The Job That Changed Me: As a jeweler, I wanted to steer clear of selling arak. Then I realized I had created one for myself.

I was amazed when I visited a workshop abroad. By contrast, my own workspace lacked basic safety principles, and working hours were very long. Read more in the series 'The Job That Changed Me.' I initially sold my jewelry at markets in Adelaide and in some boutiques and galleries across Australia. In 2006, I tried a new marketplace called Etsy.

I have been a jeweler for about 30 years, creating silver and gold pieces influenced by my visual arts background. At first I sold my jewelery in Adelaide markets and some boutiques and galleries around Australia.

In 2006 I tried a new marketplace called Etsy. I was sure that no one wants to buy jewelry online, but I decided to experiment. I hurriedly listed a few basic pieces and was amazed when my first online sale happened within an hour. Proving myself wrong, I set up an independent online store - one of the first in Australia when online shopping wasn't widely embraced here.

I worked very hard to make my small business a success. I did everything: made the jewelry, packed the orders, ran the website and mailing list, created the graphics, wrote the blog, did the bookkeeping (which I hate). My efforts paid off with an increase in customers around the world - first more in the US and Europe, then Australians who started shopping more online.

Starting my own jewelry business was what I wanted to do the most and somehow I ended up doing it.

But by the end of 2013, I was fed up. I'd had another grueling Christmas. My back, neck and shoulders hurt. The skin on my fingers was splitting. In the months leading up to "selling season," I worked over 100 hours a week. Life consisted of working, eating, sleeping and then working. My health was failing, yet my income was well below average and I felt like I could barely get by.

At Christmas, when I finally had time to consider my situation, I remember feeling tormented. Is this really how success should be? I loved what I was doing. But the reality of running a handmade business was overwhelming. I was tired.

Then a friend came to my house in the Adelaide Hills. My oven was broken. My bathroom was falling apart. On New Year's Eve, talk turned to my business. He suggested marketing ideas to sell more, but I couldn't possibly make more jewelry. A significant increase in prices was also not possible. I felt stuck.

We talked until the sun rose. And as the new year rolled around, we came up with the idea that I could still design the components, but outsource the actual manufacturing of them - then assemble and finish the parts.

It made sense, but it was hard to accept. I was a maker. I wasn't really sure what it would mean to my clients - or myself - if I didn't make my designs from scratch.

Finally, I contacted a workshop abroad. From a distance, it looked like it would be run ethically, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't getting into sweatshops.

I decided to visit in person. When I visited the workshop, I was amazed at the skill of the makers, the variety of their work and at such a scale - and the quality was impeccable.

Most importantly, this was clearly not a sweatshop. I was pleased and somewhat embarrassed to find their working conditions in many ways better than mine.The workshop spaces were well laid out and safety was clearly considered. The staff had fixed hours and there was a space in the sun to eat lunch. In contrast, my work space was paved and lacked basic safety principles. I worked long hours and had no lunch breaks.

Right after I finalized my designs and placed my first order with them. I started using those components in my jewelry designs and to my great relief, the sky didn't fall in. Old customers were still happy and I kept finding new ones. I didn't need to do much work and could easily develop the business. It was life changing

But I kept thinking about visiting the workshop. I was adamant that I didn't want a sweatshop involved in my business, but in reality there already was one: the one I built for myself.

Years later, that decision to outsource fundamentally changed my business and my life. I am no longer limited to what I can do. And my pieces are more refined at the initial design stage, rather than being a continuous work in progress.

I still often sit on my jewelry bench, setting gems and assembling pieces, but I no longer work 100-hour weeks. I have one life. I have whole days off and I really have time to take care of myself. These days I can spend time in my garden, go for walks, socialize and even take the occasional vacation. I also have more time to work on the business in general, which I enjoy even though I still hate accounting.