Texture and sentimentality: Inside the jewellery box of Breanna Lee Timmins of BLT Jewellery

Not dissimilar to the burger staple, BLT Jewellery offers layered delights!

Jewellery has always been more than decoration — it’s storytelling in metal and stone. From ancient talismans to today’s bold statement pieces, its evolution mirrors our own, shifting with culture, creativity and self-expression. What we wear speaks volumes, and jewellery continues to shimmer as one of humanity’s most enduring love languages. Status, style, and sentiment, jewellery is one of the most valuable human possessions.

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A crafter of both chain and charm, Geelong jeweller Breanna Lee Timmins has spent 21 years shaping stories in silver and gold. Her journey began with a five-week night course and a sudden spark that outshone her university photography degree — so much so that she dropped out and chased the ancient art of metalsmithing head-first.

“I applied for a job at every jeweller I could find in the yellow pages! I started with an on-the-job traineeship in Melbourne CBD for 18 months, then did an advanced diploma at Melbourne Polytechnic in Fairfield, after that I learnt on the job with various employers in Melbourne and Geelong, but a lot has been self taught,” explains Timmins.

As her skills sharpened and her confidence grew, so did the urge to make something that was truly hers (and not just to wear around her neck!). So when motherhood arrived, Timmins followed that instinct, shifting from studio floors to market stalls and carving out BLT Jewellery between nap times and late-night bench sessions.

 

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“BLT Jewellery was simply the next step when I had my first son (who is now 11). I started doing markets when I was pregnant with him so I could work from home once he was born. From then on I worked at night and when he napped during the day.”

Now working from a shared creative warehouse in Newtown’s Rutland Street, Timmins has developed a signature style rooted in texture and sentimentality — two constants in her ever-expanding collection.

“I’ve never really known how to put my style into words. It’s quite varied because of the many aspects of my practice. I always come back to texture and sentimentality though. I love to include weird and wonderful textures where I can and anything and everything with a super special meaning always gets me.”

The BLT Jewellery collections lean into the emotion of heirloom-making: fingerprint and paw-print jewellery preserving the touch of loved ones (including the furry ones), birth flowers and birthstones honouring ancestry, and permanent jewellery offering the ultimate “forever” moment.

“I’m a sucker for sentimentality. It’s really nice to be able to wear a beautiful piece of jewellery that ALSO has such intense meaning behind it, without being overtly loud about it – you can share the meaning if you want to, or it can just be a beautiful necklace. I’ve always been a sensitive, emotional soul. I’m sure having kids has only intensified this, they love seeing me wear their little fingerprints or hand drawn love hearts. I’m working on a new collection at the moment featuring their handwriting which is super special,” Timmins explains.

 

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Sustainability sits at the heart of her practice. From ethically sourced materials to remodelling old jewellery into revived keepsakes and creating custom jewellery, Timmins’ tries to close the loop on waste while opening new chapters of meaning.

“I do a lot of remaking and remodelling old jewellery into something new which is a nice way to keep a closed loop on the jewellery making process and keep it sustainable,” Timmins explains.

“How special is it to have something made just for you that no one else will ever have! Even better if it’s made from a family member’s old piece of well-loved jewellery or features your children’s or pet’s prints. The options are endless!”

BLT Jewellery invites you to step behind the bench yourself. Timmins’ workshops blend creativity with a little chaos and a lot of charm, guiding you through the process of shaping your own personalised piece. You leave with a keepsake for your jewellery box and a newfound respect for the craft.

“My workshops are just a fun way for people to have a play at making their own jewellery, I love learning a new skill so am happy to be able to contribute what I know. I keep them very small, so you only need 5 people in total to book a private workshop.”

BLT Jewellery isn’t just a brand; it’s a reminder that the pieces we wear can hold the people we love, the moments we treasure, and the stories we’re still telling. Through texture, sentiment and sustainable craft, Breanna Lee Timmins has carved out a space where jewellery isn’t just made — it’s felt.

Discover beautiful pieces from BLT Jewellery here.