When you first come in to contact with Vanilla Ink Jewellery School CIC, it is almost a given that you will have no idea of the impact it can have on your life. When I first read the strap line, “Changing lives through making jewellery” I thought it was trite and frankly a bit far reaching. That was before I understood what being part of the Vanilla Ink community meant.

As most of you know I joined Scott at Vanilla Ink in 2021. Part-way through the pandemic, we were talking about new normals and trying to work out how we would get through the next phase of uncertainty. As a result it took some time before I finally got to walk through the doors of our fantastic Brook Street Studios in Glasgow.

Class being taught in School One in Vanilla Ink Glasgow

When I did, it was not the incredible space or the fabulous light or the amazing selections of tools and equipment that blew me away, it was the people. Immediately, I was struck by the conversations about how much it meant to be back, how being at Vanilla Ink, in the VI Community was what had kept some people going.

This was my first taste of how important this community was. But it was the very tip of the iceberg.

In two and a half years I have lost count of the people who have said to me that being part of the VI Community has saved their lives. Believe me when I say I do not say that lightly and the conversations and stories behind these comments have taken my breath away. I want to share a few of the ways in which Vanilla Ink CIC changes lives for the better.

A meet the maker Vanilla Ink community event, with Dr Karen Westland

Our community of Resident Jewellers and INKubator Students is something that we are so, so, so proud of.

Our Inker Janet explains what being part of the Vanilla Ink Community has meant to her

Before joining the community at Vanilla Ink, my confidence was quite low and I never thought I’d be able to make a living from making jewellery, let alone have my own business. It is hard to find the words, but the entire team at Vanilla Ink have helped me develop the skills, find my confidence and encouraged me to explore opportunities; I now design my own pieces and take on commission work.
I feel so lucky and have already been recommending Vanilla Ink to others. I've learned more here in all aspects of my life than I ever did at University, and feel so supported as well. My skills, business knowledge and belief in myself have never been better, and I’m going to continue to grow thanks to the INKubator Programme and the whole supportive team at Vanilla Ink. I can now call myself a goldsmith with pride. Thank you Vanilla Ink, I never want to leave.
Janet Duignan, Goldsmith, JD Designs

In 2022, Lorna and I were up at The Smiddy teaching a Level One Block Class. There were a couple of students in the session who stood out, and one in particular whose saw piercing skills were incredible. That student was Nina Main, who then progressed through the different levels of Block Classes, working away on her skills and continuing to impress. We decided to approach Nina about starting to teach at The Smiddy.

During a conversation Nina told me how she had always love art and making. She defined herself as a failed art student. When I asked her when she had left art school, her reply amazed me - fifteen years ago. And yet she still believed she was a failed art student. I asked Nina how many pieces she had completed since deciding to leave art school - “hundreds” was her response.

“So you are an artist who decided art school was not the right path for you?” was my response.

Nina has told me this was a seminal moment for her… and to be honest it has been for us too. Not only does Nina now teach for us, she recently gave up her previous job and is currently helping to run The Smiddy, working with us to plan for the future of the business in Banff. Recognising Nina’s skills, supporting her development and helping her to reframe the way she thought about herself has been a life changing experience for her and we have a great new member of the team at Vanilla Ink!

Our social enterprise work also brings us in to contact with some truly remarkable people. I had the opportunity a wee while ago to teach some incredible young women who had been in in the care system, were at risk of domestic violence and had very young children. The opportunities for them to find respite from the stress and anxiety of their daily lives was very rare. We extended the usual time to make sure the young women had time to relax in the space and take the opportunity to relish being away from lifes challenges. We talk about our ethos in our classes and how our aim is to educate, inspire and empower. During this class it was a privilege to watch this happening.

The young women who walked in to this class were nervous and unsure. During the session I had the opportunity to speak to some of the women individually. I was appalled by some of the things I heard, and in awe of the resilience these women had shown… to say life is cruel does not begin to cover it.

Yet as they left, it looked as if they had grown two of three inches each. We taught them to make a silver ring, to cut, hammer forge and solder, to file and to polish. You might think that there’s nothing life changing in that, but how wrong you would be. We may not have changed the world, but we know these young women saw themselves a little differently when they left us. They learned that things they did not think possible were with in their abilities. They saw themselves achieving things they had not dreamed of. They left not only wearing a constant reminder of what they could achieve, but knowing that anything was possible.

Every time you buy a class for Vanilla Ink, you help us to change someones life. So Its a HUGE thank you to all our fabulous community, whether you are an occasional student or a serial offender, you really are helping us to

“change lives through making jewellery”

Make sure you pop to our home page to see what is coming up at Vanilla Ink CIC and get involved today.

Changing lives through making jewellery... really?

“change lives through making jewellery”