Gem of a bright idea to ward off depression

Oct 28 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A SINGLE mum has turned a potential disaster into a bright business idea. Anthea Rowley was inspired to create Flouro Bling jewellery after suffering from depression when she was unable to find a job.

Ms Rowley moved to the North East from her native Scotland but struggled to find employment, despite previously working as a landscape gardener and studying for a string of qualifications including in IT.

She said: “It was a bit of a disaster story really. I’d always been a busy single mum but when I moved down here, I was applying for everything but I didn’t get anywhere.

“I ended up suffering from depression. The making beads, I was doing it as a bit of therapy.

“I ended up with hundreds of beads and I started making jewellery and selling it to people I knew.

“I thought I’d try to make a business out of it. It’s a complete change from what I was doing but I fell in love with it.”

Flouro Bling, based at Crawcrook near Ryton, produces glow-in-the- dark jewellery and decorative items from polymer clay which does not rely on chemicals for its ultra-violet qualities.

Ms Rowley said: “I’ve been doing some markets, I’ve got my website up and running and I’m selling pieces in a couple of small shops.”

She worked with business support organisation InBiz in Newcastle to get Flouro Bling up and running.