LIMEDROP INTERVIEW: Melanie Katsalidis November 18 2014

Today Limedrop had the pleasure of speaking with jeweler and owner of Pieces of Eight Gallery, Melanie Katsalidis. Who you are? What do you do/ believe in? Hi I'm Melanie Katsalidis a jeweller and founder of Pieces of Eight Gallery and Edition X. I trained as a Gold and Silversmith because I loved making adornment. I started a shared studio in a warehouse in North Fitzroy in 2005 which just happened to have a shop front onto Brunswick Street and my entrepreneurial side kicked in and suddenly I had developed a concept for a jewellery gallery. By December of the same year I opened the doors and then four years ago we moved to our beautiful new custom built store in the center of Melbourne's CBD at 28 Russell Place. I believe in supporting creativity and living a full and balanced life as much as possible with lots of fun stuff thrown in for good measure! · What your top two tips in choosing jewellery that suits you? Go with your instincts, usually your first choice is the right one. Also be brave and try something new, life's too short to play it safe and wear the same pair of earrings every day! · What is something that you thought was impossible that is now possible? I never was sure what I wanted to do when I was at school, only that I loved creativity more than anything. I think that if my younger self were to look at where I am now they would be pretty impressed! It's taken a lot of energy and determination but I still love what I do and look forward to a future full of exciting projects get to work on, drive and build.