Judith Kenny Jewellery

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness, wrote John Keats in his epic poem 'Endymion'. Who doesn't really appreciate the joy a beautiful object can give us, especially if we wear that object and if it attracts the attention and the favourable comments of those who admire us? Contemporary jewels, such as the ones created by Judith Kenny, are among the beautiful things in our lives.

Judith first started designing jewels during a course at Cardonald College, where she also taught for four years. After working for a Glasgow-based jewel designer, she decided to open her own shop. Located in Park Road, just around the corner from busy Great Western Road, Judith Kenny Jewellery (JKJ) has been going for three years and, according to Judith, it has been a very rewarding business. "It is exciting to think about a piece of jewellery, design and create it and, in the end, get the praise of the customer who buys it," she says, "this is a very creative job and it fills you with joy to know that what you're doing is pretty and lovely, but, above all, that it is also lasting."

Judith works with precious metals and stones such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires, but also with semi-precious stones and mixed materials such as different kinds of wood, old coins, bells, pieces of shells and so on. All her stones are certified and come from renewable sources, so you can pick the gems of your choice and live guilt-free, knowing you haven't contributed to the exploitation of any country.

Prepare to be dazzled by the huge array of jewellery available at JKJ and by the wide range of ideas for great gifts: there are necklaces, bracelets and rings in every kind of shape and style; personalised wedding tiaras; delicate flower bracelets for children; fairy wands; silver chip forks ("the perfect gift for the best man who has everything," according to Judith); brass door plaques; brooches with pictures of your loved ones. The little customised tags on which Judith can write practically everything, from special dates to love or funny messages are also very popular, not to mention cheap(£10 each).

Charm bracelets, necklaces and rings are among the most desirable pieces of jewellery designed by Judith - they are quirky, funky and youthful and you can keep on adding every now and then a new special charm - while vintage buttons are her trademark. Iconic coloured buttons are arranged and re-arranged to form every manner of necklace or bracelet or adorn the cutest and tiniest charm pins.

If your tastes in jewellery are very particular, you can just pop in and ask Judith what she thinks might suit you or come in with an idea and have her turn it into reality. So far, Judith has had quite a few weird requests: from incorporating a wisdom tooth in a necklace, to putting cat's hairs in a glass vessel pendant, to designing parasite-shaped cuff links for someone into scientific research. Just remember to book your jewels in advance: it might take three to four weeks for bigger commissions and a few days for smaller ones, even though Judith once made a pair of earrings in just one hour - for someone rushing to get a plane to New York.

"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" sung Marilyn Monroe, but, judging from the trends, it might not only be diamonds that make women happy nowadays, but the design and the style of jewels, like Judith Kenny's.