HOSPICE employees have proved to be real diamonds after crafting a bespoke range of sparkling designer jewellery.
Staff at St Teresa’s Hospice have designed and created a collection of hand-crafted necklaces, earrings and bracelets from a donation of semi-precious stones.
The hospice, on Woodlands Road, Darlington, provides a range of core services free of charge for the people of Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire, who are affected by life-limiting illness.
Branded ‘St Teresa’s Little Gems’, the new jewellery range was created by Yvonne Macdonald, shop team leader at St T’s Charity Superstore, on McMullen Road, Darlington.
“A friend of one of our hospice volunteers had a craft shop that was closing down,” said Yvonne.
“They didn’t know what to do with the leftover stock and we were happy to take it off their hands.
“Five large boxes arrived at St T’s Superstore full of beads, baubles, clips, clasps, fastenings and wire, along with semi-precious stones, including opals, fire opals, shell pearls, Aragonite, Labradorite, Tourmaline, Aventurine and Jade, which we decided to use to make our first ever range of necklaces, earrings and bracelets.”
The St T’s Little Gems jewellery collection, which ranges in price from £1 to £25, was officially launched at the Hospice Choir’s Autumn Sing Concert and has now gone on sale in each of the St Teresa’s Charity Shops.
“This is a great time of year for people to pop into one of our St T’s stores in Darlington, Shildon, Leyburn or Richmond and grab a bespoke piece of jewellery as a fabulously unique present,” added Yvonne.
“Every piece will not only be a wonderful gift for someone but the whole purchase price goes to the Hospice’s vital palliative and end of life care for patients and support for their families, which is the best Christmas gift of all.”