm proud of, that it reflects my style, and is made well.
It gives value for the customer and for myself. The customer is getting a beautiful product at a price they know reflects the quality and I'm making something I value and my skills feel respected at the price I sell it for.

What resources or communities have been most valuable in your journey?

Definitely some online silversmithing communities have been invaluable with knowledge about the work. I've also really enjoy being a part of the crafty community in Christchurch and love chatting with other makers. A few years ago, I got a lot out of being a member of Tizzit.co, learning about all different aspects of running a handmade business.

I'm often curious when I see makers share all the different ways they make their art or business work financially. Can you share if you have various income streams?

I have a few different income streams. It's difficult to make a full-time living being an artisan. I love making jewellery and doing it fills my bucket, I find it quite calming and meditative. However I also need to be around people and able to pour out of that bucket to fill my extrovert side. I do that by being a Life Coach, and also a part of the Encraftment Market organisation team. And beyond that, I spend a few hours a week as support worker for a disabled family member. I'm not great at doing the same thing day after day, week after week so it suits me to be doing different things. At this point in my life, it's about life harmony and making sure my needs are met as much as meeting those of the people around me.

Do you find time to experiment with your creativity now that it's also your job?

I probably experiment more than I should! I'm an experiential learner so when I want to learn a new technique I do it by doing it. It can be wasteful sometimes, but silver is recycleable thankfully.

How do you approach future planning in your creative work or business?

The more I learn my craft the more I see future directions so usually that means being intentional about professional development and learning new skills. Business-wise, I try to learn from people who have been there, done that.

What are the most common challenges you face being a maker or artist?

Being everything. When it's just you, you have to do all the jobs. Although I have gotten to a point where I pay people to do a few things for me now, like my accounting/tax stuff and my SEO and Google ads stuff. My time is better served on the things I'm good at and paying others for the things they're good at and I'm not.

If you could tell people who are thinking of starting a handmade business, what advice would you give them?

Do your research. Loving to make something or thinking other people will love it doesn't necessarily translate into dollars unfortunately. Make sure what you want to make is saleable. Find your niche and your customers - your budget is not necessarily your customers budget so don't charge what you'd pay for it! Work out the right price for your niche, so that it can make a profit for you and the time you put in. Probably the best market research you can do is at Craft Markets. Start small and listen to what people say, who is attracted to your stall, what they pick up, and what they buy. Not every kind of market will fit your product so that's all learning too.

You can find more of Lee’s beautiful jewellery on her website: prettybirds.co.nz, on felt: felt.co.nz/shop/prettybirds and on instagram @prettybirdsjewellery.

If you know some amazing makers or artists and think their work needs to be shared far and wide, put their links in a comment below! I’m sure every one of us would love to check out more creative talent in the world (especially as a distraction to what’s currently going on, ugh).

Until next time, happy making everyone,

Esta

Featured Maker: Lee Arthur

Here is Lee’s story.

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