A panellist profile from our Crafting Conversation series.
Crafting Conversation is a panel series for makers in business, hosted by Make Good Things Happen. We unpack the creative process and the real business stuff with Australian artists, designers, and do-ers.
Living on Wadawurrung Country (Ballarat) above rumbling gold mines, Lucie HB works exclusively with precious metals and gemstones to create wearable pieces, while also exploring other mediums for artistic experimentation. Lucie’s practice is deeply informed by plants, drawing on their cultural history, symbolism, medicinal qualities and scientific connections. Balancing technical skill with conceptual inquiry, Lucie brings both craftsmanship and expression to her work.
In this MGTH Chats conversation, Lucie shares how living in Ballarat shapes her work, the friendships forged through Craft Lab, and the ways she nurtures both precision and freedom at the bench.
Meet Lucie HB at our upcoming Crafting Conversation : Jewellers Edition at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute on Wednesday 10th September 2025. Book your seat here.
Your work has a distinct elegance. How do you approach designing a new piece from concept to completion
Thank you. I believe elegance is inherent and can’t be manufactured with money or status. The most elegant things for me are simple and beautiful. With that in mind, most of my inspiration comes from the natural world. Often I will become fixated on a particular plant and its story. The meaning, use, history and symbology of that plant through different cultures. I like to combine these organic elements with classic design such as Art Deco or Victorian jewellery styles.
I will sketch ideas and plans for a piece but playing with the material and exploring different ways to fabricate an element generally informs the end result more than the initial idea. I like to make time to play at my bench. To experiment and find different ways to manipulate the metal and discover how things end up looking and feeling. Then I will find ways to make these practical and wearable or sturdy enough for exhibition.
What’s one memorable connection or conversation that came from your own Craft Lab experience?
I made some wonderful friends and connections through Craft Lab. People that have given me great support, encouragement and guidance in my practice. One in particular has become a very close friend and we often bounce ideas off each other, help each other practically with proofreading and industry knowledge and share personal joys and laments.
How has living and working in Ballarat influenced your creative practice?
When I first moved to Ballarat I was concerned that I would not have the huge contemporary jewellery community of Melbourne at hand anymore but I have actually found that the community here is very engaged and has helped me to focus on what is important to me in my practice. I have been approached by more people and opportunities than when I was working in the centre of that world. Living in Ballarat has expanded my network of people who are interested and invested in the growth of my work.
Jewellery-making requires both technical precision and creative freedom. How do you keep those two in balance?
I adore the technical side of being a jeweller and the challenge and precision that it requires but I often get hyper-focused on the details. I find that in order to maintain my creative inspiration I often need to walk away from the bench to expand my perspective. Walks in nature, gardening and practicing other art modalities such as painting and drawing is extremely important to keep the creativity flowing.
What’s the most challenging technique or project you’ve undertaken in your career so far, and what did you learn from it?
I find abstract forms incredibly challenging and have a lot of admiration for artists that can create something beautiful without it always ending up looking like “something”. I think it is a lesson on letting go and is an ongoing process that I’m still working on!
How do you see the future of contemporary jewellery in regional Australia evolving?
I’m seeing a trend of jewellers moving out of the city that has been slowly building for a couple of decades. Often working alone and having the ability to have a small workshop at home makes this an easier transition than some other professions. As the number of us grows regionally the connections will also grow, hopefully reducing the need to travel to Melbourne for outsourced services such as gem setting and casting. I look forward to seeing contemporary retail spaces and shared workspaces in our future also.
Links
Lucie HB Website
Lucie HB Instagram
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