WHEN Lauren Ridley, 28, quit her day job to start making jewellery her friends and family thought she was mad.
But the gamble paid off and Lauren's work is now stocked in more than a dozen shops as far afield as Paris and Australia.
Her company is called Cherryloco, and she mostly uses acrylic to make quirky, colourful necklaces, broaches, rings and earrings, with many inspired by tattoos.
Lauren is originally from the town of Coleraine in Northern Ireland, but moved to Glasgow to study for a design degree in Silver-smithing and Jewellery at Glasgow School of Art.
And though she originally thought she'd go into fine art – her mum Anthea, 57, is a talented portrait painter – she discovered a talent for jewellery making.
After university she got a job working for a big-name jewellery firm, but then decided to take the plunge and set up her own.
Lauren, who lives near Queen's Park on the city's South Sside, said: "After I finished my degree I took a part-time job in Swarovski at Braehead.
"But I couldn't commit my time to my own jewelley making, and after a few years I took the risk and gave up my job in April, 2010
"My family and friends said 'oh you're crazy'. But it was the best thing I ever did and I immersed myself in designing and started my own company."
After making sample stock she took a stall at the market run by city pub Sloans, off Argyle Street.
And it was a bit hit with shoppers there.
Lauren, said: "I got a really good response and so it became a regular weekend stall."
That was two years ago, and since then Lauren has started selling her jewellery through a number of shops as well as online.
A shop in Australia's Queensland spotted her at her stall at Edinburgh's Fringe market, while a store in Paris e-mailed her to say they wanted some.
Lauren said: "They loved the style of it and said it would really fit in well with their shop."
A shop in Finland is also a customer, while in Glasgow, as well as at Sloans weekend market, shoppers can buy her pieces at city shops including The Lighthouse, and The shop of Interest in Argyle Street.
Lauren has also had a stall at the Clothes Show Live in Birmingham and a took part in a fashion show at London's posh Savoy Hotel.
Though at first she had cut all her designs using a hand cutter, she now uses a laser cutter to shape the acrylic, at MakLab at Glasgow's Lighthouse. She also has a studio in her house.
Lauren came up with the name Cherryloco, which she says reflects her personality as well as her work.
She said: "I wanted something really catchy and it's a combination of sweet and crazy which is what my work's all about.
"Cherry is the sweet side and loco means 'crazy' in Italian.
"I think my designs are sweet and fun but they also have a quirky alternative edge to them."
Lauren can also custom make pieces, and name necklaces are the biggest hit. Prices start at £5 for earrings and go up to around £50 for custom-made pieces.
Lauren hopes one day to have her own shop - and wants to get celebrities into her designs.
She said: "My dream client would be Lady Gaga."
l Sloan's Market is on Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 5pm
www.cherryloco.folksy.com
SARAH SWAIN