Tucked away in a tiny corner, away from the chemicals and equipment at the Tuncurry Pool Shop is a veritable Aladdin's Cave of precious jewels; gemstones, pearls, crystals and natural stones.
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This complex section of jewellery paradise forms part of Viola Hallahan's enterprise, Vewels (Viola's jewels).
The hobby, turned passion and now business began 10 years ago when Viola and husband Paul began to tidy up the backyard of their then Green Point holiday house.
The area was littered with hundreds of pine cones, which an enterprising and artistic Viola decided to put to good use.
Viola turned the pine cones into Christmas decorations and wreaths, embellishing them with beads and ribbons.
The festive decorations were gifted or sold to family, friends and acquaintances; one magnificent creation netted Viola several hundred dollars.
"I then got hooked on beads."
I love the creativity; to create something that is unique and something that no-one else has.
- Viola Hallahan
Viola brushed up her self-taught jewellery-making skills with a course at the Sydney Jewellery School.
Last year the couple took over the Tuncurry Pool Shop, giving Viola the perfect space to showcase her creations.
"I love the creativity; to create something that is unique and something that no-one else has.
"I like to be different; I always think outside the box."
Viola's passion for her collection of rocks and stones has extended into researching the folklore and background behind the crystals
"It is fascinating."
The semi-precious rock, lapis lazuli was renowned for its healing powers during ancient times.
"It is sulphur based and if you rubbed it on a wound it would heal."
Gemstones include Swarovski, hand-made crystals from the Czech Republic, natural stones and manufactured crystals from China.
There are seed beads, natural crystals and stones, glass beads, pearls, Chinese porcelain, coral and Pandora-style beads.
"I don't deal in plastic; I deal in glass, minerals, metals and amber.
"The geology of some of the natural stones is fascinating; amber is a fossilized tree resin.
It has also been used as a healing agent in folk medicine.
"It took the earth millions of years and extremities to produce natural stone we take so much pleasure from now.
"The science behind it is very interesting to me."
Viola estimates she has more than 20 categories of beads in her massive collection - about one billion - acquired during the past decade.
The beads are stored and shown in specially modified display cupboards and clear plastic containers, all meticulously catalogued into colour, shape, size and type.
Viola produces jewellery on commission or randomly - when she has a burst of creativity.
Customers give Viola their budget and she will create a unique piece of jewellery to their specifications.
Prices range from $2 to more than $500, and all presents are gift wrapped.
And, not forgetting her creative roots, Viola continues to make Christmas wreaths from pine cones, on commission.
"I look forward to coming to the shop every day because of the jewellery.
"This is my love and I don't get sick of it."
If there is enough interest, Viola plans to conduct jewellery making workshops during the winter.
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