H by Heather Lighton handmade necklaces.  Photo - Daniel Aulsebrook.

H by Heather Lighton handmade necklaces.  Photo - Daniel Aulsebrook.

Heather Lighton in her home studio.  Photo - Daniel Aulsebrook.

Every time I go to Sydney, I end up buying something super gorgeous which is made in MELBOURNE.  Go figure.  Most recently, I picked up the sweetest little handmade necklace at The Collector Store in Surry Hills (VERY cute shop) and of course, as it turned out, they're the creation of Melbourne based Heather Lighton.

Trained in media arts and graphic design, Heather works as a photographer by day, shooting weekly for Three Thousand and for various magazines.  She launched her jewellery  line, H by Heather Lighton, in 2012, when given the opportunity to put her work in a friend's shop. Her quirky handmade bead necklaces quickly grew a loyal following, and before long, 'H' became a busy second job!

'H' is a labour of love for Heather.  'I have always been a maker and I've always been someone who can't sit still without doing something for very long' she says.  ''H' is special to me because it gives me time away from screens. It also gives me time to think about colours and shapes and design, which are all things I hold dear'.

Heather's necklaces start from a very reasonable $44.00, and are available from her online shop, or from various stockists listed here.

ALSO, if you're in Melbourne, you can check out Heather's brand new collaboration with local crafter Gemma Patford which they're launching this weekend at Markit!  'When Gemma approached me about collaborating together I said yes immediately... mostly because she is so fun to hang out with, and her work is so clever' recalls Heather.  Over the weeks that followed, this industrious pair exchanged many photos and texts and emails, before deciding to combine Gemma's fabulous rope baskets with Heather's custom beads to make hanging baskets. 'The end products are so special that I immediately pinched one for myself!'  says Heather!

Heather Lighton in her home studio.  Photo - Daniel Aulsebrook.