I turned passion into business

PR girl Nicky Burke's love of vintage jewellery was sparked after she inherited beautiful pieces from her grandmother

Nicky Burke, 36, works in PR but set up her own vintage jewellery website, Curiosities of London, as a way of mixing her passion with business and fashion.

Every weekend, Nicky scours markets and charity shops to find unique pieces of classic jewellery with a quirky twist, inspired by pieces she inherited from her grandmother as a girl.

'I was looking for vintage rings for myself last year and I just couldn't find exactly what I was looking for,' says Nicky. 'Which got me thinking; If I can't find what I want, the chances are other women who can't find what they want either.'

Nicky launched Curiosities of London in November 2010 with just a handful of items she had collected. 'If I'm out and about and I see something, I tend to buy it then and there.'

'People think I'm mad working all day and then spending my evenings and weekends working too,' says Nicky. 'But vintage jewellery is my passion and I find satisfaction in helping other women find something special.'

While holding down a day job and a business on the side can be tough, she admits, the key is remembering that 'you're not Superwoman.'

'[Women] can be quite unrealistic with our time... things always take longer than you think, so I try to stick to a structure,' she says. 'To-do lists are a must, and I always carry a notebook with me - I've come up with my best ideas on the bus.'

Most important of all, says Nicky: 'Do something that doesn't involve using your brain on two nights of the week. I like to have a bath, read a book, enjoy a glass of wine - anything to switch off and unwind.'

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