More Rooms
Creatives at Home: Maria Breeden in Her Jeweller's Studio
We take a look inside jewellery maker Maria Breeden's converted living room studio, and find out how she stays focused
In our new series, we get to know some of Australia’s talented creatives and the innovative spaces that allow them to let their imaginations run wild
Welcome to the studio of the multi-talented artist and art teacher, Maria Breeden of O bliss jewellery. Maria’s history in creative making spans 20 years, having worked professionally across a diverse range of mediums including ceramics, collage and painting, before going on teach secondary art education a decade ago. Maria completed a one-day silversmithing course back in 2011, and from that fateful day her love affair with silver began.
Based in her Gold Coast Hinterland home of Mudgeeraba, Maria works from a converted living room space, which offers her great creative comfort, practicality and a place to keep all of her inspiration.
Welcome to the studio of the multi-talented artist and art teacher, Maria Breeden of O bliss jewellery. Maria’s history in creative making spans 20 years, having worked professionally across a diverse range of mediums including ceramics, collage and painting, before going on teach secondary art education a decade ago. Maria completed a one-day silversmithing course back in 2011, and from that fateful day her love affair with silver began.
Based in her Gold Coast Hinterland home of Mudgeeraba, Maria works from a converted living room space, which offers her great creative comfort, practicality and a place to keep all of her inspiration.
When Maria worked as a potter with Sean and Kitty, their studio was detached from the house, which was essential for the type of work involved and the extra space it required. Now, when Maria isn’t busy with her teaching workload, she can be found working away in her light-filled studio, just a few short steps away from the family living area.
Despite being a compact space, the room is functional and well organised. “It’s such a privilege to have my own little creative space within our home,” Maria says. “It’s not big, but it is the perfect space for silversmithing.”
Despite being a compact space, the room is functional and well organised. “It’s such a privilege to have my own little creative space within our home,” Maria says. “It’s not big, but it is the perfect space for silversmithing.”
Her jewellery designs are recognisable by their minimalist aesthetic and elegant design. The pieces are very popular sellers worldwide on her Etsy store, as well as locally at The Village Markets in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, where O bliss regularly sets up a pop-up store.
Due to a busy schedule, Maria often gets Sean to help her out with with some of the jewellery making processes. “Sean now loves silversmithing as much as I do,” she says, “and brings a different set of skills to the business.”
As the studio is not set up for two, they tend to spill out in the family living space when working together. “The living room is without a doubt an extension of the studio,” Maria laughs.
As the studio is not set up for two, they tend to spill out in the family living space when working together. “The living room is without a doubt an extension of the studio,” Maria laughs.
Maria and Sean bought their current home in 2005, after a devastating house fire claimed their previous home at the end of 2004. They have been gradually renovating the large 1980s brick home since then, a process they started by knocking out a dividing wall in the living and dining room, which had numerous archways.
They removed this awkward dividing wall to open up the space significantly. It allowed for a smaller room to to be sectioned off at the front of the house, which is where the jeweller’s studio is now located.
They removed this awkward dividing wall to open up the space significantly. It allowed for a smaller room to to be sectioned off at the front of the house, which is where the jeweller’s studio is now located.
To make the silversmithing process run as smoothly as possible, everything in the studio has its place. “It is essential! Everything I need is at arms length,” explains Maria. She cleverly chose a sheet of peg board to mount on the wall as a tool rack, which she then coated with chalkboard paint. It not only allows her to hang her tools neatly, but also provides a decorative display board and surface to write her ‘to-do’ lists on.
Maria notes that some of the tools are more special than others, as she patiently waited to acquire several of them throughout the years. When starting out as a jeweller, she worked with minimal equipment, and was rather inventive in creating makeshift tools.
Maria notes that some of the tools are more special than others, as she patiently waited to acquire several of them throughout the years. When starting out as a jeweller, she worked with minimal equipment, and was rather inventive in creating makeshift tools.
Inside the studio, Maria now has a proper jeweller’s bench – complete with soldering torch and heatproof work areas – set up. “The triumphs are definitely those magical moments when a new design emerges while playing with silver at my bench,” says Maria.
This rolling mill, used for rolling bars of silver into sheet and wire, takes pride of place in front of the window. This is by far the largest piece of equipment in the studio. “My rolling mill was a reward after a successful year selling my jewellery online,” Maria says proudly.
When she isn’t hard at work at the bench, Maria is sitting at her computer doing marketing, updating her website and coming up with new designs. The west-facing studio allows the light in throughout the day, making it a cheerful place to work.
These handy shelves store all of Maria’s O bliss packaging and documents.
Maria has filled her studio with artwork and other treasures made by family, friends and students, as well as fellow creatives she has met at markets and online.
“Other than my tools, I need to have art around me – it feeds my soul,” she says. Maria also enjoys photography and her photographs of creatively draped and hand-modelled jewellery pieces can be seen on her website.
“Other than my tools, I need to have art around me – it feeds my soul,” she says. Maria also enjoys photography and her photographs of creatively draped and hand-modelled jewellery pieces can be seen on her website.
The designer keeps an eclectic mix of treasures on her desk. The ceramic sculpture was made by her sister, Clairy Laurence, the pencil pot is by Shannon Garson and the collage is the work of Maria herself.
Being a teacher often means that Maria gives a lot of her creative energy to her students. “I got to a point where I found myself needing to reconnect to my own creativity,” she says. Her home in the hinterland provides a quiet and relaxing environment where she can leave her worries behind and refocus on her personal creative pursuits.
Maria spent the recent school holidays decorating this new undercover deck at home, which gives her yet another place to collect her thoughts and get creative in her art journal.
Maria spent the recent school holidays decorating this new undercover deck at home, which gives her yet another place to collect her thoughts and get creative in her art journal.
TELL US
Do you have a creative space at home? Show us by posting a picture in the Comments section.
MORE IN THIS SERIES
Nahji Chu in Her Kitchen
Lisa Russell in Her Potter’s Studio
Two Architects in Their Backyard Office
Do you have a creative space at home? Show us by posting a picture in the Comments section.
MORE IN THIS SERIES
Nahji Chu in Her Kitchen
Lisa Russell in Her Potter’s Studio
Two Architects in Their Backyard Office
Name: Maria Breeden of O bliss
Age: 44
Occupation: Silversmith and art teacher
Location: Mudgeeraba, Queensland
What’s made here: Hand-formed sterling silver jewellery
The jeweller shares her home with her husband Sean, their son Jonah, 20, and 17-year-old daughter, Georgia. Sean’s 81-year-old mother, Kitty, lives in a granny flat on the ground floor of the two-storey home.
Sean and Kitty are also creative souls, and previously worked alongside Maria as professional potters. They each took turns to help out with the young children, while also producing works for their family business, known as Burnet Rose Fine Pottery.