Tamara’s best kept treasure

30-year-old Tamara Sturgess was born in Johannesburg to Ronald and Janett. At the age of one-and-a-half she continuously complained of severe leg ache.

Tamara recalls not wanting to walk most of the time due to the pain. After a detailed medical check-up, she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Leukaemia is a malignant progressive disease in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leucocytes.

As it was detected early, Tamara was cured of the cancer, but because she underwent radiation treatment, her hair was shaved off. She never had many friends in school because children were scared of her.

“I easily befriend boys, as they looked beyond me not having hair at the time,” said Tamara with a giggle.

Though she can now easily look back and laugh about it, at the time it was hard for her to accept the way things were.

The Sturgess family relocated and settled in Estcourt shortly afterwards. At one stage Tamara had to come up with a business project for school and she made a piece of jewellery.

Surprisingly Tamara’s first handcrafted piece of jewellery/school project got an incredibly positive response. Immediately she knew she had caught onto something and was determined to put it to use.

Her beautiful handcrafted piece of jewellery presented to her class as her business project sure did start up business when teachers and students sent in their orders for her jewellery.

Creating handcrafted jewellery became a fun escape and as her interest for the hobby grew, she started attending craft markets.

When the time was right, she used her passion as a foundation to start a business, Tamara owns Tams Treasures Handcrafted Jewellery store in Winterton and takes orders online on her website https://www.tamstreasures.co.za

“Without the continuous support of my family I wouldn’t be half the person I am today,” acknowledged Tamara. Some of Tamara’s most fond childhood memories were the trips made by her mother, father and sister Stacey to craft markets.

“I have received so much incredible advice from other crafters and have learned tremendous lessons from some of my own experiences,” she said.

Tamara works at Berg Vet Supplies and explained that in today’s world when the cost of living increases every day, surviving by making jewellery is not sufficient.

Tamara describes herself as an animal lover and enjoys working with the animals at the vet from time to time.

Creating a new piece is a new adventure for Tamara, from the design process to choosing materials (it’s just like going on a treasure hunt).

“It is such a thrill and honour to see different types of women buy my work, for me that’s when my efforts are brought to life,” admitted Tamara.

Tamara sees every day as an opportunity to gather inspiration from her surroundings to create designs for her pieces.

When she isn’t hard at work or creating jewellery, Tamara loves to take trips to the beach; for her it has a calmness to offer.

Tamara is currently engaged to Kobus Nel, who she speaks of with a spark in her eye and a goofy smile smeared across her face.

“To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others” – Unknown. Tamara lives by these words.

At the time when her days grew dark and her friends were few Tamara learned to make those who matter to her happy and found it to be very rewarding.

The lady behind the big heart and beautiful jewellery can make for a shining role model for battling cancer, other health setbacks and continues to never give up.