Underwater photography is being turned into handcrafted jewellery by a North Fremantle husband and wife team, and the unique pieces will be available for purchase at this year’s Made on the Left Christmas Market.

The market is one of Fremantle’s most anticipated holiday events, with more than 100 of WA’s talented designers taking over Esplanade Park to sell their handmade creations in time for early Christmas shopping.

North Freo local Louise Stazzonelli came up with the idea for Sea Drops Jewellery in 2019, inspired by her husband Glen Cowans’ underwater photography that he displays at his Fremantle Roundhouse studio.

The couple have scuba dived together for more than 30 years, photographing and filming marine life to share their love of the ocean.

Ms Stazzonelli has now turned that photography into wearable art.

“I kind of came up with the idea because we get tourists coming through. I thought, it would make a wonderful gift if I could do something with (the photos), and I love jewellery,” she said.

“I just got inspired by Glen’s underwater photography and I just thought, how can I capture it in some way? I thought it would be beautiful if people could wear it.”

From tens of thousands of photos captured over the years, Ms Stazzonelli selects her favourites and her husband reduces the images to fit earrings and pendants, using pigmented ink that doesn’t fade.

Ms Stazzonelli uses domed glass over the top to seal it together, setting the design in stainless steel or sterling silver.

She often uses patterns from coral images, fish scales and water reflections, and always displays a mini print of the original photograph next to each design so people see where it came from.

“Each individual one I choose, and then I create that piece. It’s combining Glen’s passion for his underwater photography and my love of creating jewellery. And then people who love the ocean can wear it and love it as much as we do,” she said.

“Each one is a unique design, and when I tell people the story of how I make them, it just blows their mind.”

This will be Ms Stazzonelli’s third year exhibiting at Made on the Left, and she said the strong community support and festive feeling is why she keeps going back.

“The markets are great to do because you meet so many people and you get feedback . . . which makes me kind of keep going. I love that interaction, you don’t get that connection as much even here at the gallery,” Ms Stazzonelli said.

“It’s local for me too, because I’m from North Fremantle and we have our business in Fremantle, so I always love it when they come down to the esplanade. I always do markets that are local and they’re handmade from people rather than mass-produced.”

The jewellery is priced between $25 to $40, with the intention of keeping it affordable to see people wearing the art and appreciating the ocean.

Now coming up to Christmas, she is preparing her small business to handle the “big impact months” by designing and creating in advance, ready for locals and tourists to visit her store in the Roundhouse and upcoming market stall.

Alongside Sea Drops and more than 100 other handmade stalls, Made on the Left will offer food trucks, treats and space for the family to sit and relax.

Committee member Matt Watt said the market offered a local alternative to typical, mass-produced Christmas gifts from shopping centres.

“For almost two decades, the Made on the Left Christmas Market has celebrated the incredible talent we have here in Western Australia,” he said.

“Every purchase directly supports a local maker, giving people the opportunity to buy something truly unique while helping small creative businesses thrive.

“What makes this market so special is the connection between the makers and the community. Visitors can meet the artists behind the products, hear their stories and know they’re buying something made with genuine care and craftsmanship.”

Made on the Left will run on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22 from 10am to 5pm.

Entry is free, with cash and card payments available depending on the stall.