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Jewellery technologist and Ace Artisan award winner Nadia Abbas of House of Stööki really loves her jewellery making job. “It’s the most rewarding experience,” she tells us warmly from the studio in Greenwich, “showing people the possibilities of wax carving and watching them get inspired. Everyone should try it at least once!”
Traditional crafter, ring maker and businesswoman Nadia co-founded Stööki Jewellery over a decade ago, and now spends her days passing on her skills to budding designers from the headquarters at Thames Side Studios in south-east London.
“I faced some challenges early on; people would tell me I couldn’t do something, couldn’t achieve what I wanted. But I used that as motivation to spur me on – and here I am today, winning the Ace Artisan award!” Nadia Abbas
Ancient craftsmanship meets golden artistry
Nadia sits surrounded by traditional ring making tools, with her recent Ace Artisan award sitting proudly behind her on her workbench. She tells us that it was while she was studying silversmithing and related arts at university that she fell in love with the historic art of lost wax carving.
“It’s one of the oldest traditional methods of jewellery making,” Nadia explains passionately, “and it’s still used today. By just using the tools you have, which are quite basic tools, nothing too complicated, you can just spend the afternoon carving away and then finish with a lovely piece of jewellery that’s completely unique once it’s made.”
“The first piece we created, the initial Stooki element ring, has a really special place in my heart. From the initial drawings to seeing it develop into a wearable piece of jewellry that we still have in the archive; It's something that we come back to time and again as we’re looking back at our journey.” Nadia Abbas
The studio is filled with examples of Nadia’s stunning handmade creations, each one carved and cast with the utmost care. A large display in the centre of the room is covered with rows and rows of pendants and rings, some on jewellery stands and some in small boxes, each one stamped with the bold Stooki logo. Silver and gold, intricately carved and beautifully minimalist, set with sparkling gemstones and simply polished to a brilliant shine, her work is a shining example of the endless possibilities of traditional ring making techniques.
The Stööki studio: Where traditional techniques create modern treasures
Sunlight beams into the studio, glinting off of the handmade rings and pendants and making them sparkle. The walls are filled with artwork and polaroid snaps of beaming workshop participants, showing off their creations proudly. “People often don’t think they’re creative, don’t have that artistic background,” Nadia says, “they don’t feel like they can actually make anything. But this is absolutely something they can do, and when they get that realisation it’s really rewarding. My role as a teacher is being there to encourage and inspire.”
“People end up surprising themselves by the end of the session, and they always say, wow, I didn't know I had this in me!” Nadia Abbas
As we’re chatting, two students arrive for a ring making workshop, and Nadia invites us to stay and watch. Neither have had any experience in jewellery design before, but she greets them warmly, and sits them down by the sunny window to talk them through the process. As well as a creative experience, we’re also being treated to a history lesson; the lost wax carving technique is one that dates back 6,000 years and has been used across several cultures and continents – Rodin even worked with it when creating his famous statues. When it comes to crafts, they don’t come much more traditional than this!
Handmade jewellery begins with your unique carving journey
“We teach people the three main stages,” Nadia explains, “starting with brainstorming and sketching your idea. Because of how versatile the jeweller's wax is, pretty much anything goes.Then it’s on to the main body of the workshop – and the most fun part – using the tools we provide to carve the design into wax.”
The whole vibe is one of relaxed creativity; a television plays music videos in the corner, the sun is shining and the budding ring makers are now happily carving their designs into the wax ring moulds. “Our session is quite laid back, we’re quite open,” Nadia says, suggesting a different tool for a tricky detail, “we like to show people that what they can create is totally unique.”
“Because of the versatility of the material itself you can pretty much create anything. So anything that you have in your head you can almost, I'm certain, turn it into a piece of jewellery.” Nadia Abbas
Once the carving is finished, the last stage is to prepare it for casting. “This is where you buff up your piece, take out all of the scratches and marks that you don’t want to appear on the ring itself,” Nadia explains, “and this is what’s turned into a wearable piece of jewellery, completely unique because you’ve created it with your own two hands. Everyone should try ring making,” she continues, smiling at her two workshop participants, who are proudly admiring their creations, “you could actually surprise yourself!”
Stööki’s top three ring making tips
Ready to dive into the wonderful world of jewellery making? Nadia has plenty of handy advice to share, so you get the most out of your creative journey and craft beautiful pieces with a happy heart.
1. “Just give it a go!”
Her first piece of wisdom is wonderfully simple and incredibly empowering: don't hesitate, just dive in! It’s so easy to feel a bit daunted when trying a new craft, especially something as intricate as jewellery making – but the biggest hurdle is often just taking that first step.
By heading off to a workshop and trying your hand at the tools, you'll overcome those initial jitters and open yourself up to a world of creative possibilities. It’s about embracing the unknown and trusting the process!
2. “Try everything at least once – you might discover a hidden talent!”
Nadia is the first to encourage the spirit of playful exploration within your jewellery making journey; perhaps you'll discover a knack for intricate wax carving, a love for delicate stone setting, or a passion for bold silversmithing. By keeping an open mind and trying different techniques and processes, you might just stumble upon a hidden talent or a particular style that truly ignites your creative spark. It’s all about experimentation and letting your curiosity guide you to new, exciting discoveries!
3. “You can spend a whole afternoon just carving away – so relax and enjoy the process.”
Nadia’s final piece of advice is a lovely reminder to embrace the mindful and therapeutic side of jewellery making. The carving process can be wonderfully absorbing; it’s an activity that truly allows you to switch off from distractions and get completely lost in the creative flow. So, take a deep breath, let go of any pressure for perfection, and simply enjoy the rhythmic, meditative nature of carving! It's about finding that happy place where time melts away as you bring your unique design to life, creating something special and enjoying every moment of it.
Ready to become a ring maker for a day?
If you’ve been inspired by Nadia’s infectious passion for traditional craft, why not head along to one of her workshops and dive into the sparkling world of ring making? Spending a day (or even just a few hours) immersed in the art of jewellery design at the Stööki studio is an incredibly rewarding experience. You'll learn exciting new skills, get wonderfully hands-on with beautiful materials, and create a unique piece that's perfectly tailored to your style. It's a fantastic way to spark your creativity and discover the immense satisfaction of wearing something you've made yourself!
Runs regularly
Nine Elms
1 to 65 guests
£34 - £40
6 years in business
