Story by Marshall Ward; photography by Sara Geidlinger
Jeweled By Jules offers beautiful, handcrafted jewelry at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market.
Owner Julie Brown learned the basics of jewelry-making from her daughter-in-law, and was inspired to create Jeweled By Jules after retiring from a 30-year career as a hairdresser.
Brown is one of the women entrepreneurs that the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market is showcasing in celebration of Women’s History Month through March.
“I needed to find a niche to stand out,” she recalls, “so I pulled out a copper ring that I picked up on a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I loved that ring from the day I bought it and thought, ‘I can do that!’”
Jeweled By Jules was at the outdoor market for three years before moving inside Peddler’s Village in the fall of 2020.
“I have come a long way from the first designs I made,” she recalls. “Between trial and error, and a few tips from people that actually knew what they were doing, I have mastered skills I never thought possible.”
Striking colours decorate Brown’s welcoming shop, filled with exquisite, handmade copper jewelry.
“Early on I realized turquoise was the colour that best suited copper, as it naturally oxidizes to that colour,” she says. “I use many methods to achieve that colour from alcohol ink on the copper to real turquoise semi-precious stones.”
She also works with bonsai trees embedded among semi-precious stones like amethyst, rose quartz, and black obsidian.
“The process is kind of exciting, starting with stranded copper wire and ending up with a beautiful bonsai tree. They continue to be a favourite, and sometimes I make them during market hours and people stop and watch.”
Brown says Peddler’s Village is the ideal place to showcase her jewelry, and that she is grateful for every customer who stops by to browse and chat.
“Peddler’s Village has a little bit of everything, and the vibe on a Saturday market day is like none other, from the food and the energy of shoppers to the vendors getting their booths ready for what they hope will be a busy day. It’s kind of addictive, and it gets in your blood.”
