From sea glass collected along the North East coastline to deeply personal memorial jewellery, Gemma Bainbridge is bringing her independent jewellery business to North Shields’ new indoor market.

What began as a lightbulb moment in 2019 is about to become something much bigger for local jewellery maker Gemma Bainbridge.

Her business, JewelGemJewellery, is among the independent traders joining the first phase of Common Ground, the new indoor market taking shape inside the former Wilko building at the Beacon Centre in North Shields.

Specialising in handmade sterling silver jewellery, locally collected sea glass and gemstones, Gemma creates individual pieces that carry their own stories. And with her first permanent retail space on the horizon, she’s looking forward to meeting customers, developing her craft and taking her business to the next level.

A LIGHTBULB MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Like many independent businesses, JewelGemJewellery began with a decision to do something different.

In 2019, Gemma was working full-time in a job she wasn’t enjoying when an idea suddenly came to her.

“I wasn’t happy in my full time job and in a lightbulb moment I decided I was going to make silver jewellery. I had always loved jewellery ever since being a child.”

That childhood fascination with jewellery became the starting point for a creative business built around making things by hand.

Sterling silver was a natural choice, but it was the discovery of sea glass that introduced another dimension to her work.

The colours, shapes and individuality of each fragment fascinated her. Unlike manufactured gemstones, sea glass has been shaped by the elements, sometimes over many years, before finding its way onto a beach.

And no two pieces are quite the same.

LITTLE PIECES OF THE NORTH EAST COASTLINE

Much of the sea glass used in JewelGemJewellery’s designs is collected from Seaham and beaches along the Northumberland coast.

Each fragment has its own unknown history.

Some may have begun life as bottles, jars or other everyday objects before being discarded, broken and gradually smoothed by the movement of the sea.

For Gemma, that mystery is part of the appeal.

“It is special because you do not know where it has come from or how long it has tumbled in the sea for.”

There’s something rather lovely about taking an object that has been lost or discarded and giving it a completely new purpose.

A small piece of glass, shaped by the coastline, becomes the centrepiece of a silver ring, pendant or another piece of jewellery.

It’s a connection to the North East’s coastal landscape that makes Gemma’s work particularly fitting for North Shields, a town whose history and identity have always been closely tied to the sea.

JEWELLERY THAT’S AS INDIVIDUAL AS THE PERSON WEARING IT

Gemma particularly enjoys creating one-off pieces.

Working with sterling silver, gemstones and sea glass means that each design can be different, with the natural shape and colour of the materials helping to determine the finished piece.

She also incorporates recycled silver wherever possible.

Rather than mass-produced jewellery, JewelGemJewellery offers something personal, made with care and attention to detail.

And for some customers, that personal connection goes much deeper.

CREATING SOMETHING TO REMEMBER A LOVED ONE

Alongside her sea glass and gemstone collections, Gemma also creates bespoke memorial jewellery.

These pieces can incorporate a loved one’s ashes, hair or both, carefully preserved in resin beneath a gemstone or piece of sea glass.

It’s a sensitive and highly personal service, with Gemma working directly with customers to create something meaningful.

“This is a bespoke service where we work with the customer to make a special piece of jewellery that can be cherished for a lifetime.”

For someone remembering a family member, partner, friend or other loved one, the finished piece becomes more than an accessory. It’s something they can keep close and carry with them.

It’s also an example of the value of buying directly from an independent maker, where the customer can speak to the person creating their piece and be involved in the process.

FROM MARKET STALL TO PERMANENT SHOP

For Gemma, joining Common Ground represents an important milestone.

After developing JewelGemJewellery through independent trading, she’s now preparing to establish a dedicated retail space where customers can discover her work and meet her in person.

“Having our own space at Common Ground is so exciting for us and it feels like the next step up from a market stall,” she explains.

“To have a dedicated permanent space where customers can come to meet us directly will be fantastic for us.”

It’s exactly the kind of progression that Common Ground hopes to encourage.

The new indoor market is bringing together a varied mix of independent retailers, makers, creatives and specialist businesses, creating opportunities for people to establish a physical presence without immediately taking on a traditional high street shop.

For Gemma, it means having a space she can make her own while becoming part of a wider community of independent traders.

LOOKING AHEAD

Gemma already has ambitions for the next stage of JewelGemJewellery.

She hopes to continue developing her silversmithing skills, learning more advanced techniques and expanding what she can offer customers.

“We hope JewelGemJewellery continues to grow, improving our skills with more advanced techniques and for our space at Common Ground to thrive and flourish.”

And as Common Ground prepares to welcome its first traders, Gemma’s story is another reminder of the people behind our independent businesses.

People who have taken a chance on an idea, developed a skill, built something from scratch and are now ready to take that next step.

From a lightbulb moment in 2019 to a permanent space in the heart of North Shields, it’s an exciting new chapter for JewelGemJewellery.

We look forward to seeing Gemma’s beautiful coastal creations at Common Ground.

ABOUT COMMON GROUND

Common Ground is a new indoor market being developed by the Beacon Centre inside the former Wilko premises in North Shields.

Trader recruitment and curation are being led independently by Simmie Harper on behalf of the Beacon Centre, bringing together an eclectic mix of independent businesses, creatives, makers and specialist retailers.

I Love North Shields is a media partner, sharing the stories of the traders and documenting the transformation of the space.

Location: Former Wilko, Beacon Centre, North Shields

Opening: Planned for November 2026

Interested in joining Common Ground? Contact simmie@ilovenorthshields.com for information about available spaces and upcoming viewings.