About

1965, born in Vught, the Netherlands, Mylene van Heijster (in Australia also known as Milly Speelman).

Lives and works in Esperance, West-Australia.

"I wanted to lift the humble button out of its ordinary existence by transforming it into unique, colourful wearable art" is how Dutch born artist Mylene van Heijster explains her stunning button designed jewellery.
Growing up in Holland and graduating in 1992 from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy with a degree in textiles Mylene (Milly), has forged together the combined arts of textile design and jewellery making to deliver a breathtaking array of beautiful, colourful and very funky jewellery. Milly has an exceptional array of creative talents and has spent many years honing her skill. After fulltime study, Milly completed work experience at the textile design studio’s of Laura Ashley (London), Benno Premsela (Amsterdam) and at the studio of Jack Lenor Larssen (New York). While back in Amsterdam Milly was asked to submit work of a limited edition to be exhibited at the Beurs van Berlage. With a growing passion for jewellery design, Milly decided to marry together her skills and created a French knitted necklace made from nylon fibre, housing a solid silver ball. The following years she exhibited a crocheted lace-like fine silver bracelet and a fabric cuff with an individually hand casted silver button. Thus began her love of jewellery design. Milly was fortunate to then study as a pupil of contemporary jewellery designer Phillip Sajet in the art of gold and silver smithing in 2004/5 furthering her knowledge of jewellery making.
Moving to the beautiful shores of Esperance Western Australia in 2006 with her husband and two sons, Milly came across a bucket of buttons in the local second hand shop and her creative ideas knew no bounds. Having recently been asked to showcase her exceptional work in the prestigious gallery "Aspects" of Kings Park in Perth, WA, Milly is looking forward to continuing her adventure in creative design.