When Dundonian Sarah Harvey became a mum 10 years ago, balancing a hospitality job and a newborn became impossible. So she changed careers and returned to college.
Feeling like a hindrance at work because she couldn’t do night shifts as a single parent, Sarah realised it was time to move on.
Aged 35, she went to Dundee and Angus College to study textiles for three years before taking on a jewellery and metal design degree at Duncan of Jordanstone.
“I decided to learn something and make my own money without having to rely on anybody else,” she says.
“Being able to go to college while being a single parent and bringing up Max was great. It totally changed my life.”
Business start ‘soul destroying’
While Sarah enjoyed learning about jewellery making and building up her business Stone Zoo, things took a turn as she was about to graduate.
The pandemic hit, all graduate shows were cancelled and she had to stay at home on Longtown Road.
“It was really soul destroying,” says the jeweller.
“I’d studied for six years and usually when you graduate you get a degree show and a big conference in London.
“It’s a chance for brands to look at your stuff, there’s awards, and you might even get a job.
“I totally missed out on all that. It was the worst thing ever.”
Feeling like she was back to square one, Sarah’s confidence took a huge dip.
While looking for work, she came across Women’s Business Station who helped her with her business idea and restoring her confidence.
The future of Stone Zoo
The 42-year-old decided to focus Stone Zoo around crystals, creating rings, necklaces and earrings set with different stones.
“From when I was little I’ve always had a fancy for crystals. My mum used to say I was a wee hippie,” she laughs.
“I want to make jewellery to make people look good and feel good about themselves.”
This year has been better for Sarah, as her postponed graduation ceremony finally took place and she is creating a website to sell her jewellery.
She also had a job at Women’s Business Station before it closed, and is now looking for a new job while developing ideas for Stone Zoo.
Her dream is to start a lapidary society and cut her own stones in her studio.
She says: “I want to develop my skills to make something more local, because the east coast is so rich.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do next, I can’t just be a jeweller because I’ve got a kid to feed, so I need to get a job.
“Lapidary is so exciting and Dundee is a Unesco city of design, we should have design facilities for what people want to make.
“I feel like I’m going slowly, but every day I’m taking a step closer to getting to where I need to be.”
Conversation