Jewels and Journeys Blog

I’ve always had a passion for travel and have literally traveled the four corners of the world. And wherever I go, I seem to find inspiration for my jewellery along the way! Lately, my heart has been drawn to the islands of the South Pacific. Having visited Samoa twice in the past few years, and … Continue reading “Island Dreams of the South Pacific”

Have you ever walked into an exhibition and immediately thought, “OMG, where do I even begin? My heart beating, my adrenaline racing, I stepped forward. That was me when I visited the Cartier Jewellery Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, in Melbourne. As a jeweller, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful jewellery over the … Continue reading “CARTIER Exhibition–A Jeweller’s Dream!”

Every now and then, someone asks me, “What’s the secret to staying in business for so many years?”After more than four decades of designing jewellery, I think I finally know the answer.It’s not because I’ve always had the perfect business plan.It’s not because every design has been a bestseller.And it’s certainly not because the journey … Continue reading “The Long Game: Four Decades of Creating Jewellery (and Still Loving It!)”

“Is this a joke?” That was the question collectively asked by designers, creatives, artists, and fashionistas around the world in response to the just-released Pantone “Colour of the Year.”When I heard that Pantone had announced their Colour of the Year for 2026, called Cloud Dancer, I was, of course, intrigued, especially having just released my … Continue reading “Pantone Colour of the Year: “Cloud Dancer””

In a world full of fast fashion and mass production, I find handmade jewellery to be a breath of fresh air. It carries with it something that can never be replicated by a machine, which is the touch of the maker, the hours of care, and the quiet devotion to craft. When you choose one … Continue reading “Why Handmade Matters: The Heart Behind Each Piece”

Why do I Create? (Why do I breathe?) I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. It’s not something I ever sat down and decided to do, it’s something that’s always lived inside me. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but always there. Whether it’s creating a pair of earrings with vintage buttons, pearls, gemstones, … Continue reading ““My Creative Spirit””

What a magical afternoon the “Watermelon Blue–Re-Thinking Your Relationship with Colour” book launch was at the beautiful Old Witta School a few Sundays ago. After a drippy, wet morning, the sun came out just as the launch opened. 118 friends, family and fans showed up and I was so pleased! The champagne & punch was … Continue reading “The “Watermelon Blue: Re-Thinking Your Relationship with Colour” book Launch at The Old Witta School”

Have you ever attended an event, that has simply left you speechless? This is how I felt when I visited the Vivian Westwood Exhibition, but I’ll try my best to put into words the experience. Also, in no way do the photos do this exhibition justice, but hopefully gives you a bit of an idea … Continue reading “Vivian Westwood Exhibition-Truly Phenomenal!”

University I did it, I did it…I DID IT!!!! If you heard a joyful sound coming from my home office a few weeks ago, that was me with a great cry of joy as I finished my last assignment, submitted it and therefore completed my University Degree. This is a journey I began in 1977, … Continue reading “Life Update!”

Jewellery Trends vs. Timeless Design: Why Classic Pieces Never Go Out of Style Jewellery isn’t just something we wear—it tells our stories, marks special moments, and becomes part of who we are. I am thrilled when I run into a customer who is wearing a piece of my jewellery and she shares with me the … Continue reading ““It’s just a piece of jewellery until it’s yours, then it becomes a Treasure!””

What is Sterling Silver in Jewellery? If you love jewellery (and you must, if you follow me!) chances are you know of sterling silver. It’s one of the most popular and versatile materials used in crafting beautiful pieces, in my case pendants and earrings. What exactly is sterling silver and what makes it so special … Continue reading “What really is sterling silver?”

Discovering the Charm of Antique 1800s Era Buttons!Let’s take a stroll back in time to the 1800s, an era brimming with charm, elegance and intricate craftsmanship. We’re diving into the world of antique buttons, those small yet significant pieces that adorned garments and added a touch of personality and style to everyday attire. Whether you’re … Continue reading “1800’s Era Antique Buttons”

Renée Blackwell Jewellery Design has a new look and feel after undergoing a “Soft Re-Brand”.The purpose is to make your online experience better, easier and more fluid while exploring the treasures on the website. We have updated the logo as well as introduced a new pearl logo which reflects the exciting, expanded pearl collection. Additionally, … Continue reading ““Same Only Better!””

When was the last time you truly stepped outside your comfort zone, and undertook a whole new project or direction in life? In the past few months, I’ve done just that, and here’s the story. In 1977 I stared my university life at a small college in St. Paul, Minnesota, far from where I was … Continue reading “University Adventures!”

I grew up riding and still love all things horse related. My childhood horse, Shenandoahwas a beautiful chestnut coloured Quarter-horse, which I adored. I attended a wonderfulriding camp every summer, my entire childhood, into early adulthood. Over the yearsI have ridden a bit here and there, including hiring a guide to ride with me at … Continue reading “Out of the jewellery studio, and on a horse!”

I’ll admit to being late to the pearl lovers community. For over 30 years of creating jewellery I’ve used everything from gemstones, semi-precious stones, gold, silver, copper, antique & vintage buttons, ceramics & porcelain, up-cycled & found items, wood, glass & crystals. It wasn’t until 6 years ago, when I along with hundreds of other … Continue reading “Pearls, Gems of the Sea!”

When I was about 12 years old, my Mom surprised me by saying I could redecorate my bedroom with the colours of my choice, and I was thrilled. I sat down with a box of crayons, and made my own colour swatches, combining a variety of colours I thought looked good together. After several days, … Continue reading “Colour!”

The small town of Yowah, Queensland is home to the annual Yowah Opal Festival, an event I had longed to attend for many years. With international travel off the radar for the foreseeable future, we thought this was the perfect time to venture into the great Queensland outback. I had also wanted to create a … Continue reading “Yowah Opal Festival & The Great Queensland Outback!”

Travel…What’s That?There was a time, not so long ago (pre-Covid), when I traveled a lot. I come from a long line of travelers, grew up traveling with my family and it’s in my blood. As the years passed, I continued on my own, traveling the four corners of the world. When I started creating jewellery, … Continue reading “Falkland Island & the Penguins!”

For over 30 years I’ve created jewellery. Literally thousands of earrings & bracelets, hundreds of rings and pendants and assorted “other” goodies to adorn the body. I’ve sold these at markets, home parties, to friends and family and at one stage, we were in 144 jewellery stores around Australia. I now sell exclusively online. When … Continue reading ““Connections””

March 8, 2021 I last visited London five years ago. At that time we visited every button, antique, haberdashery, rock and gem shop available. Spending every single moment, of every single day (ten days in all) sourcing treasures to work with in my jewellery creations. I had heard about the London Silver Vaults, but had … Continue reading “London Silver Vaults”

Feb. 17, 2021 Walking thru’ life… I asked my Facebook followers a few days ago “what do you do for exercise?” I received a few answers, which consisted of “a bit of this, a bit of that” with many just saying they try and stay active, which we all know is better than nothing.Me? Well, … Continue reading “Jewels & Journeys”

Jan. 27, 2021 Welcome to the first installment of “Jewels & Journeys with Renee”. It’s hard to know where to start. The beginning of my jewellery journey, the years in the middle, or what’s happening currently in my jewellery world. I have customers who have been purchasing my designs almost from the day I started, … Continue reading “Welcome to Jewels & Journeys-First installment!”