Person to Person: My fidget jewellery adds an element of play and helps when things get a bit overwhelming

TELL us about yourself;

Hello! My name is Sue Kumar. Originally from India and now living in Cork for over a decade - Cork is home for me.

My background is in HR & IT and I am also a certified coach. However, after 18 years in the corporate world, I decided to take a leap from my full time job and set up my small jewellery business called Leap of Faith.

My journey started in late 2021 when I joined an evening metal smithing course with Chris Carroll at St John’s Central College to help disconnect from my then job, and started learning about metals, jewellery tools, and basic processes undertaken to create jewellery out of metals. 

This then took me on a journey of creating crystal jewellery for friends, family and then onto craft fairs, showcasing my crystal and fidget jewellery at retail outlets, participating in Showcase 2024 via the Local Enterprise Office, and recently the Meraki Pop Up Shop at Winthrop Arcade, Cork city, which ended at the end of April.

My jewellery collections include pieces made with crystals and semi-precious stones and sterling silver rings and necklaces that you can fidget or play with. I believe in the unique vibration of crystals as they come from nature itself and being a fidgeter myself the intention behind my fidget jewellery is that it adds an element of play to the wearer and helps focus when things get a tad bit overwhelming in one’s day to day happenings.

My jewellery can be found on my website www.leapoffaith.ie or at Cork Flower Studio , Douglas Street and Le Cheile Arts, Dunmanway.

Where were you born?

I was born in India.

Where do you live?

Cork city.

Family?

Five of us, my parents, brother, sister-in-law and me.

Best friend?

My dad, my lifeline, and my go-to person for anything and everything.

Earliest childhood memory?

Going to collect my mom and baby brother from the hospital.

Person you most admire?

My brother, his courage, strength and resilience. He was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition a few years back. Even with all that’s going on – he’d be the one to make us all laugh.

Person who most irritates you?

Someone who doesn’t respect healthy boundaries.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Backpacking in south-east Asia.

Favourite TV programme?

Schitt’s Creek – I absolutely love Moira and her wigs!

Favourite radio show?

Neil Prendeville Show.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Sue’s Awesome Chickpea curry – my friends refuse dinner invitations nowadays as they are tired of being served the same dish every time they visit!

Favourite restaurant?

Pavilion Restaurant, Ballygarvan.

Last book you read?

Under The Duvet, by Marian Keyes, highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light read and wants to have a good hearty laugh! I sure did!

Best book you read?

Ooooh, I love collecting books.. but my all-time favourite is Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

Daydream, by Lily Meola, whenever I feel like throwing in the towel - I listen to this song.

Favourite song?

Oh my, this is a tough one, depends on my mood. I can go from listening to Ludovico Einaudi’s Una Mattina to Kila’s Lemonade & Buns to Punjabi MC’s Mundian to Bach Ke to Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters.

One person you would like to see in concert?

Adele, I love her voice.

Do you have a pet?

No, but I absolutely adore my friend Andrea’s dog Coco – we both love crystals.

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl through and through… If you want to come face to face with Grumpy Sue, wake me up early.

Your proudest moment?

Opening the doors to our first customer at Meraki pop-up shop in Cork City.

Spendthrift or saver?

Ummm, I’d like to think I am a saver, but that would’nt be true... spendthrift. I love trying out new food places. 

I have to admit I saved a lot when the restaurants and takeaways shut down during the pandemic and I had to resort to my awesome chickpea curry (this is when I mastered the art!)

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Create opportunities for people to connect, create and have fun in the process.

What makes you happy?

Simple things – being with my family, creative pursuits, spending time in nature.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a ray of sunshine (joking!) Kind, hardworking, as someone who doesn’t give up when they put their mind to things.

What else are you up to at the moment?

We opened a pop-up shop called Meraki at Winthrop Arcade, Cork city, which ran until the end of April. A group of 12 creatives between Cork, Dublin and Kerry decided to take a leap of faith and co-create magic together. Meraki means creating with soul and love. 8 of us are from Cork, 3 from Dublin and 1 from Kerry. 12 Irish businesses under the Meraki umbrella, out of which 9 are women-led businesses. A one stop shop for Irish designed & handcrafted products. You can also find more details about this project on @merakipopupcork!